Wipe Away Impurities With PETA’s List of Cruelty-Free Makeup Removers
Rinsing away the sweat, dirt, and makeup from the day requires a little more effort than a quick splash of water. Before you start your nighttime skin-care routine, you’ll want to make sure that all your makeup is removed to prevent clogged pores and breakouts. Unfortunately, some makeup removers out there are still tested on animals or contain ingredients that come from animal exploitation. To help you choose a makeup remover that works for you, here is a list of cruelty-free makeup removers:
Cleansing Oils
SheaMoisture 100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
SheaMoisture never tests on animals, and this product is vegan and made with 100% extra virgin coconut oil. It’s also rich in vitamin E, which nourishes the skin.
Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil
Dr. Bronner’s Coconut Oil can be used pretty much for anything, from cooking food to conditioning hair. It’s also a handy makeup remover that will do the job well while being gentle on your skin.
Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Oil
When it comes to facial cleansing oils, there can be some hidden animal-derived ingredients that you may not know about, like oil from the fat of butchered minks. This formula leaves the unnecessary exploitation behind, combining argan oil and coconut oil to melt makeup off easily, without leaving an oily residue.
Derma E Universal Cleansing Balm
Infused with rosehip oil, camellia oil, shea butter, and tons of nourishing vitamins, this cleansing balm dissolves makeup without drying out the skin. It’s also totally vegan, so your fresh skin won’t come at the cost of animal well-being.
NYX Eye & Lip Makeup Remover
This vegan makeup remover is great for removing the residue from a full-glam makeup look, including waterproof formulas that can be tricky to get off.
Gel Cleansers
Pacifica Vegan Cream Creamy Gel Cleanser
Pacifica’s Gel Cleanser is infused with vegan collagen, so it has real collagen proteins made without cruelty to animals. In nonvegan cosmetics, collagen is produced from the tissue of cows, horses, pigs, and even fish. The Pacifica collagen line is made with fermented plant-based ingredients for a clean and ethical product that you can count on.
Bliss Makeup Melt Rose Makeup Remover
This dry/wet jelly cleanser is wonderfully soothing and free of parabens and sulfates. The formula is infused with apple and oat amino acids instead of snail mucus, so you can avoid snail harvesting and breeding practices—that is, agitating snails in order to extract the mucus they produce as a self-defense mechanism—that go into many other gel-based skin-care products.
Elf Bounce Back Jelly Cleanser
This cleanser is packed with aloe vera, cucumber fruit extract, coconut fruit juice, and vitamin B5 to break down makeup and condition your skin.
Acure Brightening Cleansing Gel
This formula has nutrients derived from pomegranate, blackberry, and acai to get rid of excess makeup without stripping your skin of its natural oils.
Cleansing Wipes
e.l.f. Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths
These vegan cloths, infused with aloe vera and vitamin E, are perfect to take with you on the go or when traveling.
The Original MakeUp Eraser
The Original MakeUp Eraser looks like your average washcloth, but it has special soft fibers that remove makeup with ease—all you have to do is add water. This reusable cloth is a great sustainable, vegan option that saves money. It can be found at Walmart, CVS, Amazon, and Ulta.
Acure Brightening Coconut Cleansing Towelettes
These rinse-free towelettes are a 100% vegan essential. Take them on the go to wipe off makeup or just to freshen up.
Yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Wipes
These wipes work wonderfully on sensitive skin and are cruelty-free, plant-based, and compostable!
Micellar Water
Pacifica Kale Water Micellar Cleansing Tonic
The Pacifica micellar cleanser is fortified with kale extract, glycolic acid, calendula, and grapefruit water to promote a clean, makeup-free face.
Derma E Micellar Cleansing Water With Vitamin C
This vegan micellar water dissolves makeup and removes impurities, leaving a healthy, refreshed complexion.
Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Micellar Cleansing Water
This vegan formula is charcoal-based, which is said to detoxify skin naturally, without over-drying.
wet n wild Makeup Remover Micellar Cleansing Water
This cruelty-free essential gets rid of all excess makeup, even the waterproof kind.
*****
For other skin-care products, check out PETA’s list of vegan facial cleansers and moisturizers. To check whether your beauty regimen is animal test–free, visit our Beauty Without Bunnies database.
