10 Makeup Removers That Actually Take Everything Off

By Erin Lukas
Updated Feb 08, 2019 @ 3:00 pm
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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I never look forward to taking off my makeup at night. It's not that I'm too tired to wash my face, but removing every single bit takes a lot of effort, and quite frankly, just hurts. More often than not, fully removing my eyeliner and mascara takes 10 thousand years and a ton of rubbing. My eyes are red, watery, and I still wake up with black residue under my eyes in the morning. 

Instead of just accepting the fact that taking off my makeup is always going to be the most-dreaded part of my day, I made an effort to find effective yet gentle eye and face makeup removers that completely clean my face without much scrubbing or double-cleansing.   

From rinse-free micellar water to jelly cleanser to wipes, it turns out there's a ton of formulations to choose from that'll fit into every type of skincare routine. Here, the 10 best makeup-removers out there. 

VIDEO: Beauty School: I Over-Contoured My Face

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1 of 10

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

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$32
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This jelly does so much more than clear your skin of makeup and excess oil. It's also formulated to get rid of the negative effects of pollution. And if your skin is extremely sensitive, this cleanser can help you out on that front, too. It's free of fragrance and essential oils, two common skincare ingredients that can trigger reactive skin types. 

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2 of 10

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Cleansing Water and Makeup Remover Solution for Face and Eyes

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$15
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Use Bioderma's micellar water one time and you'll get why beauty editors, makeup artists, and celebs swear by it. The rinse-free, 2-in-1 cleanser and makeup remover gets rid of face and eye makeup, plus leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and just all-around clean. 

3 of 10

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

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$60
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This isn't your basic makeup-removing cleanser. Massaging this balm-to-oil formula on your face feels like you're giving yourself a mini facial. Its mix of moringa seed extract, grape seed, and almond oils cleanses pores, plus moisturizes and calms skin. 

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4 of 10

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes 

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$5
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At night, when washing your face seems like too much effort, Neutrogena's makeup wipes are there for you. The beauty award-winning drugstore staple tops other wipes out there because they get rid of all traces of makeup without having to rub your eyes. They also don't completely dry out your skin or leave any slimy residue on your face.

5 of 10

Lancôme Bi-Facil Face Bi-Phased Micellar Water Face Makeup Remover & Cleanser

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$40
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The main selling point of Lancôme's micellar makeup remover isn't that you don't have to rinse it. Really, it's that the oil-water makes taking off waterproof eye makeup effortless. The formula dissolves stubborn long-wear products with a single swipe of a soaked cotton pad. 

6 of 10

Glossier Milky Jelly Facial Cleanser 

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$18
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You've probably seen this extremely popular Glossier product on Instagram, but don't write it off as social media fodder. Formulated with the same cleansing agents found in contact solution, the cream-gel won't sting your eyes when you use it to take off eyeliner and mascara. It also has a mix of conditioning ingredients that keep the rest of your face from feeling stripped and tight. 

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7 of 10

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil 

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$28
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A cult-favorite among beauty editors, DHC's cleanser may be oil-based, but it doesn't leave your face feeling greasy once after rinsing. Infused with olive oil and vitamin E, it melts eye and face makeup, plus hydrates skin. 

8 of 10

Ren Rosa Centifolia Express Make-Up Remover

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$21
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Even though this Ren's remover is powerful enough to quickly take off waterproof eyeliner and mascara, its gentle formula won't irritate extremely sensitive skin. It's formulated with calming roman chamomile oil and pink violet leaf extract that keeps redness under control. 

9 of 10

Urban Decay Meltdown Makeup Remover Dissolving Spray 

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$26
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What if we told you that taking off all of your makeup could be as easy as using your favorite face mist. That's exactly how Urban Decay's innovative remover works. The spray breaks down and dissolves makeup so that all you have to do is gently wipe it off with a cloth. 

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10 of 10

Biore Daily Deep Pore Cleansing Cloths 

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$8
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For oily, congested skin, these deep-cleaning wipes get rid of all of the makeup on your face, plus the junk that's clogging your pores. 

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