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Original poster

A cleanser that actually removes make up

94 replies

Rathkelter · 16/09/2019 20:36

Is there such a thing? Even with my latest Rituals expensive, oil-based one I can see traces of foundation in my pores. Don't want to scrub away at the skin either.
I was told to avoid micellar water as have dry, reddish (not yet rosacea) skin in the chin and cheek areas.
I used Lavera before this and Neals Yard Calendula. Despite the prices, neither gets the make up fully off.
Any ideas?

OP posts:
Girasole02 · 17/09/2019 09:40

Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser every time

adagio · 17/09/2019 09:44

Just to chip in, 10 flannels for £3.50 from ikea do the job, or cut the baby muslins into 4. (My baby is now 3 so muslins are just used as blankets for toys and I never got round to getting rid of them all)

hoxt · 17/09/2019 09:53

Elemis cleansing balm is my favourite.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 17/09/2019 09:57

TBS cammomile balm with a tepid flannel.

Buy a big stack of flannels to keep in the bathroom and then they can go straight in the wash after each use.

Peridot1 · 17/09/2019 10:13

Flannels are cheap as chips. I have about 20. Keep folded in a basket on the windowsill. I use two a day. Get washed once a week with towels on a hot wash.

The Superfacialist Vit C oil cleanser is often on offer in Sainsbury’s. Also sometimes available in TK Maxx for £4.99. It’s a great first cleanse.

Wipes just move makeup dirt and grime around your face and then sit in landfill for years.

Soola · 17/09/2019 10:30

Lancome Bi-Facil for eyes and Emma Hardie Moringa balm for face.

Hollycatberry · 17/09/2019 10:35

Surely it's logically that any foundation that has longwear / staying power is going to take a bit of removing. Otherwise it'd just slide off your face during the day. Flinging a baby wipe around your face isn't going to shift it off!

OP best place to start (as others have suggsted) is The Body Shop. Get the cleansing oil and cleansing balm. First cleanse with the oil to breakdown the foundation and rinse off, then go in with the balm to cleanse your skin and use a flannel to remove the final residue.

Other options for oil cleansing are the Vit C superfacilist or simple cleansing oil. Primark have just released a balm to oil cleanser which I am getting on well with as my first cleanse.
For balm, other options are Clinique take off the day, Superdrug hot cloth cleanser, Emma Hardie Moringa Balm or Elemis balm.

It's likely you'll need to try a few options over time to find your favourites but the following the 1st / oil cleanse and 2nd / balm cleanse will get your foundation off without stripping your skin.

mildshock · 17/09/2019 11:09

1st cleanse with NipFab glycolic oil cleanser

then 2nd cleanse with a foam cleanser which I can't remember the name of Grin

stevenshannah268 · 17/09/2019 12:01

I use bareMinerals Cleansing Water, it is the only makeup remover that actually works for me!

clucky3 · 17/09/2019 12:40

Elemis collagen balm is the best. I use it with a flannel and warm water. No double cleansing required.

clucky3 · 17/09/2019 12:41

I also used to have a shu umera cleansing oil which I absolutely loved, but it was so expensive.

XingMing · 17/09/2019 17:43

DHC cleansing oil is similar to the Shu Uemera version but much cheaper. It's very popular on the skincare thread. I also like the Japanfusion cleanser from Beauty Pie. Massage either in well, then a warm wet flannel to remove it, followed by a mild wash and whatever else you like for comfort and moisture. Then wash again in the morning.

NuzzleandScratch · 17/09/2019 18:53

Decleor cleanser and toner. Used it for years, great stuff.

Ginfordinner · 17/09/2019 19:07

And yet another vote for The Bodyshop Camomile Cleansing Butter.

optimisticpessimist01 · 17/09/2019 19:11

Body Shop camomile cleansing balm its a God send!
I used to use Liz Earle but Body Shop is cheaper and feels more luxurious

I use that and wipe off with a muslin then do another cleanse with the neutrogena gel cleanser this always does the trick

optimisticpessimist01 · 17/09/2019 19:14

Just a quick reply to the poster who said its a weird marketing ploy. No its not.

Your toner should not take off any make up at all. Your face should already be clean before toning. If you are using toner and makeup comes off, then your face is not clean enough

You need to take ALL your makeup off. It's not a weird marketing thing, its people being more aware of the damage of left over makeup

RidgedPerfection · 17/09/2019 19:15

@Rathkelter it's about £7.50 at present in Sainsbury's I think.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 17/09/2019 19:35

Simple micellar cleansing water!

ILikTheBred · 17/09/2019 20:08

I first do a water cleanse (no product!) with one of these Cleansing Mitts, then do a second cleanse with Dermatalogica Ultra Calming cleanser. I have rosacea and this (plus some other vv expensive products) has made a huge difference to my skin.

SpeckledyHen · 17/09/2019 20:43

Body Shop camomile x 2 and warm white Ikea flannel to finish.
4 for £1.20 I think 🤔 in with the towel wash .

Soola · 17/09/2019 21:19

I picked up a parcel today and will be trialling two cleansers from Facetheory

www.facetheory.com/collections/cleansers-scrubs-masks/products/clarifying-cleanser-c2

And

www.facetheory.com/collections/cleansers-scrubs-masks/products/clarifying-cleanser-c2-pro

I’ve just used the second one for the first time and it’s easily removed every trace of a full face of make up.

They also have other cleansers

www.facetheory.com/collections/cleansers-scrubs-masks

FB40 gives you 40% off your first order and they are cruelty free.

ElevenOhFive · 17/09/2019 21:37

First cleanse - The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter, flannel off
Second cleanse - Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser, flannel off
This gets rid of all traces of even EL Doublewear and I have noticed a lot less congestion under my skin since I started to double cleanse

Moominfan · 17/09/2019 21:43

I Start off with a wet wipe to get the superficial stuff off. Then cleanse with a flannel. Usually alternate between body shop camomile butter and super drug hot cloth cleanser. Both seem to do the trick

justilou1 · 17/09/2019 21:51

Physician’s Formula Matcha Green Tea cleansing balm is as good as the Clinique one but a fraction of the cost, IME...
Love oils just that little bit more though.... best ones I have used are Shu Uemura... very expensive, but last for AAAAAGES. Muji - if you are near one of their stores, they’re even better! Get the thinner-textured one in the big bottle. It is the best one I have ever used and it also lasts forever. Not remotely irritating. Takes everything off. DHC is great but you run out faster. I find it stings my eyes a little bit, and leaves a film on them if I’m not very careful to keep the oil out, but it works really well. Superfacialist Vit C is nice, but doesn’t emulsify as well as the others, and might be a little too perfumed for me. The Japanese and Korean products have the edge, I think. (And Phys. Formula which is a pseudo K Beauty product.)

justilou1 · 17/09/2019 22:19

Forgot to add that this is also brilliant for sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. It’s a French cleansing milk that you use with cotton rounds (you can buy awesome reusable washable bamboo ones on amazon, btw....) You can add a couple of drops to your bath, too. This also lasts for ages. www.amazon.com/dp/B074N9RFBH/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

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