The 16 Very Best Makeup Removers

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Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Light-to-medium makeup |Product type:Micellar water

If you only have room for one makeup remover in your bathroom cabinet, I would recommend buying a bottle of micellar water — a mixture of purified water plus a mild concentration of soap or detergent molecules. According to multiple dermatologists and makeup artists I spoke to, it’s suitable for all kinds of skin types — including normal, sensitive, acne-prone, and dry skin — because, as King explains, the micelles in micellar water “draw out impurities without drying out the skin” by clinging to dirt, oil, and makeup and dissolving them while leaving your skin hydrated.Micellar water can therefore be used as “a facial wash, makeup remover, and moisturizer all in one,” she adds, and it’s an excellent everyday option.

While each expert I interviewed had different favorites, thisFrench pharmacyoption with a cult following came up the most. Bioderma’s Sensibio micellar water is what what Dr. Lily Talakoub, founder ofDerm to Door,uses on her own face: “It’s the only product that can take off my hard-to-remove mascara without losing any precious eyelash hairs.” Talakoub also likes that she isn’t left with that post-wash, dry-and-tight feeling. And dermatologistDr. Y. Claire Changat Union Square Laser Dermatology thinks it works well for sensitive skin becauseit’s alcohol-, fragrance-, and paraben-free on top of being lightweight and non-greasy. One caveat, however: When I used it, the solution felt gentle and hydrating on my dry, sensitive skin, butbecauseit was so gentle, just the micellar water itself wasn’t enough to remove all my makeup. After one pass with a cotton round, I still had eyeliner flakes and traces of foundation left on my face. A second and third pass might’ve done the job, but it was more efficient to just follow up with a face wash to ensure my skin was totally cleansed. But it’s perfect as an initial step to tackle stubborn mascara and eyeliner streaks, and should be enough on its own for those who wear less makeup than me.

Solvent type:Oil-based |Makeup type:Heavy makeup |Product type:Cream cleanser

Sarah Lucero, Stila Cosmetics global executive director of creative artistry, loves this Algenist cleanser for people withdry skin. Although it’s a cleanser and not specifically a makeup remover, Lucero notes that it “dissolves all traces of makeup,” including so-called long-lasting and waterproof formulas, while hydrating and improving your skin’s radiance. It’s her personal makeup remover of choice, and she always carries it with her when she’s traveling indryclimates and spending time in hotels: “The air vents dry me out, and this always helps my skin feel and look better,” she says. It’s soap-free, noncomedogenic, and hypoallergenic, and it has also been recommended to us before as thebest cleansing oilfor dry skin.

Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Light makeup |Product type:Micellar water

This La Roche-Posay micellar water was specifically formulated withoily skinin mind. It’s oil-free, so while it removes excess oil on top of the skin, it won’t add any back in. Chang pointed out that it is alsohydratingand lightweight, and gently removes makeup, dirt, and oil without stripping the skin or leaving it with a tight or dry feeling. It’s noncomedogenic, so those with mild acne can consider it too.

Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Light-to-medium makeup |Product type:Gel cleanser

Combination skin means you have certain areas of your face that are dry and others that are oily, so you’ll want a remover that can work for both. Talakoub likes this option that pulls double duty as a cleanser and makeup remover. “This cleanser takes everything off with one swoop, so you don’t have to wash your face twice,” she explains, pointing out that it doesn’t strip the skin the way some products that are specifically designed for oily skin might. And because it contains willow-bark extract, it can simultaneously clean up pores in oily or acne-prone areas.

Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Medium-to-heavy makeup |Product type:Liquid cleanser

Drugstore brand Cetaphil is always popular among dermatologists, and theirmakeup removeris no exception. Chang recommends it because not only is it hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, making it perfect for those with sensitive skin, but it is extra gentle and lightweight. The formula includes “soothing and anti-inflammatory botanicals,” according to Chang, like aloe, green tea, and ginseng, so it won’t cause irritation. Despite how gentle it is, it is still effective because it’s formulated with a very lightweight and nondrying detergent, so you won’t have to scrub to get your makeup off.

Solvent type:Oil-based |Makeup type:Light-to-medium makeup |Product type:Cleansing oil

If your skin isn’t just easily irritated but “Über-sensitive,” perhaps prone toeczemaor dermatitis, then makeup artistMary Irwinrecommends this Avene cleansing oil, which is approved by the NationalEczemaAssociation. It’s even a suitable cleanser for children and infants because it contains nothing but the basics — no extracts, no fancy ingredients, just water, a lightweight detergent, and cleansing oils. “It’s hypoallergenic, fragrance free, and deeply soothing,” Irwin promises.

Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Medium-to-heavy makeup |Product type:Liquid makeup remover

If your skin is specificallyacne-prone, not just oily, this oil-free eye-makeup remover promises not to clog pores. “It’s non-greasy and won’t cause breakouts,” saysDr. Malini Fowler, dermatologist at Texas-based Westlake Dermatology. Much likeLa Roche-Posay’s formula, this makeup remover is oil-free, which makes it particularly effective for acne-prone skin that’s already struggling with excess oil. Chang adds that it’s gentle and lightweight but effectively removes makeup, including waterproof makeup, thanks to its low percentage of alcohol and surfactants. And although it’s technically formulated to remove eye makeup, plenty of online reviewers attest thatyou can use it for removing foundation and lipstick, too.

Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Medium-to-heavy makeup |Product type:Gel-to-oil cleanser

We pegged Eadem’s Dew Dream cleansing balm as alikely to sell out itemwhen it first launched — and sure enough, it quickly went out of stock (and then racked up a waitlist of more than 2,000 people). Now that it’s finally available again, I’m happy to report that the cleanser more than lives up to the hype. Though labeled a balm, it comes out of the tube more as a translucent jelly, before melting into a milky, opaque oil that smoothly dissolves all traces of makeup, SPF, dirt, and sweat, zero scrubbing required. The formula contains a cocktail of skin-saving ingredients such as tiger grass, moringa, allantoin, and licorice root, which the brand says will help rebuild damaged skin, support cell turnover, and fight hyperpigmentation. That makes it an especially effective cleanser for women of color with melanin-rich skin, who may be more likely to over-exfoliate to address dark spots and melasma.

Solvent type:Oil-based |Makeup type:Medium-to-heavy makeup |Product type:Cleansing balm

“Mature skin tends to be dryer, more fragile, and may have more prominent pores or wrinkles where makeup can stick,” explains Dr. Heidi A. Waldorf ofWaldorf Dermatology Aestheticsin Nanuet. Waldorf calls Albolene “an oldie but a goodie” since the company has been around for more than a century, and notes that this cleanser has been used by her grandmother (and other grandmothers and great-grandmothers). The cleanser liquifies on the skin to dissolve makeup without scrubbing, she says: “If Vaseline petroleum jelly and Pond’s cold cream had a baby, it would be Albolene.”Waldorf describes it as less thick and greasy than Vaseline while requiring less massaging than Pond’s — once wiped off, any residual cleanser can be left on the skin for extra hydration. She points out that with a short ingredient list that includes mineral oil and petrolatum, the fragrance-free cleanser works for sensitive skin too. Waldorf even keeps a jar of it in the office for times when she has trouble removing a patient’s makeup before a procedure.

Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Light-to-medium makeup |Product type:Cleansing jelly

Strip’s Caviar Jelly makeup remover contains nourishing ingredients meant to plump, smooth, and revive aging skin, including a prebiotic-enriched complex derived from rose petals to help minimize fine lines, and vitamin A and pomegranate extract to support the production of collagen and new skin cells. What intrigued me the most, however, was its gloppy jelly texture; this makeup remover has the exact same consistency as raspberry jam, and even comes with a small plastic spoon to scoop out dollops. It’s full of tiny “caviar” beads that burst upon application, delivering an extra boost of moisture, which felt thoroughly delightful when I tested it myself. I found it to be most effective as the first step of a double-cleanse — especially when I was wearing stubborn eye makeup — but my complexion was so glowy and hydrated afterward that my skin felt nearly tacky to the touch.

Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Heavy makeup |Product type:Liquid makeup remover

Waterproof makeup is meant to be tough to remove — but this popular Clinique remover is up to the task. Makeup artistMisha Shahzadarotates her makeup remover depending on her clients’ skin type, but she tends to use this one the most. “It removes everything without irritating the eyes and does not leave a greasy residue,” she says. It’s also a part of makeup artistHannah Biddle’s arsenal because it’s suitable for most skin types, is unscented, and can tackle anything from water-resistant mascara to long-lasting liquid eyeliners to budge-proof lipsticks. Just keep in mind: While some of the makeup removers on this list can work as a cleanser, not just a makeup remover, that’s not the case here. Biddle stresses that this formula is just a first step and meant to be used on dry skin before atraditional facial cleanser.

Solvent type:Oil-based |Makeup type:Heavy makeup |Product type:Cleansing balm

I recently tested out a whole host ofcleansing balms— nine, to be exact — and this one from Farmacy turned out to be my top pick. Oil-based formulas tend to work better on the type of makeup I wear than water-based ones, and I liked how the balm has a smooth, velvety texture that starts out solid and melts on your face. I also love a good fragrance, and this one is infused with a pleasantly clean, citrusy blend of lime, bergamot, and orange (the brand recently released anunscented versionif you prefer your beauty products to be fragrance free). It requires zero elbow grease; I just massage a small dollop into my skin, rinse it off, and voilà — I’m fresh-faced and makeup free, without the need to use a second cleanser. It’s well suited for normal, oily, combination, and dry skin, thanks to its ultrahydrating ingredients like sunflower oil and antioxidant-rich supergreens that will dissolve even your most stubborn makeup without stripping or drying your skin.

Another top pick for me was Banila’s Clean It Zero cleansing balm, which, at under $25, serves perfectly as my everyday workhorse makeup remover. The balm dissolved my waterproof mascara with ease and has a smooth, hydrating texture that wasn’t greasy; while the scent was a bit sweeter and more artificial than Farmacy’s, it didn’t seem overly strong or headache-inducing. Banila offers multiple versions of the balm for a variety of skin types and concerns, includingoily,sensitive,dry,combo,flaky,mature, anddull, so it’s easy to find one that’s right for you. I’m loyal to the original version though, which is suited to all skin types.

Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Light-to-medium makeup |Product type:Makeup wipes

Makeup wipes aren’t our top choice; besides the fact that they generate waste, they are more likely to smear dirt and makeup around your face without completely removing it. (For a thorough cleanse, you need to rinse your face with water to wash away any residue.) However, for times where you’reon the goand don’t have ready access to your bathroom cabinet, wipes can be very handy. These extra-gentle Cetaphil wipes are the best for their soft cloth texture — not scratchy or rough at all — and mild formula that doesn’t sting or irritate my sensitive skin. I’ve used them on an airplane before, and they provided a refreshing burst of hydration for my skin during a long flight thanks to soothing ingredients like aloe, green tea, and chamomile. However, I would need to use at least two wipes to ensure all my makeup is gone, and I’ll still aim to wash my face once I have the option.

The Cetaphil wipes also come recommended by Chang, as the ingredients are the same asthe liquid Cetaphil remover she highlights above— but on a pre-moistened wipe, they’re much more portable. Plus, they’re noncomedogenic, fragrance free, and alcohol-free, so they can work for all types of skin. (But if you find that Cetaphil’s wipes are too gentle to really tackle stubborn waterproof makeup, Waldorf swears bythese Neutrogena towelettes, which are a bit more robust. She loves how soft and damp they feel and uses them to remove heavy eye and face makeup without scrubbing. And if you’d like a calming nighttime makeup wipe,Ashlee SimpsonprefersNeutrogena’s Night Calming towlettes, which she says effectively remove her wing eyeliner and, as a bonus, are lavender scented.)

Solvent type:Water-based |Makeup type:Light-to-medium makeup |Product type:Makeup wipes

When Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla doesn’t have access to her trustyCaudalie Vinoclean cleansing oil(which is also a favorite of drag queenMiss Fame), she’ll use these micellar cleansing pads from aesthetician Sofie Pavitt’s skin-care line. Each jar contains 35 pads cut into half-moon shapes that make them easy to grab and go. “They wipe away layers of mascara and strokes of brow pencil. It’s so pleasing to see my full face of makeup on the pad,” Pardilla says. They also doesn’t leave her skin dry, which she credits to ingredients like barrier-protecting glycerin and antioxidant-infused cucumber extract. “I feel so clean after using one that I sometimes contemplate whether I should go on and finish double-cleansing (I do, I promise),” she adds. And while the pads are single-use only, they’re made out of 100 percent plant-based viscose, which is recyclable and biodegradable.

Solvent type:Oil-based |Makeup type:Light-to-medium makeup |Product type:Makeup wipes

For an even more environmentally friendly solution, consider these dissolvable wipes from Fig. 1 Beauty, formulated in partnership with sustainable beauty brandConserving Beauty. Each wipe is soaked in a micellar oil formula that contains ingredients like nutrient-rich grape-seed oil and hydrating squalane and promises to melt makeup away instantly.

In accordance with the instructions, I opened the sachet with clean, dry hands and swiped it over my face in circular motions. The towel, made from Conserving Beauty’s proprietary “InstaMelt” technology, felt more rough and papery than a soft cotton cloth, but thankfully the fabric immediately soaked up my foundation and eyeliner with no scrubbing required; I followed up with a cleanser and a splash of water to rinse off the oily residue, and my skin was left feeling fresh and clean. Afterward, I held the wipe under the faucet and watched it disintegrate into mush, then into nothing at all — both my makeup and the wipe washed down the drain without a trace.