Get it Off! All You Need to Know About Makeup Removers

Let’s face it, the last thing you feel like doing after getting home late is taking off your makeup (kicking off your high heels is first priority). The thought of washing your face is less than appealing, but it could save your skin. With more cleansing waters, cleansing oils, makeup removing wipes and pads than seems humanly possible on the market today, how do you choose just one? We’ve done some sleuthing for you, but firstly, it’s important to know the proper way to clean your face.

According to Amore Pacific Spa’s lead aesthetician Lisa Vela (also known as ‘the miracle worker’) not enough people take their makeup off at night, nor do they do it properly. “It’s essential to remove your makeup with makeup remover before cleansing, and to use a separate formula for your eyes,” says Lisa. “This will prevent clogged pores—read: pimples and breakouts—and ensure that you clean your face properly. If you’ve had a lot of heavy makeup on, I even recommend cleansing twice. For eyes, it’s very important to take all of your eye makeup off with a remover targeted for that area. Leftover mascara can lead to eye infections, discoloration, and puffy peepers in the morning. And don’t just swipe it on quickly. Place a cotton ball with remover over your lids, hold it for a minute to dissolve the product, then wipe away. Oils are particularly good for removing long-wearing eye makeup.”

So when you’ve got your routine down pat, how do you decide on which remover to choose We’ve broken down the many different types of removers out there, so you can find the one that will really work for you.

MICELLAR WATER/CLEANSING WATER: A gentle option for sensitive skin, micellar or cleansing water will remove basic makeup, but may need to be swiped 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.
Beautylish recommends: Avéne Micellar Lotion

CLEANSING OIL: Perfect for dehydrated and thirsty 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.
Beautylish recommends: Tatcha One Step Camelia Cleansing Oil

OIL-BASED MAKEUP REMOVER: If you’re looking for a standard formula that takes off your makeup in one swipe, 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.
Beautylish recommends: Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover

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.
Beautylish recommends: Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes

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.
Beautylish recommends: Lancôme’s Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover