Natural alternatives to makeup remover

Having trouble taking your makeup off at night? Here are some gentle, natural alternatives to shop bought makeup removers.

Why is it important to remove makeup?

Makeup formulations are getting better and better, and although waterproof and smudge proof mascara and crease resistant, 12-hour foundations great for perfecting an all day look, it can be surprisingly tough to remove at the end of the day. Sleeping with cosmetics on will clog your pores and irritate the skin, leading to acne and blackheads. Despite the longevity of many products, if makeup is left on the skin for too long, it can block the skin's natural exfoliation process, which can lead to dull, and even older looking skin. If you wear eye makeup, it is especially important to remove every last trace before you go to sleep. Poor removal will not just lead to panda eyes in the morning - it could cause premature wrinkles and even a sty or painful eye infection. There is a huge range of makeup remover products available on the market, from disposable cloths to cleansing oils. However, if you have very sensitive skin, there are plenty of natural options which will do just as a good as job at removing stubborn makeup remnants without using harsh, unnatural chemicals.

Natural alternatives to makeup remover

A good makeup remover should be strong enough to effectively remove all traces of makeup without excessive rubbing, and gentle enough not to aggravate allergies or cause irritation. Oil-based makeup removers The best makeup removers are generally oil-based, which means they can easily be replicated with natural oil-based products found at home. While you may not like the idea of putting oil onto you face, it is the best way of removing even the toughest of makeup without rubbing and pulling at your skin. For this reason, oil-based products are particularly useful for eye makeup removal and can be used to gently cut through even waterproof mascara and theatrical makeup. Oil dissolves makeup almost instantly, in fact, natural products like olive oil, almond oil, grape-seed oil and jojoba oil are just as good as most shop bought eye makeup removers, and they are perfectly safe to use carefully around the eye area. Apply a small amount of any of these natural oils to a cotton pad, or for increased accuracy, a Q-tip, and gently press against the eye area until the makeup melts away.