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Sylirael Avatar

Yes! 😀 I still have a soft spot for my old favourite Lancome Bi Facil, but you can’t really argue with the $60 price difference or whatever it is here, LOL!

I wear mostly waterproof makeup, and the Neutrogena takes it all off with minimal effort. I do wish the bottle was a little bigger though!

Diane Avatar

I second this one. I’ve been using the Neutrogena Oil-Free Remover for several years now, and even though I’ve tried others, I still keep going back to Neutrogena. It does a great job. I’ve tried expensive removers, but can’t justify paying high prices for what my little $7 bottle does.

Stephanie Avatar

I’ve been using Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes for about 3 years, they remove absolutely any trace of makeup and they are gentle enough for my sensitive skin. Plus you don’t need to rinse your face if you don’t want to.

Emily P. Avatar

Bobbi Brown’s Extra Balm Rinse is by FAR the best one I’ve used, it’s both a cleanser and a make up remover at once. I don’t really have plans to buy any others as long as this one is available. Runner ups, for me, include MAC’s Cleanse Off Oil and Urban Decay Meltdown Make Up Remover. :))

Michelle Avatar

I’ve just recently revamped my skin care routine and have tried SO MANY makeup removers. I always use a separate eye makeup remover. The best is Lancome’s Bi-Facil, but it’s so pricey so I use Clinique’s Take the Day off for lids, lashes and lips; and for my face it’s Clinique again – Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil. This one actually blew me away when I tried it. I had sampled the new Dior cleansing oil at the same time and Clinique’s blew it out of the water.

Michelle Avatar

I just need to add a separate cleanser is absolutely not necessary – I use this with my Boscia Konjac sponge (or my Clarisonic) and my face is so clean – my toner pad wipes completely clean!

Shelley Avatar

I second Clinique take the day off cleansing balm. I love it. I did find that it works best if I let it sit for a just a little (like long enough to brush my teeth) and then rinse if off and use my face wash. If my mascara is being super stubborn, I have a caster and jojoba oil mix and an old clump crusher mascara wand that I apply it with. This is by far my favorite method.

Mariella Avatar

I like MAC Cleansing Oil and Clinique’s Take the Day Off Balm. For a one step/wash off cleanser that takes off most of my every day makeup, I use and like Pur Minerals wash off cleanser (I can’t recall the name but I don’t even know if they make it any longer, since they redesigned much of the line; good thing I have a large jug of it). I also like Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple.

Jennifer A Avatar

Pond’s Cold Cream! It’s the only makeup remover I use, and I’ve tried a lot. It fully removes waterproof mascara and is moisturizing.

Mariam Avatar

I also use it, as not only does it COMPLETELY take my makeup off, I also rub some on my water line to take the last bit of black eyeline off my waterline and it doesn’t irritate my eyes. Amazing stuff

Samira Avatar

I use coconut oil or vaseline if needed for stuff that’s really heavy duty (like mac’s “cement to your eye” eyeliner – I forget the name). In general though I love bioderma, which I bought in canada but just found at a store in nyc as well. I don’t wear a lot of eye makeup day to day, so I don’t need much, and it’s so gentle. I honestly don’t use it unless I feel like my cleanser has missed things.

Daheep Avatar

Bioderma, both the Crealine H2O or the Sensibio H2O. It’s the only one that doesn’t sting my eyes or cloud my contacts & still takes off all my make-up. I don’t use waterproof mascara or long-wear foundation, so can’t say if it works well for that. I do like Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil, but it’s pricey & leaves a cloudy film on contact lenses, no matter how careful I use it. To be fair, I haven’t found a cleansing oil that doesn’t.

A Name Avatar

I actually just use boots (uk drugstore) brand gel eye makeup remover. Works great, and very cheap. I found a lot of wipes the the nuetrogena ones really uncomfortable and leave my face with a kind of raw feeling – maybe I’m slightly allergic to something in them of something.

TrulyAJulia Avatar

I can stop using Coconut Oil and then a hot, wet towel and finishing with squaline oil. Holy Grail. Blinc waterproof tube mascara is the only thing that I had issues taking off using coconut oil. Otherwise, Arbonne RE-9 cleanser. That’ll take anything off.

Kate Avatar

Hands down Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish an HG for me. Removes every trace of make up including waterproof mascara and eyeliner. Packed full of gorgeous natural treats for your skin. I have super sensitive skin and this is one product I use on a daily basis. Fantastic! x

Eileen Avatar

Tatcha makes the best oil cleanser I’ve encountered in the 55 years I’ve been using oil to remove my makeup. It dissolves the heaviest makeup and sunscreen and rinses off easily with water. When I’m wearing a full load of eye makeup 🙂 I like to remove the bulk of it with Chanel’s biphase eye/lip makeup remover before going over my entire face with Tatcha. No double cleansing is needed with Tatcha.

Grace Avatar

For eye makeup, I really really love Bourjois Gentle Eye Makeup remover.. wonder why it doesn’t get mentioned much, I think it’s even better than the Lancome’s BiFacial considering price point. The one given, is that I like the fact it doesn’t have an oily texture.. I just don’t seem to like the feel of it on my skin.

Christine Avatar

Eyes: Olive oil or coconut oil mixed with Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel toner in a little spray bottle. It’s the cheapest eye makeup remover and the best I’ve had so far. I saturate a face towelette with the mixture if I have heavy makeup on. If the weather’s really warm I opt for coconut oil. Otherwise it becomes solid in the container.

Face: Alba Bontanica 3-in-1 Towelettes. Gets my makeup off, doesn’t dry off my skin (that tight feeling), doesn’t sting my eye (but it has pineapple what?), and it smells good. Cetaphil just came out with a makeup remover. It’s a good backup but it doesn’t get my makeup off. Needed a few spritzes of my oil+toner mix to work to my desired strength.

Lisa Avatar

I’m using Almay pads, but I find them too scratchy. Thanks for these tips, since I’ll be switching products.

Also, for a while I was using a diluted solution of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo (1 T in about 1/2 cup of water) – and it gave me a serious eczema rash and I am not allergic to ANYTHING. Someone said it might be the formaldehyde in the shampoo, but who knows.

Meghan Avatar

Just wanted to mention Caroline Hirons – UK skincare guru! I’ve followed her blog and skincare steps for about a year now (not necessarily specific products, although she has some excellent recommendations). It’s more about the regimen – cleanse, cleanse, tone, tone, eye cream, serum (s), moisturiser. My skin is really thanking me for it! Ladies throw those make up wipes away! (Ms. Hiron’s make up wipe rule is… festivals, flying, fannies… Haha).

I’d like to give a shout-out to Boscia’s Makeup Breakup cleansing oil since that’s the first one of it’s type I had ever tried! Now I’m hooked on cleansing oils and will never look back! I still love the Boscia one but I’m always trying out new stuff and tend not to have very many re-purchased products. I want to know what else is out there!

But to answer the question, I’m recently using and loving the Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel – which no one seems to have mentioned. It’s amazing, very gentle on eyes and removes make up easily, including stubborn/ waterproof mascara. It’s a gel but once you start massaging on your face it becomes an oil. It’s very easily removed with water and doesn’t leave a greasy film. I always follow-up using a different gel cleanser (double cleansing).

I most recently finished a bottle of the Dior ‘instant gentle’ oil cleanser, and it was terrible. It stung my eyes so badly – and what is the point of a cleansing oil if you can’t use it for eye make up? I did use the whole bottle since it was $40 and it took me about 6 months (and I would try to use more than I needed to get rid of it faster). It was awful & I wouldn’t recommend!

Brenda Avatar

Karen – do you use the gentle cleansing or combo skin Cetaphil? Do you find the coconut oil helps your skin stay hydrated even after cleansing? I ask because I find the regular Cetaphil a bit drying but the gentle didn’t do a whole lot for me. Thanks!

Wednesday Avatar

I was on cleansing oils for awhile and still use Shu every once in awhile when I am soaking in the tub to prevent moisture dehydration, but for the most part daily using Obagi gentle cleanser. Eyes I am using a heavy duty waterproof eyemakeup remover by Givenchy which is excellent, but expensive. I was thinking about trying the Sephora house brand which is half the cost. Like that the Givenchy requires no scrubbing to remove some tough eye products such as Marc Jacobs gel liners.

KJH Avatar

Sephora waterproof? Wouldn’t go there, not with your tissue issues. It gave me that burning eye cascade that Christine had w/ the MJ pencil shadow recently…both with short duration press-on pad + with Q tip (worse on waterline). They were fine about return, ‘course, but as usual, did not print a negative review, even though i attributed it to my own sensitivities + not the product, per se. It may just be the aloe, which most folks have no problem with. But, it seems that every product has either parabens or aloe, neither of which is good for me. I’ve got a tad of psoriasis on the lids + STINNNNNG?!!! On those patches, the sting did not abate w/ copious flushing + maybe i ought to have used some hydrocortisone cream, ’cause the patches were red in the AM, even w/pm skincare. My skin is not sensitive-type. It’s a bit coarse + masculine (thanks, dad…) and i could tolerate harsh, inadvisable products easily. (Not since i started Paula’s Choice, though, no more menthol, fragrance, etc…) I really wouldn’t go there, for you, anyway. It’s too risky for your situ.

Lee Avatar

For eye makeup, Sonia Kashuk’s Eye Makeup Remover (at Target) is great: super gentle and just dissolves eye makeup. I like it as much as Lancome BiFacil but it’s way cheaper.

Kelly Avatar

I’ve been loving LUSH’s Ultrabland, as a makeup remover and facial cleanser. I wipe it off with a damp washcloth and it gets all my makeup off, and my face is soft and clean. I think its basically a blend of beeswax and almond oil. Its simple and lovely. And the tub lasts for ages. For just taking off eye makeup I like Lancome Bifacil and Green Beaver makes a good inexpensive unscented one in lotion form as well.

Phoebe Avatar

Maybelline Clean Express Makeup Removing Lotion.

Literally the best I’ve ever used. I use it in the shower (I take night showers) and there is not one speck of waterproof eyeliner or mascara left (I use waterproof in both every day).

Jennifer Avatar

I use the Maybelline duophase one on occasion when I have a lot of heavy eye makeup on. Mostly though I use Silk Naturals Apricot Cleansing Oil. It gets everything off! It doesn’t irritate my eyes if say, the moment I get my face all gooped up my dog starts barking at the neighbors and I need to call her in (every single night!). I haven’t had a blackhead since I started using it regularly. It’s basically magic.

Johnna Quick Owens Avatar

I use coconut oil on my eye makeup, it removes everything and leaves my eyelashes feeling silky. For my face and neck, I use Julep’s Bare Face Cleansing Oil. I am a recent convert to the cleansing oils, but was amazed at what a difference it made in my combination skin. My face used to get so painfully tight after washing, or dry and flaky in places with visible oil in others. Now, my skin feels so soft and balanced and I really don’t have breakouts or dry spots. I am so happy with the Julep product that the last time they offered a two-for-one special, I stocked up!

Lizzi Avatar

I’ve tried the expensive makeup remover wipes and liquids. However, I keep coming back to two cheap ones. The Walmart brand makeup remover wipes (the purple packs) are amazing!!! And cost $3.50 for a pack of 35. They even remove heavy duty eyeliner and mascara with a few swipes. And the Neurogena liquid is an old standby.

Maggie Avatar

For Face: Ulta Brand Renew Hydra Quench Foaming Oil Cleanser

Most effective for eyes: MUFE Sens’ Eyes and Jordana Eye Makeup Remover
Most gentle for eyes: Clinique Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

Emma M Avatar

Absolute favorite is Ponds Cold Cream. However I don’t use it because I hate putting my fingers in the tub – very unhygienic to me. However I find that it is THE BEST at removing everything (E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!) and keeping my face soft.

So I mainly use Shu’s Cleansing Oils (the pink one) for the face and if I’m wearing heavy eye makeup then Lancome’s Bi-facil. Nothing else I need.

SparklingTess Avatar

I’m a dedicated Dermalogica Doll.

Their PreCleanse works awesome for me: 44yrs – combo skin – sensitive to: oil, botanical heavy products – olive complexion – daily make-up
Using an ‘oil’ to take my make-up off? Are you mad?! Well that was my initial response when I watched a video about Dermalogica’s PreCleanse. I gave it a go and am happy I did.

The PreCleanse is gentle; my skin does not protest which is a good thing. I moisten my face, squeeze the product into my damp hands and use it like a face wash. No ‘gently swirl it into my skin’ for me! I use it the same way I would a wash. The difference being I do let it sit for a min. I then use a thin cotton mesh cloth (kind of like a tightly woven cheese cloth) to work the oil in and the make-up out of my skin. Then I cleanse etc. I can use it as an eye make-up remover by itself as well.
Ciao!

Diana Avatar

I just use Coconut Oil then proceed with my skin care routine 🙂 Before I used to use Boscia Make Up Break Cool Cleansing Oil which is amazing at removing everything off my face even waterproof mascara. The only reason I don’t use is my coconut oil jar is still full…

Think115 Avatar

I have oily eyelids, so for eye makeup I use waterproof everything. The best product I’ve found for removing waterproof makeup is Make Up For Ever’s Sens’Eyes. It quickly, and easily, dissolves everything. Sens’Eyes is not cheap, but you don’t need very much to get the job done.

As for washing the rest of my face, I prefer Purpose Facial Cleanser. I started using Purpose after I read that it has the ideal ph for cleansing.

Andrea Avatar

I’m using the Eve Lom cleansing balm, but I won’t be re purchasing. Sure does a good job and love the experience, but I find the price just obscene. I don’t see how it’s worth nearly 140. Im replacing it, once I’m done, with the Dior Instant Gentle cleansing oil, much recommended by the Paula’s Choice team.

KG Avatar

I use a mix of almond and grapeseed oil – mix them together, massage into face, use a warm wash cloth and wipe it off. IT removes everything, leaves skin clean and moist. I follow this up with a second cleanse usually with a mild face wash like philosophy purity or Simple hydrating wash.

Clinique Take the Day Off Balm is the bomb. I travel for work and they don’t sell it in small sizes so I don’t get to use it every day of the week but that balm will take off every single stitch of makeup and dirt from your face.

Meiya Avatar

Lately I’m loving Ponds Cold Creme – it’s great for removing foundation and any kind of eye makeup. I’ll spread some all over my face, wipe it off with a damp facial tissue, and then I’ll follow it up with washing my face with my cleanser & a face cloth. Skin with no trace of makeup.

I also adore Almay Oil-Free Makeup Remover, but I use it mostly for perfecting my makeup as I apply it, rather than for makeup removal.

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