7 Best Makeup Removers for Seriously Sensitive Skin
Photo: Jerome Tisne/Getty
If you have sensitive skin like me, you worry enough about reactions from the products you apply—let alone harsh products you use to strip them away. And those makeup removers that claim they’re extra gentle for reactionary skin? I’ve gotten allergic reactions from them, too. So I set out on a mission to find the very best formulas that remove cosmetics with zero chance of irritation. Here’s what I found:
Related: 3 Tricks to Nix Oily, Shiny Skin
Ren Rosa Centifolia Express Make-Up Remover ($26)
If you love milk cleansers, this creamy formula is a dream (especially in the winter, when you’re skin feels extra tight). A blend of delicate oils soaks into the skin, removing all makeup, but leaving your face feeling nourished. Smells faintly of roses.
Banila Co. Clean it Zero Purity ($29)
The South Korean cosmetics brand made a remover that’s essentially whipped oil in a little tub. Massage the tiniest bit into your skin and watch as your foundation melts away.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution ($31)
This French import is adored by makeup artists for good reason: when they’re backstage, scrubbing the makeup off models during fashion week for the 8th time that day, it’s the only thing that will effortlessly remove every speck of pigment without irritating the skin.
Related: How to Take Off Your Eye Makeup
Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes ($5)
Most wipes have a strong scent, make my face sting, and leave a lot of oily residue behind. But Simple wipes live up to their name. Stash them in your desk drawer or gym bag when you need a quick refresh.
Klorane Floral Lotion Eye Makeup Remover ($10)
Just faintly floral, this formula was designed to have a pH similar to human tears, minimizing any potential stinging that eye makeup remover can have. Free of parabens and sulfates, you can strip off every bit of mascara and liner with no tugging.
La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser ($20)
This ultra-gentle formula has a lotion-like texture that can be wiped or rinsed off. It’s admittedly better at removing face makeup than stubborn eye makeup, but its calming affects on cranky skin are worth it.
Related: 9 Ways to Wash Your Face
Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser ($14)
This old school method has decades of devotees, and I am now one of them. It works like cold cream: apply with your fingers, wipe it off with a tissue. Some say it helps with breakouts, eczema, and wrinkles, too, after extended use. I’m going to keep on using it and if I experience any miracles, I’ll report back.
