Waterproof mascara is a rugged and resilient makeup product. It can hold its own against a teary-eyed wedding ceremony, unexpected

rain, a dip in the water, (or as I’m most familiar with) a sweat-inducing 90-degree day with high humidity. It can also hold a curl better than most traditional mascara formulas, which is why people with stick-straight lashes (like yours truly), always seem to keep one or two tubes on hand. 

Like most things in life, though, it’s not perfect. In this case, its steadfastness, which is at first a blessing, can turn into a curse as soon you try to remove it. I, for one, have spent far too much time standing over my bathroom sink rubbing at my eyelashes with a cotton pad soaked in makeup remover, all but willing the mascara to go away. This is obviously less-than-ideal, considering repeated friction can be damaging to the thin skin around the eyes. It can also cause eyelashes to fall out…

The good news is you don’t have to completely forgo waterproof mascara in order to save your lashes. There are ways to remove it safely and gently. You just need to know the right technique and the right products to use. That’s where makeup artists come in. Keep scrolling to learn how to remove waterproof mascara the right way, according to three experts.