How to Remove Mascara Without Damaging Your Lashes

I started swimming competitively at age six, and some of my most vivid memories are from the locker room before practice. From seventh grade through my senior year of high school, I grabbed one of those coarse brown paper towels from the bathroom dispenser, ran it under the faucet, and scrubbed at my mascara before racing out to the pool deck, pulling on my goggles and jumping in. I can still feel the abrasive pull of that paper across my lashes and smell its fibrous, cardboard-like scent. Knowing what I know now about lash health and the delicate skin around the eyes, I cringe just thinking about it.

You may not have a swim practice waiting, but the end of a long day invites the same kind of shortcut. Most of us have reached for a wipe or a splash of water and rubbed until the mascara finally gave way. The problem is that every hard rub pulls on the very lashes your mascara was designed to make look longer and fuller.

To remove mascara without pulling at your lashes, let the formula release before you wipe it away. Start by massaging an oil-based cleansing balm over dry skin and gently around closed eyes, and give it a moment to soften the mascara. Next, gently lift the loosened makeup away with a soft, warm, damp washcloth or cotton round, wiping in the direction your lashes grow. Rinse, then follow with a gentle facial cleanser on your skin. At Crunchi, that routine starts with Cleansing Balm and ends with Gentle Facial Cleanser, which washes away remaining oils and makeup residue.

As a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner and the product developer behind Crunchi’s formulas, I think about how a product comes off as carefully as how it wears. Mascara has to hold onto your lashes to deliver volume, length, and definition. Once you understand what creates that hold, you can remove it with far less friction, and that principle is the foundation of everything in this routine.

Why Mascara Can Be Difficult to Remove

Mascara is built to stay put, which is exactly what makes it tricky to remove. Most formulas combine pigments for color, waxes that add body and build a coating on each lash, and film formers that create a flexible layer to hold everything in place all day. If you would like a closer look at each of those ingredient groups, I explain them in What Mascara Is Made Of.

The type of mascara you wear also matters. Waterproof formulas resist water, so rinsing alone often leaves the coating behind. Regular mascara can also resist removal, especially when you have built up two or three coats. Tubing mascara works differently, using polymers that form tiny sleeves around individual lashes that typically need warm water to release.

Our new Shattered® Peptide Mascara is a good example of why technique matters. We spent years developing a non-ethoxylated, multi-film-former system designed to resist flaking and smudging all day, which also means water alone won't remove it. That staying power is what you want while you are wearing it, and a thoughtful removal routine is what keeps it from costing you lashes at night.

From a formulation standpoint, removal comes down to loosening the coating’s hold on the lash. Rubbing harder applies force to both the makeup and the hair beneath it. Giving the formula time to release reduces the need for that force.

How Cleansing Balm Removes Makeup While Caring for Skin

Cleansing should leave your skin clean and comfortable, never tight or stripped. We formulated Cleansing Balm as a three-in-one makeup remover, cleanser, and hydrator that removes makeup, SPF, and impurities while replenishing moisture and supporting the skin barrier.

Those three jobs work together. The oil-based formula dissolves oil-compatible makeup ingredients and softens the waxy coating on your lashes, allowing pigment and film-forming residue to lift away. Its silky slip reduces drag as you remove the loosened makeup with a damp pad or washcloth. At the same time, its emollients soften your skin and help it retain moisture, so you finish your cleanse feeling comfortable rather than dry.

The ingredients behind the formula

Every ingredient in Cleansing Balm earns its place, both for how it helps release makeup and for how it cares for your skin.

Organic turmeric root extract provides antioxidants, helps soothe skin, reduces the appearance of redness, and brightens the complexion. It is also what gives the balm its beautiful golden color.

Olive-derived squalane is a lightweight emollient that naturally complements your skin’s lipids. It helps loosen makeup and SPF, replenishes moisture, and supports the skin barrier.

Prickly pear oil supplies fatty acids and antioxidants that help nourish, moisturize, and smooth the skin.

Sweet almond oil softens skin and improves suppleness while supporting the balm’s makeup-loosening action and glide.

The finished formula matters as much as the individual ingredients. Cleansing Balm was independently tested for eye irritation potential using the EpiOcular™ model, a non-animal laboratory method that uses lab-grown tissue designed to mimic the outer surface of the eye (EU Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing). Tested at full strength, the formula was classified as non-irritating. With a light touch, its texture helps lift mascara without pulling on your lashes.

You may hear people talk about “breaking down” mascara. What that really means is loosening its coating so it can be lifted away. Different film formers respond differently, so give the balm time to work, and follow the warm-water directions for tubing formulas. The goal is a thorough cleanse with less friction, leaving skin soft and hydrated afterward.

Regular, waterproof, and tubing mascara

The same principle applies to every formula: release the coating before you wipe it away. Here is how to adjust the routine for the type of mascara you wear.

Regular mascara: Massage the balm over dry skin and gently across your lashes, allow it to soften the coating, then lift away the loosened makeup with a warm, damp pad or washcloth.

Waterproof mascara: Apply the balm to dry skin around closed eyes and give it a little extra time, since waterproof formulas are designed to hold on. Once the mascara softens, gently remove it with a warm, damp pad or washcloth and rinse thoroughly.

Tubing mascara: Cleanse with the balm, then incorporate warm water as directed by your mascara brand to release the tubes. Gently lift the released tubes away with a damp pad or washcloth, then rinse. Resist the urge to pull them off your lashes.

This five-step routine takes only a few minutes, and once it becomes a habit, you will notice how much less your eyes and lashes have to endure at the end of the day.

1. Prepare your hands and cloth

Wash and dry your hands first. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before taking off any eye makeup so oils and makeup residue are not trapped against the lens. Have a clean, soft washcloth or lint-free cleansing pad ready, dampened with comfortably warm water. Avoid rough fabric or a dry pad, which can catch on your lashes and tug them as you wipe.

2. Apply Cleansing Balm to dry skin

Start with Cleansing Balm on dry skin, which allows the oils to go to work on your makeup without being diluted by water. Massage a quarter-sized amount over your face, including gently around closed eyes. That amount is for your whole face, not each eye, and the balm should stay on your skin and lashes rather than in the eyes themselves.

Use a light touch to smooth the balm over your mascara-coated lashes, then give it a moment to soften the formula before you wipe. Avoid pinching your lashes between your fingers or picking at any hardened mascara.

3. Lift away makeup with a damp pad or washcloth

With your eyes closed, gently wipe the loosened mascara in the direction your lashes grow. Use minimal pressure, and turn to a clean section of the pad or cloth as makeup transfers onto it. Avoid back-and-forth rubbing, which adds friction without adding results.

For tubing mascara, let warm water help release the sleeves as directed by the mascara brand. If any coating is still firmly attached, pause and give the balm more time. More pressure is never the solution.

4. Rinse and check the lashes

Rinse away the loosened makeup and balm completely, then take a quick look along your lashes and beneath your eyes for any remaining residue. If needed, repeat one gentle pass with a clean, damp section of your pad or cloth, or lightly brush a clean cotton swab along the base of the lashes. Never scrape at the lash roots or the waterline.

5. Follow with Gentle Facial Cleanser

Once you remove your eye makeup, apply half to one pump of Gentle Facial Cleanser to damp facial skin. Massage gently, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry.

This second step removes the oils and makeup residue the balm leaves behind. Its plant-derived cleansing agents lift oily residue so it rinses away cleanly with water. Organic glycerin supports hydration, and the pH-balanced, soap-free formula cleanses without stripping.

Gentle Facial Cleanser is not formulated or tested specifically as an eye makeup remover, so keep it on your facial skin and out of your eyes. The balm, a damp pad or cloth, and thorough rinsing are what finish removing mascara from your lashes.

What Gentle Removal Means for Lash Care

A gentle formula works best with a gentle technique. Softening your mascara first reduces the tugging needed to remove it, which matters because pulling and repeated friction can break or pull out lashes.

A few everyday habits make a real difference. Avoid picking mascara off with your nails, rubbing until the eye area feels sore, or applying a fresh coat over yesterday’s residue. Remove all of your eye makeup before bed every night, as the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends, and start each application with clean lashes.

This is also why we think about lash care from both directions. Our new Shattered® Peptide Mascara pairs Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, a lash-conditioning peptide, with Pro-Vitamin B5, glycerin, and organic beeswax to help condition your lashes with every coat. Gentle removal at night protects that care, so you don't undo what your mascara supports during the day.

Finding a naturally shed lash on your cloth does not necessarily mean you caused damage. However, persistent shedding, visible gaps, or broken-looking lashes deserve attention from an eye care professional or dermatologist. If any product causes irritation, stop using it immediately, rinse thoroughly, and see a qualified healthcare professional if it persists.

Do Eyelashes Grow Back After Breakage or Pulling?

In most cases, yes. Eyelashes usually grow back if the follicle remains healthy, but regrowth takes weeks to months, not days.

Eyelashes grow, rest, and shed in a natural cycle, and each lash is at its own stage. One study that followed eyelashes weekly for nine months found that a complete eyelash cycle lasts about three months, with the active growth phase lasting roughly one month (Thibaut et al., British Journal of Dermatology). That is why finding an occasional shed lash is completely normal. Breakage is different. It happens when the visible hair shaft snaps, leaving a shorter lash behind. Pulling can remove a hair from its follicle before it would have shed on its own.

How quickly a lash returns depends on where it was in its growth cycle and what caused the loss. Repeated trauma or scarring can affect the follicle itself, which makes regrowth less predictable.

As a nurse practitioner, I would watch for changes in the pattern: persistent shedding, visible gaps, or lash loss with itching, redness, or crusting. These signs warrant evaluation by a qualified healthcare provider rather than assuming mascara removal is the only cause.

Gentle cleansing helps limit avoidable pulling while your lashes move through their normal cycle. The practical goal is to remove your makeup thoroughly without stressing the hairs or the delicate skin around them.

Our Clean Standards Apply to Cleansing Too

It is easy to think of a cleanser as something that simply washes away, but anything you massage around your eyes every night deserves the same scrutiny as the makeup it removes. At Crunchi, we evaluate the individual ingredients, the finished formula, and how the product will actually be used.

Cleansing Balm is EWG Verified®, Leaping Bunny Certified, non-GMO, vegan, silicone-free, and gluten-free, with full ingredient transparency and more. Eye irritation testing is a separate, equally important consideration because you will be using it right where you remove your mascara. We also chose a non-animal test method for that evaluation, consistent with our cruelty-free commitment.

Build a Nighttime Skincare Routine After Mascara Removal

Once your makeup is off, shift your evening routine to keep your skin hydrated and comfortable overnight. Start with a double cleanse, Cleansing Balm followed by Gentle Facial Cleanser, then choose a night cream and finish with targeted eye care. If a serum is already part of your routine, apply it as directed before your facial cream.

Nightlight Facial Cream for overnight moisture

Nightlight® Facial Cream is a rich, whipped moisturizer that helps replenish moisture and support the skin barrier while you sleep. Organic jojoba, sunflower, and avocado oils help soften the skin, while hibiscus supports a smoother-looking complexion.

Choose it when your main priority is nourishing overnight moisture. Apply it to your face, neck, and décolleté as the moisturizing step in your evening routine.

Nightlight Advanced Facial Cream for hydration and visible signs of aging

Nightlight® Advanced Facial Cream pairs that same moisturizing care with bakuchiol, azelaic acid, and a stable form of vitamin C to help improve the appearance of fine lines and uneven tone. Organic argan and jojoba oils provide additional moisture.

Choose it when you want your night cream to address visible concerns while also providing hydration. Nightlight® and Nightlight® Advanced are alternatives for this step, so there is no need to layer both. Keep facial creams away from the lash line and use them as directed.

Powerlight Eye Cream for the surrounding skin

Complete your routine with Powerlight® Eye Cream. Peptides help smooth the appearance of fine lines, while caffeine derived from green tea helps reduce the look of puffiness. Niacinamide and stable vitamin C help brighten the appearance of the eye area, and squalane supports moisture.

Use your ring finger to apply it gently around the eye area, since it naturally applies the least pressure. Follow the product’s directions, avoid direct contact with the eyes, and keep the cream on the surrounding skin rather than the lash line.

A Nighttime Routine That Starts with Proper Removal

Loosen the mascara, gently lift it away, and rinse thoroughly. Follow with Gentle Facial Cleanser on your face, then Nightlight® or Nightlight® Advanced and Powerlight®. Each step has a clear purpose: remove makeup, cleanse away residue, and care for your skin before bed.

This is the routine I wish I had known at thirteen, standing in that locker room with a wet paper towel in my hand. A mascara that truly stays put deserves a removal routine that respects your lashes just as much. When you give the formula time to release, you get all-day performance without paying for it in lost lashes, and that is the balance we design every Crunchi® product to deliver.

Discover Shattered® Peptide Mascara and Cleansing Balm.

Frequently Asked Questions About Removing Mascara

How do you get regular or waterproof mascara off without scrubbing?

Let an oil-based balm do the work instead of friction. Apply Cleansing Balm to dry skin around closed eyes, let the mascara soften (waterproof formulas may need a little extra time), then gently lift it away with a warm, damp pad or washcloth, and rinse.

Why is there still mascara under my eyes after cleansing?

Usually, some of the coating loosened but was never fully lifted away. Use a clean section of your damp pad or cloth to remove the remaining makeup, then rinse. Reusing a makeup-covered section of the cloth can spread residue right back onto your skin.

Can Cleansing Balm be part of a tubing mascara routine?

Yes. Use Cleansing Balm along with the warm-water step your tubing mascara brand recommends. Once the tubes release, gently lift them away with a damp pad or washcloth and rinse.

Why follow Cleansing Balm with Gentle Facial Cleanser?

Each step has a different job. The balm loosens and removes makeup, and the Gentle Facial Cleanser washes away remaining oils and residue from your face. Keep the facial cleanser out of your eyes, and finish your lashes by rinsing and giving a gentle pass with a clean, damp pad or cloth.

How do you get mascara out of clothes?

Start with the garment’s care label, then use a fabric-appropriate stain treatment as directed. Avoid machine drying until the stain is completely gone, since heat can set it. Cleansing Balm is formulated for skin, not fabric, and dry-clean-only garments are best left to a professional.

How do you remove Shattered® Peptide Mascara?

The same gentle routine works beautifully. Shattered® Peptide Mascara uses a multi-film-former system designed to resist flaking and smudging all day, so water alone will not remove it. Massage Cleansing Balm over dry skin and gently across your lashes, give it a moment to soften the formula, then lift it away with a warm, damp washcloth or cotton round, wiping in the direction your lashes grow. Rinse thoroughly and follow with Gentle Facial Cleanser on your skin.

Additional evidence links

Melanie Petschke is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner and co-founder of Crunchi®, an EWG Verified® clean beauty brand. She has over 15 years of experience studying ingredient safety and over a decade in product development. She writes about ingredient safety, clean living, and the science behind what we put on our skin.