These Top-Tested Makeup Removers Won't Leave You With Racoon Eyes (2024)

This GH Beauty Award winner and drugstore bargain from Neutrogena aced GH Beauty Lab evaluations, leaving virtually zero trace of product behind — no matter how long-lasting products claimed to be. "A long-time staple in my medicine cabinet, it has yet to disappoint when it comes to no rubbing or tugging during makeup removal, especially waterproof mascara," says GH Beauty Lab senior chemist Sabina Wizemann.

Great for all skin types, this wallet-friendly Garnier GH Beauty Award winner is a fast-acting formula that thoroughly cleanses skin and clears makeup, without drying your complexion, the GH Beauty Lab found. Simply add some micellar onto a cotton pad, and swipe it across your skin to get rid of grime with no rinsing needed.

This affordable Good Housekeeping Seal star liquid from Mary Kay effectively and easily dissolves even waterproof makeup without tugging, drying or irritating skin. With over 1,100 reviews, users swear, "the first swipe took 90% of the extremely thick mascara and eyeliner off, along with all of my eyeshadow."

These Olay GH Seal Star and Beauty Award-winning makeup removal towelettes wowed testers who said that the wipes easily removed makeup with no stinging or tugging, crucial for dehydrated skin. The cushiony, fragrance-free towelettes are infused with aloe to sweep away makeup fast without irritating. They effectively remove even waterproof eye makeup while leaving skin hydrated, GH Beauty Lab data evaluation confirmed. Amazon reviewers are totally loyal to them: One raves, "Five stars. A true and complete daily facial in every cloth!"

If your complexion is acne-prone or oily, this oil-free Garnier makeup removing water is for you. GH Beauty Lab evaluation found it didn't leave skin oily or tacky, and it scored best for not stinging or irritating eyes. Several testers remarked on how "fresh and clean" the formula left skin. "It removed all traces of makeup," another noted.

Milky and mild, Nuria’s makeup removing cleanser, made with sunflower seed oil and vitamin E, effectively removed color while keeping skin calm in GH Beauty Lab testing. The formula, which contains none of the major common allergens, earned perfect marks for not stinging skin as well as for dispensing with ease. In the Lab, it performed near the top at removing makeup speedily and thoroughly, though a larger amount may be needed for a full face. “It was very gentle on my semi-sensitive skin,” a tester reported.

Makeup removers with rich textures, like this buttery Drunk Elephant balm, are ideal for mature skin, which requires more nourishment. "This is a product that lives up to its name, melting all makeup and dirt away," says GH's former assistant beauty editor. "I love to wear a bold red lip or an inky winged eyeliner, and this takes either off with ease — even if it is a long-wearing formula. Plus, the nourishing oil blend leaves my skin feeling super smooth."

GH Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. is a fan off these Neutrogena drugstore makeup remover wipes, a longtime Beauty Lab go-to. "We have used these wipes in the Lab for over 10 years for panelists to take their makeup off before our studies, and they work like a charm to remove anything from eye makeup to lipstick," she reports.

For a refreshed, superclean feel, splash on this softly scented, glycerin-infused Vichy micellar water, a top performer in the GH Beauty Lab’s test that doesn’t require rinsing. The liquid was best among testers for making skin feel clean, and 100% agreed that it dispensed easily and spread evenly. Note that pressure may be needed for thorough cleansing, and multiple applications may be necessary to dissolve mascara. Multiple users remarked on how easily makeup came off. And this product “didn’t leave residue,” one tester reported.

This bargain-priced makeup remover balm from E.L.F. was a winner in GH Beauty Lab testing thanks to its stellar makeup removal performance and smooth texture. It tied for the best score in Lab testing for effectively dissolving makeup and making skin look smooth, plus ranked highest for its "pleasant" scent. An impressive 100% of testers agreed it spread smoothly and evenly over the face. "Makeup came off easily and my face looked clean and bright and felt smooth," a user commented.

A GH Beauty Lab test winner, fragrance-free Curél envelops the face with a silky oil texture to help break down makeup without feeling sticky or irritating. It ranked best for not leaving skin tacky, and 100% of testers said it didn’t aggravate the complexion. Some found that a generous quantity was required to fully remove makeup. “I liked the smoothness of application and my skin after using it,” one reported. “Easy to use, took all makeup off, easily washed off, skin felt hydrated and soft after use,” another raved.

Reduce cotton and wipe waste with this reusable Take My Face Off mitt for applying makeup remover or cleanser, which won a GH Beauty Award. In Beauty Lab tests, users called it “plush” and “gentle,” and 90% found that it effectively removed even eye makeup.

This Klorane makeup remover is made with just a handful of ingredients, including natural cornflower water to soothe skin. "It is so gentle on my extremely sensitive eyes and areas of skin that get eczema flare-ups — it never stings, burns, or irritates in any way," says Good Housekeeping's beauty director. "I love that it also doubles as a face cleanser in a pinch and the bottle is huge, so it lasts forever."

GH Beauty Lab scientists evaluate label-masked new makeup removers in the Lab and on 176 testers for both their makeup removal efficacy and cosmetic properties, tallying 12,200 total data points to find the best makeup removers on the market. In the Lab, experts conducted a test to grade how well they removed eyeliner from skin in one swipe and a second test to measure the number of swipes needed for complete removal of the eyeliner. Products that claimed to remove waterproof makeup were tested against waterproof eyeliner formulas. We evaluate their efficacy, thoroughness and speed in removing eyeliner from skin.

Consumer testers also use the makeup removers at home in their routines for a set time period, evaluating them on factors including ease of dispensing, application and rinsing off; texture; scent; perceived effectiveness in removing makeup; whether they caused irritation or breakouts; and the look and feel of skin after use.

Don't just rub the remover all over your face, which can actually disperse the color even more as opposed to lifting it. Apply the makeup remover to a cotton round, reusable pad or washcloth, "then let it sit for a minute or two before wiping to ensure all make up residue dissolves," Wainner suggests.