Waterproof Makeup Removal

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Removing waterproof makeup with natural oils can be healthy and nourishing to your skin

All waterproof makeup, eye liner, mascara and brow makeup can be removed with oils or any oil-based removal product that is sold by cosmetic companies. Most people have an oil based product already in their homes, without having to take a trip to the store and buy something, but it might not be suitable for use on a daily basis. If you wear makeup every day, it would be healthiest for your skin to choose a makeup removal product that is nourishing and beneficial for your skin.

Some products that are already in your bathroom may work in a pinch, but probably not very well. For example, hand cream or lotion would probably work but if they are heavily perfumed, you wouldn’t want to use it on your eyes to remove eye makeup. Depending on the formula, you may have to rub too much in order to completely remove the makeup. Ordinary soap will not work because the makeup is designed to repel water, and soap by itself does not have the ability to dissolve the makeup. If you have nothing else, you will probably find that soap will only work after lots of pressure and rubbing, and it is certainly something you don’t want to get in your eyes.

There are liquid soaps or facial washes that you might have by the sink but again, they are probably not strong enough to remove the makeup and you will end up having to rub it off. Rubbing alcohol is much too harsh and drying, and could defat the skin with regular long- term use. The other common product that everybody has in their bathroom is toothpaste. You’re not that desperate, are you? A bottle of a good oil is inexpensive and should last for months, because you only need a small amount for each application.

There are oil-based cosmetic removers that you can purchase at drugstores, as well as oil-free makeup removers which are composed of many chemicals. When a product contains a dozen or more ingredients, there is a chance for an allergic reaction to develop from any one of them. All oil-free makeup remover formulas contains synthetic chemicals in order to work. It is difficult to make an effective homemade oil-free formula because the raw materials cannot be found in supermarkets or health food stores. They must be ordered from a chemical supply house.

The three household products that have been used for decades by women to remove makeup are petroleum jelly, cold cream and mineral oil. They are very effective at removing all types of facial and eye makeup, and will even work with heavy clown or stage makeup. However, they are manufactured petroleum products and some women may have an allergic reaction to them.

Most households have at least one of these products, if not all three, in the medicine cabinet. If you choose to use these products, the best applicators for them are cotton balls, cotton pads or cotton swabs. You want the softest, most gentle material to be in contact with your face on a daily basis. This is not a washcloth or any kind of fabric or material. Even toilet paper or tissues are not a good choice because they are derived from wood pulp, and they have microscopic fibers that can damage the delicate skin under the eyes over long term use.

Most drugstores sell cotton pads for makeup removal, and these have the gentlest surface with greatest ease of use. Look at the different brands and try to find one with the least amount of embossing on the surface, because this is hard and scrapes against the skin. To manufacture the cotton pad, the layers of cotton are pressed down hard and there are either dots or lines of embossing that hold everything together. If the edges of the pad are embossed and sealed, this will definitely hurt if you rub it against your eyelids. Try to find a brand that does not have this around the edges, but if not possible, just fold the cotton pad in half and use the center.

Apply a small amount of the makeup remover on a cotton pad and gently rub over the skin. If you are removing makeup all over your face, rub gently in circles. For the eyes, rub or pat the cotton pad gently over the eyelid to remove eye makeup. Close your eyes and rub the cotton pad gently downward over the lashes to remove mascara. Or you may use a cotton swab if desired for the upper lid, lashes or brows. The skin under your eyes is the thinnest skin on your body, so always pat this skin when applying or removing makeup. Contact lenses should be removed before applying any oil around the eyes, because if any oil gets on the lens, it will not wet correctly and will become very uncomfortable. The lens will most likely have to be discarded.

Many oils made by Mother Nature are well suited for makeup removal and have the added benefit of keeping the facial skin soft and supple, especially around the eyes. Once you’ve tried a few, you may never want to go back to man-made products again. Over a dozen different plant oils can be used as makeup removers. Examples are: canola oil, olive oil, avocado oil, castor oil, almond oil, apricot kernel oil, hazelnut oil, walnut oil, hemp oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter (warmed), grapeseed oil and jojoba oil. Most of these oils are beneficial for the skin because of the vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and proteins that they contain. For example, almond oil contains vitamins A, E, B1, B2 and B6; apricot kernal oil is high in Vitamin A and rich in minerals and GLA.

Out of all the oils listed above, jojoba oil is probably the best choice because it most closely resembles the natural sebum produced by human skin. It is really a liquid wax pressed from jojoba seeds, so it will never go rancid and has a very long shelf life. In the typical warm and damp bathroom, it will store well. Jojoba oil is an excellent moisturizer and is ideal for all skin types. It will even control acne because it acts as an emulsifier that gently unclogs pores and lifts grime and embedded impurities. This is what makes it so well suited as a makeup remover. Another oil that can be used on blemished skin is grapeseed oil, which is very light and slightly astringent. Put 4 or 5 drops of jojoba or grapeseed oil on a cotton pad and gently rub on the face or eyes to remove makeup. Discard the pad when finished. This oil or any plant based oil should completely remove heavy waterproof makeup, clown makeup or stage makeup.

There are three other oils that are extremely beneficial for the skin and can be used to remove mascara and makeup. They are carrot seed oil, rose hip seed oil and cranberry seed oil. Use these with cotton pads or swabs to remove makeup and simultaneously moisturize at the same time.

Carrot oil is one of the best oils for aging skin. It effectively reduces fine lines and prevents new wrinkles from forming, as well as firming the skin. This oil, similar to jojoba, is effective at removing toxins and substances that build up in the skin. If you choose this oil for makeup removal, make sure to get base carrot oil, which is orange in color and processed from the root. Carrot oil is more gentle than carrot seed oil, which is an essential oil that is yellow in color. The essential oil pressed from the seeds may be too strong to use on the facial skin or the delicate skin around the eyes.

Carrot oil contains very high quantities of carotenoids, a class of antioxidants that are easily assimilated, as well as vitamin E. If you plan to use carrot oil all over your face or body, you should know that it’s a natural tanning enhancer and will quickly produce a golden tan while protecting the skin against the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. If you do not wish to get a tan, it would be best to choose another oil.

Rosehip seed oil, also called rosa rubignosa oil, comes from the seed pods of a South American wild rose called Rosa Mosqueta. The Andean Indians used it for centuries to heal and for skin care. Because it is high in vitamin A, vitamin E, antioxidants and essential fatty acids, it can slow the aging process of the skin, support cell regeneration and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Rosehip oil is the only oil that has been clinically proven to reduce bulky scar tissue. If you choose this oil to remove makeup, you can use it on other body parts at the same time to treat wrinkles, scars, burns, and pigment spots. After three weeks of topical application, you should notice a visible improvement in your skin’s condition. This oil is not recommended for oily or blemished skin, and be forewarned that it goes rancid very quickly.

Cranberry seed oil is best absorbed by the skin because it is the only oil that contains a balanced amount of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. When they are perfectly balanced, they can be efficiently absorbed and utilized by all the layers of the skin. Because this oil contains natural antioxidants, it has a long shelf life and will keep fresh for up to two years. Cranberry seed oil has the ability to penetrate deeply and remove heavy makeup.

Mixing any of the above named oils with Vitamin E oil is superb for maintaining the health of the skin. Vitamin E oil may be used alone to remove eye and face makeup as long as it is not too thick. When the oil has the consistency of honey, then there may be tugging on the eyelids and the skin under the eye while removing makeup, which could cause damage. Also, the cotton fibers in the cotton pad get pulled out by the viscous oil and end up all over your face. The higher the concentration of the oil in International Units (I.U.), the thicker the oil, so choose a Vitamin E oil of 10,000 I.U. or less for makeup removal.

Some of these oils, notably the carrot oil, may not have such a pleasant smell. Proceed with care if you wish to add fragrance oil or an essential oil to the plant oils discussed in order to improve their scent. Just one drop of a scented oil mixed with a plant oil may cause irritation or rash to the facial skin or eye area when the oil mix is used for makeup removal. Mixing other oils with carrot oil may improve or mask its scent, but will diminish its beneficial effects. Many essential oils are too harsh to use directly on the skin, especially facial skin, so make sure that the oil you choose for makeup removal is not an essential oil or perfumed oil. Experiment with different kinds until you find the oil that is most compatible with your skin type.