Selecting the right makeup remover can banish panda eyes and lippy that won’t quit

Your choice of eye makeup remover can get a bit overlooked in the scheme of skincare priorities. But it’s every bit as important, if not more, because using the wrong eye makeup remover can do more harm than good.

Why do eyes need exceptional care?

Your eyes are very delicate little organs. If you get some cleanser or toner in your mouth, it’s a bit yuck. Get the wrong product in your eyes and you can have big problems, ranging from a simple irritation to inflammation or even infection.

Also, your eyelids and the skin around your eyes is much thinner and don’t produce any oil. This is why this area tends to age faster than the rest of your face, so treat it gently.

What things should I look for in an eye makeup remover?

Because eye makeup, like mascara and eyeliner, tend to be harder to remove, you need something that’s effective yet gentle.

• Effective formula: First and foremost, you want a product that acts quickly to dissolve mascara and eyeliner. The more you rub at your eyes, the more likely you are to make them irritated. So an efficient solvent should be your number-one priority. You also want it to have a good texture that ensures you don’t have to rub too hard to remove your eye makeup.
• Fragrance-free: Your eye area is so delicate. The chemicals used in fragrances can affect your skin in negative ways. This can cause rashes and other unwanted irritations, even if you don’t have sensitive skin.
• Non-oily: Because the skin around your is so much thinner than in other places and also more sensitive, you don’t want an excess of oil. This can lead to bags under the eyes as the skin is so thin that the oil transfers through the skin and creates bags under the eyes. This is especially risky when using baby oil or other cleansers with a similar texture.
• Hyaluronic acid: This is one of the best ingredients to hydrate the eye area, and will act as a treatment to increase the benefits of your eye cream. If you can find an eye makeup remover that contains hyaluronic acid, all the better.

Ask the beauty therapist: “What makeup remover would you recommed?”

Beauty therapist Jaydene from Gaia Day Spa says, “Germaine de Capuccini Bi-Phase Make-Up Removal Lotion for eyes and lips is super-effective at removing long-lasting makeup such as waterproof mascara and long-wearing lipstick. It’s particularly effective a removing heavy and water-resistant makeup, and it’s very delicate so won’t irritate the delicate skin around your eyes or lips.

“It’s made up of a very lightweight oil to effectively loosen and remove makeup, while a soothing water cleanses and hydrates the area. Give it a shake to mix the two (you’ll see they separate when the bottle is stationary) and dot onto a cotton pad, then gently pat and wipe where you want to remove makeup. It’s suitable for all skin types, sensitive eyes, and those who wear contact lenses.”

For personalised recommendations for skincare products, get in touch with the expert beauty therapists at Gaia Day Spa.

Main article written by Theresa Walls for Germaine de Capuccini.