The BEST Way to Remove Waterproof Mascara!

I used to absolutely HATE waterproof mascara. Only because it's so difficult to remove! Either I'd hurt my eyes trying to scrub it off with a remover pad or I'd burn my eyes trying to use baby shampoo (the "no more tears" kind, no less!) and there was still leftover gooky residue on my lashes! However, at that time I lived mostly an indoor-life. I have awful allergies and I burn beneath the sun. I also wasn't a very active person either.

Now, some of that has changed. Sunscreen has gotten much better (and very water and sweat resistant!) so I can be outside for more than 5 minutes before I burn. Before, I'd reapply every hour and still burn. Now, I reapply every hour or hour and a half and no burn or tan to speak of. Not that I tan. At all. I also lead a much more active lifestyle. So I sweat a lot. So I can't wear regular mascara. I also don't wear most other makeup - such as foundation - because I'd just sweat it off. So how does a (sweaty, he he) girl wear makeup with an actie lifestyle?

You switch to waterproof mascara, waterproof liner, and lipstain. After you do that, you have to figure out a trick to remove all that waterproof loveliness without 1)Hurting yourself 2)Causing permanent (gasp!) wrinkles and 3)Blinding yourself

So how does one do all that - and not, God forbid, go over budget? Easy, I say! And you probably have all the tools in your medicine cabinet! This is what you need:

• Petroleum Jelly - the cheaper the better! Generic is exactly the same as name brand, if you ask me. If you don't have petroleum jelly, Cold Cream or a cream-based makeup remover will do.
  
• Fingers or a Q-tip depending on your preferences.
  

I like to use my fingers - it's messier, but easier to coat all your lashes that way. I just dip my index finger in the petroleum jelly (a little goes a LONG way!) and rub index finger and thumb together. Sandwich lashes between index finger and thumb. Rub and roll lashes until you get them all coated. Do the same to the bottom ones if you used the waterproof mascara on them. After you get all the lashes nice and goopy, wait about 5 minutes. It depends on the mascara and how much you applied - I use waterproof CoverGirl LashBlast and I apply a lot - I only had to wait a couple minutes. Then use an extra soft washcloth (baby washclothes are nice and they're super cheap) or cotton pad dipped in warm water. Gently wipe the petroleum jelly away.

Viola! It works and it doesn't dry out your eye area AND it doesn't burn or hurt! It also conditions the lashes nicely. You may have to reapply if you didn't wait long enough the first time though - but it's no big deal since it's not painful or difficult or expensive to begin with.

So, what do you think about this tip? How do you remove waterproof mascara? Do you prefer remover or a different way? Share!