These Oil-Free Makeup Removers Literally Melt Your Makeup—Yes, Even Waterproof Mascara
No matter how tired you might be at the end of a long day, we have one rule: take off your makeup. Nothing gives us the ick quite like seeing makeup on our pillow in the morning. And while we have no problem taking our time intricately applying each step of our soft girl makeup routine, when it’s time to take it all off, we want the removal process to be quick, effortless, and most of all, thorough.
When you’re double cleansing, an oil cleanser can be your BFF, but if you want to be one and done without any residue on your skin, opt for an oil-free makeup remover to give your skin a clean slate. Keep reading to see which oil-free makeup removers are IPSY editor-approved.
1. Best Drugstore Makeup Remover:
NEUTROGENA Oil-Free Liquid Eye Makeup Remover for Waterproof Mascara
We’ve all seen this makeup remover on a friend’s vanity, if not our own, and this crowd-favorite eye makeup remover is a beauty staple for a good reason. Give it a quick shake onto a cotton pad and whisk away even the toughest waterproof mascara. We love that it has a super accessible price point and removes eye makeup without a greasy residue.
2. Best Micellar Water Makeup Remover:
LA ROCHE POSAY Micellar Water Ulta
Micellar water removes dirt, oil, sunscreen, and pollution without the need to rinse, making it an ideal choice for removing makeup on the go. Whether you’re using it before your cleanser or as the ultimate cleaning step in your routine, this micellar water tops our list for making makeup disappear while still remaining super gentle on sensitive skin types.
3. Best Eye Makeup Remover:
CLINIQUE Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids Lashes & Lips
Non-irritating, non-stinging, and super effective, this fragrance-free dermatologist-tested makeup remover is trusted by the masses for removing long-wear foundation, matte lip stains, and, yes, waterproof mascara. We love that the formula melts makeup away effortlessly without tugging or scrubbing.
4. Best Makeup Removing Wipes:
BLISS MAKEUP Melt Oil-Free Makeup Wipes
For lazy nights, look no further than these oil-free makeup wipes. They’re ultra-soft and gentle to the touch, and you’ll be blown away at how quickly they dissolve your makeup. Rest assured that you are soothing your skin with chamomile, marshmallow root, and aloe extracts for a balanced complexion.
5. Best Makeup Removing Cleanser:
FRESH Soy Face Cleanser
Few cleansers on the market rival the gentle power of this makeup-removing face wash. It’s as good a cleanser as it is a makeup remover, lifting makeup and impurities while delivering a soothed and nourished complexion. It’s pH-balanced, making it great for oily and dry skin types alike, but it’s also hydrating, so your skin never feels dry or stripped after cleansing.
6. Best Soothing Makeup Remover:
SISLEY PARIS Gentle Makeup Remover for Face and Eyes
This 3-in-1 makeup remover cleanses, removes makeup, and tones your skin in one simple rinse-free step. It also softens and hydrates skin with botanical extracts and soothing linden blossoms. We also love its toning qualities, making it great for use as a morning refresher.
7. Best for Lipstick Removal:
SHISEIDO Instant Eye and Lip Makeup Remover
Loyalists swear by this quick and effective makeup remover. It’s ophthalmologist tested, so it’s safe for contact wearers, and the thoughtful dispenser makes it easy to get just enough product to avoid waste or spills. Major bonus? It removes lipstick without leaving behind any oily residue or less-than-pleasant test.
8. Best Reusable Makeup Wipes:
LARUCE Face Disk Cleansing Wipes
If you want to reduce your impact on the environment, this eco-friendly, sustainable choice removes your makeup without adding to your carbon footprint. The organic cotton bamboo plush fibers remove makeup more effectively than your standard cotton pad, and works well with your favorite cleanser or micellar water. Simply pop them in the wash after a few washes and reuse them again and again.
9. Best for Lashes:
BORBOLETA Breakdown Oil-Free Makeup Remover
Removing eye makeup without putting your lash extensions at risk can be quite the task, but this oil-free makeup remover was made with lashes in mind. It has coconut fatty acids (but not oil) to hydrate the delicate eye area, but it feels like water as it removes even the toughest long-wear eye makeup.
10. Best Makeup Removing Spray:
VIKE BEAUTY Makeup Melt
This multitasking spray has skincare actives so you can remove your makeup and treat your skin simultaneously. Give it a few sprays, massage the formula into your skin, and watch the makeup melt away. It features four key antioxidants to nourish your skin long after removal, leaving your skin bright, clean, and renewed.
11. Best Gel-Cream Makeup Remover:
ROSE INC. Micellar Makeup Remover
Experience the effective clean of micellar water in the hydrating, soothing texture of a gel-cream. It dissolves makeup and pollution while protecting your skin’s barrier with ceramides and instantly plumping it with hydrating squalane. This makeup remover also makes our list for its ability to absorb excess oil and brighten your complexion with rice ferment.
12. Best Makeup Remover Pen:
MELOWAY MAKEUP Your Way Eyeliner + Remover
No more Q tips! We all know what it feels like to battle back and forth winged eyeliner that won’t cooperate, but this 2-in-1 pen makes it easier to draw and correct. The eyeliner side has a precision felt tip for an effortless glide, and the chisel tip remover side makes it easy to erase eyeliner gone rogue.
13. Best Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes:
AVENE EAU Thermale Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
Reactive eyelids and contact lens wearers, this one’s for you. The thermal spring water formula matches your tears for a gentle cleansing that won’t disturb sensitive eyes, and it removes makeup quickly and effortlessly, so there’s no need to rub. We also love that the soft, aqua-gel texture doesn’t leave a residue and gives you that clean feeling you’re searching for.
14. Best Pore-Reducing Makeup Remover:
ILIA BEAUTY The Cleanse Soft Foaming Cleanser
This fragrance-free foaming cleanser takes it super easy on your skin. The formula is gentle, respects your pH balance and doesn’t strip, leaving your skin barrier intact. It does the job of removing makeup and SPF while being safe enough for sensitive skin. We’re obsessed with how it reduces the look of pores and leaves your skin feeling super smooth.
Discover how to get glass skin or explore more makeup must-haves with the 10 best colored mascaras for when you want to stand out from the crowd.
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