The Best Makeup Removers That Actually Work and Leave No Greasy Residue

The Best Makeup Removers That Actually Work and Leave No Greasy Residue

Take the day off with these good-for-skin wipes, cleansers, and balms that do the job without leaving that annoying film behind.

01 of 12

The Best Targeted Waterproof Makeup Remover

The Best Targeted Waterproof Makeup Remover
Glossier

Leave it to Glossier to create a new category of skin care; their just-launched Milky Oil is half micellar water and half lightweight oil. Translation: It gently removes even the stubbornest long-wear lipstick or waterproof mascara, without leaving behind an oily residue (or irritating eyes in the process). Bonus: It's TSA-friendly.

02 of 12

The Best Non-Irritating Cleansing Wipe

The Best Non-Irritating Cleansing Wipe
Simple

Many makeup-removing wipes can be irritating, or leave a film behind. The Simple Unscented Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes do none of that—and are super-effective at removing dirt, oil, sweat, and makeup. You'll want a package for work, home, and your gym bag.

03 of 12

The Best All-Around Cleansing Oil

The Best All-Around Cleansing Oil
Caudalie

Thanks to a gentle, 100 percent natural formula (featuring hydrating, nourishing ingredients like grapeseed and almond oil) the Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil is safe for sensitive skin types, yet super-effective at dissolving makeup. As a bonus, it also contains castor oil to aid in lash growth.

04 of 12

The Best Nighttime Oil

The Best Nighttime Oil
Kiehl's

Never thought you'd be into face oils? Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil will convert you. Apply a few pumps of the lightweight oil to dry skin to instantly dissolve all of your makeup and leave skin feeling super soft (and no, not oily at all!). Bonus: The scent of evening primrose oil and lavender essential oil will have you getting into bed feeling über-relaxed.

05 of 12

The Best Multipurpose Balm

The Best Multipurpose Balm
It Cosmetics

Yes, the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Balm deep-cleanses and removes makeup, but it goes one step further. The sulfate-free formula contains an anti-aging serum that helps ward off free radicals and pollutants for healthier, younger-looking skin—no extra product needed.

06 of 12

The Best One-Step Cleanser

The Best One-Step Cleanser
Philosophy

This cleanser melts away makeup, deep-cleans, hydrates, and tones skin in one simple step on those days when double-cleansing just isn't in the cards. Not only is it gentle enough to remove eye makeup, it also has an amazing, not-too-cloying scent.

07 of 12

The Best for On-the-Go Touch-Ups

The Best for On-the-Go Touch-Ups
Dermstore

DHC Olive Virgin Oil Swabs are an individually wrapped miracle—they're perfect for fixing smudged liquid eyeliner or lipstick on-the-go (or when you sneeze after applying your mascara and are too frazzled to dig for a Q-tip and makeup remover...just us?). Although they're powered by organic olive oil, they're dry to the touch and won't leave you greasy.

08 of 12

The Best No-Rinse Cleanser

The Best No-Rinse Cleanser
Garnier

The beauty of micellar cleansing waters? No need to rinse. Simply apply to a cotton pad as you would a toner, press into skin, and let the magnet-like micelle molecules do the work for you to remove dirt, oil, and makeup. The Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water is a mattifying version made for oily skin types and is also great at removing sweat post-gym, without drying out your skin in the process.

09 of 12

The Best Sustainable, Reusable Makeup Remover

The Best Sustainable, Reusable Makeup Remover
Sephora

As reviewers can attest, "The Original" Makeup Eraser really does remove all your makeup without the need of any soap—just add warm water. A great environmentally friendly alternative to disposable face wipes, these machine washable cloths will last you up to three to five years.

10 of 12

The Best No-Nonsense Bang for Your Buck

The Best No-Nonsense Bang for Your Buck
POND's

Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser has been a drugstore classic since 1907—so you know they're doing something right. The brand recently launched a Cold Cream Cleansing Balm that's just as effective as the OG at removing dirt and makeup (including waterproof mascara) but now in a balm-to-oil formula. It's a travel-friendly alternative to coconut oil or other cleansing oils—and one $10 jar will last you forever.

11 of 12

The Best Jelly Makeup-Melting Remover

The Best Jelly Makeup-Melting Remover
Origins

If you hate oil-based makeup removers, you'll love the texture of the new crop of "jelly" products out there that turn into a milky cleanser to melt away makeup in one step. The Origins Cleansing Makeup Removing Jelly also leaves skin glowing thanks to dullness-fighting willowherb.

12 of 12

The Best Gym Bag or Travel Wipe

The Best Gym Bag or Travel Wipe
rms

One of the many beauty perks of coconut oil is its ability to melt away makeup while leaving skin super-hydrated. Now you can reap those same benefits with no mess thanks to the über-convenient, individually wrapped Ultimate Makeup Remover Wipes from RMS Beauty. They're probably the "greasiest" of the bunch thanks to 100 percent pure coconut oil, but they're a great travel option for those making the switch to a clean skin-care routine. (And since coconut oil is known for its antibacterial properties, they're perfect for post-workout.)

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles