Health & beauty

6 Beauty Treatments That Are a B!*ch to Remove -- and the Best Ways to Get Them Off

Glitter nail polish. Eyelash extensions. Waterproof mascara. All fun to wear -- all a nightmare to take off. Here's how to remove makeup and other beauty treatments that are notoriously a pain in the you-know-where to remove

September 20, 2012 | by Sharon J. Yi | 33 COMMENTS

How to remove waterproof mascara Since the mascara is waterproof, use the opposite of water: oil. Oil breaks down the waterproof properties in your mascara, helping it slide off your lashes without too much scrubbing. Makeup artist Stella Kae says, "I only use oils on a cotton pad to remove waterproof makeup. Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, $36, is my favorite, but in a pinch olive or almond oil will do." She also says to steer clear of baby oil, which is made from petroleum, a gasoline byproduct that you don't want so close to your eyes.

Step 1: Saturate a cotton pad with the oil of your choice.
Step 2: Close your eyes, and place the cotton pad underneath your lashes, then apply gentle pressure so that the underside of your lashes are pressed against the pad.
Step 3: Hold the lashes there for about 10 to 20 seconds, which allows the oil time to dissolve the mascara.
Step 4: Gently swipe the lashes with the pad until the mascara slides off. Finish by rinsing with a gentle face cleanser.

SEE NEXT PAGE: How to remove eyelash extensions

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products mentioned

Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil

9.5

CND SolarOil

9.0

CND Creative Nail Designs Shellac Remover Wraps

0.0

Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser

8.1

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Interesting tips!

by robyne00 Friday, April 12, 2013 at 02:33PM Report as inappropriate

Is there anything vaseline can't remove?

by schien Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 03:11PM Report as inappropriate

Great tips! Waterproof mascara is such a pain! And I hate paying the fee just to get my Shellac removed in the salon. And I'm about to get eyelash extensions, so I'm glad I read this first!

by Erin4 Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 11:20AM Report as inappropriate

cold cream rules

by LittleBunny Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 05:53PM Report as inappropriate

love love love love cold cream!

by rayshaviolet Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 04:31PM Report as inappropriate

cold cream, even from the dollar store, removes all eye makeup including WP, in a flash AND moisturizes. A winner.

by veryvanilla Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 08:56AM Report as inappropriate

Good tips

by EricaF123 Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 06:32AM Report as inappropriate

I wish there was a tip to remove liquid foundation before cleansing the skin.

by springsblue Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 08:26AM Report as inappropriate

nice tips!

by teema Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 01:29AM Report as inappropriate

Ick, I hate cold cream! After using it, I needed to wash my face multiple times to get all of THAT stuff off. I haven't tried the glitter nail polish trick but I need to.

by LipglossandSpandex Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 09:12PM Report as inappropriate

Are women using products that they don't know how to remove it?

by kiminsc Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 03:19PM Report as inappropriate

I hate hate hate removing my mascara!

by schien Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 03:10PM Report as inappropriate

I learned so many new things!! I will definitely try olive oil for my waterproof mascara and Pond's cold cream to remove my makeup residue!

by Snowwhitessecret Monday, October 8, 2012 at 08:08PM Report as inappropriate

Great article. I use Adrien Arpel's Argon Oil eye pads to remove mascara. It comes off with a breeze and no pulling fragil eye skin!

by doinghair Monday, October 8, 2012 at 06:50PM Report as inappropriate

Shu Uemura is the best! Never fails!

by robyne00 Monday, October 8, 2012 at 01:26PM Report as inappropriate

Olive Oil is a miracle! I use baby/makeup removing wipes to get most of the makeup off then spot treat with olive oil on a cotton pad. Just a few swipes removes waterproof mascara easily. Its amazing how much makeup it picks up that regular makeup wipes couldn't!

by katprincess Friday, October 5, 2012 at 02:08AM Report as inappropriate

superhelpful $$$ saving do-it-at-home tips - thanks!

by jenstar313 Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 12:57PM Report as inappropriate

Its always good to know these things. You can always help some one out w these great lil tips.

by SarahNiikole Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 10:25AM Report as inappropriate

Vaseline is the best when it comes to removing any makeup and pampering. It works better than any makeup remover, and its excellent for overnight moisturizing for dry hands and feet.

by nicky22 Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 08:59AM Report as inappropriate

I love the tips. I will remember the lash extensions.

by tiffany_gallehugh Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 08:16AM Report as inappropriate

I use Oil of Olay lotion on a Q-tip to get my mascara and eyeliner off..

by PinkSugar70 Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 10:33PM Report as inappropriate

A fantastic, gentle way to remove all makeup, yes, even waterproof mascara, is purity made simple by philosophy and the next morning use the uber-fine exfoliating gel, the microdelivery exfoliating wash! (Pssst, QVC has it as a duo.)

by sgibemo Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 01:34PM Report as inappropriate

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil - $36/5 oz. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil - $28/6.7 oz.

by karen_hodge Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 01:09PM Report as inappropriate

I NEVER have trouble with my glitter polish since I use pure acetone from Walmart. Two swipes with a cotton pad and it's gone, baby, gone. No soaking, thus no drying out. And some of my glitter polish is like granite. Those may take three. Soaking in Acetone will seriously dry out nails so you need to pamper them for a few days between manis if you do the foil soak for 5 mins.

by litha Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 12:35PM Report as inappropriate

thanks for the tips! The one for the glittery nailpolish is particularly helpful to me.

by venenumletalis Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 12:30PM Report as inappropriate

This totally works!

by melissa_thiemann Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 12:19PM Report as inappropriate

paint your nails with elmers white glue and let dry before applying glitter polish. PEEL away glue and glitter to remove

by SugarFoot Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 12:10PM Report as inappropriate

Great tips! I used to use baby oil for waterproof mascara, but I guess I won't anymore.

by WiccanLady Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 11:41AM Report as inappropriate

I love glitter nail polish, but usually avoid it due to I HATE that it takes forever to remove! Can't wait to try the foil tip! Thanks!

by raquel_raygoza Friday, September 21, 2012 at 10:32AM Report as inappropriate

not sure why an offensive title was necessary, otherwise pretty good tips.

by LittleBunny Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 03:42PM Report as inappropriate

Awesome tips!! I'm going to have to try the aluminum foil one. It's such a hassle taking off glitter nail polish!! >:D

by bestrong13 Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 02:15PM Report as inappropriate

Great tips! Nail polish with glitter is so hard to take off!

by yestfl Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 02:07PM Report as inappropriate

Great Tips!

by Cupcake900 Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 01:57PM Report as inappropriate

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