Lipstick Masala

Naomi Campbell once famously said she didn’t need plastic surgery because she had great genes, and well, “black don’t crack.” For many years, I mistakenly believed the same thing – i.e. that my darker skin tone and the fabulous skin of my mother and grandmothers would save me from crow’s feet. It was only recently that I began to see the folly of my ways. Sure genetics may play a big part in how I age, but my mother and grandmother did not lead my 21^st century life. They were not exposed to the same chemicals in their food, or the ever-diminishing ozone layer. They may have plucked, tweezed and primped, but they stuck to one product rather than the millions that are available today with God only knows what ingredients in them. And finally, they most certainly did not pull all nighters throughout college or go to clubs till 4 am and fall asleep with their makeup on.

Now, you may be reading this and rolling your eyes. I’m not going to lie, I used to think the same way. But, ladies, being brown is not the panacea to aging – it may slow down the process slightly, but in today’s world, you have to take whatever measures you can to prevent yourself from looking older than you are. If you believe leaving your eyeliner/mascara/foundation on when you go to sleep isn’t a big deal and that experts only insist on removing it to prevent acne or infections, you are making a big mistake. The chemicals in the products are drying and damaging, they don’t allow your skin to breathe, and they will, believe you me, cause premature wrinkling. If you want skin like your grandmother’s, then you need to keep it clean like she did, and the first step is investing in a good eye makeup remover.

“Why can’t I just use face wash to remove my mascara?” Well, first of all, many face washes have harsh ingredients that are not appropriate for the delicate skin around your eyes. Second, as desis we generally reach for the darkest and strongest liners that will stay on our skin, which means that you need something a little extra to help remove it without having to rub and scrub the eye area (another cause of fine lines that should be avoided).

What to look for in an eye makeup remover:

-       A consistency that allows you to remove the makeup without tugging

-       A product that is ophthalmologist tested (most of the big names are)

-       If you wear contacts, a product that is safe for your lenses and won’t irritate your eyes.

-       Some products sting on one person but are fine on another, there are removers available that are gentle for any level of sensitivity.

- Like most face cleansers, you can find an eye makeup remover specific to your skin type i.e. oily, dry, normal

Our Recommendations:

Clinique Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover:

Description from the site: Clinique’s gentlest eye makeup remover. Rich, creamy lotion spreads evenly, quickly. Effectively removes all signs of makeup without leaving an oily after-feel. As gentle to the eyes as tears. For all skin types. Ophthalmologist Tested. Appropriate for contact lens wearers.

LM’s take: $16.50, and worth it. Our personal favorite and go-to product. Removes even the most stubborn black eye makeup. Clinique.com

Lancôme Bi-facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover:

Description from the site: Double-phase, fresh-as-water liquid eye makeup remover.

Activates when shaken to gently whisk away even waterproof eye makeup, while conditioning and refreshing the skin. Ideal for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers. Leaves eyes feeling cool and relaxed, with no oily residue. Ophthalmologist-Tested For Safety.

LM’s take: We are personally not fans of liquid makeup remover, but this one is worth the $26.50. Removes eye makeup without the least bit of struggle and does not sting like other water-based removers. Lancome.com

Almay Oil-Free Makeup Remover Pads:

Description from the Site: Convenient oil-free pads remove eye makeup in one easy step with no mess. Botanical blend of aloe, cucumber and green tea nourishes lashes and delicate skin. Your lashes will feel soft and beautifully conditioned. Perfect for contact lens wearers. Great for waterproof mascara!

LM’s take: We are actually big fans of all the makeup removers in the Almay line, including the regular remover liquids. This one is best for when you come home tired and don’t want to go through the extra steps of locating and dousing cotton pads. The $4.99 price tag can’t be beat. Almay.com

If you want to go the natural route without spending $$$:

Many ladies use products like Vaseline, olive oil, and baby oil. These home solutions do indeed work well at removing makeup, but you will be stuck feeling greasy and will probably want to scrub your eye area clean (defeating the purpose of gentle removal). Also, I find the oils tend to get in my eyes and my vision gets blurry for a little while which I hate, and don’t think can be too good for you. If you want to go natural, I say stick to the Vaseline over the oils.

Also, Pond’s Cold Cream ($4.49 Ponds.com) is not really natural, but it contains a formula chock full of antioxidants and vitamins E and C – it’s what your mother used and your grandmother used – and it worked fabulously. I still steal it off of my mother’s dresser when I run out of my Clinique. It’s great for ladies with drier skin types.

****Finally – remember when using any remover****

- Never rub the remover into your eyelid. Spread the product onto a cotton pad and then place onto your lid for a few seconds. The product should dissolve your makeup. Then gently wipe away.