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The Best Gentle Makeup Remover For Sensitive Skin In 2024

We live in a world where the choice is enormous, and finding a proper skincare routine can be quite a chore, not to mention confusing.

And although we’ve covered many different types of cleansers, from cleansers for acne-prone skin to those for sensitive skin, makeup removers are slightly different. Well, let me correct that- they can be slightly different.

Makeup removers often have more powerful ingredients than cleansers. The ingredients need to remove oil-based and long-lasting makeup as well as dirt that builds up over the day.

In contrast, a cleanser only needs to remove dirt that’s built up over the day. So although many cleansers double up as makeup removers, not all of them have the ingredients for that.

Once you use a makeup remover, you don’t usually need to cleanse after.

Since makeup removers often have stronger ingredients, finding gentle ones can be a struggle. This is especially true for those with sensitive skin and eyes. Using a non-gentle makeup remover on sensitive skin and eyes can be very irritating.

I’ve scoured the web and put together the best gentle makeup removers. They are for all skin types because anyone and everyone can benefit from a gentle product. That being said, if you have sensitive skin, these makeup removers are ideal for you!

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon and other affiliate programs. This means on some purchases I make a commission. It doesn’t mean you spend more, it simply allows me to keep this blog going!

The Best Makeup Remover For Sensitive Skin

1. Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

If you’re looking for a gentle makeup remover that will instantly melt away every piece of dirt and makeup, then this cleansing balm is for you!

The magic of this balm is that it removes everything, including hard-to-reach eye makeup and waterproof makeup. It does all that without stripping the skin or leaving a residue behind!

Its good-for-you formula gently exfoliates the skin, leaving you with hydrated and soft skin. You can the balm on your eyes, without the worry that it will irritate them. It’s got gentle ingredients with a gentle texture!

Made with sunflower and ginger root oils, this help remove everything without stripping the skin. The turmeric and moringa extract help remove impurities and fight the effects that pollution has on the skin and the papaya enzymes act as a natural exfoliant.

Easy to use and highly effective, it’s a great option for a gentle makeup remover. You don’t need to use a cleanser after using this balm, because it removes everything!

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm is vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free.

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm can be bought from Sephora | Cult Beauty


2. Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original

Banila Co Clean It Zero 3-in-1 Cleansing Balm

Banila Co is a Korean brand that quickly rose to the top. Their skincare is reliable and like most Korean skincare, the ingredients are impressive with the concentration being on prevention.

Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm comes in 5 different variations for different skin concerns. We’re covering the Original one because it’s their bestseller and good for all skin types and concerns.

This lovely cleansing balm is hypoallergenic and extremely gentle on the skin. It has a sherbet-like texture that transforms into oil when applied to the skin.

Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm removes everything including waterproof makeup, eye makeup and sunscreen, and it does so without stripping the skin. It’s super gentle thanks to its unique patented ‘Zero Balance Technology’.

The Zero Balance Technology also helps leave the skin replenished, firm and soothed. Not only doesn’t the cleansing balm irritate the skin and eyes, on the contrary, but it also helps your skin recover after a long day!

This is the kind of product we all need, removing your makeup has never been this easy and stress-free!

All skin types will benefit from this cleansing balm, including sensitive skin. That being said, always do a patch test to make sure your skin and the balm get along.

It’s formulated with impressive ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, hot spring waters and active botanicals.

Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, polyethylene, mineral oil, alcohol and artificial coloring.

Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original can be bought from Ulta | Stylevana


3. Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil

Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil

This deep cleansing oil is the answer for stubborn, hard-to-remove makeup and sunscreen! Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil gives the skin a deep clean, yet in the most gentle way, without irritating the skin or eyes.

It simply melts away all makeup and dirt that accumulates over the day. Yep, that includes waterproof makeup and sunscreen.

Dermalogica is one of those brands that you know you can’t go wrong with! Their professional-grade skincare is loved by many professionals around the world, and many clinics use its products.

Formulated with lovely, good-for-you ingredients like vitamin E and rice bran extract to moisturise and soften the skin, kukui nut oil and borage seed oil for vitamin A, C and omega-3 fatty acids and lastly, apricot kernel oil to soothe, nourish and moisturize irritated skin.

Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil is cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil can be bought from Sephora | Beauty Bay


4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel

Don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t judge this cleanser by its price! It may be affordable, but the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel does a fantastic job of removing makeup and cleansing.

Ideal for sensitive skin, this cleanser has a lightweight formula that’s easy to apply. The gel transforms into a lather that removes all dirt and makeup from the day. It does so without stripping your skin.

The Hydro-Boost Range by Neutrogena contains hyaluronic acid, that locks the hydration into your skin, keeping it supple and soft for 24 hours.

Neutrogena is a fuss-free brand that comes highly recommended by dermatologists worldwide.

This cleanser is a great budget option, it’s affordable and it does the job in the most gentle way possible! Yep, it’s even gentle for your eyes, they won’t itch or get irritated!

You will be shocked at how every bit of makeup, lipstick and dirt disappears with this cleanser! It’s suitable for all skin types and is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel can be bought from Ulta | Amazon


5. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

 DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is a personal favourite, mostly due to how gentle it is, yet still removes everything!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, don’t be put off by the fact that it’s an oil. Many automatically think that using an oil-based product will make the skin oilier. This couldn’t be further from the truth!

Oil cleansers work in the way that oil gets attracted to oil- the best way to remove oil is with oil. Oil cleansers break down the oil that has built up on your skin throughout the day from your makeup and sebum, it dissolves it all and lifts the impurities.

The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil makes all makeup merely slide off, without causing any irritation to the face or eyes. It’s a breeze to use and feels lovely on the skin!

Made from ingredients that are good for you and your skin, it is based mainly on olive oil which is rich in antioxidants and helps fight any damage caused by free radicals. Olive oil helps to lock the moisture into the skin.

Other key ingredients are vitamin E which protects the skin from free radicals, and rosemary leaf oil which gives the oil a natural refreshing smell.

The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil doesn’t contain many ingredients, but what is obvious with skincare is that less is more. The fewer ingredients in a product the better it is for you and your skin.

The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is a winner of gentle makeup remover. Made for all skin types, however, we don’t recommend it for acne-prone skin. Check out these recommendations for acne-prone skin.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil can be bought from Ulta | Look Fantastic


6. Caudalie Vinoclean Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil

Caudalie Vinoclean Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil

Caudalie Vinoclean Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil is another impressive cleansing oil! With its gentle formula, it melts away makeup and dirt leaving you with cleansed and hydrated skin.

Its oil consistency turns into a milky texture when it comes into contact with water. Simply massage it into your face and rinse it off with water.

It leaves the skin feeling clean without stripping or irritating it. Eventhough it’s an oil cleanser, it doesn’t leave the skin with any greasy feeling.

It has lovely ingredients that are made from 100% natural origin to give your skin maximum benefit. The sweet almond oil softens, strengthens and soothes the skin, the grapeseed oil moisturizes and nourishes, and the sunflower and castor oil, dissolve makeup and help the lashes grow.

Oil cleansers are a great fuss-free and gentle way to remove your makeup and dirt at the end of the day. You can use it on its own, but if you enjoy double-cleansing, this is a great option for the first step, follow on with a regular cleanser.

Caudalie Vinoclean Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil is vegan and non-comedogenic. It is free from soap, parabens, phthalates, mineral oils and silicones.

Caudalie Vinoclean Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil can be bought from Sephora | Look Fantastic


7. La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water Ultra and Makeup Remover

La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water Ultra and Makeup Remover

Using cleansing water is one of the most popular ways to remove makeup at the end of the day. The reason for that is, that cleansing water is essentially an all-in-one makeup remover, cleanser and moisturizer!

For many, at the end of the day, all you want is a quick, easy-to-use product, and cleansing water is exactly that! It also happens to be extremely gentle on the skin, making it ideal for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.

La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water is one of the best on the market. In general, La Roche-Posay knows how to do skincare, and their products are pretty fab! The cleansing water is one of their bestsellers.

It removes everything, from waterproof mascara to stubborn sunscreen, and it does so in the most gentle way possible. The dirt and makeup literally glide off with ease, without any rubbing on your part.

Made with impressive ingredients to give your skin maximum benefit:

  • Micelles trap dirt, oil, makeup and pollution so impurities can be easily wiped away
  • Poloxamer is a mild cleansing agent that is so gentle it can be found in contact lens solution
  • Glycerin moisturizes and hydrates the skin
  • La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water is naturally rich in minerals with scientifically demonstrated soothing and antioxidant properties

La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. It is non-comedogenic, oil-free, paraben-free, soap-free, and alcohol-free and is dermatologist, ophthalmologist and allergy-tested.

To sum it up, La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water is a makeup remover and cleanser you simply can’t go wrong with!

La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water for Sensitive Skin can be bought from Ulta


8. Clarins Cleansing Micellar Water

Clarins Cleansing Micellar Water

Since we’re on the topic of cleansing water, here’s another excellent one- Clarins Cleansing Micellar Water!

Much like La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water, the Clarins one is a gentle, quick way to remove your makeup and dirt at the end of the day. It’s a simple solution for those short on time, or simply too tired at the end of the day for a skincare routine with too many steps!

It has a unique Exclusive Microbiote Complex that preserves and promotes a healthy balance in the skin for a healthy-looking, radiant complexion. It also contains soothing plant extracts and moringa that extracts and gently dissolve makeup and pollutants.

Lastly, the Clarins Cleansing Micellar Water has Alpine herbs and tiny microscopic cleansing spheres. These gently remove every last trace of light makeup, impurities, and pollutants giving you instantly soft and fresh skin!

Formulated without colorants, silicones, or mineral oils and is dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested.

Clarins Cleansing Micellar Water can be bought from Ulta | John Lewis


9. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

soy face cleanser

Fresh products are a favourite by many and the reason for that is because they work! This cleanser is a 3-in-1 product that cleanses, removes makeup including mascara and other hard-to-remove makeup, and it soothes the skin at the same time!

The Soy Face Cleanser has impressive ingredients including Amino acid-rich soy proteins, which help improve the skin’s elasticity. It also has cucumber and rose water, both of which are known for their soothing and calming properties.

Lastly, the cleanser contains Borage seed oil which helps to nourish and soften the skin.

All of that is really lovely, but ultimately, it’s how the cleanser fares that impress us, and the Soy Face Cleanser is a winner at that and one of my personal favorites!

It’s a super gentle cleanser for the face and eyes, and even with the rose water ingredient, it doesn’t irritate the eyes at all.

It cleanses the skin, unclogs pores and removes dirt all without stripping the moisture barrier.

Made for all skin types, everyone can benefit from this gentle cleanser. Free from all harmful ingredients, it’s Clean at Sephora.

Sephora gives a clean seal to products that are free from certain ingredients that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment.

This is a cleanser you can trust and we are big fans of it!

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser can be bought from Sephora / Amazon


10. Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser

Cleansing waters aren’t for everyone, some prefer cleansers that need water to wash them off. And that’s understandable! A wonderful foaming cleanser is the Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser.

Often foaming cleansers can be a bit abrasive. That is not something you need to worry about with this cleanser! Ideal for dry and sensitive skin, this cleanser cleans the skin and calms it too.

It removes all dirt, makeup and bacteria that accumulate over the day, without drying the skin. Formulated with feverfew, an ingredient related to chamomile, it helps reduce redness and irritation, giving you calm skin in its place.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser is fragrance-free, soap-free, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. Aveeno is a dermatologist-approved brand, you simply can’t go wrong with it!

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser can be bought from Ulta | Amazon


My Thoughts

These gentle makeup removers are proof that you don’t need a strong, abrasive product to get the job done. A gentle one can be just as effective, without any of the negative side effects!

While all of these cleansers and makeup removers are some of the best out there, everyone has different skin and reacts differently to different ingredients. Where one product may work amazingly for your friend, it doesn’t mean it will do the same for you.

Always do a patch test on your skin before using any product all over your face or body. This is especially necessary if you have sensitive skin.

That being said, there’s something here for everyone! I hope you’ve found a gentle makeup remover that works for you, your skin and your budget!

Hollie xx

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About Hollie

Hi, I’m Hollie, and I’m passionate about everything beauty. Over the last decade and a half, I’ve tested thousands of products to bring you the best of the best! I also love bringing you fun and creative beauty looks. Learn more.

Beauty profile – 35, dry, aging skin, focused on aging well with a healthy glow and natural makeup look ✨



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