7 Natural DIY Makeup Remover Recipes for Happy Skin

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » 7 Natural DIY Makeup Remover Recipes for Happy Skin

If we’re going to go through the trouble of applying natural DIY makeup, it makes sense to have a natural way to remove it.

After battling acne-prone skin when I was younger, I’ve made it a priority to take good care of my skin. I’ve found some great natural solutions for healthy, glowing skin through experimentation over the years, and below I’ll give you my best DIY makeup remover tips.

Why Wear Makeup at All?

Let’s be honest, just because you’re a “Wellness Mama” doesn’t mean you don’t like to feel pretty.

From taking a soothing lavender bath, to lathering up with a homemade whipped body butter, to applying makeup, I’ve learned it pays off to go out of my way to take care of myself in simple, natural, inexpensive ways. With six little ones underfoot, it makes a big difference to do these little things for myself.

So while I feel just fine on the days I don’t wear makeup (which are many), I appreciate having a few beauty tricks up my sleeve … while avoiding the harsh chemicals found in conventional products.

Best DIY Makeup Remover Solutions

There are several great options for removing makeup naturally, and these are also great skincare recipes even on no makeup days.

1. Oil Cleansing

Oil cleansing is just what it sounds like: cleaning your face with oil. This DIY makeup remover may be the simplest of all.

It sounds funny, but oil cleansing can actually dissolve excess oil in your pores. Using the right oils, you can balance overly dry or overly oily skin because oil cleansing can work for any skin type!

Popular oils to use for oil cleansing include castor and olive oil, but with some experimentation, you may find that other oils work well for your skin. Sunflower, safflower, avocado, and coconut oils may work as well. Personally, I’ve found a ratio of 3/4 olive oil to 1/4 castor or hazelnut oil is perfect for my skin.

Try one of the following recipes to decide which oils are right for your skin:

  • Oily Skin: 1/3 castor oil or hazelnut oil to 2/3 olive, sunflower, or other oil
  • Combination Skin: 1/4 castor or hazelnut oil and 3/4 olive, sunflower, or other oil
  • Dry Skin: All nourishing oils like olive oil, or a very small amount of castor/hazelnut oil added to the nourishing oils.

To use the oil cleansing method as a DIY makeup remover:

  1. Use about a quarter-sized amount of oil and massage over your face for one to two minutes. (No need to pre-wash or wet your skin.)
  2. Soak a clean washcloth in very hot water and wring it out before placing it over your face. Allow it to sit and steam your face for about a minute.
  3. Give your skin a wipe with the clean side of the cloth and allow the thin layer of oil left behind to remain and soak into your skin.

I found that I had an adjustment period of about 3-4 weeks while my skin detoxed, during which I had increased breakouts. After my skin adjusted, it cleared right up and has looked great since!

2. Witch Hazel

If you want to step up your oil cleansing a notch, you can try adding witch hazel.

Made from the witch hazel shrub, witch hazel is basically an herbal extract or hydrosol. It has been used traditionally for skin problems and has a long history of use in the beauty industry.

I love witch hazel as a multi-purpose remedy because it helps with a variety of skin conditions. It helps with spot-treating acne, soothing dry skin or itching, and removing makeup.

To use witch hazel as a DIY makeup remover:

  1. Use witch hazel on its own or diluted 50:50 with water.
  2. Soak the corner of a washcloth or cotton makeup pad and remove makeup in circular motions.

3. Aloe Vera

Combine aloe vera gel with a couple of skin-nourishing ingredients to whisk away makeup and impurities.

To use aloe vera as a DIY makeup remover:

  1. In a small container, combine equal parts aloe vera gel and raw honey.
  2. Add 2 TBSP of your oil of choice for every 1 cup of cleanser.
  3. Use an immersion blender to combine the ingredients until a paste forms. Store in an airtight container, and be sure to keep your cleanser in the refrigerator if it contains fresh, preservative-free aloe vera.
  4. Use a small scoop of the cleanser to remove makeup by massaging it into the skin for one to two minutes before rinsing clean with cool water.

4. DIY Makeup Remover Wipes

I’ve written about the dangers of conventional baby wipes and why I make my own. Conventional, store-bought makeup removing wipes pose the same problems: chemical preservatives and other hormone disrupting, unnatural ingredients.

Making your own makeup remover wipes is easy though!

To make DIY makeup remover wipes:

You’ll need:

To make:

  1. Combine everything but the cotton rounds in the jar and shake or use an immersion blender to combine well.
  2. Stack the cotton rounds in the jar, then gently shake it to coat them with the mixture.
  3. Use a cotton round to wipe your makeup off anytime you need a quick DIY makeup remover. The cleansing wipes are great for traveling!

5. Honey Face Wash

Naturally antibacterial honey fights acne and contains enzymes that help slough away dead skin cells.

To use honey to clean off your makeup:

  1. Simply use about a teaspoon of raw honey (I like either Manuka Honey or Raw Organic Honey) and rub between your hands.
  2. Spread it over your face and massage in a circular motion.
  3. Allow the honey to sit for 5-10 minutes before removing with a warm cloth. Once your skin dries, it will be fresh and dewy!

6. Exfoliating Scrub

I’ve always loved the feeling of a good scrub to exfoliate my skin and get rid of dead cells and microscopic dirt in order to get a glowing complexion.

Ground walnut shell makes a great exfoliating ingredient, and there are some great natural products that contain it. However, if you want to go even more natural, plus save money by making your own DIY makeup remover scrub, you can try this recipe:

How to Make:

  1. Combine walnut shells and castile soap in a small bowl; stir and set aside.
  2. Over low heat, combine the calendula oil with the emulsifying wax in a small pot or double boiler and warm until the wax has melted.
  3. In a separate pot, gently warm the aloe vera gel for a minute or two, then add it to the oil mixture and whisk to create an emulsion.
  4. Add the emulsion to the walnut shell mixture, along with the essential oil.
  5. Stir once more to combine well and store in an air-tight jar.
  6. Massage about a 1/2 teaspoon over skin to cleanse, then rinse with warm water.

Caution: As this is a scrub, avoid the eyes and use one of the other makeup remover recipes for eye makeup.

7. Rose Water Cleansing Gel

I don’t know if there’s anything that smells more lovely or feminine than rose water. I make it for all sorts of things, including perfume, flavoring foods, uplifting my mood, and, of course, my beauty routine.

To make a DIY makeup remover with rose water, combine the following ingredients in a pump bottle:

  • 1 cup rose water (see how to make it here)
  • 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
  • 2 tsp glycerine
  • 1 tsp castile soap
  • 8 drops rose absolute for additional scent and skincare benefits
  1. Pump a squirt of this cleanser into clean hands or on a clean washcloth and massage over your face in a circular motion until clean.
  2. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Demystify Safe, Natural Skin Care!

Going the DIY route with your skin care routine doesn’t have to be scary or hard, and with all of the above options, you’re sure to find a solution that works for your skin type.

Which DIY makeup remover are you excited to try first?

Simplifying your beauty routine is actually good for your skin, and your budget. These easy DIY makeup remover recipes take the mystery out of skincare!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

62 responses to “7 Natural DIY Makeup Remover Recipes for Happy Skin”

  1. Sienna Avatar

    I tried the honey makeup remover because I’ve heard a lot about people washing their face with organic honey. At about 3-4 minutes of leaving it to sit my face began to become terribly itchy. I rinsed off the honey and their were hives all over the sides of my face. This is probably just an individual thing, but if you choose to try the honey (or any face mask, natural or not) and it begins to itch, remove immediately. However the honey actually did a great job of removing the makeup, and the parts of my skin that wasn’t covered in hives is actually quite soft.

  2. Denice Avatar

    I used DIY makeup remover wipes recipe and instead of putting the cotton pads in the solution, I just used my finger to apply a little to my eyes to remove makeup. I can’t believe how easily it dissolved mascara! I only used one drop of rosemary oil for the preservative so not to sting my eyes since I’m using it for mascara remover. And I used argan oil in place of the frankincense or lavender oil and almond castile liquid soap.
    Thank you for posting this! It’s wonderful to not have the expense and questionable ingredients of a commercial makeup remover. : )

  3. Allie Avatar

    I’ve used coconut oil but it’s sooooo oily and uncomfortable. I use Albolene now because it’s paraben and preservative free, so the closest thing to DIY that I can get with natural ingredients that don’t hurt my skin. My skin is insanely sensitive so trying new things is risky for me

  4. Dee Avatar

    I’d also like to know if you need to rinse your face after using the cotton pads recipe.

  5. Angela Avatar

    I’ve been using olive oil, jojoba oil, witch hazel, and water mixed together. It works great but it always make my eyes really blurry and weird feeling after I use it. It typically takes a few minutes for my eyes to get back to normal and I really don’t like that. I’ve used others oils to remove eye makeup as well and it works but causes the same blurriness. I mainly only wear eye makeup, i.e., liner and mascara. So it’s frustrating feeling like I have to constantly blink to get the residue out my eyes. And it doesn’t seem safe at all. I’m going to try aloe Vera juice mixed with alcohol free witch hazel and see if that works. Any suggestions?

  6. Anna Avatar

    Hi,
    I’m new to trying out non chemical options for my skincare routine.and rarely apply makeup.
    Is it safe to assume that if these formulas work for waterproof makeup then it will work for removing sunscreen as well?

  7. Mira Avatar

    I tried making the DIY makeup remover wipes but it seems the recipe wasn’t enough for more than 5 or 6 cotton rounds. Maybe the recipe is missing something, like water? Did anyone else have this problem?

      1. Irene Binyon Avatar
        Irene Binyon

        Did anyone get an answer to the DIY makeup remover round question? I just made it and it didn’t coat 8 cotton pads.

        1. Mira Avatar

          No, but I kind of just added some filtered water and then what I do when I use it is get a dry round and a squeeze it with the excess liquid of a wet round. Not a perfect method but it kind of works for me for now until I finish it and try it again with more water lol

        2. Heather Avatar
          Heather

          I used an 8 oz mason jar and stacked 21 cotton rounds (3 week supply) inside. I added filtered water to the recipe and poured it inside, placed lid on jar, and shook it until they were saturated.

    1. Heather Evans Avatar
      Heather Evans

      I had this same issue. I even re-checked the recipe to make sure I hadn’t missed something. I used a wide mouth pint jar, added the ingredients for the recipe, added 1/4 cup distilled water. Mixed it up with my immersion blender (got a little foamy until the Castille soap settled down), tightly packed it full to the top of the jar with 100% cotton exfoliating rounds, and shook it gently after I put the lid on. The pads were a little more than saturated but just squeeze a little of the excess out and good to go!

  8. April Avatar

    Do you wash/rinse your face after the makeup remover cotton rounds?

  9. Brooke Avatar

    As an esthetician, I actually approve of many of these recipes, which is surprising! A lot of natural sites recommend oils like coconut oil that clog your pores; ACV which creates dry patches and irritated skin; and etc.
    The only one I disapprove of is the walnut shell exfoliator. Walnut shells are much too rough for the face and will create micro tears that break down the skin over time. Would be fine for the body, but definitely not for the face.

  10. Myla Mercer Avatar
    Myla Mercer

    I now use pure jojoba oil and it works really well- thanks for the tips!

  11. Ally Avatar

    I cut up an old towel and overlocked the edges (with a serger/overlocker). I use these with coconut oil to remove mascara, liquid eyeliner, eye pencil, even difficult to remove lipstick. I generally wipe up a bit of solid coconut oil (winter), or squeeze a few drops of the oil (summer) onto the little towlettes and wipe off the makeup. Works a treat! Just don’t use too much, as you can get a strange filmy feeling in your eyes. Then I chuck them in the wash with my other whites/towels and reuse! Simple, cheap, and effective! And best of all, nothing gets thrown away.

  12. Anne Avatar

    I have mature, dry skin and make my own facial cleansing oil, but your Makeup Remover Wipes look really good, especially because my washcloths are so stained by the makeup when I use just oil. Witch Hazel is too drying for my skin. What do you suggest for possible substitutions.

  13. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Hi Katie. I love you blog and have tried many of the suggestions and recipes. I have found that the oil cleansing and oil/butter moisturisers don’t work well. Do you perhaps have any recipes for moisturiser with Aloe Vera that contains no oils or butters? I have heard that colloidal oatmeal is also good. Thanks so much for all your helpful info.

      1. Cindy Dolezal Avatar
        Cindy Dolezal

        Does anyone have trouble with kind of an oil buildup in the corner of your eyes using oil cleansing. I’m thinking oil cleansing and then witch hazel just on my eyes to remove the oil.

  14. Tammy Avatar

    I use jojoba oil and it works great! I was really surprised. Good luck!

  15. Anna Avatar

    Almond oil is wonderful! It is the only oil I use for oil cleansing as well as for mascara remover and even a soak in the bath. Doesn’t clog pores and hasn’t made me break out like all the other oils.

  16. Rachel Clem Avatar
    Rachel Clem

    I use water and a norwex body cloth to remove all of my makeup. Works great and I’m not using any chemicals.

  17. Whitney Avatar
    Whitney

    How does this work on removing eye make-up specifically? I’ve really had no luck using oils on my eye make-up, sadly.

    1. Liz Avatar

      I use Coconut Oil to both my eyes and face to remove mascara and foundation. Just smear coconut oil over your eyelids and over your face and wipe off with cotton pads. use a few to wipe off eyes and face. Then take a wet warm washcloth and wipe any remaining residue from eyes and face!

    2. Eva Avatar

      I use extra virgin olive oil, and it works great! I have been using it for years, and now that I’m in my mid 50s, I think it’s actually helped keep lines and wrinkles down! 🙂

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