Most people fall into one of two camps when it comes to makeup removal: it’s either your favourite time of the day because it helps you relax and unwind, plus there’s no better feeling than a clean face.

Or you hate it so much that you take a half-hearted approach and just run a wipe over your face quickly and call it a day.

The one thing we can probably all agree on, though, is that waterproof mascara really is the worst thing to remove.

Its staying power cannot be faulted, and neither can its inability to smudge, but taking it off without making eyes red raw should classed as an Olympic sport.

It is more than possible to melt it away without make-up remover. Here’s how…

The first option is to use petroleum jelly, which not only has a multitude of uses, but a 2015 study deemed it safe to use around the delicate eye area.

Although it’s most commonly used on lips – in the form of Vaseline – as an occlusive, meaning it helps skin retain moisture, it also effectively melts away waterproof mascara.

It’s literally a case of coating lashes with it, wait around five minutes and then remove with a cotton pad. Make sure you wipe downwards though to prevent it going into your eyes.

Just make sure you properly rinse your face afterwards to get rid of any residue.

Along with its many other uses in cooking, hair care and skincare, coconut oil (castor and olive oil will work in the same way) is also an effective way to melt away waterproof mascara.

In the same way that you’d use petroleum jelly, coconut oil should be coated onto lashes and if it’s still partially solid can be massaged into lashes to help loosen the mascara. 

Since it’s pure oil, it doesn’t need to be left quite so long – around 30 seconds to a minute should be enough. Then, using a cotton pad, wipe away in one direction your lashes should be mascara-free.

Again, it’s important to ensure your face is properly rinsed afterwards to get rid of any excess oil residue before you remove the rest of your makeup.

Main image: Getty