Beauty

The 12 Best Makeup Removers to Wipe Away Even Waterproof Mascara

Without Stinging Your Skin

By Lesley Chen

•

Published Mar 6, 2024

Additional reporting by
Jenny Jin

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.

best makeup remover: a woman wiping off makeup from her eyes

Want more beauty tips sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here.

6 Ways to Wear Bright or Glittery Eye Makeup if You're Over 35

How We Chose the Best Makeup Removers

When choosing the best makeup removers, we considered their ingredients and other important features like price, texture, scent and packaging. Additionally, we included some makeup removers we've used and loved throughout the years, as well as a few top-rated and highly reviewed options to round things out.

What Should I Look for in a Makeup Remover?

The goal of a makeup remover is to get rid of your makeup without irritating your skin, stripping it dry or clogging your pores.

  • If you have oily skin: For oily skin, you don’t exactly want to add *more* oil on top. Things like micellar water are oil-free and pull makeup and dirt out of your skin without overly drying out your skin (and it doesn’t require rinsing). Oily skin is also more prone to breakouts, so non- comedogenic makeup removers, which don’t clog pores, can help stave off unwanted pimples.
  • If you have dry skin: Alcohol is a drying ingredient, so aim for alcohol-free removers. A remover balm is a good option for dry skin because it’s creamy in texture, and tends to have oils or moisturizers to nourish your skin as it cleans. If you like
  • If you have sensitive skin: Check the ingredient list for any harsh chemicals or additives that may cause an adverse reaction on your skin. A good bet is a makeup remover with natural or organic ingredients and one without any fragrances, which can be irritating to sensitive skin. Bonus is if there are soothing additions like aloe vera.

    • The 7 Best Ways to Remove Eye Makeup, According to Beauty Experts

    Freelance Writer

    Lesley Chen

    Freelance Writer

    Lesley Chen is a San Francisco-based freelance writer. In between walking up and down the city’s hills, she writes for a variety of outlets covering health, fitness and general lifestyle. She has been writing commerce pieces covering the topics above (as well as fashion and beauty) for PureWow since 2021.

    read full bio