The safest way to remove eyelash glue is to match the removal method to the adhesive. Warm water and eye makeup remover can loosen temporary strip-lash glue. Semi-permanent extensions need professional removal. If glue enters your eye, rinse it with clean, lukewarm water for 15 minutes.

How to Remove Temporary Eyelash Glue

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  2. Close your eye and apply a warm, damp compress to the lash line. This helps soften the adhesive.
  3. Apply an eye makeup remover or eyelash adhesive remover to the closed eyelid. Give it time to loosen the glue.
  4. Lift the false lash from the outer corner. Peel the lash band inward rather than pulling it upward.
  5. Soften the glue again if the lash does not release easily.
  6. Remove any remaining residue with eye makeup remover. Do not rub the lash line.

Warm water, eye makeup remover and products made for eyelash adhesive can loosen temporary glue. Pulling the lash off before the glue softens can irritate the eyelid and damage natural eyelashes.

How to Remove Glue From Natural Eyelashes

Apply an eye-safe makeup remover or lash adhesive remover to the closed eyelid. Wait for the glue to soften, then wipe gently in the direction of hair growth. Repeat the process instead of applying more pressure.

Do not use:

  • Acetone or nail polish remover
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Super-glue remover
  • Household solvents
  • Tweezers, scissors or pins near the eye
  • Forceful rubbing or pulling

Acetone is not safe around the face, eyes or mucous membranes. If the adhesive may contain cyanoacrylate, do not place cotton or wool directly on it. These materials can react with the glue and generate heat.

How to Remove Eyelash Extensions

A trained lash professional should remove semi-permanent eyelash extensions. Do not try to remove them at home, especially when one extension is bonded to several natural lashes.

Home removal can pull out natural eyelashes, irritate the eyelid or worsen an allergic reaction. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises people with an allergic reaction to eyelash extensions not to remove them at home and to see an ophthalmologist.

What to Do if Eyelash Glue Gets in Your Eye

If glue enters your eye:

  1. Rinse the eye with clean, lukewarm water for 15 minutes.
  2. Do not rub the eye.
  3. Do not force sealed eyelids apart.
  4. Do not put acetone, oil, makeup remover or other solvents in the eye.
  5. Contact a medical professional or Poison Control if symptoms continue.

If the eyelids are stuck together, do not pull them apart or use a sharp object to separate them. The adhesive can loosen over time. In the United States, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for product-specific advice.

When to Get Medical Help

Seek urgent medical advice for:

  • Persistent eye pain
  • Blurred or reduced vision
  • Significant redness or swelling
  • Light sensitivity
  • A scratchy or foreign-body sensation
  • Eyelids that remain sealed
  • Glue directly on the eyeball
  • Signs of an allergic reaction

Stop using the adhesive if it causes irritation. FDA guidance recommends contacting a healthcare provider when irritation from an eye cosmetic continues.