Of course, that doesn’t mean you should ditch the makeup remover altogether. Effectively taking off your makeup before bed is capital-C Crucial and shouldn’t be an afterthought. Instead, simply look into some natural options; they’re easier to get hold of than you think. That said, even if you do make the switch to natural makeup removers, you should still be mindful not to tug on the skin with cotton pads. A gentle application is key: You don’t want to be plucking off lashes here. In terms of which oils to use, the ball’s in your court here. Some oils to note are jojoba oil (it closely mimics the skin’s natural sebum), rosehip oil, and sunflower seed oil, but there are tons of others to throw into the mix—some market options even blend together several types of oils for optimal fatty acid and antioxidant content. Coconut oil is great, too, although it does have the potential to clog pores for some acne-prone individuals. To use oil as a makeup remover, we recommend massaging the oil of your choice in circular motions, then rinsing with warm water. Feel free to stick to that as your cleansing step in your skin care routine (especially if your skin is parched dry) or proceed with a water-based cleanser for a double cleanse. It’s super gentle—it won’t irritate delicate skin around your eyes—and it’s a great alternative to oil-based removers (you know, if the thought of cleansing with oil still skeeves you out). To create your own remover, simply soak some cotton rounds in fresh aloe gel before swiping across your skin. For eye makeup in particular, be sure to press them gently onto your closed lids. Don’t rub! (Read: Tugging and rubbing the eye area only leads to issues later on.) Just let the aloe soak into your lids and lashes for a minute, so it can dissolve the makeup. Then when you cleanse, the mascara should slide right off. Hot tip: Place the soaked cotton rounds in the fridge for an ahhh-inducing cooling sensation. In terms of removing makeup, there are a couple of avenues to follow here: Either use it as an allover rinse, or squeeze the solution onto a cotton round to target specific areas. If you do choose to cleanse with micellar water, just be sure to follow up with a proper cleanser afterward. As Ciraldo notes, “You can use it before your facial cleanser since it will remove [makeup, dirt, and the like] gently and effectively, but remember, it doesn’t include other actives like anti-pollution, marine or peptides actives that can add additional benefits to skin.” And again, the cotton round route is similar to that of aloe: Soak a cotton pad and press—don’t rub!—the solution into the delicate eye area until the makeup easily slides off.
