The 10 Best Makeup Removers We Tested That Deliver Cleansed, Clear, and Hydrated Skin
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You can, in fact, get all that makeup off your face without stripping your skin.
InStyle / Talya Phelps; Ciara Grovert; Isaac Nunn; Joanna Faith Williams
Removing your makeup after a long day is one of the most vital steps in your skin care routine, yet it’s not always the most fun. Whether you wear minimal makeup daily or regularly go for the full glam vibe, you need a solid makeup-removing product that can cut through layers of foundation and waterproof eyeliner but doesn’t feel strong on the skin. If you don’t thoroughly remove makeup, your pores can fill up with oil, dirt, and product residue, leading to acne flare-ups.
Thankfully, we’re no longer limited to the alcohol-drenched wipes of the past. Today, makeup removers are available in a variety of forms, such as cleansing oils, balms, and gentle makeup wipes. They also make products specifically formulated for eye makeup, which effectively cleanse, hydrate, exfoliate, and soothe irritation. But note, makeup removers are “not the same as your facial skin cleanser, says Michele Koo, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Dr. Koo Private Practice.” “Makeup removers should be gentle to thoroughly cleanse the pores and remove all the makeup.” We tested 12 makeup removers on a range of different skin types and ages over a month in the real world. Testers evaluated each on their ease of application, ability to cleanse and remove all makeup products, and how our skin felt after use. From the best micellar water to our favorite oil cleanser for sensitive skin, we’ve compiled a list of the best makeup removers with detailed insights from our editors.
Best Overall: Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Waterproof
Why We Love It: The least appealing part of removing makeup is getting in the eye area—too often have we experienced that troublesome burning sensation. This product helped our tester bypass that uncomfortable situation. It removed her makeup in one swipe of a cotton swab. Her skin felt cleansed and moisturized, so much so that she felt comfortable skipping out on a second cleanse. This was the only makeup remover that managed that level of clean throughout testing. Our tester pointed out how much bang you get for your buck with this one, too. She only needed a single swab of the micellar water to remove makeup, and the bottle holds a lot of product compared to a traditional pack of makeup wipes.
Who It’s For: Garnier has you covered if your skin can’t handle scented, heavy products. This beloved micellar water is free of harsh additives, such as fragrance, alcohol, silicones, and sulfates, that may cause irritation or redness. Plus, you get a lot of product for the price. Our tester says she’d definitely recommend this to anybody who wears makeup regularly and doesn’t love double cleansing.
Type: Micellar water | Active Ingredients: Glycerin | Benefits: Cleansing, soothing | Size: 13.5 oz
Erickka, tester with normal, even skin: "The product dries, and that is it. It leaves your skin feeling cleansed, deeply moisturized, and not oily. It did not leave any residue on the skin. My skin feels like it has been cleansed and not greasy. You do not need to rinse the product."
Best for Travel: CeraVe Hydrating Makeup Removing Plant-Based Wipes
Why We Love It: CeraVe’s Hydrating Face Wipes earned a near-perfect score from our tester, Alexa, for its ability to remove face makeup quickly and effectively. The package’s “gentle” claims are true—she didn’t experience any redness or irritation around the eyes. While she still needed to double cleanse, the hydrating ingredients left their mark, adding some extra nourishment ahead of the next wash.
Who It’s For: Whether it's camping, hiking, a festival, or another outdoorsy adventure, these wipes offer a quick hydration boost and a light refresh to the skin in an easy-to-carry package. Eye makeup connoisseurs, it may take more effort to remove waterproof makeup with them. Our tester had to use several wipes to fully cleanse the eye area. After a double cleanse, she experiences a bit of stinging from the remnants of the wipes. If that happens to you, just flush your eyes with water to wash away the formula.
Type: Wipes | Active Ingredients: Ceramides, glycerin, plant-based | Benefits: Cleansing, hydrating | Size: 25-count
Alexa, tester with oily combination skin: “It was really easy to use since there was no ‘application’ of the product. Since it was a wipe, it was sort of mess-free, but on my face, especially with my eye makeup, it smudged around the area, making it more challenging to get off.
Best for Long-Wear Makeup: Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover
Why We Love It: Clinique makes life so much easier with this product. Its oil-based consistency helped our tester’s makeup glide off with just two swipes. Even the most stubborn of products were no match for this remover. Our tester said the delicate cleanse left her eye area refreshed and hydrated—she even noticed a slight shine. It also left her skin feeling nourished and clean.
Who It’s For: This product's oil consistency easily breaks down long-wear products. It’s specially formulated with lips, eyes, and lids in mind, and it works so well that our tester wished it could be used all over the face; she had to reach for another product to clean the rest of her skin. If you’re a full-face makeup person, be mindful that you may have to use an additional remover to clear everything away fully.
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Water, isododecane, isohexadecane, hydrogenated polyisobutene | Benefits: Dissolving long-wear makeup, nonirritating, fragrance-free | Size: 4.2 oz
Isaac, tester with combination skin: “The product's texture is oily, which works well with removing stubborn makeup products like mascara and lip products. The remover did not leave any residue other than a shine to my skin, making it feel refreshing and hydrated.”
Best for Eye Makeup: Lanc?me Bi-Facil Double-Action Gentle Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
Why We Love It: The highlight of this product was how gentle it was on our tester’s eyes. She has very sensitive eyes and had already mentally prepared to experience a burning sensation when she used a heavy-handed portion of the product on a dried-out wipe. To her surprise, she experienced no stinging, irritation, or redness. The day's products washed away smoothly thanks to the watery consistency—a win is a win.
Who It’s For: Accentuating the eyes with eyeliners, eyeshadows, and mascara can be a super fun addition to your makeup routine. It can also be a beast to erase after a long day or a night out. The Double-Action eye makeup remover cuts the time spent removing eye makeup in half and eliminates the burning sensation and irritation that can accompany other makeup removal products. If other makeup removers tend to disagree with your eyes, pick this product up immediately.
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Lipid concentrate, emollients mix | Benefits: Cleansing, sensitive eye-friendly | Size: 4.2 oz
Katie, tester with dry, acne-prone skin: “I've found makeup remover wipes for almost my entire existence have irritated my skin, especially my sensitive eyes. This is effective AND doesn't hurt.”
Best Wipes: Neutrogena Makeup Remover Facial Cleansing Towelettes
Why We Love It: Regardless of how handy they are, makeup wipes can be a bit harsh, even on non-reactive skin. These extra soft wipes are generously doused in a micellar-based emollient formula explicitly developed to be easy, mess-free, and just about as gentle as you can get while still being effective. They were useful in removing all kinds of makeup—waterproof eye products took a little extra pressure and rubbing but didn't irritate our tester’s skin. There’s no lingering scent or residue, either. Our tester felt like she could get away with just using the wipes as a cleanse on lighter makeup days.
Who It’s For: The Neutrogena wipes are perfect for removing minimal makeup. If lighter products and looks are your cup of tea, these will likely remove all of your product in one wipe, which ultimately means one pack will last a while.
Type: Wipes | Active Ingredients: Micelles | Benefits: Purifying, rebalancing | Size: 20-count
Kristin, tester with acne-prone, combination skin: “I love how easy it is to take off makeup, especially non-waterproof, everyday makeup.”
Best Cleansing Balm: e.l.f Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
Why We Love It: e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Holy Hydration! Balm is just the addition to your nighttime self-care routine that you’ve been looking for. It has a fresh, clean scent and a thick consistency—both of which our tester loved. The hydrating ingredients left a bit of a residue that may feel oily for some people but glowy for others. Our tester, Claire, washed her face with a cleanser after scrubbing the makeup remover away with water. She was left with smooth, clean skin that didn’t feel greasy. It didn’t irritate the skin, either.
Who It’s For: This balm is a nice option if you like a precursor to your regular face wash. The lingering residue is a nourishing barrier ahead of a more in-depth cleanse. It washes off most makeup, though our tester needed something more heavy-duty for her eyes. Be careful when using it as your primary cleanser. Our tester, Claire, felt like the lingering residue around the eyes required an extra rinse, or it would obstruct her eyesight.
Type: Balm | Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides | Benefits: Hydration, melts makeup away | Size: 6.7 oz
Claire, tester with dry, acne-prone skin: “The makeup remover effectively removed all of my skin makeup with a small amount of product, however, I did not feel that it worked well on my mascara—every other makeup product came off quickly and easily.”
Best for Sensitive Skin: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Why We Love It: Oil cleansers are especially good for people with sensitive, dry skin or those looking for a gentle makeup remover. They’re designed to cling to excess oils and dead skin, all while washing away your makeup in one easy step. Our tester, Annie, immediately noticed how nicely DHC’s Cleansing Oil came off the skin with a washcloth. She loved that the product works its magic with or without makeup. Our tester’s face wash worked so much better when she used the cleansing oil first, regardless of whether she was trying to remove makeup. The gentle cleanse and thin consistency helped combat dry patches on her skin while providing a deep cleanse.
Who It’s For: Finally ready to try an oil cleanser? This is the product to get your feet wet. It’s both gentle and moisturizing meaning you don’t have to worry about a heavy, clogged feeling after using it. It has a neutral oil scent, so it likely won’t cause irritation, either.
Type: Oil | Active Ingredients: Organic olive oil, rosemary leaf oil, vitamin E | Benefits: Dissolves impurities, deeply but gently cleanses, softens skin | Size: 6.7 oz
Annie, tester with combination skin and hormonal acne: “It is a really gentle and moisturizing cleanser that can be used on sensitive skin and around your eyes. I already have clogged pores, but I didn't notice it making my clogged pores worse.”
Best for Everyday: DAMDAM Silk Rice Makeup-Removing Cleansing Oil
Why We Love It: Concocted with Japanese skin rituals in mind, DamDam’s Cleansing Oil purifies and cleanses the skin while leaving a lasting glow. Our tester, Ciara, applied it with her hands (which can be messy), but it was super effective at removing face makeup. Her skin immediately felt refreshed and luminous.
Who It’s For: Don’t let the oil in the cleanser fool you—it’s extremely gentle and lightweight, ideal for everyday use. Keep in mind that when we say gentle, we do mean gentle—it took our tester significantly longer to remove mascara. While she didn’t experience any irritation or redness in the process, she wished it had been more impactful on eye makeup.
Type: Oil | Active Ingredients: Rice bran oil, sunflower seed oil, vegan | Benefits: Soothing, cleanses without irritation, combats dryness | Size: 5.1 oz
Ciara, tester with oily combination skin: “I really like the gentleness of the product and that I felt like I could use it every day for face makeup. No matter how little makeup I had on, I felt like I could use it to wash my face and feel clean yet nourished.”
Best for Heavy Makeup: Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil
Why We Love It: Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil is the real deal. Its thick, soft feel is comparable to melted butter upon application, which was AHHmazing after a long day, according to our tester Joanna. She only needed one pump of the product to get the job done. The scent reminded her of a spa, adding a soothing element to the whole experience. She said she would pay for it over and over.
Who It’s For: This deep cleansing oil dissolves makeup and sunscreen, reduces under-surface congestion, and removes dirt without clogging pores—making it the perfect pick for heavy makeup wearers. For Joanna, it removed any hint of makeup, dirt, and sweat, no matter the formula of the products she used that day. If you tend to layer several products, this is for you.
Type: Oil | Active Ingredients: Vitamin E, rice bran extract, kukui nut oil, borage seed oil, apricot kernel oil | Benefits: Dissolves makeup and sunscreen, removes dirt, reduces congestion | Size: 5.1 oz
Joanna, tester with oily combination skin with acne scars: “I'd recommend this product to other people who enjoy playing with makeup like I do and tend to wear a LOT. It's super strong and would work just fine for a light makeup day, but is especially good at removing any trace of cosmetics, dirt, or sweat from the day.”
Best Microfiber Cloth: Jane Iredale Magic Mitt
Why We Love It: Traditional makeup removers aren’t the only way to remove products and buildup. This jane iredale Magic Mitt is basically a magic eraser for your face, designed to penetrate oil and grime. Our tester used it with just warm water, and removing all of her makeup took less than a minute. She is well-versed in microfiber towels–she loves how sustainable, durable, and soft they are on the skin. She ranks the Magic Mitt as one of the best she’s used for its ability to remove makeup and dry quickly without getting a smell after multiple uses.
Who It’s For: If microfiber cloths are your preferred way of removing makeup, this one is a must-try. It’s baby-soft and requires zero additional cleansing products. It doesn’t discriminate on the type of products it removes either. Our tester used it on eyeliner, concealer, eyebrow pencil, mascara, highlighter, and blush, all gliding off easily. The only thing is that the pink color of the mitt isn’t stain-proof, so be mindful that you may lose its pristine look with repeated use.
Type: Cloth | Active Ingredients: Knitted microfiber | Benefits: Protects skin barrier, sustainable, gently exfoliates | Size: 0.51 oz
Talya, tester with normal to slightly dry skin: “It would be hard to find a makeup remover that's more gentle than this one. The microfiber cloth is soft without feeling irritating or artificial, allowing me to effortlessly remove my eyeliner and mascara without scrubbing hard on my delicate eye area.”
Our Testing Process
We tested 12 makeup removers on 12 different people with a range of skin types and ages. Over 288 hours, our testers used their assigned product to remove makeup, noting what they liked most and what they would change about the makeup remover, paying close attention to scent and consistency. After intentionally evaluating each product for four weeks, they scored them based on application, feel, comfort, and performance. Only the products that scored highest made it into the list above.
What to Keep in Mind
Your Skin Type: If you’re following up your makeup remover with a second, different cleanser, your skin type doesn’t matter as much, according to Dr. Koo. If, on the other hand, you’re using your makeup remover as your only cleanser, you might pick differently. In this case, “for dry skin, opt for hydrating and moisturizing formulas with ingredients like glycerin or oils,” suggests Koko Slunjski, a Miami-based makeup artist. “Oily or acne-prone skin benefits from oil-free, noncomedogenic options like water-based cleansers or micellar waters. Sensitive skin requires gentle, fragrance-free removers, such as hypoallergenic formulations.”
Formula: Makeup remover comes in oil-based and water-based variations, and it’s helpful to know the difference to make the right choice for you. “Oil-based removers are great at dissolving oil-based makeup because they follow the ‘like dissolves like’ theory,” explains Slunjski. “They attract and bind to the oils in makeup, making it easier to remove.” While water-based removers can be less effective at dissolving long-wear makeup, “for those with oily and acne-prone skin, a water-based makeup remover is a better option,” says Leah Ansell, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Treiber Dermatology, since it doesn’t add extra oil to your skin.
Your Makeup Style: Of course, you won’t need the same makeup remover if you're a makeup minimalist, only wearing, for example, a skin tint and brow gel every day. “For light makeup, water-based removers like micellar waters and gentle cleansing lotions work well to remove foundation, concealer, and lipstick without leaving a heavy residue,” says Slunjski. “For a heavier, full-on look, go for an oil-based cleanser. They are specifically formulated to break down and dissolve thick makeup, including heavy foundation, intense eyeshadows, and long-lasting lipsticks.”
Your Questions, Answered
Which makeup remover is best for acne?
To ensure a makeup remover is acne-safe, check which skin types it’s formulated for and scour the reviews for reports that a product made people break out. However, as a general rule, Dr. Koo recommends using a “water- or glycerin-based remover, but definitely without alcohol, which can strip acne-prone skin, causing irritation and even increasing the likelihood of more acne.”
Are makeup remover wipes bad for skin?
Makeup remover wipes aren’t bad for skin, but they’re also not the best, per our experts. “Most makeup remover wipes contain more emollient-based cleansers, which may be too ‘oily’ for most skin,” says Dr. Koo. “Think of it this way: You wouldn’t use toothpaste to wash your hair. The intent is to remove deeper or thicker debris, such as mascara and full-coverage foundation. There shouldn’t be anything harmful in the formulas, but they're not ideal for skin, especially sensitive types."
Dr. Ansell also notes that “some contain additive fragrance or preservatives that can cause allergic contact dermatitis for those with very sensitive skin. Therefore, I prefer micellar water on a cotton pad to remove makeup for those who are eczema-prone or tend to have very sensitive skin.”
Why Shop With Us
Essence Wiley is a fashion and beauty writer for InStyle. She regularly explores the latest beauty trends and formulas in hopes of relaying industry knowledge to InStyle readers. She loves medium to full-coverage products and is always searching for makeup removers that remove the product quickly and effectively without irritating her sensitive skin. The Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water is a personal favorite of hers. For this story, our writers spoke with skin care and makeup experts who shared their recommendations, including Koko Slunjski, a Miami-based makeup artist, Dr. Leah Ansell, a board-certified dermatologist at Treiber Dermatology, and Dr. Michele Koo, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Dr. Koo Private Practice.
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