Okay, I bought this because literally everyone online was raving about how the Heroine Make Speedy Mascara Remover is life-changing. I wear waterproof mascara almost daily (L’Oréal Lash Paradise, the waterproof version—thank me later), so I figured it was worth trying.

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Let’s start with the good: it’s gentle. Like, really gentle. No stinging, no oil slick, no milky mess running into my eyes. I do like the spoolie applicator—it’s weirdly satisfying to brush remover on your lashes like you’re putting on clear mascara. And it does loosen up waterproof formulas better than micellar water alone.

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But here’s the thing… I still need to go in with a cotton pad and cleanser after. Maybe I had unrealistic expectations, but I thought this would melt everything off in one go. For me, it’s more of a pre-step than a full solution. Compared to my usual Clinique Take The Day Off balm, which breaks down everything in one swipe (including waterproof liner and stubborn lipstick), this felt like extra work.

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Also, the amount of product you get is pretty small. If you wear mascara every day like I do, you’ll probably run through this in under a month. I don’t hate it, but I don’t think it’s cost-effective long-term.

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If you’re someone who really struggles with eye irritation or just wants something super gentle for touch-ups or partial removal, it might be worth it. But if you're lazy like me and want your entire eye makeup gone in one step, I’d still recommend a good cleansing balm over this.

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Final thoughts: it’s cute, functional, and travel-friendly. But it’s not replacing my cleansing balm anytime soon. Call me high maintenance, but I want one-step magic.