The Best DIY Eye Makeup Remover (Works for Mascara too!) (2024)

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links and we will earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links.

The Best DIY Eye Makeup Remover (Works for Mascara too!) (1)

I am so excited to share my latest DIY beauty recipe with you for homemade eye makeup remover!

I decided to make my own eye makeup remover after I ran out of the natural brand I previously used and was pleasantly surprised when I liked it better than the store-bought version.

After some minor tweaking, this DIY eye makeup remover is now perfection, and I have added this to my growing list of products I now make instead of buy.

Wondering why you should make your own eye makeup remover?

Conventional eye makeup removers are usually petroleum based and filled with chemicals that you don’t need anywhere near your sensitive eye area.

Related: 10 toxic ingredients you don’t want in your beauty products

This homemade version is safe, effective, super easy and made with only 4 completely natural ingredients. Plus, it is much cheaper to DIY your eye makeup remover than purchasing it, and you can even make this zero waste (more on that later).

Get the Complete Guide to Making Your Own Lip Balm

This 30-page bookthat is a complete how-to make lip balm guide. It includeseverything you need to know to get started making your own lip balms,with a focus on teaching you how to use ingredients to customize your balms just for you!
Learn More….

The Best DIY Eye Makeup Remover (Works for Mascara too!) (2)

HOW DO YOU REMOVE EYE MAKEUP NATURALLY?

I know you’re here because you want to know how to easily get your makeup off with natural ingredients, so let’s get to it!

Oil is the most common way to remove eye makeup naturally. Olive oil, coconut oil and jojoba oil are all popular choices, and can be used on their own to easily wipe away eye makeup (and face makeup as well!).

I’ve tried the pure oil method, and I much prefer this version with aloe and witch hazel added. I find it much lighter and doesn’t make me feel like a grease-ball afterwards.

WHAT CAN BE USED AS EYE MAKEUP REMOVER?

Coconut oil is a popular choice to remove make-up of all types, and it’s extremely easy to do. Simple rub coconut oil all over face and on closed eyes, then wipe off with a wash cloth.

However, I find coconut oil a little TOO oily for me. I prefer a combination of oil (the key makeup removal ingredient), witch hazel (astringent), and aloe (soothing). I find this combination works wonderfully and doesn’t leave me feeling like I need to wash my face afterwards.

ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS

Olive Oil

Olive oil is my favorite oil for homemade eye makeup remover because it is medium bodied, readily available and great for skin. Just make sure you get good quality, organic if possible! You’re putting this all around your eyes so make sure it’s high quality.

I’ve also tried this recipe with grapeseed oil, which I love for lots of DIY beauty products. I really like it with grapeseed oil as well because I love how light grapeseed oil feels on the skin.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a natural astringent made from the witch hazel plant. It is a great addition to lots of skincare products (like my favorite homemade facial toner) and I really like it in eye makeup remover because it helps the product go on smoothly.

Make sure you are using pure witch hazel, not a blend. You can usually find it at drug stores and health food stores, or my favorite brand is this one.

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel is becoming one of my favorite ingredients to add to my homemade skincare concoctions. It is calming, soothing to skin, and I love the gel texture that it adds to products without having to add synthetic thickeners.

Skip the green aloe gel you used on sunburns when you were a kid and opt for an all natural version instead. There are plenty available, and they will contain only aloe and a small amount of safe preservative.

Find my favorite brand here.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E gives an extra nourishing boost for the sensitive skin around the eyes to this eye makeup remover. I love this liquid dropper version for my homemade beauty products. You only need a few drops in each recipe, so a little bottle will last a long time!

The Best DIY Eye Makeup Remover (Works for Mascara too!) (3)

EASY DIY MAKEUP REMOVER RECIPE

  • 1 TBS olive oil
  • 1 TBS witch hazel
  • 1 TBS natural aloe vera gel
  • 5 drops vitamin E

Combine all ingredients in your preferred container and blend well.

This mixture will separate. Just give it a good shake before applying.

This recipe makes 1 ounce of finished eye makeup remover. I prefer to make small batches to ensure it is fresh. This lasts me for at least a month since I don’t wear makeup very often.

I reused an empty glass container with a pump top for my eye makeup remover. You could also use a dropper container or simply store in a small glass jar and dip into the jar when needed (don’t forget to shake it well!).

The Best DIY Eye Makeup Remover (Works for Mascara too!) (4)

DIY Eye Makeup Remover

A simple yet effective recipe with just 4 ingredients to take off even the most stubborn eye-makeup. This natural eye-makeup remover will be your new go-to!

Ingredients

  • 1 TBS olive oil
  • 1 TBS witch hazel
  • 1 TBS natural aloe vera gel
  • 5 drops vitamin E

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in your preferred container and blend well
  2. This mixture will separate. Just give it a good shake before applying.
  3. This will keep for about a month if stored at room temperature. It is not recommended to store longer than that since it contains no preservative.

Notes

Mixture will separate. Give it a good shake before using.

This recipe makes 1 ounce of finished eye makeup remover. I prefer to make small batches to ensure it is fresh.

I reused an empty glass container with a pump top for my eye makeup remover. You could also use a dropper container or simply store in a small glass jar and dip into the jar when needed (don’t forget to shake it well!).

HOW TO USE YOUR DIY EYE MAKEUP REMOVER

Apply a few squirts to saturate a cotton pad. Gently wipe over your eye area until eye makeup is removed.

Looking for a zero-waste option? I love these reusable cotton rounds for removing makeup! Keep a stash under your sink and simply toss them in the wash with your towels.

The Best DIY Eye Makeup Remover (Works for Mascara too!) (5)

HOW DO I STORE MY HOMEMADE EYE MAKEUP REMOVER?

Your DIY eye makeup remover can be stored in the bathroom at room temperature. As I mentioned above, as long as your aloe vera gel has a safe preservative in it, your makeup remover will keep fine for several months.

I prefer to make this in smaller batches, to ensure it is fresh. Like many homemade beauty products, they do have a shelf life since you are not using a preservative.

Your homemade eye makeup remover can also be stored in the fridge to extend its shelf life.

HOW TO MAKE ZERO WASTE EYE MAKEUP REMOVER

One of the beautiful things about making your own products is that they can often be zero or very low waste. For this eye makeup remover, simply reuse a previous container to store your concoction in (that’s what I do!).

Skip the disposable cotton pads and opt for a handmade, reusable version like these. They are SO much softer and you will get years of use out of them.

Looknig for more zero waste beauty DIYs? Check out this Aloe Vera Healing Moisturizer from Zero Waste Wisdom.

All of my DIYs are zero waste friendly! Check my Clean Beauty page to check them out, and I definitely recommend the solid lotion bars.

More Beauty DIYs with some of the same ingredients from this recipe:

  • DIY Facial Toner with Witch Hazel and Aloe
  • Homemade Cuticle Oil
  • My Favorite DIY Sugar Scrub Recipe

PIN IT for Later:

The Best DIY Eye Makeup Remover (Works for Mascara too!) (6)
The Best DIY Eye Makeup Remover (Works for Mascara too!) (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 6646

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.