How to Wash Eyeliner off Your Waterline

Some makeup looks, such as an intense smokey eye or a sultry smudged liner look, just wouldn’t be complete without tightlining your eyes. Applying pencil or gel liner to the waterline is a simple way to intensify your eye makeup, but it’s a technique that’s as tricky to do as it is to undo.

Makeup removal might be the last thing you’d want to do after a long night, but you know better than to go to bed with makeup on. Not only is this terrible for your skin, but leaving eye makeup on could potentially lead to irritation and infection.

Removing eyeliner from your eyelids is usually an effortless task, but it can be pretty tedious (if not aggravating) when trying to get it off of your waterline. Plus, you likely used a waterproof eyeliner to avoid smudging, so washing it off with water just won’t cut it.

As you know, the skin around the eyes is quite delicate, which means that you’ll want to be as delicate when removing eyeliner from your waterline. Pulling or rubbing it can damage your skin and even cause your eyelashes to fall off! Rather than scrubbing your eyes until they’re red, you’d best learn the gentle way to remove eyeliner from your waterline. Here’s how.

Step 1: Choose the right eye makeup remover

On a normal day, makeup wipes are a lazy girl’s best friend for quick and easy makeup removal. They’re a godsend when you’re absolutely exhausted and just need to wipe off the gunk on your face before hitting the sack. Unfortunately, you’ll want to avoid using them on your waterline because they’re not the most effective cleansers. No matter how soft they are, makeup wipes just won’t be able to reach every nook and cranny of your eyes.

Liquid eye makeup removers and cleansing balms are the best options for removing eyeliner from your waterline. They help break down the liner, which will make it easier to wipe and wash off.

To remove waterproof eyeliner, go for an oil-based makeup remover. Those with sensitive eyes can opt for micellar water, which is more gentle on the eyes.

Step 2: Use a cotton swab

Harsh rubbing can damage the delicate skin around your eyes. To get rid of stubborn eyeliner with ease, a Q-tip will be your best friend, so make sure to have a few cotton swabs at hand. The pointed cotton tip gives you precision, allowing you to gently scrub off the eye makeup along the upper and lower waterline.

Step 3: Apply just the right amount

Even if you apply a thick layer of black eyeliner on your waterline, you don’t need a large amount of cleanser to get it off. Remember a little makeup remover goes a long way. When removing eyeliner from hard-to-reach areas like the inner tear duct, you only need a small amount of product, as too much remover can irritate your eyes.

You’ll also want to steer clear of harsh cleansers that could potentially cause irritation. If you have sensitive eyes, opt for a gentle cleanser like micellar water.

Step 4: Be gentle

To remove eyeliner from the waterline, dip the tip of a cotton swab in an oil-based makeup remover. Then, gently dab or roll the cotton bud along the upper and lower waterline. Leave the cleanser to soak for a few seconds. This gives it time to dissolve the product, which will make it easier to remove the eyeliner with a few gentle swipes. Then, use micellar water to remove the oily residue that’s left behind.

Avoid scrubbing the eye area too hard, as this can damage the delicate skin or cause your eyelashes to fall off.

Step 5: Remove your eyeliner first

The waterline is one of the most difficult areas to clean during makeup removal, so you might as well get it out of the way first. Plus, this will make the entire process of removing your makeup much easier because you can just immediately wash your face with a makeup remover and face wash afterward.

As a rule of thumb, remove your eye makeup first, then the rest can follow. Start with the stubborn eyeliner along the waterline before moving on to the eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara on the eyelid and lashes.

Doing your makeup removal in this order will prevent makeup from transferring from your eyes to your face and vice versa.

source https://degreesofvanity.com/how-to-wash-eyeliner-off-waterline/