How to Remove Eye Black
Chances are you’ve had to deal with the smearing and staining of eye black if you have kids in baseball, softball, or football. While kids love the cool and intimidating look on the field, it’s a whole other story when it’s time to scrub it off before bed. Good news: we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about how to remove eye black–quickly, easily, and without a meltdown!
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How to Remove Eye Black
Here’s how to remove the crayon stick style of eye black without scrubbing your child’s face raw.
What You’ll Need to remove eye black:
- A soft makeup removal cloth or cotton makeup remover pads
- Makeup remover (micellar water or gentle oil-based remover works well)
- Mild soap and water (optional for extra cleanup)
Step-by-Step Instructions to remove eye black:
- Apply Makeup Remover: Pour a small amount of makeup remover onto a soft cloth or cotton pad. Gently press it against the eye black area for 10–15 seconds. This gives the remover time to break down the grease.
- Wipe Gently: Wipe in a downward motion (not back and forth) to lift the eye black away from the skin. Repeat if necessary.
- Follow with Soap and Water (if needed): If there’s any lingering residue, wash the area gently with mild soap and warm water, then pat dry.
- Moisturize (Optional): If your child has sensitive skin, follow up with a gentle moisturizer to prevent dryness or irritation.
Pro Tip:
Keep travel makeup remover or micellar water pads in your sports mom bag. The sooner the eye black comes off the easier it will be!
What Is Eye Black and Why Do Athletes Wear It?
Eye black is that black stuff players see under athletes’ eyes during games. Eye black is meant to reduce glare from the sun or stadium lights, helping athletes see better. Whether or not eye black actually helps with performance is debatable. For many young athletes, it’s more about the look than the function. It’s like war paint for Little League—confidence-boosting, fierce-looking, and, unfortunately, very good at smearing and staining things it touches.
You’ll spot eye black most often in baseball, softball, and football, especially among players who want to feel like their pro-level heroes. It adds a bit of swagger and fun to the uniform, but it also adds one more thing to clean!
Types of Eye Black: Stickers vs. Stick
There are two main types of eye black: eye black stickers and eye black stick (grease or crayon-style). Both serve the same purpose, but they apply—and remove—very differently.
Eye Black Stickers
These are pre-cut adhesive strips that you peel and stick under the eyes. They are available in a traditional eye black shape and in fun, modern shaped stickers like crosses or triangles. They’re easy to apply and stay in place well during games. Many even come with fun designs or custom messages. The best part of sticker eye black? They’re a breeze to take off. Just peel them off gently and wipe away any leftover adhesive with a damp cloth or a bit of makeup remover!
Eye Black Stick (aka the Mess Maker)
This is the greasy formula that you swipe on like face paint. It usually comes in a retractable lipstick type tube. Black is the traditional color, but eye black now comes in many different colors. Kids can create their own design with an eye black stick. Unfortunately it’s messier, smudgier, and a bit more stubborn to remove than the stickers—especially after a sweaty game.
Proud Kids, Clean Faces
Eye black is a small detail that makes a big impact—on and off the field. It doesn’t have to stick around longer than the final inning. Whether you’re peeling off stickers or wiping away a grease stick masterpiece, now you’ve got the tools to handle the post-game clean-up like a pro.
