The Best Makeup Removers for Women Over 50

By Melissa Epifano Updated: July 29, 2019

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A makeup remover should obviously never leave you with sticky residue or missed patches of makeup. But the best products these days do a lot more than take off your foundation and eyeliner, they can also help cleanse your skin and leave it moisturized, balanced, and supple.

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Micellar waters, reusable cloths and pads, oil-free formulas, balms, wipes, and oils are the main types of makeup removers available, and they each come with different benefits. But despite their differences, one thing’s for sure: They’ll gently erase every last bit of makeup while providing powerful anti-aging benefits.

Micellar water has a consistency similar to tap water and a pH that suits the skin well. Reusable cloths and pads are fabrics that take makeup off with ease and can be cleansed in the washing machine. You can reuse them multiple times before replacing them. Balms come in a butter-like mixture, and melt into an oil upon touching your skin. To use, simply wipe and rinse. Oil-free makeup removers are gentle liquids, while oil makeup removers are similar to facial oils that melt off makeup while moisturizing the face. Wipes are like baby wipes that cleanse and condition. Some are biodegradable, and a few brands offer types with retinol, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid.

Nothing feels better than going to bed with a super fresh face and waking up with a clean slate. Keep scrolling to find the best makeup removers for your skin!

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Best Makeup Remover for Over 50

Goop, Getty Images

Magic is real, and the Face Halo Makeup Removal Pad is proof. After wetting the pad, wring it out and gently massage your face. You'll be shocked by how easily makeup comes right off without leaving an ounce of residue behind — no extra products required. We love that it's reusable and can go through about 200 wash cycles before it needs replacing.

Where to buy: $22, Goop

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Best Makeup Remover Wipes for Over 50

Amazon, Getty Images

While we love the convenience of makeup wipes, we don't want to harm the planet in the process by creating more waste. Fortunately, Beekman 1802 Honeyed Grapefruit Facial Cleansing Wipes not only smell delicious, but are also biodegradable. They're alcohol- and oil-free, so they won't irritate oily or dry skin. Citrus and goat milk hydrate the skin, making it look and feel soft and bright before you put on moisturizers or serums.

Where to buy: $7.00, Beekman 1802

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Best Natural Makeup Remover for Over 50

Farmacy, Getty Images

It's hard to find a makeup remover that's as phenomenal as Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm with Echinacea GreenEnvy. It's a solid balm in a TSA-friendly tub, but it melts into a buttery, soft oil as you rub it on your skin. Waterproof mascara, high coverage foundation, and thick, dark layers of eyeshadow don't stand a chance against this velvety balm.

Where to buy: $34, Sephora

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Best Waterproof Makeup Remover

Lancôme, Getty Images

Wipe away thick foundation, waterproof mascara, and long-wear eyeliners with ease thanks to the Lancôme Bi-Facil Face Bi-Phased Micellar Water Face Makeup Remover & Cleanser. It rapidly erases any trace of makeup, yet is gentle on your skin. Summertime is the season for waterproof makeup, so it's essential to have a remover that can get the job done. The micellar water formula disintegrates long-lasting products and purifies the skin.

Where to buy: $40, Sephora

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Best Cruelty-Free Makeup Remover

Biossance, Getty Images

Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil combines two fundamental skin-care products into one makeup remover. Squalane and antioxidants like vitamins C and E, are well-known for their anti-aging properties. Your skin naturally produces squalene, but the product we would purchase to make up for losing this oil as we age is called squalane. A lot of these products are made from shark livers, which is both inhumane and unsustainable. Olive oil is commonly used, but it's also unstable. Thankfully, Biossance chemists use biotech to create squalane derived from cane sugar that's just as affective. No animals, humans, or planets are damaged in the process, and your makeup will slide right off. The best part? It helps boost your current anti-aging skincare routine.

Where to buy: $30, Sephora

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Best Waterless Makeup Remover for Women Over 50

Amazon, Getty Images

With Dermatologic Cosmetic Laboratories' Express Waterless Makeup Remover, you don't need a drop of H20 to get your face sparkling clean. Simply put a small amount of the cream on a cotton pad or a washcloth and gently wipe off your makeup, you don't even have to rinse. Skipping that extra step means you get to head straight to your favorite toners, serums, and moisturizers. It's also chock-full of Vitamin B5, often heralded for its blemish-fighting and anti-aging powers. Who knew you could get so many benefits from one makeup remover?

Where to buy: $28, QVC

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Best Organic Makeup Remover

Kopari, Getty Images

Makeup removers don't get much more pure than Kopari's Coconut Melt, which is made of organic coconut oil that not only gently melts makeup, but also heals and hydrates skin. But even more exciting than its makeup-removing abilities, it can also work as a shaving oil, hair mask, frizz tamer, foot soak, lip balm, massage oil, and belly balm for stretch marks and dry tummies. The list of potential uses is endless, so get creative, we just don't recommend it for cooking!

Where to buy: $28, Sephora

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Best Eye Makeup Remover for Sensitive Skin Over 50

Amazon, Getty Images

Thermal water and vitamin B5 come together in this makeup remover to hydrate, cleanse, and soothe. Vichy Pureté Thermale One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution is perfect for those with sensitive skin. Simply use a cotton pad to apply the formula and wipe away makeup. After that, you're finished. No rinsing required here!

Where to buy: $18.53 (originally $19.50), Amazon

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Best Makeup Remover for Combination Skin

Amazon, Getty Images

Natura Bisse NB Ceutical Eye and Lip Makeup Remover contains two "phases" of ingredients. Shake the bottle before each use to make sure these complementary parts blend together. A cotton pad will help remove every last bit of makeup from your eyes and the contour of your lips without feeling oily. Ladies who wear contact lenses or have sensitive skin won't needn't worry about potential irritation thanks to the gentle formula. After using, do not rinse, just dive right in to your nighttime face-care ritual.

Where to buy: $45, Amazon

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