Sometimes it's difficult to completely remove eye makeup without ending up with racoon eyes, or worse pulling and tugging on the delicate eye area. Here is the most effective way to do it: First, use a gentle cleanser that is eye safe and cleanse the face and eye lids, splashing with warm water. This allows some of the makeup to dissolve. NOTE At this point you may have racoon eyes, but don't panic! Pat the face dry and then use eye makeup remover. Always choose an oil free version and especially avoid any with mineral oil as it is not healthy and leaves your eyes blurry. Saturate a cotton pad or ball with the eye makeup remover and hold gently on the eyelid for an few seconds, allowing it to dissolve the makeup, especially the mascara. Then gently wipe the cotton across the eyelid and under the eye. If the cotton becomes dirty, saturate a new one and repeat. The key is to let the cleanser, warm water and makeup remover dissolve as much makeup and mascara as possible before you start rubbing. Q-tips dipped in eye makeup remover work well for stubborn eyeliner, because you can trace them along the line to erase them. Most people remove eye makeup before washing their face, but the opposite is more effective and less damaging.