Best Make-Up Removers
Awesome and easily used skin care products, can be used daily. Show details
Estee Lauder Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
Simply Love It! – It is by far the best make-up remover I have used! It is gentle and removes even waterproof mascara and liner in one wipe. Worth the price I have… Read more
paid for it as one bottle seems to last for at least 8 months, when used regularly. Very happy with the product.
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
Not suitable for sensitive skin – It does effectively remove makeup but isn't worth the skin reaction! I have sensitive eczema prone skin, this left my face red and with a burning… Read more
feeling. Now instead I use QV foaming cleanser, double cleansing to remove makeup and its so much more gentle no reactions and removes all makeup well.
Works like magic – Was so sceptical but thought I would try. They work like magic. A simple wipe and all traces of make up gone. No more harsh make up removers for me.
I just love the scent and texture of these wipes. I had been using various Made in Japan make up wipes for over ten years but recently got a few of… Read more
these Lacura from Aldi becos it was on sale so I gave it try. I must say these are the best in terms of quality and value for money
Love it and switching to this product as part of my daily makeup removal.
Good and removes makeup – You shake the bottle to use and it is slightly oily on my cotton pad, but it gently removes makeup. It takes a couple of tries to remove eye makeup, otherwise, it is low priced and easy to use.
Beautiful – I love these for a few reasons. These have are the most saturated wipes I've used (definitely not overly wet) so it really glides effortlessly over… Read more
your skin with no tugging or drag on your skin, which is super important to me in a makeup removing wipe The product inside is wonderful at removing my makeup, even waterproof mascara, which is all I wear since I have watery eyes. You could just press the wipe to your skin for a few seconds and it's like it EATS AWAY the makeup .
Amazing face chamois – This is by far the most luxurious make up remover cloth I have ever used. Firstly apply cleanser in circular motions then wipe with the warm wet chamois. Feels amazing and wipes away all traces of make up. Easily washed clean. Just hang to dry.
Natio Gentle Facial Cleansing Oil
Works as well as more expensive cleansing oils – This is a soybean and almond oil cleanser with added botanicals like lavender and camomile. The scent is light not overpowering, and the texture is… Read more
of a medium-heavy weight oil.
I use this in the evening as the first step of a double-cleanse routine to remove my sunscreen before the second step using a water-based gel rinse off cleanser. I wear very little makeup and it removes the little that I wear (mascara, eyeshadow and lipstick pre-COVID) easily with a quick swipe of my fingers followed by a damp cotton pad.
The non-drip pump bottle makes the oil easy to dispense and I find that a 125 ml bottle lasts me some 6-9 months used once a day. This is very affordable at an rrp of $19.95 and a great way to support Australian-made.
Clarins Total Cleansing Oil
My go-to cleanser – This product does everything it says to do it cleanses of heavy sunscreen makeup but it also washes away the first time with your second step face… Read more
wash but leave your skin hydrated and the smell is absolutely wonderful will always repurchase this as long as they make it
Essano Rosehip Gentle Cleansing Facial Wipes
Great on my sensitive skin – I love using these to remove sunscreen. Very effective and gentle. I can't tolerate many make up removal products (including micellar water) so these are handy and good value too.
Green+Kind Reusable Eye Makeup Remover Pads
So Soft! – I was surprised by how soft the material was. Very happy customer! Haven't used a lot yet as I am just using up the last of my non-reusable ones.… Read more
Love the extra little bag they came with too. Plus; No packaging hooray! Even tried using it to apply some aloe mix I made up myself and was happy with how it absorbed and applied it to my skin. It didn't seep through and get as messy as it did doing this with a non-reuseable facial rounds.
Dissapointed – I was lucky enough to receive these 3in1 Cleanser Infused Pads with Argan Oil & Vitamin E from Beauty Heavean's Natural Beauty Month in August 2023. … Read more
I was intrigued by the concept of these and how they would work. I have used reusable pads like this that you just need to add water but never disposable ones.
I’ll cut right to the chase- I was quite disappointed. I found I needed multiple to actually remove makeup from my face and I don’t even wear a lot of makeup this was just to remove CC cream, brow powder & mascara. Even after several pads I still have residue left & panda eyes.
The packet itself was difficult to use as the drawstring did not have 2 pieces to pull on either side to close but had to tightly pull 1 side only.
Kmart Green Tea Facial Wipes
Design/ingredient change = product now useless – I've been purchasing these very reasonably priced Green Tea Facial Wipes from Kmart for years. They've been great. Recently the packet design… Read more
changed, and with that - they are now useless to me. The ingredients must have been changed too - they no longer effectively remove makeup. Don't hurt your eyes trying to get them to work, they don't.
Severe Eyes Allergy – After using L'Oréal revitalift make-up remover my eyes developed a severe allergy. I couldn't even see, everything was blurry. I didn't know it was a… Read more
make-up remover at first, so i kept using it for several days. My eyes were burning, itchy and watery, the vision was super blurry. The skin around my eyes became dry like foil and painful to touch. These symptoms don't appear at once, but only 10-15 minutes later. So, you can think it's something else causing it.
Why should I use a make-up remover?
We get it, the last thing you want to do when you get home from work is to suffer through a long-winded skincare routine using countless products that all seem to do the same thing.
If you wear make-up, a remover should be an essential part of your regimen - no matter how simple or sizeable it is.
Make-up removers get rid of all the foundation, blush, eyeliner, mascara, and all other traces of make-up on your face. They also help remove all the pollution and impurities from the day.
Sleeping with your make-up on clogs your pores, and can lead to breakouts, skin dullness, and irritation, for example, if your eye make-up gets into your eyes. The harm to your skin aside, you’ll probably get your make-up all over your pillow, and you might find yourself waking up with panda eyes (and not many people can pull that off).
Types of make-up removers
Liquids
The most common type of make-up remover is a removal solution; these are liquid removers that are usually applied to a make-up pad and wiped across or pressed against the skin to get rid of make-up.
How about micellar water?
Micellar water has been a staple in French pharmacy skincare since forever, and now many brands are releasing their own version of the original Bioderma Micellar Water.
Micellar water is made up of oil molecules (called micelles) that are suspended in purified water. The micelles help to draw out dirt and impurities, effectively removing makeup, clearing out your pores, and toning your skin - and they do all this without drying out the skin.
It’s great for removing lightly or moderately applied make-up, but might struggle with heavier foundations or waterproof mascara.
Make-up removal wipes
These are towelettes that are pre-moistened with a make-up removal solution. Many people love them because they’re gentle on the skin and quick and easy to use, making them handy after a night out when you want to speed up your skincare before jumping into bed.
Make-up wipes, such as the Neutrogena Make Up Remover Cleansing Towelettes, are usually alcohol-free and able to remove eye make-up.
Make-up removal creams, balms, and oils
Make-up remover creams, balms, and oils aren’t usually used with a make-up pad. They’re rubbed onto the face and dissolve the make-up sitting on it - you can then rinse off the solution along with your make-up.
Make-up pads and cloths
These are usually cotton pads or cotton or microfibre cloths that are either used with water or a liquid make-up remover to wipe make-up off the face.
A decent make-up pad or cloth shouldn’t require you to scrub your face too hard - it should allow you to gently remove what’s on your face. They can be both single-use or reusable.
Will any microfibre cloth remove make-up?
Most microfibre cloths will remove make-up, but differences between different cloths can mean that some are better at the job than others.
Although microfibre is generally soft, gentle, and thorough at removing make-up, buying one that’s designed for use on the face can help ensure that it’s not too abrasive on the skin.
What to consider when choosing a make-up remover
Your skin type
Not all make-up removers are the same - some might be too greasy or too harsh for your skin, which is why you should take your skin type into account when shopping around. These recommendations aren’t the be-all and end-all, but they can be useful if you’re struggling to sort through the sheer choice of make-up removers that you can buy.
- Dry skin. Make-up lovers with dry skin can rest assured knowing that they’ll likely be in safe hands with an oil-based make-up remover or a make-up remover balm, both of which can add an extra dose of much-needed hydration to their skincare.
- Normal to combination skin. Those with normal or combination skin can generally go for a remover of any texture - feel free to shop mainly with your own personal preferences in mind.
- Oily skin. If you have oily skin, it’s generally recommended to use a micellar water or make-up removing oil.
What if I have sensitive skin?
Those with sensitive skin may find that their face reacts differently to different removers. Make-up removers for sensitive skin usually have an alcohol-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formula to reduce the risk of drying or irritation.
You may also want to consider using a liquid or cream make-up remover - these are usually gentler than make-up remover cloths.
Your make-up
Finding a make-up remover that’s fit-for-purpose should help you easily get rid of the type of make-up you wear. While those with a lighter hand may find that most removers can take off their more natural make-up, those who prefer heavy applications might have more difficulty finding a product that removes all of their warpaint.
If you wear heavy make-up (including stage make-up), oil-based removers are generally better at heavy-duty removal. Some people even like using a variety of make-up removers for extra peace of mind knowing that they won’t still be left with nasties on their face.
Your remover should also work on eye make-up, or waterproof make-up if you need it to. Most make-up removers will specify on their label what they can remove.
Do I need a separate eye make-up remover?
While you can still use face make-up remover on your eyes, eye make-up remover is a bit more gentle on the skin (which is great for that delicate skin around your blinkers) and is generally more effective at removing darker, more stubborn make-up, such as eyeliner and mascara.
Environmental friendliness
If you’re concerned about your skincare’s impact on the planet, then you can consider opting for reusable make-up pads or wipes. These won’t go into landfill once you’ve used them - depending on the product, you can either rinse them out or pop them in the wash for reuse.
If you do choose this route, it’s a good idea to have a few handy, so that you can still use some while others are in the wash. Luckily, these reusable make-up wipes often come in packs. The Face Halo Makeup Remover, a washable pad that only needs to be used with water, is sold in a pack of 3, while the Green+Kind Reusable Eye Makeup Remover Pads come in a pack of 10.
Choosing cruelty-free
Any company can claim that their product is cruelty-free, so if you’re after a product that hasn’t been tested on animals, look for accreditation, such as from Cruelty Free Australia.
How much should I spend on a make-up remover?
A make-up remover can set you back anywhere from $7 to $135 and over for more luxury brands. If you wear make-up, you really don’t need to break the bank to get it off at the end of the day (or night!) - there are plenty of budget options that do a perfectly good job of removing make-up.
While you often won’t find a marked difference between the ability of budget and high-end products to remove make-up, more expensive removers may feel richer to the touch, have a classy fragrance, and generally feel more luxurious to apply. If you’re after a facial in a bottle, splurging can often help you get that.
Common questions
Do I need make-up remover and cleanser?
Cleansers and make-up removers are not the same thing, so make-up wearers should ideally be using both in their daily routine.
While make-up removers pull off the layer of make-up from your skin, they don’t actually cleanse it. Face cleansers go the extra step to get rid of excess sebum and all kinds of debris that can clog up your pores, prepping your skin for the serums, oils, or moisturisers that you apply afterwards.
If you don’t want the hassle of adding an extra step to your skincare routine, you can try out 2-in-1 cleansing makeup removers, such as the Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser, which claim to lift make-up and wash your face at the same time.
How should I remove eye make-up?
How do you get make-up off without a makeup remover?
People have used everything from Vaseline to baby oil to get rid of their make-up and have claimed that it does just as good a job as even some high-end make-up removers.
While these products may remove your make-up effectively, if they’re not designed for use on the face then you may find that they can leave a greasy film on your skin that’s difficult to remove with your face wash.
They also might be comedogenic, meaning that they contain ingredients that can clog your pores (which can lead to nasty breakouts), so it may be a good idea to steer clear of using alternative products to remove your makeup, particularly if you’ve got acne-prone or sensitive skin.
Apologies for the disappointment caused Lou, we will share… Read more (+1 reply)