The 10 Best Over-The-Counter & Natural Makeup Removers
Makeup is typically used to enhance our already beautiful features and no matter how poppin' that Fenty's Killawatt Foil Highlighter is on our cheeks, eventually we have to take it all off.
It is very important to wash away all the makeup (typically before you go to bed) so that our skin can breathe and renew itself. If we don't, it will lead to breakouts, wrinkles, and more skin issues in the future. Luckily, there are many beauty brands that are catered to the cause and have products that are specifically designed to wipe away every last bit of makeup on your face. And if you are more into the natural way of doing things, we've got you covered too.
Below, we've listed the five best over-the-counter makeup removers and the five best natural oils that also work as a makeup remover.
The Best Over-The-Counter Makeup Removers To Buy
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Garnier Micellar Water All-In-1 Cleanser & Makeup Remover
Garnier
Micellar water took over the beauty industry a few years ago when it was first introduced on the market as a powerful cleanser, thanks to micellar technology. It was quickly found in many beauty products, including Garnier, and consumers really gravitated towards the idea of the makeup remover attracting dirt, oil, and makeup like a magnet without harsh rubbing.
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Facial Cleansing Towelettes
Neutrogena
These towelettes are soft and gentle on the skin while it effectively removes the makeup. With one towelette, it promises to leave the skin feeling so fresh and so clean.
Cetaphil Gentle Waterproof Makeup Remover
Cetaphil
Cetaphil is the brand name of a popular facial cleanser, so it's no surprise that it has a great makeup remover. With aloe vera, ginseng, and green tea added, Cetaphil Gentle Waterproof Makeup Remover works for all skin types, as it actively dissolves dirt, oil and other impurities.
Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover
Sephora
This beauty store brand and fan favorite makeup remover prides itself on being a product that can be used for people with sensitive eyes and who wear contacts. It also includes a lash-strengthening ingredient and hydrosenn+, which is a plant-based ingredient that moisturizes the skin.
Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lips & Lashes
Just like the name suggests, Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover completely takes off long-wearing makeup without leaving a trace. It is also gentle on the skin and non-irritating.
The Best Natural Oils To Use As Makeup Remover
Yes you can use oils to remove makeup. See how!
Grapeseed Oil
Shutterstock
Grapeseed oil is extracted from the very grapes that are used to produce wine. It is a light oil that easily removes makeup while leaving your face feeling hydrated and clean.
Argan Oil
Shutterstock
Argan oil has become a popular oil used in haircare products, but did you know it is also great for removing makeup? This oil removes any impurities that may get in your skin throughout the day and since it's a dry oil, meaning it absorbs into the skin rather quickly, it won't make your face greasy.
Almond Oil
Shutterstock
If you have sensitive skin, you may want to try almond oil. It's a gentle cleanser that is rich in vitamin A and E, which are also great for your skin. Period.
Jojoba Oil
Shutterstock
With anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, why wouldn't you want to use jojoba oil on your skin? Not only is it an excellent choice for a makeup remover, it can also repair damaged skin and control acne while keeping the skin calm.
Olive Oil
Shutterstock
I know what you may be thinking, olive oil is too thick to use on the face, but hear us out. Extra virgin olive oil has a lot of healthy fats that is moisturizing for the skin and it is anti-aging. Just make sure to use a small amount to avoid a greasy mess.
Sidebar: When purchasing oils, make sure they are pure and aren't mixed with any other ingredients.
These are just a few products that we highlighted that is great for removing makeup. In lieu of these products, make sure to also wash your face regularly.
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Featured image by Getty Images
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London Alexaundria is the contributing editor for xoNecole and founder of The Posh Writer, a company that focuses on business and self-care for freelance writers. Follow @theposhwriter on Instagram
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Spill Vs. Threads: Here's What To Know About The Apps That Could Have The Potential To Rival Twitter
After Elon Musk took over Twitter, he has taken it through many changes, from capping how many tweets verified and unverified Twitter users can see per day to its most recent rebrand, “X.” Many of the baffling changes have left users looking for other options, and thus Spill and Threads entered the chat.
These two separate social media sites quickly gained popularity over the last month as many people began signing up with hopes of having a fresh start and a more satisfying experience. But what are Spill and Threads? We take a deep dive into the two social media platforms that rival the once-beloved Twitter.
What Is Spill?
Spill is Black-owned, and it was created by two former Twitter employees, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell and DeVaris Brown. The invite-only platform launched in June, and at the top of July, it became the No. 1 app in the Apple App Store. The site, which is still in beta, describes itself as a “visual conversation at the speed of culture,” which is different than text-driven Twitter.
Instead of text, Spill uses photos, videos, and GIFs with a text overlay. It’s also limited to 90 characters. Because Spill was created with the culture in mind, it has served as a safe space for Black people online. Even the name Spill comes from the popular Black and LGBTQ+ phrase, “spill the tea.” One of the ways the co-founders are doing it for the culture is by giving credit where credit is due. More often than not, we have seen many Black content creators not get credit or compensated for their viral posts. Spill is looking to change that.
In an interview with AfroTech, Terrell dished on inclusion and the importance of providing compensation for viral posts. “Compensation starts with getting credit,” Terrell said. “Who originated this and that’s always been a really big challenge online. So, that’s why we looked at technologies like blockchain. We can create an immutable record, regardless if you’re on the platform or not, of who created what.”
He continued, “On the compensation part, it’s definitely not an easy thing to solve from jump, but what we’re sort of trying to do is take a learned approach because one of the things that we didn’t expect was people using so many visuals on the platform, like the meme formats and everything. So it’s a different type of model that we’re actually exploring and sort of building in… Our vision is to make it such that there’s a way to earn from an ongoing basis.”
What Is Threads?
When Threads launched, it quickly became the talk of the town after having 100 million users sign up. The Meta app has a lot of similarities to Twitter such as text-based posts, reposting and quoting other Threads’ posts and it has a 500-character limit. And, because it was made by Instagram, it allows you to share Threads’ posts to your Instagram Stories.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared a Threads post following the launch. “The vision for Threads is to create an option and friendly public space for conversation,” he wrote. “We hope to take what Instagram does best and create a new experience around text, ideas, and discussing what’s on your mind.”
Threads is easy to sign up for, however, you do need an Instagram account first. Also, if you decide to delete your Threads account, you will also have to delete your Instagram account. But users have the option to deactivate their Threads account without deactivating Instagram. Because it's still new, there are a few things that haven’t been rolled out yet such as direct messaging, hashtags, and more.
Be that as it may, Meta announced an update that users have been asking for, a “Following” tab. The Following tab allows users to see chronological posts from their followers and users can also sort through their “Activity” feed by likes, reposts, and quotes.
Only time will tell if either app has what it takes to overtake Twitter as a dominant text social media platform. While both Threads and Spill have welcomed immediate success, mostly due to Twitter’s demise, they still have to prove if whether they have staying power. A recent report revealed that despite Threads’ 100 million users, the platform’s engagement has already significantly declined.
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Feature image by Xavier Lorenzo/ Getty Images