PUBLISHED: 01/14/2019 | LAST UPDATED: 01/17/2020

One of the first rules of proper skin care is to always remove your makeup before going to bed. It’s a good rule if you want to let your skin breathe while avoiding clogged pores, breakouts, irritation, and dull looking skin in the morning. However, if you’ve ever tried to remove makeup using a standard foaming cleanser, then you know that completely and easily removing your makeup every night is easier said than done. Not only do some cleansers have a hard time removing eye makeup, sudsy face washes can also cause major eye irritation, redness, and burning. Also, excessively rubbing a harsh cleanser on your delicate eye area can lead to dry skin and fine lines. So, what is a makeup lover to do?

Thankfully, there is an easier (and less painful) way to remove makeup every night: use a natural product designed to effortlessly remove makeup. Instead of trying to cleanse your face and remove makeup in one step, many dermatologists recommend that you remove your makeup first as a separate step of your skin care routine before cleansing. There are a few types of makeup removers that are great for this: makeup remover wipes, natural cleansing oils, and micellar waters.

Makeup Remover Wipes: These are pre-soaked sheets that make it easy to remove makeup on the go or touch up existing looks. There is a little controversy over the safety and effectiveness of makeup remover wipes. Some dermatologists say that makeup remover wipes are too harsh on the skin and don’t do a great job at removing all of the impurities from the skin (which can lead to blemishes, irritation, and dull complexions). Dermatologist Dr. Craig Kraffer told the Huffington Post “Makeup wipes are quick and convenient but not optimal for overall skin health.” With that said, if you like the convenience of makeup remover wipes, then be sure to use them gently and follow up with a cleanser.

Natural Cleansing Oils: Natural oils are the champs when it comes to removing every trace of makeup from your skin. These oils (like coconut, castor, and olive) break up makeup by binding to dirt and excess sebum. Simply apply, massage, and wipe away the grime. As an added benefit, natural carrier oils are packed with fatty acids and antioxidants which can help to nourish your skin as you cleanse.

Micellar Waters: These products are made with tiny oil molecules called micelles which are suspended in a water-based solution. These oils attract and bind to dirt, makeup, and sebum in the same way that natural cleansing oils do but much more effectively. Micellar waters are great for on-the-go facial cleansing because they combine cleansing and toning in one step. However, if you are using micellar water as your daily makeup remover at home, then it is recommended that you follow up with a cleanser after use.

As with all products, not all makeup removers are created equally. Cleansing oils, makeup remover wipes, and micellar waters can be made with potentially irritating ingredients like denatured alcohols, parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde, polysorbates, PEG’s, synthetic fragrances, propylene and butylene glycol, and many others. The best way to avoid these gnarly chemicals is to use an all-natural and organic makeup remover product. A great natural makeup remover will be made with uber gentle ingredients that won’t burn your eyes while still being potent enough to remove the most elaborate makeup.

We tested 50+ different natural makeup removers to come up with this list of our top 12 products. These makeup removers are formulated by trustworthy natural skin care brands, contain no naughty chemicals, and are exceptional at removing makeup. We hope that you find your perfect match!

Don’t want to spend a ton of money on a fancy natural makeup remover product? Check out our DIY Natural Makeup Remover Guide below for tips on how to make an affordable, single-ingredient makeup remover using natural oils.