Sensitive skin, AKA the handle-with-care member of the skin type family, presents its own unique set of challenges when it comes to beauty and skincare routines. If you’ve been “blessed” with sensitive skin, you’re probably no stranger to the joys of spot-testing and have accepted the fact that wildly experimenting with makeup is best left to those with a more resilient, less-prone-to-breakouts complexion. And when it comes to makeup removers? You’re well-acquainted with the buzz words to keep an eye out for, i.e., dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, just to name a few. While knowing these keywords is a good start, that still leaves a pretty overwhelming number of options to sift through. To help you avoid the potentially irritating game of trial-and-error when it comes to picking out the perfect makeup remover, we’ve narrowed down the best options to soothe sensitive skin while also delivering a deep clean.
Whether you’re all about an oil-based formula, are partial to lathering up with a cleansing bar or favor a more minimalist approach with wipes, rest assured, there’s a gentle makeup remover out there to meet your needs. Ahead, our favorite ways to pamper and purify sensitive skin.
Cleanse With Care
Best Oil
No risk of leaving skin feeling stripped and dry with this luxe oil. It’s packed with natural moisturizers like coconut and argan oils to hydrate and nourish your complexion while delivering a deep clean.
Best Exfoliating Formula
If you have sensitive skin, odds are you turn and run at the mere mention of an exfoliating formula. After all, exfoliators don’t exactly have a reputation for being gentle on skin. But this mild, foaming cleanser is different. It’s enriched with pineapple, pumpkin and papaya enzymes that help naturally exfoliate and refine skin’s texture without the harsh side effects.
Best Balm
This innovative cleanser is a true chameleon: It transforms from a balm into lightweight oil into a milky lather with the addition of water. But no matter what form it takes, it’s never greasy or drying.
Best Micellar Water
Makeup artists have hailed this as the Holy Grail of miceller waters (a bottle of it is sold every five seconds!), and with good reason. The French pharmacy favorite is enriched with cucumber extract to refresh, is free of parabens, alcohol and fragrance and is soothing enough to do the job of a cleanser and moisturizer in one simple step. PS—no rinsing required.
Best Bar
Cleansing bars—another typically hard “no” for sensitive skin types due to the fact that they generally have a very high (read: irritating) pH level and are tough to rinse clean, leading to buildup and clogged pores. Well, believe us: This soap-free, fragrance-free bar is unlike the others. Its pH-balanced formula is non-drying, non-irritating and only skin-loving, thanks to a blend of anti-inflammatory blueberry extract, moisturizing honey and reparative marula oil. And because it mimics the behavior of a liquid once in contact with your skin, it leaves behind no residue.
Best Cream
Prone to breakouts and redness? This lush cream cleanser will instantly calm your complexion while effortlessly dissolving makeup and dirt. Its gentle formula is infused with healing aloe and moisturizing glycerin to leave skin supple, soft and soothed. With continued use, skin becomes less reactive, which translates to fewer breakouts.
Best Wipes
If you have sensitive skin and happen to be a skincare minimalist, these wipes are destined to become your desert island item. Not only are these pre-moistened cloths made of pure cotton—the plush texture is an absolute must for delicate skin—they’re also loaded with nourishing, pampering ingredients, like mineral-rich spa water, rosemary leaf, lavender and ginger root.
Best Cleansing Device
Don’t let its compact size fool you; this unique cleansing device delivers a thorough clean without compromising on gentleness. Smooth silicone touch points gently pulsate to whisk away makeup and impurities and unclog pores to leave skin luminous and healthy-looking.
