You know the number one makeup rule is never to sleep with your makeup on, right? I am sure this cultivates a lot of worries that some may not be removing every trace off properly! This was the case for BC, who wrote in asking about removing makeup:
I have progressed from not putting any makeup to putting some light makeup now that are sweat/water resistant and give protection from UV rays oil control.
However, I am not too sure if I am removing my make up thoroughly. I am using baby oil to remove makeup from the eyes and cleansing gel for the rest of the face. Can 1 type of cleansing gel remove the different characteristics (e.g. like what I mentioned, some have spf included, some give oil control) of the makeup applied?
Can I request for a post where you share your experience on makeup removing? For instance on steps on how to thoroughly remove mascara, eyeshadow, lipstick etc.
Of course! I admit, when I got this question from BC I was a little dumbstruck at first. For one thing, I had to actually recall what I do to remove my makeup – it’s something I never really think about! So for BC and others, here are my experiences and tips.
Face
- Double cleansing.This is the method I personally do. When I feel like I’ve had a long day and the makeup has been sitting on my face too long, I double cleanse. While in the shower, use your normal cleanser and massage your face to get all that grime out. Rinse off and repeat. The second time is to cleanse your skin, while the first was purely for makeup removal. For those who use heavier foundations, sunscreens, makeup primers, etc., this may not be enough for you and you may want to be ‘extra safe’ when removing everything – in this case, I would recommend a cleansing milk/oil cleanser, as I will explain further next!
- Cleansing milks/oils. Some cleansers on the market are made specially to cleanse off every trace of product from your face. I personally do not use any cleansing cleansers so I cannot recommend specific products or brands. However, you can approach your favorite skin care brand and ask the sales lady what she recommends and try it out. If you feel it doesn’t leave any oily film on the face, make you break out, and you feel it cleans your makeup very well; you have a winner! (Readers, if you do use cleansing milks and oils, please recommend us some good ones!)
Eyes, Lips and Cheeks
- Waterproof makeup. I find waterproof makeup very hard to remove (especially waterproof mascara, I always lose a few eyelashes!) and all the tugging and pulling from normal warm water or makeup removers can’t be doing any good! So if you wear waterproof makeup on the lips and eyes, there’s nothing else I recommend but waterproof makeup remover.
- Non-waterproof makeup. For non waterproof makeup, any makeup remover will do, to be honest. Personally I don’t use waterproof makeup so removing makeup is fairly fast and easy for me; no wonder I couldn’t even remember what I did when BC asked her question! What I do – kinda weird but works for me, is that I step into the steaming hot shower with my makeup still on. This may only work since my shower and mirror area is attached – I remove my makeup. Yes, mid shower I am looking at my face and removing my makeup! :-P The thing is, by then all mascara has slide off my face (pretty much like that picture above!) and everything is SO unbelievably easy to wipe off. Of course I am not recommending this, but if for some reason your mirror is in your shower, try it! If not, the ‘usual’ way is to remove all traces of makeup before you step into the shower, then cleanse your face.
My recommendations
For both waterproof and non-waterproof makeup, I would recommend Clinique’s Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips. I was given it a few years ago and it has been great, so I haven’t really been looking around for another one.
For a cheaper – and just as good alternative, I would also recommend L’Oreal’s Dermo Expertise Gentle Lip and Eye Makeup Remover. I use both and love them equally! They remove everything fast and doesn’t leave any oily residue behind.
Another very cheap and easy alternative is Vaseline. If you’re into something else, may I recommend Vaseline! This baby can really remove all the dark shadows, eyeliners – water proof or not – in a few seconds.
The only reason why I stopped using this is because it felt too oily on my lids and I was scared of getting zits or even worse, those tiny milia seeds that never goes away. However, if you have no problem with oil on your face, Vaseline is an excellent choice.
So, those are my tips and experiences!
Let’s go back to BC’s question. She says she uses baby oil for the eye area and cleansing gel for the rest of her face. I think, as long as you cleanse your face with your normal cleanser afterward, and after a shower you can see your makeup gone – and your skin feels like it’s clean – then I think what you’re doing is perfectly fine!
Does anyone else have something to add, or want to share their makeup removing experiences and tips? Also, please do add some product recommendations, especially for cleansing milks, oils or gels! Thanks in advance. :)
Hello and welcome! 
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I think it’s worth it to invest in a good makeup remover. I personally am using Laneige’s Professional Makeup Remover Refreshing Cleansing Oil. A few others I would like to try are Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil and Dove Cleansing Oil. I am a non-cleansing milk person, cos I feel that milk doesn’t clean off every trace as well. I also like cleansing oil because they can remove both eye and face makeup in one go when I am in the bath. Currently, Laneige makes my face feel soft, supple, not squeaky, yet clean, and totally not oily, such that I feel I don’t have to cleanse again. But as a good habit, I always use my cleanser after that, no matter how light my makeup is (I don’t apply foundation).
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Jyoan – I agree that a good makeup remover is vital! Thanks for all your recommendations, I have heard good things about the Bobbi Brown cleansing oil! Also, it IS good habit to cleanse after, no matter how light makeup you have on. I cleanse twice a day, morning and night, whether or not I had makeup on that day.
I don’t apply foundation either, gotta say it’s not one makeup I’m not interested in at all :(
I use Estee Lauder’s ‘take it way’ gentle cleansing milk to remove every trace of foundation, followed by clinique’s mild liquid soap, I do feel my skin is squeaky clean after that!
Yin- Ooh I use Clinique’s liquid facial soap too. Isn’t it wonderful? :D
Shu Uemura’s Cleansing Oils :-)
Pricey but worth the price IMO~
Hey Nessa, welcome! And you’re telling me – I saw it in the store for over $100! :-P However, at the store I pass they also always seem to be selling out fast. You gotta tell me why they are so popular/loved!
Hi there! Thanks for solving my doubts. I was really concern if what I am doing is fine. I do have clearer idea of how ensure my makeup is removed properly now. I am gonna try if double cleansing works for me too and that’s really a cool way of removing mascara! By the way, for fear of getting the oil seeds you mentioned, I have invested in a makeup remover for eyes and lips. :D
Hey BC – glad to be of help, I’m very happy to hear this post helped you! And sorry about renaming your BC; you didn’t tell me your name so I just made your email address an initial :-P I hope you don’t mind.
And yes – milia seeds are the worse! I still have one near my eye from who knows when … I hear the only way you can get rid of them is through laser :(
I use Cetaphil on most days and then wash my face with a regular face wash. I also remove any traces with extra virgin olive oil and use it to moisturize my face at the same time! Oils like olive oil do not break out your skin, but they will dry it out if you leave it on there too long! It’s an inexpensive alternative to all those other pricier removal methods out there. I also like cold cream for waterproof makeup.
Hey Danielle!
I never thought of using Cetaphil (which I believe is a cleanser itself, just very mild and for sensitive skin?) to be a ‘pre’ cleansing step for removing makeup. I’ll have to try it sometime!
You have to tell me more about this olive oil … it really doesn’t make you break out?! I one read this girl only used olive oil from her kitchen as moisturizer and was shocked! I would’ve thought it would be very oily and greasy for the skin. Would you know why it works so well?
Renee – Cetaphil is great for those lazy days and it takes off all my makeup! (i don’t wear a lot usually, but it does work okay on water resistant mascara).
As for olive oil, there’s tons of literature out there about the oil cleansing method and I’m a big fan of it! (it also saves a ton of money and my boyfriend teases me and says he wants to wipe slices of bread on me) Some oils mimic the skin’s natural oil, so it does exactly the opposite of what you would think it does. Instead of making you more oily, it tricks your skin into think it has already produced enough oil already and brings your skin to an equilibrium. Careful, though, you can dry out your skin with too much oil. It’s kinda like if you’re addicted to chapstick, your lips will think they no longer need to produce more moisture, and you get dry lips. I had this problem when I would slather on the olive oil and think “the more the better!”. It dried out my skin and I got flakes. However, now I no longer have a problem because I use a carefully controlled amount. I use it to both take off makeup and as a moisturizer, but prefer to use it as a moisturizer because the mineral oil in cold cream does a better job.
Do a search for the oil cleansing method and you’ll be surprised at what you find! (I also highly recommend thebeautybrains.com and their post on cleansing your face with oil)
Hey Danielle, thanks for explaining! I did hear that cleansing oils are good despite it being oils and the thought that it would just make your skin oily. I saw that post on Beauty Brains, I like their blog a lot! I’m not sure if I dare to try it though, I find that what I’m using works for me. But that’s great you’ve found such an easy and affordable moisturizer! I have used olive oil on my hair though :-P
Does anyone know of an eye makeup remover that can remove MAC’s Liquidlast eyeliner? I’m having a real hard time getting the stuff off! :)
Haha my friend and I put had this eyeliner and we both had the same problem! It’s so tough to take off! :-P But Vaseline worked perfectly for me, try it :)
Thanks Renee, I’ll give that a try :)
I tried Lilan Vital Cleansing Oil (by Cosway), it works wonderful, can remove water proof mascara and liquid eye liner. works like Shu Uemura cleansing oil! but much cheaper abour RM20 + for 100ml.
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Okay first i use a makeup removing bar soap. Then I use olive oil to remove the makeup from my eyes ( when i wash my face I try to avoid the eye area), after that I wash my face again to remove some of the oil from my face but this time I use neutrogena oil free acne wash. Then i moisturize.