These Top-Tested Makeup Removers Won't Leave You With Racoon Eyes (2024)

Rich in safflower seed oil and free of top common skin allergens (including fragrance), Clinique’s buttery formula, which won the GH Beauty Lab’s test, thoroughly melts away makeup without inflaming skin. It received the highest score in Lab tests for ability to remove eyeliner in one swipe and number of swipes needed to completely remove makeup. Among testers, 100% found that the balm washed off easily and didn’t cause breakouts or irritation. Several testers said they would continue using it: “My skin felt so soft, fresh and clean,” one said.

• Formula: Oil-based balm
• Size: 3.8 oz.

These Olay GH Seal Star and Beauty Award-winning makeup removal towelettes wowed testers who said that the wipes easily removed makeup with no stinging or tugging, crucial for dehydrated skin.

The cushiony, fragrance-free towelettes are infused with aloe to sweep away makeup fast without irritating. They effectively remove even waterproof eye makeup while leaving skin hydrated, GH Beauty Lab data evaluation confirmed. Amazon reviewers are totally loyal to them: One raves, "Five stars. A true and complete daily facial in every cloth!"

Milky and mild, Nuria’s makeup removing cleanser, made with sunflower seed oil and vitamin E, effectively removed color while keeping skin calm in GH Beauty Lab testing.

The formula, which contains none of the major common allergens, earned perfect marks for not stinging skin as well as for dispensing with ease. In the Lab, it performed near the top at removing makeup speedily and thoroughly, though a larger amount may be needed for a full face. “It was very gentle on my semi-sensitive skin,” a tester reported.

For a refreshed, superclean feel, splash on this softly scented, glycerin-infused Vichy micellar water, a top performer in the GH Beauty Lab’s test that doesn’t require rinsing. The liquid was best among testers for making skin feel clean, and 100% agreed that it dispensed easily and spread evenly.

Note that pressure may be needed for thorough cleansing, and multiple applications may be necessary to dissolve mascara. Multiple users remarked on how easily makeup came off. And this product “didn’t leave residue,” one tester reported.

GH Beauty Lab scientists evaluate label-masked new makeup removers in the Lab and on 176 testers for both their makeup removal efficacy and cosmetic properties, tallying 12,200 total data points to find the best makeup removers on the market.

In the Lab, experts conducted a test to grade how well they removed eyeliner from skin in one swipe and a second test to measure the number of swipes needed for complete removal of the eyeliner. Products that claimed to remove waterproof makeup were tested against waterproof eyeliner formulas. We evaluate their efficacy, thoroughness and speed in removing eyeliner from skin.

Both makeup artists and dermatologists recommend considering your skin type when choosing the right makeup remover for you. "This will play a huge role on how your skin will react to the remover and give you the best results," explains Beck Wainner, a celebrity makeup artist in Nashville, Tennessee.

Here are general guidelines for each skin type from Mara Weinstein Velez, M.D., Director of Cosmetic and Laser Dermatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center:

• For oily or acne-prone skin: Try oil-free, non-greasy makeup removers like micellar waters.
• For mature skin: Choose oil-based, moisturizing formulas that will be gentler on skin.
• For dry skin: Seek out creamy, oil-based makeup removers or micellar waters, which work for all skin types, she says.
• For sensitive skin: Look for mild formulations that are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free.
• For combination skin: Use an oil-based makeup remover, then follow with a foaming facial cleaners, Dr. Weinstein suggests.

It's important to know that cleansing your skin and removing your makeup are not the same thing. Makeup remover won't give your skin a thorough cleanse, just like a typical face wash won't rid your face of makeup, GH Beauty Lab testing has found. "Face cleansers and makeup removers serve different purposes," Dr. Weinstein explains.

"Makeup removers are effective in removing makeup from the surface of your skin and following with a facial cleanser removes dirt, oil and sweat and cleans the pores." There are also micellar water-based formulations use a special "micelle" technology that traps and whisks away pigment particles without the use of oil.

Testing for this article was overseen by GH Beauty Lab chemists Danusia Wnek and Sabina Wizemann. Danusia has a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and an M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati plus 10 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing.

Since joining GH in 2014, she has been developing and overseeing the testing of many product skincare and makeup product categories utilizing both lab instrumentation and consumer feedback to recommend the best products on the market. Sabina started at GH in 2012 with over six years of prior experience as an organic chemist in the hair dye, cosmetic and biotech industry. She develops laboratory protocols using specialized lab equipment, conducts product testing across skincare and makeup categories, including makeup removers, and oversees large consumer studies.

April Franzino, who wrote this article, has over a decade of experience working in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, including the past seven years serving as beauty director. In her role, she oversees all beauty editorial content at Good Housekeeping, working closely with the GH Beauty Lab scientists to develop, execute and translate product testing into compelling, factually accurate editorial in categories like skincare and makeup, including makeup removers.