Makeup Remover

No matter how beautiful your makeup  looked all day long, by the time you are ready to go to bed you should definitely call it a day for your face. Leaving makeup on overnight is not only bad for your clean pillows,  but it's also bad for your skin. Leftover makeup combined with bacteria from the day's activities can clog pores, spawn blemishes, and even cause eye problems and infections. Not to mention that waking up with coon eyes is not the most attractive look in the world. When your average facial cleanser  isn't enough, a makeup remover  helps clean up those last streaks of mascara  or lipstick. 

Makeup removers  are also helpful when applying makeup. Everyone knows how upsetting it is to smudge liquid liner  since it's hard to fix. Makeup remover coupled with a handy Q-tip is a great weapon against makeup application blunders.

How to Choose

Choosing a product doesn't have to be hard, and in fact, you don't have to spend a lot to get a quality product. Even the cheapest drugstore brands will do the trick. The only thing to be sure of before buying is that you are getting something that will be both gentle on your sensitive facial skin and noncomedogenic so as not to cause breakouts (a common occurence if you have oily skin).

If you wear waterproof makeup be sure to choose a makeup remover specifically designed for removing waterproof makeup (these usually contain mineral oil or glycerin). If you stick to mostly water based makeup then you only need a gentle makeup remover with a water base and no mineral oils or harsh cleansing agents.

Quick Picks

$10 or Less

L'Oreal Eye Makeup Remover	Sephora Express Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover	Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover	Ponds Bare & Repair Conditioning Eye Makeup Remover

High-End

If you don't mind spending a little bit more on makeup remover, try some of these brands that run $15 or more a bottle. Supposedly their more complex formulas are better at hydrating and keeping the skin balanced.

Clinique Take Off the Day	Bliss Lid and Lash Wash	Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover	Lancôme Effacil	Biotherm Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

The Classics

Cheap and easy, the two most basic of makeup removers are Vaseline (petroleum jelly ) and cold cream.  They tend to do best for removing eye makeup and lipstick, but shouldn't be used on the rest of your face because they are capable of clogging pores. Another option is fragrance-free baby wipes  or plain mineral oil  and a cotton pad.

For Sensitive Skin

Avoid using anything that has AHAs in them because it will strip the eyes of the outer skin layers making peepers more irritated. Also avoid using waterproof mascara and eye makeup so that it will be easier to remove. That means that you can use the most mild of makeup removers. Always be sure to rinse with warm water after using and gently pat dry.

One makeup remover recommended by iVillage.com is Almay Non-Oily Makeup Removal Pads.  What makes this type of remover great is that there is no need to purchase extra cotton balls or pads. One or two swipes and you are good to go. You may also want to try the following brands:

• Neutrogena Oil-Free 
• La Roche Posay Toleriane 
• Mary Kay Oil-Free Makeup Remover 

Major Brands

• Avon 
• Awake 
• Christian Dior 
• Estee Lauder 
• Jurlique 
• L'Oreal 
• MAC 
• Maybelline 
• NARS 
• Paula Dorf 
• Ponds 
• Rimmel 
• Sephora 
• Sisley 

Related Buying Guides

Facial Cleansers	Facial Moisturizers	Cosmetics and Beauty Tools	Eye Shadows	Foundation

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
NL: Make-upremover Shopgids