Is Scrimping on Eye Makeup Remover Ever a Good Idea? I Find Out With This Drugstore Icon
Main Image – Courtesy of writer
The skin around my eyes has always been a little sensitive – not so sensitive that I can’t trial new ingredients and products – but it can be a little fragile if I’m too vigorous or overdo it with my eye makeup remover.
This is why I’ve always opted for an eye makeup remover that costs a little more than I’d care to spend, by a brand I really trust (La Roche Posay Respectissime Waterproof Eye Make-Up Remover, in case you’re wondering). You know, just in case.
But when my local chemist had a stock shortage recently, and at a time when my bank balance really wasn’t thriving, L’Oreal Paris Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover (£3.99 on the Superdrug UK website) ended up in my basket instead. Mainly because I was in a hurry, it was cheap and I saw the word ‘gentle’.
I hadn’t used an eye makeup remover by L’Oreal Paris before so I could only hope it would agree with my skin. And considering I wear a generous helping of eye makeup every day, it would need to really step up to the plate.
Here’s my honest review.
The product details
This liquid comes in a 125ml bottle and is ‘enriched with Pro-Vitamin’, according to the packaging and L’Oreal Paris website. There is no more user-friendly information given other than that, apart from the usual list of ingredients and scientific jargon that only a lab professional could understand.
Strike one – be clearer about what exactly I’m about to put on my eyes, please!
Anyway, what I do know from the packaging is that the formula has been tested under ophthalmological control, it promises to feel refreshing and it is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. And it has the word ‘gentle’ in the title, so it must be fine…right?
Image – Courtesy of writer
First impressions
The bottle has a flip, click-shut lid and the liquid is clear – despite it looking slightly blue in the bottle. It squeezes out easily onto a cotton wool pad and there were no spillages on my first try, thanks to the small hole the liquid comes out of.
I had to shake the bottle a little to douse my cotton wool (I use half a pad per eye) but I would rather that than it spilling out onto my lap.
On contact with the skin, it felt really nice and cooling, it didn’t sting at all and swiped around my eye area nicely and comfortably. And, most importantly, I could instantly tell that this was a bi-phase formulation, meaning a mixture of oil and water. Oil for loosening and hydrating, water for cleansing.
My surprising results
I may have been cross about the lack of information on both the bottle and website but my results – luckily – speak for themselves. And I say ‘luckily’ because I feel being so cloak and dagger about a product that’s being applied on such a sensitive spot is quite the risk.
I experience no irritation during use, just a nice, clean sweep and my eye makeup lifts off beautifully. If I am wearing eyeliner along my bottom lash line, it’s a little harder to remove and I then need two goes. But day-to-day, I wear around three coats of mascara and some eyeshadow, and I find that half a doused cotton pad does the trick at removing it completely.
The real test is how my eyes feel the next morning as, depending on what I’ve used, I can sometimes wake up with a bit of redness or a stinging sensation having removed my makeup the night before.
The L’Oreal Paris product has surprised me though. My skin is never irritated, there is no redness or dryness and unlike with a few other low budget eye makeup removers I’ve tried, this one doesn’t make my eyeballs sting the morning after using it. Yup, there are actually some out there that do that, which is where my past commitment to raising my budget for eye makeup remover came from.
But I’m really happy to say I will continue to use this one daily. It does the job brilliantly and costs a fraction of what I was spending before. I may not really know what’s actually in it (sigh) but what I do know is that my skin and sensitive eyes agree with it.
Image – Courtesy of writer
What other users are saying
AHat on superdrug.com says “very gentle and great for sensitive eyes. I’ve used this for years and won’t use anything else.” I agree entirely.
And Mazza6 agrees that it makes for a great replacement for more expensive formulas. “I bought this eye makeup remover having previously only used Lancome and have found it to be a good alternative. It is gentle and effective and I am delighted with the purchase.”
However, eczema sufferers should be extra cautious, as BusbyA says on loreal-paris.co.uk. “I started using it on Monday and by Wednesday, my eyelids were stinging and today (Thursday) I’ve got full-blown eczema on my eyelids again.”
A liquid eye makeup remover is probably not the best option to apply on eczema-prone areas. It can be very drying, even if oil-based, and extremely painful. If you must use this with very sensitive or eczema-prone skin, try not to use a cotton pad all over. Use a Q-tip instead and take your time.
Overall value for money
I think it’s pretty obvious how I feel about the price of this product. At £3.99/$6.99, it’s an absolute bargain and the fact that it is gentle and actually does what it promises is a mere bonus.
The takeaway
It’s a shame I had to take a punt on this product. Like most people, I like to know exactly what I’m using before I rub it all over my eyes (am I mad?!).
But the results and price actually make up for all of it. I so wanted to hate it because of the lack of information. But – kind of annoyingly – it does actually work really well, and I have a feeling it will be a staple item in my skincare routine from now on.
Once you spend £3.99/$6.99 on a product that just works for you, it’s hard to ever go back.
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