DIY Eye Makeup Remover

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This DIY Eye Makeup Remover is gentle and effective at removing mascara and shadow without using harsh, toxic chemicals.

I know there are a lot of us out there now who are very wary of the chemicals contained in mainstream, commercial products. And for good reason! There is very loose regulation of the chemicals used to make personal care products in the United States.

When you really begin looking into some of the ingredients that are commonly used, you’ll start to wonder why some of these chemicals are even allowed in the personal care products we use!

What’s the Harm in Store-Bought?

Many of the mainstream eye makeup removers contain potentially harmful substances in addition to the necessary preservatives to keep it shelf-stable.

When you’re putting something onto your eyes, (or your daughter’s eyes, for those of us with teens), you really want to be certain it’s safe.

Some of the common harmful ingredients found in eye makeup remover solutions include the following:

• propylparaben-hormone disrupter, developmentally & reproductively toxic
• methylparaben– hormone disrupter
• 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol-organ toxicity, linked to cancer
• benzalkonium chloride-developmentally/reproductively toxic
• benzyl alcohol-organ toxicity

The info above can be found on EWG’s website.  You can also look up specific products on their site to check for ingredient safety.

Not all store-bought versions of eye makeup remover are terrible. There are a few that contain minimal harmful substances. Most will at minimum have some sort of preservative, though, which is why I still prefer to make my own.

If you’re going to use one from a store, I encourage you to look yours up on EWG and check to see if it would be safer to switch to a different one.

Ingredients For DIY Eye Makeup Remover

It’s very simple to mix up an effective homemade eye makeup remover that contains only a few ingredients, all of which are safe and aren’t harmful to the environment.

Here’s what you will need for this witch hazel makeup remover recipe.

• Alcohol-free witch hazel (I like Thayer’s brand, especially the rose-scented one)
• Jojoba oil (I get mine from Trader Joe’s)
• Distilled water (or previously-boiled tap water)
• Vitamin E oil*
• Small jar, glass soap pump, small oil cruet, or you can reuse a cleaned, empty eye makeup remover bottle

*I use liquid vitamin E oil in a bottle because I don’t have time to be squeezing oil out of those little capsules. But, capsules will work fine if that’s what you have.

How To Use

Always gently shake up your eye makeup remover right before you use it. This just ensures that all the ingredients are distributed evenly. Add a little of the homemade eye makeup remover to a reusable cotton pad or washcloth. Gently remove your eye makeup, and then wash with your cleanser like you normally would.

How Long Does Homemade Makeup Remover Last?

I think it’s wise to be cautious when it comes to products used around your eyes. For this reason, I recommend mixing up only small batches that you will use up within a week or two at most.

Small batches will help ensure that the ingredients you are using around your sensitive eye area stay fresh and uncontaminated in their original container for as long as possible.

This recipe makes what I need to last a week or two, but I don’t wear a lot of eye makeup. If you wear more, you can easily double or triple this recipe to make an adequate amount for your needs.

Use Reusable Cloth Remover Pads For A Zero Waste Solution

If you can sew a little bit, it’s pretty easy to make your own reusable makeup pads out of some cotton flannel or hemp fabric. If sewing is not your thing, though, Etsy is a great place to find a ton of handmade options. Check out this post for all of the best zero waste products on Etsy, including fabric makeup rounds!

Once you have your reusable makeup remover pads, just keep a delicates washing bag in the bathroom and toss in your dirties. Then, throw it in when you wash your towels, and they’ll be ready to use again. It’s an easy way to cut out some of the waste in your beauty routine while you also cut out the toxins with DIY makeup remover!

DIY Eye Makeup Remover is another easy, non-toxic swap you can make to green up your beauty routine!

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Yield: 3 1/3 tablespoons (50 mL)

DIY Eye Makeup Remover

Print

Try this gentle, non-toxic eye makeup remover in place of your store-bought one.

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• 1 T alcohol-free witch hazel
• 1 T jojoba oil
• 1 T distilled water (or previously-boiled tap water)
• 1 tsp vitamin E oil
• a small jar, glass soap pump, small oil cruet, or you can reuse a cleaned, empty eye makeup remover bottle

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients together into your container.
2. Shake it up gently before each use to make sure everything is mixed together well.
3. Add a small amount of the homemade eye makeup remover to a reusable cotton pad or washcloth.
4. Gently remove your eye makeup, and then wash with your cleanser like you normally would.

Notes

Use within 1-2 weeks.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  JASON Vitamin E 5,000 IU All Over Body Nourishment Oil, 4 Fl Oz (Packaging May Vary)
• 
  Cliganic USDA Organic Jojoba Oil, 100% Pure (4oz Large) | Natural Cold Pressed Unrefined Hexane Free Oil for Hair & Face | Base Carrier Oil | Cliganic 90 Days Warranty
• 
  Thayers Alcohol-free Unscented Witch Hazel Toner (12-oz.) ( Pack May Vary )