Recently, I’ve been looking for a reliable and mild make-up remover for my combination skin. Something that’s gentle, so it doesn’t dry out my skin, yet effective in removing all traces of make up. Sounds like a dilemma? Indeed!

My first round of research revolved around asking friends for recommendations. Most said they went with drugstore brands which were easy to find and inexpensive. A few swear by cleansing wipes, which are somewhat similar to wet wipes but are meant solely for removing make-up.

Heeding the advice, I dug up some make up removal wipes from my stable. Before that, I used them mainly for weekend getaways to remove sunblock from my face, as a normal foam cleanser is usually not effective enough in cleaning away sunblock.

But this time, I put the wipes to the test by using it to remove a full face of make up. The result disappointed me. Not only did the wipes fail to remove all traces of my makeup, I ended up with uneven and bumpy skin tone the next morning. Maybe I went over my skin with the wipes too many times in an attempt to clean off the residual make up, and caused my skin to break out the next day.

After the experience, I went on to try out other make up removers. Here are the top three I found work for my combination skin.

 

Shu Uemura Makeup Cleansing Oil

To remove all traces of makeup, oil-based removers are always favoured. In fact, there’s a long-standing European tradition of removing makeup with olive oil. But that would be too greasy for our climate.

The Shu Uemura cleansing oil is definitely one of my favourite Shu Uemura products. First introduced in 1967, the brand’s cleansing oils were not only effective in removing all traces of make up, it was also gentle on the skin. Today, there are different cleansing oils to suit different skin types and to yield different results from ‘fresh’ to ‘brightening’.

The only drawback of this product is its high price of $100. But if you don’t mind the hefty price tag, you can check it out at the Shu Uemura counter at Tangs Orchard.

 

Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil

There’s a cheaper alternative to the Shu Uemura cleansing oil and that’s the Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil. Besides make up, it is also effective in removing keratin plugs, which can build up on your skin’s surface over time, making it dull and lifeless.

At under $50, the Fancl cleansing oil is good value for money. But the only problem I encountered with the cleansing oil is I sometimes get a ‘white-out’ effect around my eye area. To prevent this from happening, I’ve been told to first apply the cleansing oil on my face, then mix it with some water before proceeding to gently rub my face to remove the makeup.

The Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil is available at the Fancl counters at Isetan Orchard and Isetan Scotts.

 

Pond’s Cold Cream

This product has been widely used in America for decades now. And for many of us, it’s also our grandmothers’ and mothers’ preferred makeup removal cream.

There is a reason why this product has maintained its popularity over the years—because it really works! For me, this cream is actually quite pleasant to use. When you first apply it over your skin, you’ll feel a cool sensation.

The cream is generally very effect in removing most make up. But for more stubborn eye make up, such as waterproof mascara, I would recommend that you first go over the area with a gentle liquid eye makeup remover before following up with the cream. In my experience, compared to oil-based removers, cream removals are not as effective in melting stubborn eye make up.

At under $10, I would say this is the best buy of the list. But there is one drawback. The scent and thick consistency of the cream may be off-putting for some people. Personally, though, I enjoy both the scent and the texture of the product, and my family members swear by this product too!

The cream can be found at Guardian stores islandwide.

 

Stephie & Dottie
Stephie & Dottie are the girls behind Fashion Nation, a high profile blog featuring their adventures in the realm of fashion and retail in Singapore. Catch a glimpse of their worlds on inSing.com every Wednesday.