What You Need to Know About Makeup Removers

When it's finally time to call it a day (a very long one, usually) makeup removal is probably the last thing on your mind. With an abundance of cleansing waters, cleansing oils, makeup removing wipes and pads on the market, how do you choose just one? Don't worry. We’ve done the research for you, but first, it’s important to know the proper way to clean your face.

It's a dirty little secret that not enough people take their makeup off at night and those that do often don't do it properly. Removing your makeup before cleansing prevents clogged pores and prevent breakouts. In fact, if you are wearing heavy makeup we recommend you perform this task twice!

For eyes, it’s very important to remove makeup with a remover made specifically for the eyes since it's such sensitive area. Why is eye makeup removal so important? Leftover mascara can lead to eye infections, discoloration, and puffy eyes come the morning. Be particular about how you remove eye makeup. Hold a cotton ball with remover over your lids for a minute to dissolve the product, then wipe away. Oils are especially good for removing long-wearing eye makeup.

So how do you decide on which remover to choose? Below is a short list composed of a few of the many different types of removers out there, so you can find the one that will really work for you.

MAKEUP WIPES: The answer to late nights and vacation time, makeup wipes come in different strengths. Some contain stronger ingredients than others, but all get the majority of makeup off your face so you can sleep clean.

CLEANSING OIL: Perfect for dehydrated skin, cleansing oil helps to balance your skin’s natural sebum production, but rinses into a milky emulsion. Ideal for removing long-lasting or water-resistant makeup, the oil breaks down virtually any ingredient.

OIL-BASED MAKEUP REMOVER: If you’re looking for a standard formula that takes off your makeup in one wipe, turn to a liquid oil-based makeup remover. Unlike cleansing oils, these frothy formulas contain water-based ingredients so you never feel an oily residue on your skin. 

MICELLAR WATER/CLEANSING WATER: A gentle option for sensitive skin, micellar or cleansing water will remove basic makeup. It often needs to be wiped on two or three times to completely clean the skin. We recommend using an eye makeup remover after if you prefer waterproof mascara or long-wearing eye liner. 

EYE MAKEUP REMOVER: Why use a separate remover for your eyes? The area around your peepers is incredibly sensitive, and requires a more delicate formula compared to the rest of your face.