Which Makeup Remover to Buy & Which to Skip?

I sometimes will have products sent for me to review. The great thing about that is I really do get to try a variety of products and find things I now can’t live without.

With that, I also find products that I hate and will never buy.

You can always find things you like and dislike in a product so I want to share an honest review of 6 makeup removers and cleanser I’ve tried. This will, hopefully, give you a reference point of which products are worth buying, and which products you should skip!

Cetaphil

Gentle Skin Cleanser

Verdict: I’ve Used the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser since I was a teenager and still love it! Is Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser good for acne? My dermatologist even back in the 90s gave me a resounding yes!

A Loser Cleanser: However, I hate the Cetaphil Face Wash, I find it too strong too overpowering and too harsh on my skin. Calling the Cetaphil Face Wash for sensitive skin the right choice is crazy. It stings, it makes my face red. It feels so harsh! The Cetaphil face wash burns my face. My husband says the same thing, as done my daughter! When you’re picking a Cetaphil face wash for sensitive skin, you really need to pay attention to what your skin is telling you — and mine has never told me to pick this one!

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser vs Gentle Skin Cleanser: For years I would revisit how to use Cetaphil daily facial cleanser without issues. 

I don’t know why this is a thing but I can’t find a single person who likes the facial cleanser compared to the skin cleanser.

The gentle skin cleanser, on the other hand,  I swear by. My dermatologist recommended it to me when I was only 13 and I’ve used it since. I adore it!

Pro’s: It’s especially good for people with sensitive skin, drying skin or people who just want a soft wash without any form of intense fragrance or chemicals. It’s awesome for that!

I contains glycerin and vitamin essentials; it cleanses and hydrates making it an excellent product!

How to Use: I use the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser when I do a double cleanse. I first remove my makeup (see below for favorite products for that) and then use the gentle cleanse afterwards.

I’m a big believer in not washing your face first thing in the morning. You get beautiful oils when you sleep and I prefer to use those natural oils. I actually read an article where Salma Hayek did the same thing. So hey, if it’s good enough for Salma who looks incredible, then I’m doing it, too!

Using those oils combined with a tiny bit of Cetaphil cleanse leaves me with beautiful results without drying out my skin.

Who does it work for? I love it and my husband swears by it, too.

My daughter is on acne medicine so it can be tricky to find a cleanser that works for her skin. Again, we asked her dermatologist “Is Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser good for acne?” and the answer was still a strong yes! In fact, the doctor said it was the #1 recommended cleanser for her to use with acne and on acne medication. She uses the Cetaphil gentle cleanser and loves it. Theres no skin irritation or additional acne from using it.

Hands down – an incredible product! I actually use Subscribe & Save from Amazon to keep it coming monthly!

Elemis

Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash

About: The ELEMIS London Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash is an anti-aging product that helps turn over skins natural cell renewal cycle. It has a little bit of exfoliation in it which is good for dull complexions.

What It’s Great For: The ELEMIS facial wash can help smooth out your skin making it feel more polished and clean.

Head’s Up: This ELEMIS resurfacing cleanser is an exfoliating product so don’t overuse it! I wouldn’t say this is a good cleanser for daily treatment especially if you use any form of retinol products.

This ELEMIS face wash does have a fragrance, all ELEMIS products do. I think they smell beautiful and the fragrance aspect doesn’t irritate my skin.

How to Use: It has a lathering experience giving a quick light exfoliation. Perfect for 1-2 times a week. I use this ELEMIS face wash as a double cleanse not as a way to remove my makeup but to clean after.

Verdict: I think its lovely if you want to do a quick wash with exfoliation without using an actual exfoliator. The ELEMIS resurfacing cleanser overall an excellent facial wash. I’ve gone through the whole bottle and love it!

Amore Pacific

Treatment Enzyme Cleansing Foam

OK! I’m about to say it! I hate it! I do not like this Korean facial cleanser!

Bold enough for you?

Pro: it smells delicious!

The Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Cleansing Foam leaves you smelling like a million dollars! This is what I would imagine the celebrities of celebrities would put on in their 4,000 square foot bathrooms, which wearing head to toe silk and diamond tiaras. To me it is so decadent!

I’ve done a review on the entire Amore Pacific line, check it out here. Amore Pacific is one of the most beautiful smelling product lines I’ve ever smelled.

Why I Don’t Like this Korean facial cleanser: The Treatment Enzyme Wash lathers and foams and I just don’t care for it. There’s something in the formula that for me are a little too much. I tend to prefer products that are a little more simple and straight forward. This is a little too thick for my taste.

I really don’t want to waste the bottle I have so I’m powering through it. It’s definitely not my go to and not one that I would recommend people spend the money on.

So, there you have it. Skip this one. Ha!

Dermalogica

Precleanse Cleansing Oil

Verdict: This is a great product, it’s a top seller in the Dermalogica world! I consider it a .must have Dermalogica product.

How to Use It: Just 1-2 pumps of the Dermalogica Precleanse cleansing oil mixed with a tiny bit of water and it creates a soft slightly oily, slightly milky consistency that loosens and removes makeup getting it all off..

Pro’s: It’s very moisturizing which is great for people like me with dry skin. I like it a lot a lot a lot!

It works on everything, waterproof makeup, sunscreen, it gets it all! It’s very healthy for your skin removing all the impurities without damaging your skin

It comes in pump form making it easy to keep near the sink. A little goes a long way with it, I really don’t have anything bad to say about it.

How to Use: I would suggest using a wash cloth with it to wipe away the makeup. You really don’t want to just splash water or use just your hands. It’s an oil so it needs a little scrub factor to get everything off.

Still, I love it!

Elemis

Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm

Verdict: This bad boy rocks my world it melts away everything! Eye makeup, heavy sunscreen, body makeup, it gets it all.

Pro’s: I love how ELEMIS Cleansing Balm smells! This particular balm is a new scent called Rose and it’s amazing!

I still love the pure standby original scent, though I’ve been using the rose mainly because I’m digging the new scent.

How to Use: With the ELEMIS Rose Cleansing Balm a little goes a long way. You only need about a nickel size of the balm, (maybe a little more if you have a ton of makeup on.)

I even got the ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm travel size which lasts about 2 weeks. It’s so easy to travel with because it’s not messy and they have tiny jars that take up almost no space.

To use it all you have to do is put it on dry skin, spread it all around, loosen up all the mascara then take a wash cloth and wipe it all away before you clean your skin.

For someone with dry skin the ELEMIS Rose Cleansing Balm (and the original scent!) is an incredible product. Love it, love it, love it!

Clinique

Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

This is the same type of product as the ELEMIS Cleansing Balm, It’s a balm, just without the fabulous smell.

I used the Clinique Take the Day Off cleansing balm for years until I found ELEMIS. I only switched because I found ELEMIS to be a tiny bit more hydrating, and I loved the smell!

Verdict: If you want the same product without the scent then the Clinique Take the Day Off  is the way to go!