When it came to taking off eye makeup, the Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover proved to be a tester favorite. “The eye makeup remover felt so soothing on the skin and did an amazing job removing makeup,” our tester said. “My skin felt refreshed, clean, and hydrated without causing irritation.”

The gentle and oil-free formula makes this a great remover option for all skin types, leaving no greasy residue on the skin. “This makeup remover left no noticeable residue and I would easily be able to apply skincare over it without an issue,” our tester said. The performance proved equally effective — our tester appreciated how well it worked. “It removed my makeup easily and quickly and I only needed a couple of swipes of cotton rounds to fully remove all of the makeup,” they said. “The remover performed so much better than I expected and it’s a product I would most certainly use regularly.”

Our tester said they wouldn’t change a thing about this product, though we noticed at 3.75 fluid ounces, it is bigger than the standard travel size, so it’s not as portable as other options. That being said, it’s decently priced, and removes even the most adhesive makeup like waterproof products without being harsh on your skin. This eye makeup remover is a clear winner. 

Price at time of publish: $18

Size: 3.75 fl. oz./ 100mL | Oil-free: Yes | Type: Liquid

For being a more affordable option, this eye makeup remover from e.l.f. delighted our testers with its gentle formula, overall performance, and lack of residue left on the skin after use. “I loved the feel of the balm on my skin,” said our tester. “It felt calming and not at all harsh on my eyelids, which I feel like some eye makeup removers do.” With ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and ceramides, this eye makeup remover works to clean your skin without leaving greasy residue behind. 

You apply this balm on your face like a mask, lathering up to absorb the makeup, and then wash it away with water. However, our tester observed that they didn’t even use water with it, and when applied on a cotton round, it “effectively took off all the eyeshadow that I had on in only a few swipes.” Our tester loved that there was no leftover residue, which they said “is rare for this type of product.”

Price at time of publish: $11

Size: 2 oz. | Oil-free: No | Type: Balm

This luxury eye makeup remover from Tata Harper offers a gentle oil formula with alfalfa, vitamin A, and squalane to lift makeup while also nourishing your skin. “This product felt really nice and smooth, and helped remove the eyeshadow with very little pressure,” said our tester, who has sensitive skin when it comes to cleansers. They “had no problems with this product.”

Our tester said because they normally use a thinner cleanser, at first they used too much and saw some residue, but used “significantly less” the second time, and then “had no issue with residue.” And a little goes a long way. “With a tiny amount applied to my eyelid, I was able to easily remove all the eyeshadow and primer,” our tester said.

Price at time of publish: $88

Size: 4.1oz./ 125mL | Oil-free: No | Type: Oil/liquid

This makeup remover from Clinique treats skin with a gentleness that leaves no redness or irritation in its wake. “The product felt like a nice soft gel,” said our tester. “I was a bit worried about putting a cream on my eye since it is very different from what I usually use, but I was amazed!”

In terms of performance, our tester said, “the product came right off and there was absolutely no burning at all.” They were impressed with the lack of residue after the remover was applied, and how moisturized their eyelids felt after use — leaving the skin with a soft texture. “No color was left at all on my lids and no scrubbing was necessary, just a gentle swipe to remove the eyeshadow,” our tester said. They said they were “super happy” with this product and “wouldn’t change a thing.”

Price at time of publish: $23

Size: 2.5oz/ 75mL | Oil-free: No | Type: Creamy gel

Drunk Elephant is known for impeccable skincare products, and this butter cleansing balm is no exception. “It was buttery smooth and felt incredibly moisturizing,” said our tester. “Although there’s oil in the formula, it didn’t get in my eyes or make me temporarily blind (I wear contacts, so if something gets in them, I can’t see until it comes out). I would definitely use this everyday for my whole face as well.”

In terms of performance, this makeup remover “left no residue” on our tester’s skin, and “took makeup off well” while leaving the skin “soft, smooth, and not irritated in the slightest.” Our tester also said they love that “it comes with a spoon to eliminate any cross-contamination or bacteria from grubby fingers.” This product also comes with an exfoliating powder, but that wasn’t part of our testing. “I massaged the oil into my skin and then used a cotton pad to wipe away the pigment,” said our tester, adding that the oil “removed my eye makeup quickly and effectively, with no irritation or residue.”

Price at time of publish: $34

Size: 3.88 oz. | Oil-free: No | Type: Balm

Chanel brings the touch of designer flair to an eye makeup remover that’s great for those with oily skin. “This product was the perfect consistency,” said our tester. “It was a watery formula, but not drippy and though it contains oil, it didn’t have a greasy or slimy feeling.”

Our tester loved that this product left “no residue on my eyelids after using,” and that they didn’t feel the need to “wash it off with a cleanser.” The performance of this remover also stood out to our team. “This removed every speck of shadow and mascara with one good swipe,” praised the tester. “I like bi-phase formulas and this one mixes nicely and doesn’t feel oily.” In line with other Chanel products, this one is lightly fragranced, which could be a pro for some and a con for others depending on scent preference.

Price at time of publish: $37

Size: 3.4oz. | Oil-free: No | Type: Liquid

When it comes to taking off makeup, this Clarins remover is a cut above. Our tester said they use a waterproof mascara that’s always difficult to take off, yet this remover got the job done. “I often do double cleaning, first with a cleansing balm and then followed up by a cleanser, and even with that sometimes I still have mascara residue on,” said our tester. “This eye makeup remover removed my mascara EASILY.”

In terms of performance, this eye makeup remover scored well across all categories. Our tester said the product felt nice on their skin, leaving it smooth and soft without any residue after use. “It wiped away my dark eyeshadow pretty easily,” they said. The only fault in their opinion was the existence of a scent with this remover. Fragrance could be a pro or con, depending on preference, but for the sensitive skin on the eyelids, it’s usually better to be unscented. That aside, our tester was blown away by how well this eye makeup remover works.

Price at time of publish: $32

Size: 4.2 fl oz. | Oil-free: No | Type: Liquid

For a little skincare benefit while you’re removing your makeup, try this pick from Glossier. It’s extremely hydrating and leaves the skin feeling super nourished. “This was a super smooth remover,” said our tester. “It didn’t feel greasy at all, which is definitely a complaint that I have had in the past with removers.”

Our team was impressed with the feeling of this product, and how effectively it removed makeup. “I was able to use the same cotton round for both eyes and didn’t even need to apply more product,” said our tester. “It got all of the makeup off after three swipes per eye.” Given the low price and efficacy of this makeup remover, we agree with our tester who said they were “really pleased with this one.”

Price at time of publish: $14

Size: 3.4 fl. oz. | Oil-free: No | Type: Oil

Laura Mercier brings us this bi-phase formula that’s partially water-based and partially contains soothing oils to help calm irritated skin and reduce redness. It’s also infused with cornflower which is rich with antioxidants and has many skin benefits. “The remover felt smooth and relaxing on my skin,” confirmed our tester. 

They appreciated how this eye makeup remover was “easy to use” and didn’t cause issues or “irritate the skin.” This product completely removed the makeup without too much effort, and had “no residue issues” per the tester — meaning it didn’t leave the greasy film on the surface of the skin that some remover products tend to leave behind. And as an added benefit, it’s travel-friendly, given the size.

Price at time of publish: $27

Size: 3.4 fl. oz./ 100mL | Oil-free: No | Type: Liquid

If you’re looking for an easy remedy to makeup removal that won’t leave you skin feeling tired, greasy, and heavy, the Double Effect eye makeup remover from Nivea should be on your radar. Our tester said this was “the easiest time I’ve ever had taking makeup off in my life. It took two drops and minimal effort to remove.”

They were completely impressed with the performance as well as how it felt, saying the product was “lightweight and refreshing on my skin” and left “no residue.” Our tester said there was nothing they would change about the product, and commented that “Nivea killed it,” but if we had to change one thing, it would be that it’s currently imported from overseas which makes it a less sustainable and accessible product than local options. That said, it’s not expensive and it works really well.

Price at time of publish: $14.99

Size: 4.4 fl. oz./ 125mL | Oil-free: No | Type: Liquid

Cetaphil is a favorite for everyday skincare, and this waterproof makeup remover lives up to its reputation. With botanicals like aloe vera, ginseng, and green tea, this product works to nourish the skin while breaking up makeup and lifting it from the skin. It’s a bi-phase water-based formula that targets dryness, irritation, rough texture, tightness in the skin, and any weaknesses in the surface of the skin. 

“This product seamlessly removed the shadow from my eyelid,” said our tester. “It felt really nice on my skin and I did not experience any discomfort or irritation. It took most of the makeup off in one swipe without me having to apply too much pressure or tugging on my skin too much.” It’s also oil free and fragrance free, making it a gentle alternative to some makeup removers. Our tester noticed a slight residue after use, saying “This product feels like micellar water with a slightly oily texture to it, and there was just a little bit of residue on my eyelid after using this product.” That said, our tester loved how well it worked and said, “there is nothing that I would change.”

Price at time of publish: $15.29

Size: 6 fl. oz./ 177mL | Oil-free: Yes | Type: Liquid

Oil makeup removers work really effectively because they break up the makeup’s pigment, yet this one doesn’t leave a greasy residue that some oils do. “This product is super soft and felt great on my skin,” said our tester. “I was a little concerned because I typically stay away from oil-based products, but it didn’t feel greasy on the skin at all. My eyelids were clean and felt fresh after use.”

Our tester said, “It was supremely easy to remove with a cotton pad. If I was doing a full skincare routine post-makeup, I would easily follow up with my normal routine. It did not burn at all and my eyelid didn’t feel greasy after removal either.” They said the manufacturing instructions suggested using your hands to apply the oil, but they found this to be messy and preferred a cotton round. “I’ve been looking for a good eye makeup remover and this feels like a holy grail product, especially as I’m familiar with and do use other products in this line,” praised our tester. “I didn’t know this existed, but I’m so glad I do now!” 

Price at time of publish: $28

Size: 5 fl. oz./150mL | Oil-free: No | Type: Oil

This water-based formula from Neutrogena offers a quick and easy removal solution to get your eye makeup off at the end of the day. Our tester said they “did not feel any residue when applying it onto the cotton pad and wiping” it across their eyelid. It only took two swipes to remove all the makeup off our tester’s eyelid. 

The product performed quickly, which impressed our team, with the tester saying a little goes a long way. The oil-free formula also removes waterproof mascara which is a huge plus. However, one point of concern is the packaging, which our team noted is hard to open if your hands are wet and comes in two sizes that are both too big for carry-on travel requirements.

Price at time of publish: $8.49

Size: 5.5 fl. oz./162mL | Oil-free: Yes | Type: Liquid