My eye doctor told me that you can use regular baby shampoo as a remover for mascara and eye makeup. It is much cheaper than the commercial removers! You can also dilute your regular shampoo with baby shampoo to make it less harsh. I do that with my dandruff shampoo, which otherwise I find too drying on my scalp.
By pam munro from Los Angeles, CA
This page contains the following solutions.
An inexpensive and effective way to remove eye make-up is with petroleum jelly. It works well and also helps keep delicate skin around the eyes soft. Simply wipe on with a finger and tissue off, then wash your face as you normally do.
Use up you eye make up remover and moister creams, cleansers and then buy jojoba oil to replace all three. This is what I have done and I am now saving money buying a natural oil which I get at my health food Store.
To remove makeup I fill the sink basin with warm water and add a squirt of sweet almond oil (you could use other oils as well, but stay away from perfumed petrol oils such as baby oil) and wash my face with a natural soap.
I use Vaseline to remove my mascara, eye liner and shadow everyday. This works before or after a shower and doesn't sting if you get it in your eyes.
I purchase inexpensive tubs of baby wipes, and use them daily for makeup removal. After using them to clean my face, I then wipe my sink before tossing.
You could try buying the same brands of mascara and eye makeup remover. Ponds Cold Cream is what removes theatrical makeup. Apply that to lashes and rub off with facial tissue.
I use a simple routine for washing my face that has saved me a fortune in costly creams or soaps. I buy an inexpensive large cocoa butter lotion from the chain store to remove all of my makeup.
Dab a small amount of your everyday plain hand or body lotion on to a soft dry face clothe. You will see even the heaviest, blackest eyeliners, mascaras and eye shadows wipe completely away, without pain or fuss.
Milk makes a great make-up remover. Dip a cotton ball in milk and gently wipe off makeup. By Kristen
This is a pretty simple cleansing routine that should be safe for all skin types.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
What do you use to remove makeup from your face? I use Dove bar soap with a face cloth. Lately, I've noticed that Dove is not removing all the makeup after I wash my face. Sometimes after I wash my face I will get another clean face cloth and wipe my face and more makeup comes off. Do you use something better at removing makeup?
I also use Dove bar soap to wash my face.
I'm retired, so I don't wear makeup every day, but when I do, this is how I wash it off:
1. DO NOT wet your face first.
By not wetting your face or using a washcloth, you won't be diluting the lather. This way, the lather works more like a cleansing cream.
Not knowing what kind of makeup you wear, I can't guarantee this will work for you. But you already have the soap, so it won't cost you anything to try!
Cold cream. Works wonders. Rub it on and wipe it off with tissue.
Another thing to try is to use baby oil or olive oil on a cotton ball first to remove most of it and then wash your face with the Dove soap.
CVS brand cold cream. Cheaper than Ponds. Don't wipe with a tissue, this will pull on your skin. Use a wet cotton pad.
I use different cleaners all the time and some do work better than others. What I notice works for me is using a wash cloth -- gently massage your face with cleanser on and gently, gently use the cloth.
Try witch hazel - it's inexpensive and used as the primary ingredient in a facial cleanser sold by Arbonne.
Here in the UK I use facial cleansing wipes (similar to baby wipes) They remove every trace of make-up, including waterproof mascara. Some even exfoliate. Various companies make them, including Dove. I would have thought these would be available in the States. Regards Jan UK
COLD CREAM I found works the best. just put it right on you face, work all over in circles, wipe off with a face cloth . heavy makeup, just do it twice Then wash your face with Hot water & a good mild soap Dove works great.
I like witch hazel too. You can add a few drops of essential oil to make it smell better.
You can always use Noxema. It works great. Also, Avon has a lot of different face cleansers. They all remove makeup very well.
Kathy
Jean from Mississippi, has the right idea. You dont want to use a washcloth on your face as it more than likely has germs on it that you dont want to transfer to your face. Wash your hands really well and lather them up with your Dove bar soap. Then, put the lather on your face. It works great.
Also, I am wondering if you would consider not wearing quite as much makeup. Maybe you're just applying too much. Its just a thought.
Warm regards and hugs,
I know it sounds old-fashioned, and I don't even wear makeup anymore, but cold cream always worked for me. Even when I was hanging out in my kids' high school drama department (years ago ,) cold cream was the guaranteed makeup remover. It isn't very expensive, either. Noxzema always worked for me, too.
Olive oil is my favorite. It's the only thing that does not make my eyes sting if some gets in. I have very clean baby sized wash clothes to wipe my face with. I cut them out of big towels that had holes in them.
It may be wierd, but it works!
Londa
Both my dermatologist and ophthalmologist have recently recommended using baby shampoo daily as a facial cleanser/makeup remover. I haven't tried it yet, as I'm using up the last of my old cleanser first, but it's an inexpensive option you could try.
After washing face with soap and water, myself and my two teenage daughters use petroleum jelly on cotton wool to remove eye makeup including black pencil eyeliner and mascara. It works very very well and doesn't sting the eyes. It makes the eye area feel a bit greasy, but as long as you wipe over after you should be fine. My eldest girl wears lenses and she has no problems putting lenses in after as long as she cleans thoroughly. It normally isn't a problem as she removes eye make up in the evenings and puts lenses in in the mornings.
I wear the color stay foundation that is notorious for being hard to remove. I found that the dollar general brand of facial cleanser, that compares with clearasil foaming cleanser, works the best for me. It is in a white tube with blue designs & lettering. It does the job, it is very mild & it only costs $1.00. I actually think it works better than the clearasil. I tried the clearasil & I didn't like the way my face felt afterward. Not only does it work, but I don't have ANY breakouts anymore! Good Luck!
Also, try using a toner or astringent on a clean cotton ball or cotton pad after washing your face. Or use the astringent pads. These help prevent blemishes, and help to get every last trace of makeup off of your skin, just don't use them around your eyes!
Tips and ideas for removing make up. Post your ideas.
Sleep at a friend's home unexpectedly? Well how are you supposed to get your make-up off, clean your hair, even moisturize your lips without your magic bag of tricks at home?
I hate using someone else's products because they cost so much it almost feels like stealing. So instead all you need are 4 low cost items and you'll be good.
Rubbing Alcohol
Petroleum Jelly / Vaseline
Cotton balls
Baby powder / cornstarch
By Suzanne S.
I'm thinking if you have these items on hand you could just as easily have a small package of baby wipes (make up remover), a travel bottle of shampoo, and a chapstick stashed in a zipper bag in the glove box of your car.
All you really need is one product- good old cold cream. Jergens brand is inexpensive and takes off all kinds of makeup-even on the eyes and doesnt
burn your eyes at all. It leaves your face really feeling soft.
In an emergency i use Olive Oil from the kitchen to remove my make up. You only need a little bit and a 250ml bottle could last forever (well a long time anyway!)
I usually i use Sweet Almond oil. It works a treat, is good for my skin and very cheap.
Monique x
I use a cotton ball with baby oil for my eyes and then wash face with dove soap and the soap actually moisturizes as you wash your face! It works for me!""
Always use baby oil to remove your make-up. Works great, moisturizes, and costs less than make up removal concoctions purchased at high dollar prices!
By Jenssequa
Even cheaper than baby oil is mineral oil ...and since baby oil is nothing more than mineral oil with fragrance added, you'll get the same gentle results.
for my eye makeup i have always used the cheapest petrolium jelly and an old washcloth dampened with very warm water.. very soothing.
I use a product called Cetaphil... it is the absolute most gentle product I can find. Often I find the store brand right next to the bottle on the shelf which is even cheaper than Cetaphil is... they are usually located on the bottom shelves in the facial cleanser section of the drug store.
I don't like to film that is left behind be petroleum products or baby/mineral oils. Cetaphil leaves no film behind and is waterless... I just apply it with a cotton ball and wipe it and the makeup away with a clean cotton.
When removing make-up, don't spend money on expensive cosmetic removers, baby oil will remove your make-up just as well and is much less expensive!
By Suzy Horvath
I use my kids tearless shampoo in the shower to remove eye make-up. It's cheaper than 'real' make-up remover and is always there in the shower. Plus, no stinging!
By kami
I have discovered that baby wipes work as well, if not better than the stuff they sell for removing eye makeup. Baby wipes also take off foundation and blush. I also sometimes use them as a quick face wipe, because they are far cheaper than the moist ones, or the ones that you have to moisten. I was watching "The View" one morning a long time ago, and Star Jones Reynolds was asked what she did to keep her skin looking so flawless. Her response was that she uses baby wipes. She said she figured if they were good enough for a baby's butt, then why couldn't she use them for her face? I decided to give it a try. I used them once to take off eye makeup and after that was sold! For the price of what you would pay for one of those containers of facial wipes, you could probably purchase a couple of hundred baby wipes. The other thing I found that is also great for removing eye make up is vaseline. It's really cheap, and it takes make up off far more quickly than the bottled stuff.
Every night I use Aloe Vera Gel that is in a pump (Walgreens- one squirt for each eye) and I also buy the the inexpensive cotton squares from the dollar store. This removes my eyeliner and waterproof mascara with such ease and it lasts for months.
Pam from MN
I would be cautious when using baby oil, or Vaseline on your eyes to remove makeup. I wear contacts and that was by far the worst thing I could have used..some of the oil or jelly gets into your eyes and it's just plain messy. Stick with the baby wipes very gentle and effective without the oily gunk you would feel using baby oil. I would not use baby oil all over your face for makeup remover either..can cause blocked pours and breakouts.
I would be cautious when using baby oil, or Vaseline on your eyes to remove makeup. I wear contacts and that was by far the worst thing I could have used..some of the oil or jelly gets into your eyes and it's just plain messy. Stick with the baby wipes very gentle and effective without the oily gunk you would feel using baby oil. I would not use baby oil all over your face for makeup remover either..can cause blocked pores and breakouts.
If you are prone to breaking out, never use any product with mineral oil in it, and that includes baby oil! Mineral oil has been clinically proven to cause and/or exacerbate breakouts.
Eek! If you have dry/mature/or sensitive skin please don't use straight rubbing alcohol on your face! Witch hazel is a much better option, and usually costs about the same. It tightens pores and doesn't dry half as much as alcohol does.
Sweet Almond oil, Olive oil, and mineral oil are all good to remove eye makeup (plus they moisturize), but you should avoid anything with fragrance in it (it might sting!)
If your trying to get off make-up, I've found the best way to do so is using vaseline or lotion. Just put some on your lashes and your eye make-up will come off super easy!
People usually ask me if my eyelashes are natural. I tell them that my beauty secret for keeping them strong is Vaseline(did you know that Vaseline makes them fuller and longer?). It removes eye make-up easily and it is so cheap!
Baby wipes are amazing too! And if you don't have baby wipes, then use a mild shampoo to remove your make up...cheap, easy and safe! I use Proderm's Baby Shampoo and it has never disappointed me!:-)
Wearing makeup daily can be tough on your skin. To ensure good skin health, removing your makeup thoroughly and regularly is a best practice. This is a page about removing makeup and caring for your skin.
This is a page about homemade eye makeup remover recipes. Save money by making your own eye makeup cleaner at home.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Mineral oil, baby oil or petroleum jelly remove mascara just as well as any fancy makeup remover and keep the cost to a minimal amount.
A much cheaper alternative for eye make-up remover is to use the 'Johnson and Johnson No Tears' baby shampoo. All you need is a little dab on a wet wash cloth.
