Best Makeup Removers for Sensitive Skin
Have you ever wondered which makeup removers or facial cleansers are best to buy?
Oil? Milk type or water-based? I totally understand if you feel overwhelmed with so much information on this topic available!
As I grew up in Japan, where the importance of the cleansing ritual is taught from a very young age, I have tried many makeup removers in a variety of shapes and forms.
In my 25 years of skincare journey (started at the age of 12!), I learned what works best for my sensitive skin by try and error.
In this post, I’m going to introduce some of the BEST makeup removers for sensitive skin that I have EVER tried and can highly recommend for you to try too!
Good cleansing products CAN change your life – that I know!
Best Makeup Removers for Sensitive Skin
1. Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm
courtesy of brand
Type
Balm
Suitable For
All skin types including delicate and sensitive skin
I still remember the feeling and sensation I got when I first tried this product. Having not tried balm cleansing before, I thought it might leave my skin sticky, and I didn’t know what to expect.
To my great surprise, I was pleasantly surprised!
First and foremost, the smell “English Rose” is truly divine!! It instantly made me feel like in heaven (not kidding!) and relaxed. It melts really nicely in your hands before applying and doesn’t feel greasy at all.
Since I started to use this cleanser, my skin is well hydrated and more plumped up. It leaves my skin soft and ready for the usual skincare routine too. Also, I must say again that the scent of this balm is just absolutely amazing, not overpowering for sensitive skin like mine.
It really does feel like a touch of luxury every day. You also need only a small amount at a time so it would last easily a few months and more. Below is a summary of the features of this fantastic product:
Key Features
- Deep-cleanses the skin
- Dissolves makeup and pollutants
- Gently exfoliates without stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier
- Soothes the skin with an extract of English Rose oil
- Aids skin barrier function with the Elemis’ unique Optimega® Oil that is grown and pressed in the UK
- Contains Mediterranean seaweed (Padina Pavonica) which helps moisturise and support firmness and elasticity
- Regulates skin secretion and improves hydration with Rosehip Oil
How To Use
[Daily Cleansing]
- Take a spoonful of the balm into your warmed up palms
- Gently massage over the face (neck and décolleté too if you like) with circular movements for a while
- Enjoy the exquisite scent of English Rose with deep breaths and relax the muscles of your face
- Softly wash it away with lukewarm water
Elemis recommends using a cloth that comes with the product to wipe off to help exfoliate, but I found it a little harsh on my (sensitive) skin.
From my experience, it is important to avoid rubbing the skin at all cost to maintain soft complexion. So, I would recommend using your hands.
Gentle cleansing helps keep skin’s natural oil and prevents dryness, which can lead to wrinkle formation.
[As a Mask]
You can use it as an indulgent mask too!
The best time to use it as a mask is after a nighttime shower or while having a bath.
- Remove makeup and cleanse the face
- Take a spoonful of the balm into your warmed up palms
- Gently massage over the face (neck and décolleté too if you like) with circular movements and leave it for a while
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water
My Secret Way
I usually put this on while having a bath for about 30 mins or so. Sometimes after a shower up to 1 hour while relaxing and reading on my sofa. My skin feels so soft and radiant afterwards 🙂
2. Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil (the Ultimate Japanese Oil Cleanser)
courtesy of brand
Type
Oil
Suitable For
All skin types including delicate and sensitive skin
This cleansing oil from Fancl is the No.1 cleansing product of all time in Japan. A bottle gets sold every 4 seconds according to the brand’s site!
About Fancl
Fancl is a classic Japanese skincare brand that is famous for producing products without any preservatives or perfumes. They believe skin care products should be free of preservatives and perfumes that are very straining on the skin.
All products had to be produced in small quantity to maintain the freshness and efficacy and should be used in a few months once opened.
About the Cult Oil Cleanser
This oil was born in 1997, and it has always remained on top of the ranking ever since.
My mother was a huge fan of Fancl for the efficacy of the products and used them throughout her life. Her skin was always in good condition. She looked easily ten years younger all the time.
This magical oil does the job of removing makeup and any dirt and moisturising the skin at the same time really well.
It gently removes even waterproof mascara or sunscreen.
Despite the lightness, it also works well on blackheads, clogged pores or large pores!
If you leave impurities in the pores, they would get oxidised and clog the pores (blackheads). The oxidised sebum can be a stimulant to the skin and cause the skin to age.
This oil is excellent in melting the stubborn oxidised sebum and treat blackheads to prevent ageing skin.
What’s more, the formula of the oil ensures that the skin does not get dry and minimise fine lines around the eyes that could be caused by dryness. I use this oil for night time cleansing daily, and this helped my skin transform from dry to well moisturised.
Key Features
- Removes makeup including waterproof mascara very gently
- Smoothes the skin without stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier
- Softens the texture of the skin
- Melts the stubbornly clogged pores with sebum & dead cells and clears blackheads
- Helps minimise the fine lines around the eyes over time
How To Use
- Take two pushes of the oil (even wet hands ok!) – it may feel a lot, but the brand highly recommends using two pushes to avoid any friction on the skin. Rubbing the skin is one of the causes of fast ageing.
- Gently massage over the face with very light circular motions
- Rinse it off softly with cold or lukewarm water. It is best to use skin temperature water. Try to splash water to remove it instead of “wash”.
This oil can also be used for morning cleansing, especially for T-zone. It is a great product to use on décolleté too.
My Secret Way
I’ve been using this super-cleansing oil over the last 15 years, and I cannot think of my life without it! It always leaves my skin very soft and clean. I can say from my experience that using the right cleansing product is the key to maintain flawless skin!
3. Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution
courtesy of brand
1 bottle of Sensibio H2O gets sold around the world every 3 seconds!
This is the famous ultra-mild, non-rinse micellar water cleanser and make-up remover.
Type
Micellar water
Suitable For
Normal, dry, sensitive and intolerant skin
[How I Met Bioderma]
When I was modelling, I often saw makeup artists and fellow models using this cleanser to remove makeup on shoots, and this is how I got introduced to this famous cleanser.
It is a magical water-based cleanser that is designed for sensitive skin.
It does remove makeup, including waterproof mascara gently but thoroughly.
Models and makeup artists absolutely love this product! Many of them swear by this product. For models who have to remove makeup several times during a shoot and still keep the skin looking supple and fresh, this gentle cleanser works wonders.
It respects the fragility of sensitive skin.
When I moved to Europe, one of the most challenging things for me to get used to was the fact that you get hard water in most places.
It made my skin temporarily dry out, and I also started to get red rashes and felt itchy. It took some time for my skin to calm down and settle.
You might think water is water, but believe me, water affects your skin a lot!
I was born and grew up in Japan where you get soft water, which is gentle on the skin and tends not to cause skin irritation, so hard water felt a little harsh in the beginning.
Even now after 15 years in Europe (you get predominantly hard water), I try to give my skin a rest from hard water from time to time, and this is when this magical cleanser comes in handy.
It does a great job in removing makeup and cleansing the face without using water.
Key Features:
- PH level is very similar to that of skin
- Cleanses and removes makeup very gently but thoroughly
- Helps to rebuild the skin’s barrier function
- Soothes the skin and leaves a feeling of freshness
- Fragrance-free
How To Use:
- Soak a cotton pad with the cleanser
- Gently cleanse or remove makeup
- Keep applying until cotton pads become clean
My Secret Way:
I use this cleanser for the eye area mostly before cleansing the entire face with oil. I’m very careful with what I use for the eyes because wrong products can advance aging in the area. I found this product most gentle but very effective for the area.
I also use this to cleanse the delicate décolleté and neck area too every night. These areas like the eyes. They show your age. You need to treat them very gently.
When my skin is most sensitive for whatever reason, it is a perfect product to combat the sensitivity.
It is so versatile, and I won’t be without it!
4. Natural Aqua Gel “Cure”
courtesy of brand
Type
Water-based gel
Suitable For
Sensitive skin (good for all skin types)
This is not a makeup remover but an excellent exfoliator from Japan that has won awards many times. I had to list this product here!
A bottle gets sold every 12 seconds!
Cure is fragrance-free, colour-free and preservative-free. 91% of the gel is made of water. It feels so light and natural on the skin when applied.
This very light gel exfoliator, as you put it on your face and massage over the face, gently catches the dead skin cells and the dead cells turn into tiny white beads!
When I haven’t exfoliated for a while, I get to see more beads after its use, so I think this gel does what it says on the tin!
I have very sensitive skin, and most exfoliators (or peeling products) are little too harsh on my skin, but this one works so well on my skin. It is extremely gentle.
After using it, my skin feels SO soft and still hydrated AND very clean.
It feels all the good ingredients of my skincare products after this get soaked up by the skin better as if the skin is drinking them 🙂
Key Features
- Colour free, fragrance-free, preservative-free
- 90% is made of hydrogen water
- Removes dead skin cells from the top 0.01mm layer of the skin
- Made of natural ingredients such as rosemary extract (anti-inflammation and antibacterial effects), ginkgo leaf extract (antioxidant effects) and aloe vera extract (moisturising, protection effects)
- Also suitable for body
How To Use
- Remove makeup and wipe off any moisture
- Apply 1 – 2 pumps of the gel onto your face, particularly areas of concerns
- As the gel turns into liquid, massage gently (it works to remove dead skin)
- Once all turns into tiny white beads, wash the face with lukewarm water
My Secret Way
I use this product to exfoliate twice a week, as recommended by the brand. My favourite way to apply is after a long shower or bath when all pores are open and easy to remove dirt or dead skin.
When I exfoliate, I remove makeup with the Bioderma’s micellar water instead of the usual Fancl cleansing oil I usually use to minimise putting too much constraint from cleansing on the skin.
The order is, remove makeup → shower or bath → exfoliate
It is such a great product for the price, $35 (USD)!
If you haven’t tried yet, it’s definitely worth giving a go! It reminds me again that the Japanese are very good at creating gentle and mild but very effective products to respect the fragility of human skin 🙂
Summary
All of the products I just shared are my absolute best after I’ve tried so many cleansing products over the last two decades, and I genuinely recommend them to everyone.
Even for sensitive skin like mine, they work really well and my skin has become stable with fewer skin concerns.
Why not try one of them? 🙂
Here is the list of the recommended products!
The English Luxury Balm
Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm – approx $64 → check on Amazon
The Ultimate Japanese Oil
Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil – $27.00 → check on Amazon
The French Cult
Bioderma Sensibio H2O – $14.90 → check on Amazon
The Magical Japanese exfoliator
Cure Natural Gel Aqua – $38.00 → check on Amazon
I will be adding new ones to this list if any sensational cleansing product comes up, but in the meantime, any questions or concerns, please let me know in the comment section below.
I’m very happy to help! Enjoy 🙂
About the author
Nana is a Japanese model-turned-entrepreneur and the founder of this blog. She was born and raised in Japan and currently lives in Switzerland. She started her skincare journey at the age of 13 when her mother introduced her ritual to her. Now 39, her love of skincare (Japanese way of course!) is bigger than ever before. She's here to share her decades of experience in the world of Japanese skincare to help all women from around the globe live happily with beautiful skin.
