What is your current makeup removal routine? Share!
I just started a new bottle of shu uemura’s Cleansing Oil, which is what I use for removing just about everything. I go back in with Lancome Bi-Facil on a cotton swab for eyeliner!
Thanks to Riya for today’s questions! Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
Baby oil with aloe added to remove all my eye makeup. I wear the most waterproof mascara and eyeliner I can find due to the horribly hot climate I live in, oil does the trick. Afterwards, I either use an exfoliating face cleansing wipe or Ole Henriksen Red African Tea Foaming Face wash. Lately, I have been trying out a sample of Hada Labo Moisturizing cleanser and it’s really nice! Sometimes I follow up with an exfoliating cleanser, too.
I use The Body Shop Waterproof Eye & Lip Makeup Remover for my whole face pretty much – eyemakeup, lips, and base if I wear a heavier foundation. And then my face wash for the rests of the foundation etc!
That stuff is so amazing. I use it after their cleansing oil and it works like a charm.
Cleansing oil – Im using a Bobbi Brown one. Once it gets over, I’ll go back to Shu Uemura. Off late, Ive started re-washing my face with cleanser post washing up the cleansing oil. Just to be sure.
It actually varies a lot: I have a bunch of makeup removers and I use one of them depending on the amount of makeup I wore that day, how much time I want to spend on my nighttime routine, etc… Basically, I use micellar water (these days Simple) when I have light makeup and want to be finished quickly, and a lotion (Neutrogena) or balm (Cinq Mondes) that I rinse if I can spend a little more time and/or I was wearing heavier base makeup.
I am using olive oil mixed with water to remove my makeup 🙂
Mine has been the same for a loooooong time. Just two Body Shop products, both from their Chamomile line. I start with the Chamomile Cleansing Oil, which is just AMAZING. You put it on dry, do a scrub/wash of your face to break up all the makeup, then add water and it becomes more of a milk, then you rinse it off and your skin is super soft. If I need to, I then take a cotton round with some of their Chamomile Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover (which I shake up first as it’s a bi-phase formula) to any areas with product left on like mascara or a really stubborn liquid lipstick and they go off in a swipe. They have two other products in the line, one is a gentle makeup remover I think, and the other is a solid or mostly solid thing that comes in a tin. The two I use work fabulously and I would highly recommend them. You can also use the cleansing oil as just a cleanser if you like which makes it a great multi-use product.
Remove eye make-up with Nivea (bi-phase) and then double cleanse with Yes To Carrots (cream) and L’Occitane (oil).
Lancome Bi Facil for eyes and Clinique’s rinse Off Foaming Cleanser for everything else. The Clinique foaming cleanser is actually for make up removal, not cleansing. If Clinique would name it appropriately, more women would know about it and use it. You follow it with regular face cleanser.
I love Clinique’s “Take the day off” balm. It removes everything the first time around!
Okay so I’ll give you a step by step on what I do on my removing makeup routine.
1. Have motivation.
2. Use makeup remover wipe all over to the face.
3. Remove extra with makeup remover cream.
4. Rinse it off with warm water.
5. Take a shower/clean off face with Clarisonic.
If I fail to follow step one, I’m in deep s***. Hahahah
That’s always the worst part isn’t it! 🙂
I use Sephora’s cleansing water! It does a good job of taking everything off and it doesn’t leave you feeling oily afterwards. When I’m travelling I use Neutrogena’s makeup wipes because I can get everything off with one wipe.
i typically use klorane makeup remover with a cotton ball and it all comes off with no problems, but i bought the ponds cold cream cleanser last night to see if it’s any good. hoping for the best lmfao
I use Almay’s Long-Wearing Makeup Remover pads for my eyes whenever I wear waterproof mascara, which is every time I use mascara. Then, I go over my whole face with an Equate Makeup Remover Wipe. After that, I use a gentle facial cleanser to wash off any residue. And finally, I use a damp Q-tip to go over my lash line and remove any residual eye makeup.
Coconut oil. It removes everything and leaves my skin soft and supple.
I use makeup wipes to remove my face makeup and then either my Lancome or Almay Eye Makeup Remover. After that, I clean my face with my Eclos Daily Facial Cleansing Oil to remove whatever is left and then I go in with my Purity cleanser and continue with my normal routine.
If I’m at the sink, I use Clinique Take the Day Off cleansing balm, followed by First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser and a konjac sponge. If I’m sitting on the side of the bed, I use Mario Badescue Eye Makeup Remover Gel, followed by an Aveeno Ultra-Calming makeup remover wipe (I do really like these for getting sunscreen off my neck and upper chest, it’s less messy than the face cleanser on a konjac sponge) and then by some Simple micellar cleansing water on a cotton pad, as that is a cleansing product I can leave on my sensitive, rosaceaic skin without irritation.
Nuetragena Wipes and Oil Free Make-up Remover. If I have worn a full face for night, I will begin with MAC Cleansing Oil. I normally follow with Mark Kay Deep Cleanser #3. I have been using MK Cleanser since I was 14/15
I use the double cleanse method after removing my lip stain and eye makeup. Occasionally I use a microfiber cloth with plain water before the following:
1. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Light Oil
2. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Oops. I use The Face Shop Face It White Lip & Eye Remover for remover to remove eyeliner and lipsticks.
I use Lancome Bi-Facil to remove my eye makeup, then Bobbi Brown Instant Long Wear Makeup Remover to tackle the rest. Then I use a cleansing oil and follow up with a creamy milk cleanser to make sure I’m all clean
1. Remove eye makeup (bi-phase-currently using Balea but usually Clean & Clear) with Shiseido Cotton (only thing I use)
2. Makeup Eraser to remove face makeup
3. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser used with Foreo.
4. Toner on Shiseido Cotton (currently using Aveeno but it varies all the time) or Fab & Fix Glycolic Wipe.
Coconut oil. I have dry skin and a soy allergy… so the oil is a no brainer.
I use a makeup wipe to take off the bulk of my eye makeup, then I go in with a cleansing oil (right now I’m using the new Burt’s Bees one) to take off the rest of my face and any leftover eye makeup.
Sephora makeup remover cloth. It becomes my new favorite coz I found out I haven’t had any new pimple/breakout since I started using it. I then follow with my normal cleanser for a thorough cleansing.
Maybe it’s the fact that the cloth doesn’t bring in any extra chemical to my face so there will be minimal residue of the melted makeup, which normally causes my breakout. (just my theory). No matter what’s the real reason behind that, I love the results!
Thanks for the post, Fuji. I’ve been thinking about picking up the cloth. I like using water for the first step of cleansing, but I do not like foaming soap cleaners and the like.. too harsh.
If I’m wearing a lightweight base (foundation, sunscreen, etc…), I’ll use coconut or grapeseed oil (or olive oil in a pinch), then follow up with my regular face washing, which is currently Everyday Coconut Facial Wash, but I use several castile soap based cleansers. If I’ve gone with a heavier base, then I’ll use Garnier Cleansing Oil, which I don’t like to use often, as it contains mineral oil, but it does an amazing job. I also follow with my regular cleansing routine.
On days I’m a bit tired and/or lazy, and only wore a TM/BB Cream, and/or MPF, I may cheat and saturate a large cotton pad with cleansing water (Simple), and if necessary, use Lancome Bi-Facil to remove eye makeup…
I save money by making my own. Cant get more natural that. I use 3 parts water 1 part olive oil. I add some tea tree essential oil for antimicrobial and i make small batches so it doesn’t spoil fast.
It varies, but when I’m not trying out something new, or just using up something I don’t love, my routine nearly always starts with Bioderma (pink) on a cotton round that I pull apart to create two thinner rounds. It’s just the best makeup remover I’ve ever used. I get off the bulk of my eye makeup with that, and then use a larger cotton oval with more Bioderma to start removing face makeup.
Then, I like to go in with Josie Maran’s cleansing oil, to get off any remaining bits of makeup, rinse and then cleanse my skin with a traditional soap & water cleanser (currently Paula’s Choice Resist cleanser), using my Foreo. It seems like a bit much, but I really like to make sure I’ve gotten all the makeup off, and cleansed my skin properly!
The Simple brand mu remover wipes in sensitive skin. The only wipes I have used that doesn’t burn my eyes.
I continue with coconut oil or the body shop camomile one for all over the face.
I have a new thing for eyes that I got this month in a beauty box and I am liking it a lot; is Seaweed&Aloe gel from a ( new?) cie called AA Amphora aromatics….
It really depends. For full face with waterproof eyes I do a wipe, coconut oil and gel cleanser. If it’s regular makeup with light eyes I just do a gel. If it’s my standard look, oil and gel.
Double washer here. First step usually consists of an oil based cleanser ( Shu Uemura, Eve Lom, Tatcha is up next) to soften and remove as much of the makeup as possible. I also use this step to give myself a face massage when there is time. I then wipe off the oil with a wet and hot wash cloth and then rinse off with warm water. Then I immediately follow up with a foaming cleanser which is Hada and Labo at the moment. I find that if I don’t rinse with a foaming cleanser I can barely see out of my eyes from the oil. Does anyone else have this issue?
Albolene to break down the crapton of eyemakeup and sunscreen, CeraVe hydrating cleanser after. Micellar water under eyes if needed.
Very simple: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash (I have never had acne but I use this anyway – oil free sounds good to me.)
I use Boscia’s Makeup Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil, and it works for both my face and my eyes, since I rarely ever wear any eyeliner. If I do need something for my eyes with a bit more heft, I go for the Lancome Bi-Facil, which I have a couple fairly large sample bottles of. Since my mom’s fiance used to work for Lancome and still gets a discount, he often buys her gifts from them, and whenever a set or something includes the Bi-Facil she’ll give it to me since she doesn’t wear eye makeup. A few months ago I got a bottle Sonia Kashuk eye makeup remover and I think it’s very similar, so I wouldn’t splurge for a full sized Lancome bottle when I’m through with the smaller ones
Boscia’s make up break up is awesome!
I love it! It was recommended to me several times by sales associates but it always sounded too good to be true. I finally broke down and tried it and now I’m totally hooked!
I use QV cream cleanser- an Australian cruelty free brand to remove my makeup. It’s really good at removing mascara and everything else on my face. Twice a week I use the Aveeno Gentle Exfoliating scrub.
A micellar water (for skin) & then a foaming cleanser (Murad) in the shower. For eyes (I don’t use waterproof mascara but do pile on the washable formula) Nivea cream in the tin- I have eczema around my eyes & the skin is VERY dry/sensitive, so any liquid remover is just too harsh.
I used the Shu Uemura cleansing oil last night! I had a deluxe sample and gave it a try. Not really sure how to use it – I’m new to the cleansing oil thing, but I liked how gentle it was. I massaged it in for a few minutes then wiped it off with a warm wet towel. Usually I just take a cotton square with Bi-Facil and take off all of my eye makeup and then just wash my face with foaming gel cleanser, usually with some kind of polishing bead powder thing for exfoliation. I might have to look into the cleansing oil to add to my regimen.
First I like to remove the majority of my makeup with some kind of micellar water (right now I am using a l’oreal one) with cottons pads. If I am wearing heavy eye makeup I will use the Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover. Then I go in with my cleanser (Pevonia Botanica Photo Cleansing gel) and my Forero Luna mini.
I use coconut oil to take my makeup off. A mixture of natural oils to wash my face at night. And honey to wash my face in the morning. My skin as never been better.
it’s actually changed a bit recently. Before the current routine, which I’ll describe below, I was happily using The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. Can’t say enough good things about this stuff. Any makeup gets removed, does not leave any serious residues on your skin. This was all I needed.
Then, the prices shot up soo much, I was hesitant to repurchase it. Got a cleanser (which has been discontinued and I don’t regret it a single bit) from The Body Shop’s Pomegranate range. It did the job, but was nowhere near as efficient as the chamomile one.
Long story short, I got a big pack of MAC makeup removal wipes as a present (sooo cool!), so now I use them to remove as much makeup as possible, then rinse my face, towel dry it and then use the Pomegranate cleanser. This is my current makeup removal routine. Does the job well, but I would not repurchase either the wipes (nice, but waay to expensive for me) or the cleanser.
The happy ending of the story is that I managed to get a new bottle of my beloved Camomile cleansing oil 20% off, so as soon as I’m done with the current products, I will go back to simply using it.
I use Dermalogica pre-cleanse all over my face and eyes, hop in the shower and cleanse with the Philosophy Purity Made Simple, then if there’s anything left on my eyes – usually it’s one of my Benefit mascaras ? – I finish it off with some Garnier eye makeup remover on a cotton pad.
As of late I’ve been using Trader Joe’s Micellar Cleansing Towelettes and their 100% Pure Jojoba Oil to take off my makeup, or I also use Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O with cotton pads. Normally follow up with Josie Maran’s Argan Cleansing Oil to finish the job if I’m not too lazy. I really want to try the RMS Coconut Cream next time I order at Beautylish for makeup removal.
Coconut oil. It smells yummy, is so gentle and takes everything off.
I start with any eye makeup remover I have and then I’m using my Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Cleanser with what looks exactly like the Sephora Precision Pore Cleansing Pad (tiny silicone bristles, used manually to scrub the face).
Lately I have been using the reusable microfiber makeup cloths and I love them. They get all my makeup off with just using water. After I get all makeup off, I apply a moisturizer and about every few days I exfoliate.
I usually remove my makeup with Bioderma micellar water and then double cleanse with Kiehl’s Amazonian White Clay cleanser. If the products I used are really stubborn or heavy, I grab Mac’s Cleanse Off Oil and it does the trick 🙂
I remove eye make-up first with Maybelline Waterproof Eye make-up remover. If I don’t have that, I use baby oil. Then I finish cleaning the eye area with Bioderma. I may or may not use a face wipe to start removing make-up, depends (Ponds or Neutrogena) Next step for removal is Clinique’s Take the Day Off Balm to ensure removal of everything I use.
Finally the cleansing is done with Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm, which I adore. I use this to deep cleanse, massage and provide a bit of moisture therapy.
It doesn’t take too long (no more than 12 minutes tops) but it’s made a difference in my skin, at least I think so.
If you’re going to use a ton of products (serums, SPF, primers, moisturizer, foundation, powders, blushes, etc) you need to go the extra step to ensure it all comes off at night!
1) Massage Lush Ultrabland into face, put a little on my eyelids and lashes, and let it sit for a while
2) Remove with warm, wet washcloth
3) Remove remaining eye makeup with Almay liquid remover or makeup wipes
4) Proceed with the rest of my skincare routine (toner, serum, moisturizer and/or BHA cream)