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The Best Drugstore Makeup Remover For All Skin Types

ON THE HUNT FOR THE BEST DRUGSTORE MAKEUP REMOVER? WHETHER YOU HAVE OILY, DRY, SENSITIVE OR ACNE-PRONE SKIN, THERE’S A DRUGSTORE MAKEUP REMOVER FOR YOU. READ ON FOR A DRUGSTORE MAKEUP REMOVER TO SUIT YOUR SKIN TYPE.

If you know me and this blog, then you know I love a good drugstore beauty deal. In particular, if I can find drugstore beauty products that work just as well as their high-end counterparts, I’m all for it! That’s why, today, I wanted to chat with you about the best drugstore makeup removers for all skin types.

Whether you have oily, acne-prone, dry, or sensitive skin, I’ve got a drugstore makeup remover that’s going to be perfect for you!

Non-irritating, full of amazing ingredients, and guaranteed to remove all your makeup (even that stubborn eye makeup), I know you’re going to love these makeup removers.

And hey, as mentioned in my article about what women with clear always skin do, women with clear skin ALWAYS remove their makeup.

And so, if you want both happy skin and a happy wallet, let’s chat about all things drugstore makeup remover.

Please note: This post does contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through one of my links, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting this blog. 

Don’t forget to sign up for Ebates to get CASHBACK on your online purchases. Stores like Amazon, Ulta, Sephora, Walmart, and Target are all part of the program. You sign up for FREE and instantly start earning money for basically doing nothing except making the purchases you were already going to make. Learn more about Ebates here. And if you’re Canadian, like myself, you can still  try out Ebates here.

The Best Drugstore Makeup Remover For Sensitive Skin

drugstore makeup remover for sensitive skin

1. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

If you have sensitive skin and you’ve yet to try out the magic that is micellar water, it’s time to get on board.

Personally, I have extremely sensitive skin that often reacts strongly to any harsh chemicals or odd ingredients, including sulfates, alcohol-based astringents, and strong acids. In particular, I often tend to experience a burning sensation on my skin if I use harsh makeup removers. Ouch.

However, with micellar water, my makeup comes off in one simple wipe, no scrubbing required, and no burning or stinging present.

How does this work?

Well, with micellar water, the purified water solution acts like a magnet, attracting all the dirt, oil, and makeup on your skin. Simply swipe a damp cotton pad of this makeup remover across your face, and voila! Your skin is totally clear. And honestly, it feels no different than if you were simply washing your face with basic water, except the makeup removal process is much more effective.

Plus, by not having to scrub to remove your makeup, you’re saving your sensitive skin from all that irritation. And so, if you have sensitive skin like myself, I highly recommend trying out this Garnier Micellar Water for a refreshing, easy-to-use cleanse that will remove all your makeup.

SHOP: Ulta | Walmart | Amazon

2. Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Wipes

If you’re more into a make remover wipe than a micellar water, you’ll love Simple’s Kind To Skin Cleaning Wipes For Sensitive Skin.

These are the only makeup wipes that I’ll use on my sensitive skin (most other wipes tend to break me out or cause that stinging sensation I mentioned earlier).

Also, keep in mind that these cleaning wipes have no alcohols, perfumes, artificial dyes, or harsh chemical included in them. Instead, it’s all about gentle cleansing for your sensitive skin, which I’m all about.

SHOP: Ulta | Walmart | Amazon 

BONUS Tip For Removing Makeup During Travel

The Simple Kind To Skin Cleaning Wipes are the best drugstore makeup remover for travel, hands down.

When I can’t bring my micellar water because I don’t have room in my luggage and/or I’m travelling in a carry-on, I always bring these for convenience and ease of mind (I once brought a different brand of makeup remover wipes and started my vacation off with a pimple, ugh!).

The Best Drugstore Makeup Remover For Oily Skin

best drugstore makeup remover for oily skin

1. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes

In high school, I went through a phase where my skin was SO oily. No matter what I did, I always felt like I had a thin layer of shine covering my forehead,  so if you’re currently struggling with oily skin, I know how you feel.

In particular, I know how it feels to use a skincare product that makes your oily skin even more oily. This used to drug me nuts!

If you’re in this boat, and you’re looking for a makeup remover that won’t make your skin more oily, the key here is to look for makeup removers that hydrate.

As explained in my post about how I cleared up my acne, oftentimes, oily skin is actually an indicator that your skin is dehydrated. In other words, it’s producing excess oil in order to compensate for how starved for hydration it is.

And that’s why I always recommend the Neutrogena Makeup Remover wipes for those with oily skin.

These towelettes are infused with cucumber and aloe extract, which help to really increase that surge of moisture to your skin.

SHOP: Ulta | Walmart | Amazon

Keep in mind, though, these towelettes do have fragrance listed in the ingredient list, so if you’re prone to skin sensitivity or acne, I would go with one of the options mentioned above (i.e. Garnier Micellar Water or Simple Cleansing Wipes).

If you’re set on trying out Neutrogena, though, they do come in a fragrance-free version, which you can check out here.

The Best Drugstore Makeup Remover For Acne-Prone Skin

**Acne-prone skin is the same thing as sensitive skin (DON’T use “acne-prone” skincare products)

As mentioned in my article about clearing up my acne, one of the biggest misconceptions I found in the skincare world was the recommendation for people with acne to use acne-prone products.

Seems pretty logical on the surface, but this is actually a rather large skincare mistake.

For me, most of the skincare products that were listed as suited for “acne-prone” skin were way too harsh, because, remember, acne- prone skin is almost always sensitive skin. Acne is simply the manifestation of skin that is irritated; therefore, if you’re using any skincare products with harsh ingredients, chemicals, or perfumes, it will likely result in new or worsening acne.

That being said, if you have acne-prone skin, I would, once again, recommend the Garnier Micellar Water or the Simple Cleansing Wipes.

In particular, I am partial to the Garnier Micellar Water, and think that anyone with acne-prone skin should be using a micellar water to remove not only their makeup, but also to help cleanse and soothe their acne-prone/sensitive skin.

Keep it simple when dealing with acne-prone skin, and you’ll likely be rewarded with clear, soft, bright skin.

The Best Drugstore Makeup Remover For Dry Skin

best drugstore makeup remover for dry skin

1. Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser

Dry skin?

No problem!

Simply stay away from any makeup removers that contain alcohols. This tends to be what strips the skin and dries it out.

And so, with that in mind, either refer to the above recommendation for oily skin (Neutrogena Cleansing Wipes), or go with the more environmentally friendly option with the Neutorgena Fresh Foaming Cleanser.

I love a good foaming cleaner, because when you apply the product, the foam really allows you to glide your fingers over your skin, which is what you want in skincare (as mentioned, never harshly scrub your skin; this will irritate it).

In addition, this makeup remover is alcohol free, and it’s known for not stripping the skin of its natural moisture barrier.

Also, as mentioned in my article about winter skincare tips, there are plenty of other things you could (and should!) be doing to help hydrate your skin (learn more about the moisture benefits of things like thermal water here).

SHOP: Ulta | Walmart | Amazon 

The Best Drugstore Makeup Remover For Eye Makeup

The only product that I will use for eye makeup removal is micellar water. In particular, if I’m wearing waterproof mascara, I have to use micellar water. Nothing else will fully take it off.

As mentioned above, the best drugstore micellar water is the Garnier Micellar Water.

However, if you’ve tried this and you didn’t like it, or you just simply want to try something different, the Cetaphil Liquid Makeup Remover is also another great option.

It’s oil-free and formulated with ingredients to help soothe your skin. Plus, Cetaphil is well-known for carrying products that are great for sensitive skin, which is what you want when talking about eye makeup removal.

The Best Drugstore Makeup Remover: Final Conclusion

best drugstore makeup remover

Image via @garnierusa

If you read this whole post, this probably won’t come as a surprise, but if I had to pick just one drugstore makeup remover, it would be the Garnier Micellar Water.

Whether you’re struggling with acne, your skin is oily or dry, or you have sensitive skin that’s picky, this Micellar Water is designed with you in mind.

It’s gentle, effective, non-drying, non-greasy, and super easy to use.

Trust me, add some micellar water into your skincare routine, and you’ll quickly see why everyone is ranting and raving about this drugstore makeup remover.

And hey, if you’re overwhelmed by all this skincare advice and tips, check out this article I did on an easy (effective!) skincare routine that will get your skin clear and bright in no time!

A Note On Drugstore Makeup Remover

If you haven’t been able to tell, I’m a bit skincare obsessed, and that’s why it’s so important for me to make this point before you go purchasing any of these drugstore makeup removers.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s skin is so different. 

Even though you and one person might both have “acne-prone” skin, it doesn’t necessarily mean your skin is going to react the exact same way to a specific product.

This is why I always recommend testing out products in small doses prior to lathering your skin in them, especially if your skin tends to be sensitive. You don’t want to irritate your skin further by adding a makeup remover into the mix that your skin doesn’t like, right?

Bottom line: just always be cautious with your skincare, and don’t be afraid of purchasing products in travel sizes to test them out first. It could save both your skin and your wallet in the long run.

Let me know in the comments below what your favorite drugstore makeup removers are. Do you prefer micellar water, or are you all about makeup remover wipes?

If you found this post helpful and would like to save it for later, feel free to use this image on Pinterest:

BEST DRUGSTORE MAKEUP REMOVER FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

 

Also, if you’re into drugstore beauty and you want to save some money, don’t forget to check out these two articles:

7 Drugstore Beauty Products No Girl Should Ever Be Without

and

The Ultimate List of Best Drugstore Makeup 

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