Simple Skincare Micellar Make-Up Remover Eye Pads Are The Only Wipes I Can Use Around My Sensitive Eyes - Product Review

I'm not a very sensitive person. Or at least I like to think I'm not (my friends, family, and past significant others may tell you differently). The one exception — the kryptonite, you might say — to my thick skin, is my eyes. Maybe it's the amount of makeup I have to try as a part of my job, or because I wear contact lenses regularly, or the fact that I have light grayish-blue eyes; regardless, the minute anything the least-bit scented or chemically laden gets close to them, they start to water like a leaky faucet. Eye creams, facial moisturizers, and makeup removers are the worst offenders.

This sensitivity is the reason I normally stick to basic micellar water to remove my makeup — the classic Bioderma formula to be exact. It doesn't always get everything off, especially longer-wearing makeup formulas, but I've found a way to troubleshoot: using the micellar water before I wash my face, as well as after, to get rid of stubborn mascara and eyeliner left smudged along my lower lashes.

The only other remover/wipe/makeup taker-offer that 1) Doesn't sting my eyes and cause them to leak continuously like some weird form of self-inflicted Chinese water torture, and 2) Actually get rid of any and all eye makeup without having to go through my three-step system is the Simple Skincare Eye Make-Up Remover Pads. I used to keep packs of these handy, disc-shaped wipes in my makeup kit for performances. See, in my pre-editor life I was a dancer, and still occasionally perform with a company here in New York City. As you can imagine, we wear a lot of eye makeup for these shows: Primer, shadow, pencil liner, liquid liner, white eyeliner, false lashes, undereye concealer — and layers upon layers of these things to ensure that they stay in place even in the face of hot lights and excess sweat. If I was to use my micellar water to take this makeup off I'd go through an entire pack of cotton rounds in one sitting, which is neither efficient nor environmentally friendly. However, I only need two-to-three of these fragrance-free wipes to get off all that makeup. You can imagine how they work when you're only wearing a smidge of eyeliner and a few coats of mascara.

I totally forgot how much I loved these wipes until the brand's newest version — the Simple Skincare Micellar Make-Up Remover eye pads — ended up in the February 2018 Allure Beauty Box and I was asked to find someone to write a review. Having liked the OG wipes, I decided it would be safe to give these new ones a try and to do the review myself.

I'm not sure why I used Simple's wipes strictly for dance performances, but it may have something to do with the fact that I bought a ton of Bioderma on my last trip to Paris and I've been trying to use those up at home. But regardless of how much micellar water is left, from now on, I'm definitely stashing a pack of this new micellar-laced wipes in both in my medicine cabinet and at my vanity. In addition to taking off makeup without much effort (they're just as effective as the original wipes), the textured cotton pads feel soft and gentle to the touch (important since the skin around your eyes is very delicate and you should never pull on it or rub it too hard), and most importantly, they don't sting my eyes or cause them to turn into a waterfall of tears.

This is mostly because the pads are free of artificial perfume and color, as well as any harsh chemicals. But it also could be the fact the wipes themselves are not too wet. For me, one of the biggest issues with wipes or removers is that they leave behind lots of liquid around the eyes, which then ends up getting into my eyes as I try to clean it off. These pads have just enough remover to get the job done, but not so much that you're left with a greasy, slippery mess. They're also hydrating, so your skin is left feeling soft and refreshed after using them.

I may not be sensitive but I do know a good deal when I see them, and at $7 a pack, these wipes are worth giving a try.