Credit: Courtesy of brands
Stylist Loves
Best make-up removers and cleansers to melt away waterproof and stubborn formulas
By Hanna Ibraheem &Charlotte Bitmead
6 days ago
All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article
5 min read
If you’ve ever taken the time to remove your make-up only to find remnants of it left behind on your pillowcase the next morning, these are the balms, gels, cleansers and tools that effectively break down stubborn formulas without irritating your skin.
While the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic may have reigned supreme last year, this year we’re all about getting back into the joy of make-up and embracing some colour.
From sparkly eyes and dramatic lashes to shimmery highlighter and classic red lipsticks, there’s plenty of joy to be found within your beauty stash – even if you do plan to spend the day binge-watching TV.
If you decide to dive into your cosmetics bag, it’s important you have the right products at hand to remove your make-up at the end of the day.
Here, we run through the clever creams, gels, balms, waters and tools that will help to break down even the most stubborn of make-up formulas without irritating your skin.
Best eye make-up removers for stubborn mascara
Some cleansers can sting the eyes. To avoid this, use an eye make-up remover that is specifically formulated to avoid irritating them.
To minimise tugging and pulling on your sensitive eye area, soak a reusable cotton pad with your chosen eye make-up remover and hold it over your closed eyelids for a few seconds. This will break down your eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara and make it easier to remove in one (sometimes two) gentle swipes.
La Roche-Posay Respectissime Eye Make-Up Remover
Created specifically for those with sensitive eyes, this La Roche-Posay formula removes waterproof formulas without irritating your skin.
Shop La Roche-Posay Respectissime Eye Make-Up Remover at Boots, £13
Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make-Up Remover
Oil-free and infused with gentle ingredients like vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5, this Simple make-up remover is suitable for contact lens wearers. Plus, the bottle is made from recycled plastic.
Shop Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make-Up Remover at Boots, £4.50
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Make-Up Removing Solution
While this micellar water is effective at breaking down face make-up, it’s great on the eyes, too. The gentle formula sweeps away signs of dirt without stripping skin.
Shop Bioderma Sensibio H2O Make-Up Removing Solution at lookfantastic, £13
Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover
Designed to disintegrate even waterproof make-up without destroying your lashes, give this bi-phase cleanser a little shake for a hydrating, non-irritating cleanse. It’s non-greasy but leaves the delicate area silky smooth after using.
Best cleansers to remove make-up
Double cleansing your skin is a sure-fire way to ensure that it is properly clean. Start by finding a formula that will cut through and melt your make-up with ease, such as a cleansing balm. Further aid their make-up-removing benefits with one of the tools listed further below.
Garnier Micellar Milky Cleansing Water
Despite feeling light and fresh on the eyes like water, this milky formula cleanses and hydrates skin while lifting away make-up with ease.
Sunday Riley Aquamarine Melt Cleansing Gel-Balm
This innovative ice blue gel-balm to oil cleanser uses rich cocoa butter, soothing cornflower extract and rinse-proof hyaluronic acid (yes, none of that squeaky-clean tightness to see here) to dissolve make-up and dirt while leaving you with a dewy afterglow.
Shop Sunday Riley Aquamarine Melt Cleansing Gel-Balm at Cult Beauty, £38
Fenty Skin Melt Awf Jelly Oil Makeup Melting Cleanser
The unique jelly-to-oil texture is no match for waterproof make-up. It melts stubborn mascara and leaves skin feeling silky smooth and moisturised.
If you wear contact lenses, this is one of the few cleansers that I’ve found not to leave my vision cloudy after cleansing.
Shop Fenty Skin Melt Awf Jelly Oil Makeup Melting Cleanser at Sephora UK, £25
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
The Stylist beauty team loves a good cleansing balm, and this one ranks highly for shifting away make-up. It’s also formulated with a blend of natural oils to leave skin feeling soft.
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
Vegan, cruelty-free and pH-balanced, this milky cleanser is gentle on skin. In fact, a family member said it was the only cleanser that didn’t sting against her eczema.
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
A cult product, this gel cleanser breaks down make-up as you massage it around your face. Once it’s washed away, your skin will be left feeling fresh and soft.
Shop Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel at Cult Beauty, from £16
Best cleansers to soothe and nourish skin
Removing make-up can leave your skin feeling slightly irritated, as if you’ve been tugging away at your skin. For your second cleanse, focus on a cleanser that has skin-boosting ingredients such as ceramides and glycerin. Work these around your face for at least a minute to allow the ingredients to get to work.
Medik8 Gentle Cleanser
Foamy cleansers tend to get a bad rap for drying out skin, but not this one. It’s formulated with glycerin and rosemary leaf oil to improve your skin’s health and help protect it against environmental aggressors.
Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser
Much like its now-cult moisturiser equivalent, this DeliKate Soothing Cleanser is formulated with a blend of skin-boosting peptides, ceramides and even cucumber oil to strengthen the skin’s barrier and keep it calm.
Shop Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser at Cult Beauty, £39
Dr Sam’s Flawless Cleanser
Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting is a trusted figure within the world of skincare and her products live up to this reputation. This jelly cleanser is suitable for all skin types (even sensitive skin) and removes dirt without compromising the skin’s natural barrier.
Refy Face Cleanse
Creating bubbles – not foam – this lightweight, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free gel lathers up to remove excess oils and make-up when mixed with water. Skin is left refreshed but not tight or dry.
Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
Even if you’re staying at home, indoor pollution can still have an impact on the health of your skin. This Dermalogica cleanser contains anti-inflammatory lavender, echinacea (coneflowers) and raspberry extracts to protect and soothe your complexion.
Shop Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser at lookfantastic, £42
Best tools to remove make-up
When removing make-up, simply washing off your cleanser won’t be effective enough for getting rid of base products like foundation and concealer. Here are some tools that help to make make-up removal easier, quicker and more gentle on your skin…
Face Halo Make Up Remover Pad Bundle
Almost like a glove for your fingertips, slip one onto your fingers, dampen it, and its microfibre technology removes make-up easily.
They work particularly well on the eyes and lips. Additionally, they can be machine-washed up to 200 times – just think of all the cotton buds you can skip out on.
Shop Face Halo Make Up Remover Pad Bundle at Boots, £22.50 for three
Eve Lom 3 Muslin Cloths
This pack of three 100% cotton muslin cloths gently exfoliate dead skin cells without upsetting sensitive skin while effectively removing make-up and dirt.
Shop Eve Lom 3 Muslin Cloths at LookFantastic, £22 for three cloths
The Body Shop Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
If you love using cotton pads, it may be time to switch over to a more eco-friendly option. These reusable bamboo fibre pads can be washed and air dried again and again. Plus, they come in a recycled cotton pouch for storage.
Shop The Body Shop Reusable Makeup Remover Pads at The Body Shop, £12 for seven pads and pouch
Images: courtesy of brands
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