I have no idea how Christine (AKA Temptalia) does it. She reviews aproximately one gazillion products a month in a thorough, fair, and entertaining way. She covers just about everything and always makes sure there's something for everyone to find there. I read every one of her posts, and I almost always agree with her. What can I say? Great minds think alike!
However...
I read Christine's review of MAC's Pro Eye Makeup Remover with disappointment when it scrolled up on my Google Reader. She didn't rank it the way she does other product (she usually awards a letter grade after breaking-down aspects of the product). I think maybe that's a good thing, because she panned it! Here's a quote:
"MAC's Pro Eye Makeup Remover ($18.00 for 3.4 fl. oz.) is touted as a gentle eye makeup remover that is “mega-effective” but will still “calm, hydrate, and soothe skin.” It’s gentle, all right! While it’s a dream to apply–no stinging, burning, or cloudiness–there’s not much else it does well.
As a makeup remover, it just doesn’t do an effective job at removing eye makeup, even just regular mascara and eyeliner prove to be too hard to handle for this remover.... Given that it’s an eye makeup remover but doesn’t excel at that task at all, I definitely do not recommend this product."
So, I thought I'd write a totally friendly and light-hearted rebuttal to her review! And here it is...
MAC's Pro Eye Makeup Remover . MAC says it's designed to remove eye makeup gently and effectively - but does it?
MAC calls it "mega effective" and assures us that it "lifts off every look..." Well, if that's the case, why did I rarely sell it when I worked for the company? And despite the fact that it rarely went home in one of my customer's bags, why did I use it CONSTANTLY at the counter?
Let's break things down a bit, shall we?
Some points to consider:
- MAC was originally created as a professional line, for makeup artists.
- Many makeup artists use MAC products.
- MAC was so popular with artists that the line expanded to sell to retail customers who didn't use makeup professionally.
- Some MAC products, even today, may be better suited for professional use rather than in every woman's bathroom arsenal.
Taking it all off with MAC
MAC has two eye makeup remover products. There's this one, Pro Eye Makeup Remover, often referred to as "the purple one", and Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover ("the peach one").
Gently Off is dual-phase. It has oil-based ingredients and water-based ingredients, which means the product separates into to distinct layers when it's left sitting for awhile. Remember the saying "oil and water don't mix"? The oily bits sit on top of the water-based bits, so- you have to give the bottle a good shake to mix up the layers before you use it.
Pro Eye Makeup Remover is not dual-phase - no shaking required. And no oil to be found.
Why have two options
for removing eye makeup?
Gently Off is, quite frankly, the superior eye makeup remover in the MAC stable. It cuts neatly through eye shadow, creamy paints and sticks, mascara, and even MAC's Liquidlast liners and their Pro Longwear Lipsticks (no mean feat!). Let me tell ya, if you can get off Liquidlast then you can get off a plain eye shadow.
You see, some products need a remover with an oil component to break through the pigments and binders and really get them off of your skin! And Gently Off does this with ease. Removal may not be "one swipe" but it's infinitely easy and effective. My suggestion: saturate a cotton pad and hold it on the lashes, lips, or whatever. After a few moments, gently wipe the product off. Voila!
If Gently Off removes everything,
then why have another option?
This question gets to the crux of it, doesn't it? There are a few reasons, so see if any resonate with you.
Gently Off has an oily component. This is good (see above), but it can also be bad. How so?
A) Not all of us want to add oils to our faces, even face-friendly oils (and oils bother some contact lens wearers).
B) Despite MAC's claims that "there's no need to rinse", this product leaves an oily residue behind.
C) Have you ever tried to reapply makeup on top of oil or leftover remover? Hint: it slips and slides and the remover keeps trying to remove... Basically, a mess ensues.
And that brings us to Pro Eye Makeup Remover. Without that oily component, we get to remove makeup and not bump up against issues A through C. As Christine points out, it doesn't quite whisk makeup away, though, but at least it's not an oily mess.
As to how that helps makeup artists (and maybe some consumers): as soon as this makeup remover is used, more makeup can be put on. Immediately. With no slipping and no degradation of the new product.
What this means to you (maybe) :
If you are someone who likes precise and/or intricate makeup looks, you may want to consider adding this to your makeup bag. Ditto if you are a professional artist.
MAC Pro Eye Makeup Remover is perfect for cleaning up tiny messes (ever sneeze immediately after putting on your mascara?). It's ideal for quick changes of shadow color or even blush changes (hello bloggers!). It's stellar when you put makeup where you realize later it shouldn't be - or when you realize you just packed on the wrong color. No oily mess to clean up means quick, efficient touch-ups of still-wet wobbly eye or lip liner.
When you use Pro Eye Makeup Remover, you can use a cotton-tipped applicator to quickly and (somewhat) easily remove small amounts of makeup and then get right back to work, putting a new color on top.
While it may not be the product you want to use on a day-to-day basis or when fighting against longwear products or makeup that has already "set", this makeup remover may still make a difference in your routine.
A final thought...
I'm actually a fan of this product, though I also keep other eye makeup removers handy. Admittedly, it has limited use, but for the times I need it Pro Eye Makeup Remover is truly helpful!
Naturally, consumers like options. But we need to understand why there are different choices to be had, and what makes one product superior to another in some situations.
Maybe we need to label this product "Misunderstood"?
What do you think, pretties?
Do you see occasions when Pro Eye Makeup Remover could be helpful?
Have you tried this remover? What is your opinion?
What's your favorite eye makeup remover?
Did you enjoy this article? Here are some recent BSB posts you may also enjoy:
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- I want to drink my lipgloss. Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss in Bellini. (review, swatches, pictures)
- I'm looking as fresh as a daisy! Is REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask to thank?
- In which I dissect the looks at the Met Gala: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
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- Essie: Lapis of Luxury (nail polish swatches, pictures, review)
- BSB Men's Grooming Special Report! #beardpocalypse
image sources: MAC artist at work, oil and water,
woman removing makeup, slipping oily makeup,
really damn precise eye liner