DIY Makeup Remover (10 Natural Homemade Makeup Remover Recipes for Clean, Glowing Skin)

If you’re looking for non-toxic ways to remove your makeup, this collection of the best DIY makeup removers includes recipes formulated for a variety of skin types and concerns. Find the best homemade makeup remover recipes for dry skin, aging or mature skin, combination skin, sensitive and acne prone skin.

Over the years, we have amassed a collection of natural DIY makeup removers, and the following recipes are the result of our own formula testing, personal experience and use.

Whether you’re looking for an eye makeup remover or a product for the whole face, we have a variety of DIYs to choose from. You’ll also find a variety of formats, whether you prefer to use a makeup remover balm, cleansing oil, micellar water, or makeup removing wipes and pads.

We hope one of these recipes will suit your own individual skincare needs and concerns. And if you’ve run out of makeup remover and are wondering what you can use to make your own, we hope one of these ideas will help you come up with something fast!

Plus, if you don’t have time to make your own makeup remover at home, we’ve also included a section on natural alternatives you can use to remove your makeup instead. If you’re in a pinch, skip to that section.

Read on for more information on choosing the best homemade makeup remover to add to your natural skincare routine, and learn how to remove makeup more naturally.

What is the best homemade makeup remover?

We believe the best DIY makeup remover removes all your makeup quickly and easily, while being safely formulated with non-toxic, natural ingredients.

Which is why all of our makeup remover recipes are free from ingredients such as petroleum and its byproducts, which include mineral oil and petroleum jelly.

They’re also free of ethoxylated ingredients such as polysorbate 80 and polysorbate 60, which are often contaminated with toxin residue. Instead, these recipes contain plant-based emulsifiers to melt away makeup naturally.

We also avoid using high-PUFA oils such as almond oil, sunflower oil and grapeseed oil in our homemade makeup removers. For more info on this topic and why it’s important, you can refer to our post on polyunsaturated oils in skincare.

These easy-to-make makeup removers also contain no synthetic fragrances or harsh preservatives, which can be very irritating to the skin. Instead, we used gentle, paraben-free natural preservatives to prevent harmful bacterial growth.

Finally, these DIYs are made without skin-irritating ingredients such as baking soda or castile soap, which are not good for your skin. For more information, see the section on makeup removal ingredients to avoid.

Last but not least, we formulate our skincare recipes around our own skin types and have tested them thoroughly, so we know these makeup removing recipes really do work!

Why make your own makeup remover?

You control the ingredients

Firstly, by making your own makeup removers, you can control the ingredients. As mentioned, all of our recipes are natural, organic, and clean.

This is important, especially if your skin is overly sensitive. If you have sensitive skin, you might be more prone to irritation or dryness when using beauty products that contain harsh chemicals or surfactants.

They’re better for sensitive skin

While you may not notice any issues over the short-term, continually using products with irritating ingredients may adversely affect your skin over the long-term.

Even something as innocuous sounding as “natural fragrance” or “essential oil” may pose an issue for some skin types, causing invisible inflammation that damages skin over time. Inflammation is also often linked to acne and breakouts – the last thing you want from your makeup remover.

You can read more about each recipe below or skip to the section on skin types and find out which makeup remover recipe is best suited to your unique skin type or concern.

They’re eco-friendly and save on packaging

Additionally, homemade makeup removers can be more eco-friendly than their store-bought counterparts, both in terms of ingredients and packaging. It’s certainly more sustainable to reuse your skincare packaging over and over. If this is important to you as a conscious consumer, this is a good reason on its own to make your own products.

You will also save on the added price of packaging by making your own skincare. If you need container recommendations for your DIY makeup remover, we recommend checking out our article on homemade skincare packaging for the best resources.

They‘re more effective than coconut oil

Natural household items such as coconut oil, olive oil, or aloe vera gel are often recommended as natural makeup remover alternatives – but while these items can remove makeup in a pinch, they often leave residue behind.

You can take it a step further by making your own coconut oil cleansing balm, or aloe-infused DIY micellar water to effectively remove your makeup – recipes below!

Homemade makeup remover saves money

And of course, last but not least, making your own skincare can save you money over the long term, especially if you buy your ingredients in bulk. One bottle of natural emulsifier can easily make dozens of batches of DIY makeup remover. All for the price of what you’d pay for a single bottle of an expensive store-bought brand!

And if you formulate with low-PUFA oils such as MCT oil, your makeup remover will also more shelf-stable and less prone to oxidation. This makes it last a lot longer in terms of shelf life, which also saves you money and time.

10 Natural Homemade Makeup Remover Recipes for Clean, Glowing Skin

We hope you find this ultimate guide on the best homemade makeup removers helpful. Be sure to read each individual post for detailed how-to instructions and more in-depth information on the ingredients. Don’t forget to bookmark this post or pin it for later if you plan to make more than one recipe!

Are you in a rush and don’t have time to make a full recipe? Skip to the section below called “what can I use instead of makeup remover?” for more natural alternatives.

Simple Makeup Melting Coconut Oil Cleansing Balm

Need to remove your makeup fast? This is a quick and beginner friendly makeup remover recipe with easily accessible, natural ingredients.

This makeup melting cleansing balm recipe was crafted with only 2 natural ingredients, which makes it the perfect choice for those who want a simple DIY makeup remover with coconut oil. It will leave your skin feeling clean and soft without over-stripping its natural protective barrier.

Even though this recipe is very easy to make, it’s still a solid skin cleanser that thoroughly removes even the most stubborn layers of makeup, sebum, and hard-to-remove sunscreen.

Plus, if you’re looking for an easy makeup remover recipe with coconut oil, this cleansing balm will complement your low-PUFA skincare routine. It’s ideal for those who want to avoid oils such as argan oil or almond oil which are more prone to oxidation.

However, if you want to make a DIY makeup remover without coconut oil, babassu oil is a great subsitute for the coconut oil in this cleansing balm recipe.

This recipe is ideal for those with dry or dehydrated skin who who want a fast, easy and affordable DIY cleansing balm that can be made in minutes.

It’s also perfect if you’ve run out of makeup remover and want to know what ingredients to use to whip up a simple 5 min makeup melting recipe. In this case, hopefully, coconut oil and shea butter are ingredients that you may already have on hand, especially if you already make your own skincare products.

However, this coconut oil cleansing balm will not self-emulsify, so if you’re looking for makeup removers that don’t require you to use a separate facial cleanser, read on for other options.

2-Ingredient Self-Emulsifying DIY Cleansing Oil

This simple DIY cleansing oil is ideal for homemade skincare beginners and experienced makers alike.

With only 2 ingredients, you can make a liquid makeup remover that breaks up makeup and cleanses your skin just as effectively as a brand-name cleansing oil.

Often, homemade cleansing oil recipes don’t rinse clean like the fancy storebought ones do. But this recipe does – it’s self-emulsifying, so it rinses off with just water, leaving your skin clean and soft.

This recipe was partly inspired by Boscia’s Makeup Breakup Cleansing Oil. It was born out of a desire for an easy-to-make cleansing oil that worked just as well as storebought options, rinsed clean, and left no greasy residue.

This oil cleanser ticks all those boxes, while also being free of polyunsaturated oils, so it’s suitable for those following a low-PUFA skincare routine.

We also wanted to make sure our natural cleansing oil was free of polysorbates, PEGs, and other ethoxylated emulsifiers such as Cromollient SCE. While they’re commonly used in homemade cleansing oils, polysorbates are not all-natural and may not be suitable for very sensitive skin.

We scoured the internet for an alternative, testing countless bottles of natural emulsifiers to find the perfect polysorbate substitute for this cleansing oil recipe – CreamMaker FLUID. And yes, it even works for waterproof mascara!

This recipe is suitable for a wide range of skin types, from oily skin to dry skin, because it cleanses thoroughly yet gently. And since it’s an oil cleanser, it won’t strip your skin.

As well, this cleanser is made with antibacterial MCT oil, which is toxic to both acne-causing bacteria P. acnes as well as Malassezia yeast. Therefore, it may be a suitable makeup remover for those who struggle with acne or seborrheic dermatitis.

Finally, this MCT cleansing oil helps break up sebum that can clog pores, which is just another way oil cleansing may help prevent acne and blackheads.

Lavender Makeup Remover Balm without Essential Oils

Want to incorporate relaxing aromatherapy into your makeup removal routine? This lavender cleansing balm recipe is soothing and gentle, yet it still removes makeup thoroughly.

It has a beautiful, velvety balm-to-oil consistency that melts effortlessly on contact with skin, quickly dissolving thick or stubborn makeup, sunscreen and sebum.

But it also has the ability to self-emulsify, so it’s perfect for quickly melting away hard to remove makeup without leaving any greasy residue. Once you’re done cleansing, it simply rinses away.

This cleansing balm recipe is naturally infused with lavender flowers, which makes it ideal for those who want to make a homemade makeup remover without essential oils. It’s also ideal for those that may want to avoid essential oils in all their DIY skincare products.

This is a multi-purpose makeup remover recipe that’s perfect for those with extra sensitive skin, as it cleanses without stripping the skin’s protective barrier.

Since it’s also made with non-comedogenic oils, this lavender makeup remover is equally suitable for those with oily skin, acne prone skin, dry skin and mature skin.

We’ve also included a video tutorial, so you can see this cleansing balm’s balm-to-oil consistency and makeup removing ability in action.

Blue Tansy Makeup Remover Balm for Sensitive Skin

If you struggle with dry skin, redness, or irritation, you might benefit from a homemade makeup remover with blue tansy oil.

This blue tansy cleansing balm recipe is gentle, soothing, and superbly moisturizing. It easily melts away even the most hard to remove makeup while also offering anti-inflammatory benefits.

This makeup remover balm contains blue tansy essential oil, which boasts a high concentration of the anti-inflammatory compound chamazulene. Chamazulene is an incredibly potent antioxidant that helps protect cells from free radical damage. It also demonstrates anti-allergy and analgesic activity.

An abundance of promising studies suggest blue tansy may help inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, eczema, or rosacea. Thank

While this evidence is not definitive, chamazulene is still a potent soothing ingredient, which makes the addition of blue tansy to this makeup remover recipe beneficial to those with sensitive or inflamed skin.

However, as with any homemade skincare recipe, it’s important to consult your dermatologist to determine if it’s safe for your unique skin type or concern.

Aside from its soothing benefits, this homemade cleanser is crafted with a natural emulsifier made from olives (Olivem 1000) for quick and effortless makeup removal. It wipes off clean with very little residue, leaving skin clean and soft.

This blue tansy balm is ideal for those looking for an inexpensive, all-natural, and simple homemade make-up remover recipe for dry skin. Plus, its natural azure color is stunning to look at.

Micellar Water Makeup Remover with Witch Hazel

Do you love the convenience of micellar water, but don’t love the fragrances and other questionable ingredients that often come in a bottle of this popular makeup remover choice?

If so, you may enjoy our natural micellar water recipe. It contains real micelles that attract and remove all traces of makeup, sunscreen and oil for effortless makeup removal.

This recipe is also formulated with organic witch hazel extract to help calm the skin and clarify the complexion, making this DIY makeup remover ideal for acne-prone skin types.

But it’s not just for acne, because this micellar-based makeup remover recipe is also ideal for dry, hyper-sensitive skin that doesn’t produce much oil. It simultaneously leaves the skin clean and hydrated, but not over cleansed or dry.

This cleansing micellar water was formulated for sensitive skin types, but if you are sensitive to witch hazel, you can omit the witch hazel. It will still be effective even as a makeup remover recipe without witch hazel, as the micellar water formulation can still remove makeup, oil and sunscreen without stripping the skin.

Plus, since it’s so gentle, this micellar water is also ideal for use as an eye makeup remover.

It’s important to note that many micellar makeup remover recipes contain castile soap. However, castile soap is not a micellar surfactant, which is why this makeup remover recipe contains no castile soap.

Instead, it contains a natural micellar surfactant. Any DIY micellar water recipe for makeup removal that omits this important ingredient is not formulated properly. And please note that makeup removers with castile soap will strip the skin!

Papaya Exfoliating Makeup Remover for Oily or Acne-Prone Skin

Is your skin looking dull, rough, or blemished? If so, you may benefit from a cleansing balm that combines gentle exfoliation with makeup removal.

This papaya-infused makeup remover balm has a luxurious, sorbet-like texture and superb exfoliating properties. It contains skin-softening papaya enzymes that can help clear pores, reduce acne, and reveal more glowing skin.

Papaya is rich in proteolytic enzymes, namely papain and chymopapain, which are what gives this velvety balm its exfoliating action.

Research suggests that regular exfoliation helps keep pores clean, thus making pimples less likely. The papaya enzymes’ pore-cleansing action helps prevent acne and blemishes, making this DIY makeup remover ideal for oily or acne prone skin.

Additionally, some evidence also suggests that papain can decrease skin inflammation, which is another way this cleansing balm may help prevent acne.

While it’s very gentle, this balm cleanser is still an effective makeup remover recipe that melts away makeup and sebum easily. Thanks to the papaya enzymes, your skin will feel instantly softer, smoother and more toned after cleansing.

As a bonus, this papaya cleansing balm also contains free-radical scavenging carotenoids such as lycopene, beta carotene, and cryptoxanthin. These carotenoids can help protect the skin from both oxidative stress and UV damage, which makes this recipe ideal for those who want to prevent premature aging.

Chocolate Cleansing Balm Recipe for Dry Skin

Love homemade skincare that smells like dessert? Chocolate connoisseurs will enjoy this chocolate-infused, makeup-melting cleansing balm recipe which originally appeared as a guest post on Soap Deli News.

This decadent chocolate makeup remover balm is made with exotic bacuri butter for its skin-nourishing qualities and incredible texture. It gives this cleansing balm a rich, velvety consistency like moist chocolate fudge.

Like many of our other cleansing balm recipes, this one also includes a natural, olive-based emulsifier for effortless rinsing. This balm cleanser easily tackles stubborn makeup, sebum and sunscreen residue, while also imparting the aroma of rich, dark chocolate during cleansing thanks to real cacao absolute.

Its nourishing ingredients help protect the skin’s acid mantle, which prevents over-cleansing. Rather than feeling overly dry and stripped after cleansing, your skin will be left feeling clean yet hydrated (and smelling like chocolate).

Plus, bacuri butter is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, as well as the important sulphur-containing amino acid methionine. Since sulphur is one of the main building blocks of healthy skin, bacuri butter is a wonderful and natural ingredient to add to a cleansing balm recipe.

This makeup remover recipe also contains macadamia oil, which is high in monounsaturated fatty acids and low in polyunsaturated fatty acids. This makes it much more heat stable than other oils commonly used in homemade skincare. Plus, macadamia oil has a thick and emollient texture that’s ideal for dry skin.

As the most moisturizing of all our cleansing balm recipes, this chocolate scented makeup remover balm is perfect for dry, aging or mature skin types who want to remove their makeup quickly and easily without stripping their skin.

Oil-Free DIY Micellar Makeup Remover Wipes

If you’re looking for convenience on the go, this DIY makeup remover recipe is made with either compostable bamboo wipes or reusable cloths for a quick and easy solution.

These homemade makeup remover wipes are ideal for dry or sensitive skin, as they contain hydrating rose water and vegetable glycerin, both of which soothe and moisturize the skin.

They’re also made with a special micellar formula and contain a gentle micellar surfactant, so they leave no residue, but will easily melt away makeup without over-drying the skin.

They’re also incredibly handy — you can store these quick and easy homemade makeup wipes in a glass container or mason jar at home, or you can bring them on the go or for travel in a resealable silicone bag.

This recipe is perfect for those with dry, mature or sensitive skin who want an eco-friendly makeup remover recipe that can be made with disposable or compostable wipes.

Plus, if you need something fast specifically for the eye area, these wipes do double duty as a gentle homemade eye makeup remover. You can also use cotton pads instead of wipes to make your own eye makeup remover pads.

Korean Beauty-Inspired Green Tea Cleansing Oil

This DIY green tea cleansing oil was inspired by Korean beauty products and formulated specifically for dry, easily irritated skin. It’s an easy-to-make homemade alternative to store-bought facial cleansing oils, which can often be overly drying.

This DIY makeup remover is also infused with real green tea, which possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties that calm dry, sensitive skin and can also help reduce redness.

While it’s very gentle on easily inflamed skin, this green tea infused oil cleanser is also ideal for mature or aging skin, as green tea is rich in anti-aging antioxidants.

This makeup up removing recipe is also perfect for those who are intrigued by Korean skincare, and want to try making their own K-beauty inspired makeup remover and oil cleanser.

There are 2 recipes included: it can be made as a water-soluble, one-step emulsifying oil cleanser, or as a simple pre-cleansing oil that complements a double cleansing routine.

Again, this is one of the best makeup remover recipes for dry, sensitive or mature skin types. And if you enjoy herbal infused natural skincare, you’ll love that this recipe is infused with organic green tea leaves.

What can I use to remove makeup without makeup remover?

Don’t have time to time to make your own DIY makeup remover? Here are a few quick and natural ways to remove makeup from your face naturally:

• MCT oil or fractionated coconut oil. Everyone knows you can use coconut oil to remove your makeup. But solid coconut oil is high in lauric acid, which is one reason why it makes many people break out. However, MCT oil and liquid coconut oil are processed in a way that removes the comedogenic lauric acid. This may make them more suitable makeup remover choices for those with acne-prone skin.
• Nilotica shea butter. Most shea butter is solid at room temperature, making it much too hard to use on your face. But East African shea butter, also called Nilotica, has a silky, semi-solid texture that’s perfect for removing makeup. When used straight from the container, it’s like a makeup remover balm all on its own!
• Extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is rich in anti-aging antioxidants and polyphenols that make it popular for natural skincare. It’s rich in squalene, which mimics the skin’s natural sebum, and it’s also extremely high in nourishing oleic acid, which makes it an excellent makeup remover for dry or aging skin. However, oily or acne prone skin types should be cautious, as using olive oil to remove makeup may aggravate acne.
• Jojoba oil. Jojoba oil makes a good natural makeup remover for a variety of skin types. It’s comprised of mostly monounsaturated fatty acids and wax esters, so it behaves more like a liquid wax than a true oil, and its unique texture helps dissolve makeup without clogging pores. It’s also low in polyunsaturated fatty acids, making jojoba oil suited for low-PUFA skincare.

What’s your skin type or concern?

• For dry skin, we recommend any of cleansing balm or cleansing oil recipes, such as the 2-ingredient cleansing oil. Using an oil-based makeup remover helps dry skin retain moisture.
• For oily or acne prone skin, try a makeup remover with exfoliating properties, such as the papaya cleansing balm, to help clear pores. You can also try the micellar water – it’s a makeup remover made without oil, and it’s also infused with witch hazel to clarify acne prone or oily complexions.
• Sensitive or easily inflamed skin types should opt for as few ingredients as possible to avoid the possibility of irritation. For a DIY makeup remover for sensitive skin, try the emulsifying cleansing oil or green tea cleansing oil. You might also enjoy the soothing blue tansy cleanser or gentle micellar water.
• Aging or mature skin types may enjoy the chocolate cleansing balm, coconut oil balm, blue tansy balm, or the homemade oil cleanser with green tea for their moisturizing properties and antioxidant content.

Ingredients to avoid in make up remover recipes

• Castile soap. Contrary to popular belief, castile soap is not ideal for facial skin, and it’s not a good ingredient for DIY makeup removers either. Castile soap has an alkaline pH of 8.9, making it very caustic, stripping, and damaging to the skin’s acid mantle, especially with repeated use. If you like foaming cleansers, make one with gentle soap nuts instead.
• Irritating essential oils. Using irritating essential oils in your makeup remover may cause skin rashes, dermatitis, hypersensitivity and redness. These include peppermint, lemon, bergamot, jasmine, lemongrass, ylang ylang, and ginger, just to name a few.
  
  Even commonly used oils such as lavender and tea tree can pose an issue for very sensitive skin types, which is why reactive types may benefit from avoiding essential oils in skincare completely. Herbal infusion with flowers is a good substitute.
• Rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is extremely harsh and harmful to the delicate facial skin. It also contain toxic denaturant ingredients that are readily absorbed through skin contact. Please do not use rubbing alcohol in your makeup remover wipes or any homemade skin care products! You can use a makeup remover with witch hazel extract for gentle astringent qualities instead.

More natural homemade skincare recipes

You might also enjoy these other natural skincare recipes:

• Blue Tansy Face Mask
• Watermelon Face Mask
• DIY Makeup Setting Spray
• DIY Overnight Sleeping Pack
• Green Tea Face Mask
• DIY Watermelon Face Mist

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