Do you often lay awake at night wondering how those "makeup artists" on Instagram remove the ten layers of contouring that they apply for selfie purposes only (people don't actually leave the house like that, do they?)? Maybe not, but perhaps you are a person who wears a reasonable amount of makeup but hates removing it?
Makeup removal sucks, and can be a serious PITA. If it were easy, we would do it every single day and dermatologists, beauty magazines, and our own mothers wouldn't have to constantly lecture us about sleeping in our makeup. Makeup removal wipes have been my go to for the sake of convenience, but I still end up with mascara all around my eyes despite how much I rub.
A few months ago, I received an email advertisement from Sephora about makeup melters. These products promise to make the makeup removal process easier and also remove dirt and oil in the process. Minimal rubbing=less irritated skin.
Since then, I have tried a few different brands. Here are my reviews on the ones I've tried out:
Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil, $32, Sephora.com
All of the melters I tried were much easier than traditional soap and even makeup wipes. While this one wasn't the most effective of the bunch, it was still pretty effective. If you have dry skin, you will love this one. My skin felt so soft and moisturized after. I know the jury is still out on argan oil (many skin and hair professionals criticize it because they claim it sits on top of the skin or hair follicle, rather than penetrating like a coconut oil), but I know my skin felt great afterwards. For those of you who are very dry, you will probably still want to follow with a moisturizer but others might not have to. I would highly recommend this for dry skin types and even combination during the winter months, but if you have oily skin you might want to proceed with caution.
Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil, $48, Sephora.com
Wow. This stuff works and it works fast. Make sure you're leaning over a sink because the makeup will begin to melt immediately. Don't be alarmed if you look like Heath Ledger as The Joker at first, because once you rinse it will all come off immediately. What surprised me the most when using this was how much makeup I was actually wearing. It just kept coming off and coming off. That's fine for me though, I would much rather the day's makeup in the sink than seeping into my pores! I recommend this one for all skin types, and it is especially great for waterproof makeup. I really loved this one. Whether you wear a little makeup or a lot, this will get the job done easily and quickly.
Boscia Charcoal MakeUp Melter Cleansing Oil-Balm, $32, Sephora.com
I made sure to try this one because charcoal seems to be the "It" skincare ingredient lately and, according to many, the most effective route to clear pores. This one was in a solid form that you scoop out with an included spatula. I've been using this one for a month and it's just okay. It does the job, but it probably was the least effective one I tried. I haven't really noticed a difference in my pores, either. It's not bad, but it's not the greatest. Oily skin types that don't love the idea of putting anything on their face with the word "oil" in the name might like this one.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, $38, Sephora.com
If you don't like oils, this is a great alternative. It works fast like the others and claims to also have other skin care benefits (moisturizing, preventing fine lines). I haven't used this long enough to speak to the skin care benefits (it's ALWAYS sold out) but it definitely does the makeup removal job well. I don't think I would ditch the rest of my skincare routine entirely but it does leave my face feeling surprisingly moisturized.
Whether you wear one coat of mascara or a full contour daily, you will love makeup melters. Sephora provides samples, so if you are unsure of which one will work for you, you can always test them out first. Happy shopping!
