There are many eye makeup removers in the market nowadays that boast to erase even the most stubborn cosmetics. However, these said products are made with ingredients that are not really good for skin health, not to mention applying those near a sensitive part such as the eyes.
Good thing there are natural choices when it comes to removing eye makeup. These are safe, gets the job done, and even delivers skin benefits due to their healthy contents.
Make sure that you do a skin test first to check if you are allergic to a certain alternative mentioned here.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Olive oil has been around since the ancient times with a multitude of uses that benefit the body both inside and out. Its “extra virgin” variant is extracted without any use of chemicals nor temperatures that degrade its quality. It is packed with vitamins and antioxidants that help keep the skin healthy and protected from damage. A few drops of extra virgin olive oil on a cotton ball (or on your finger, but this can be quite messy) is enough for a natural eye makeup remover, and it works gently on the skin while making it a lot softer with consistent use.
- You can add witch hazel along with the extra virgin coconut oil for its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antiviral properties. Mix 2 ounces each of both in a bottle and use it as your eye makeup remover. Shake the bottle prior to using as the liquids tend to separate quickly.
- Castor oil also makes for a good combination with extra virgin olive oil. A half cup of each in a jar makes for a good natural eye makeup remover. However, its ratio depends if you have dry, normal, or oily skin. For dry skin, add more extra virgin olive oil. For oily skin, add more castor oil. For normal skin, just mix equal amounts of both oils.
- Another way to use extra virgin olive oil is to combine at least a half cup of it in one bottle containing aloe vera water. Aloe vera is a plant that is well-known for its numerous healing and soothing skin benefits, and water derived from it can be very refreshing and hydrating. Always shake the bottle before using as the oil tends to separate from the water, like how it does with witch hazel.
- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- Another oil with a wide range of uses, from cooking to topical application, that work wonders on the body. It works quite effectively as an eye makeup remover as well, and is a good substitute if you do not have stock of extra virgin olive oil at home. With antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties, extra virgin coconut oil is awesome for the skin. Simply use your fingers to carefully apply small amounts of coconut oil on your eyelashes and eyelids, or you can use a cotton pad or cotton swab. Wipe the oil away with another cotton pad, cotton ball, or toilet paper, and see your makeup come along with it. Just like with olive oil, always choose the extra virgin type for coconut oil.
- Jojoba Oil
- The extract of the jojoba plant seeds are not really oils but are wax esters. Jojoba oil is considered to be the wax ester that is closest to sebum, or the skin oil of humans, making it safe for use with an almost non-existent risk of causing irritations. It is also rich in minerals, and has antioxidant and antibacterial properties as well. For eye makeup removal, the oil can be used undiluted with a cotton ball or swab. You can also mix water with jojoba oil, following a ratio of 2:1 respectively.
- Another way to make use of jojoba oil as an eye makeup remover is by mixing 2 ounces of jojoba oil with a vitamin E softgel. Puncture the capsule and drain its contents into a dark jar along with the jojoba oil. Why use a dark jar? Exposure to light has a tendency to damage the jojoba oil and make it rancid, and a bottle or jar with dark glass protects the oils from light.
- Combine a half cup of jojoba oil with one cup aloe vera gel. Dab a cotton ball on the mix and use it to remove eye makeup. Don’t worry, the combination is gentle and won’t sting. Always choose the gel that is organic (or better extract it from the leaves yourself) to avoid unwanted chemicals in the mix.
- Milk
- A common item in the refrigerator has some topical uses that work well on the skin, and it was even part of the beauty regimen of many important figures throughout history. For makeup on the eyes, rubbing with a cotton ball dabbed in milk followed by a lukewarm water rinse can easily remove it all. Plain yogurt (choose those with no flavor) works the same way as well, and it provides an additional benefit of enhancing skin regeneration.
- Adding cucumber to milk enhances its makeup removing ability. Mash a peeled cucumber until it becomes a paste then add a half cup of milk before simmering it for up to ten minutes. Let it cool then apply it as your eye makeup remover.
Have you tried any of these natural eye makeup removers? Did they get the job done? Do you want to share a natural alternative that is not mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below.
