Natural Makeup Remover

 

 

There is no such thing as natural living without coconut oil somehow worked into one or more aspects of your life–(unless you’re allergic to coconuts in which case).

 

I’ll probably do a round-up at some point of my favorite ways to use coconut oil, but for now, meet your one ingredient makeup remover.

 

I jumped on this train years ago and despite it being one ingredient, there was a learning curve for me. But before I get into the “how to,” let’s cover the basics.

 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that, with no additional cost to you, I will make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

 

Coconut oil is sold in most (all?) grocery stores, in the baking aisle by the other oils. You can find it in glass (whoo!) or plastic packaging, and depending on where you live it should be in a mostly solid state (Georgia, I’m looking at you). However, it’s becoming increasingly possible to find fractionated coconut oil (purely liquid and remains liquid) in beauty care aisles, and is readily available online.

 

 

Solid or Liquid?

 

 

There are arguments on both sides of the fence. You can’t go wrong with either one! But it doesn’t hurt to consider their differences.

 

 

Solid Form Coconut Oil

 

Despite its often-lumpy texture, this variety is a tried-and-true favorite. It’s low-processing means that it maintains it’s light coconut aroma, which is always pleasant. Far beyond that though, less processing also means the preservation of long-chain fatty acids, like lauric acid. If you go this route, you’ll want these specifications for your oil:

 

1. Organic (since it’s going on your face
2. Unrefined (because bleach would be bad)
3. Cold-pressed (so that it hasn’t been heated during extraction)

 

 

 

Fractionated (Liquid) Coconut Oil

 

It’s impossible to overlook the convenience of this form of coconut oil. When you live somewhere cold (Colorado, ahem) it’s a game-changer to have oil that is in liquid form and ready to blend. While much more processed than it’s cold-pressed counterpart, fractionated coconut oil is non-comedogenic and absorbs more quickly into the skin. You’ll still want this oil to be organic and unrefined.

 

At the end of the day, both are healthy options and certainly better than a plastic-bottled chemical compound sold as makeup remover. I’ve used and enjoyed both, though I would say I reach for fractionated oil more often these days. I use the NOW Solutions brand, which you can buy here.

 

 

Using Coconut Oil as a Natural Makeup Remover + Skipping the Learning Curve

 

The process for using this for makeup removal is simple.  You put a small amount on a dampened cloth (bonus if it’s a reusable cotton round), and apply it all over your face and eyes. It can go directly on your lashes too! To rinse, take a warm, wet washcloth and wipe the coconut oil (and makeup) off your face.

 

Note: If your coconut oil is in its solid state (it just depends on the temperature of where you store it) then you will need to rub it between your fingers or in the palm of one of your hands to melt it, or else it won’t apply evenly. Beady, course coconut oil does not make a good cleanser or exfoliant.

 

Note to avoid learning curve: do not skip the “dampened cloth” step. I have directly rubbed it on my lashes and it’s almost impossible to avoid some of it melting into your eyeball. Despite the gentle nature of coconut oil, it totally stings.   Very simple, natural, and effective!

 

 

The Benefits of Using Coconut Oil as a Natural Makeup Remover

 

First of all, the precious and natural oils of your face aren’t stripped away. Unlike harsh cleansers and astringents, coconut oils removes oil while also replacing it with new, clean oil. But there’s more.

 

Buying individual products for individual needs not only takes up space in your beauty drawers, but in the landfill as well. The more multi-purpose ingredients in our cabinets, the less waste we will create (in manufacturing, storage, bottling, and container after-life etc). The bathroom is a sneaky area where our carbon footprint can unwittingly expand, and switching over to coconut oil as a natural makeup remover is just one way to make a difference.

 

 

But, Does it Give you Acne?

 

No, it won’t give you acne.  In fact, it will help fight it. Don’t underestimate the power (or effect!) of replacing your face oils the way coconut oil does.  Your skin needs oil and produces it.  So when you use a cleanser that effectively strips away all the oil on your face, your skin senses the lack of oil and produces more.  Ummm…not always exactly what we want our skin to do. But by dissolving the oils on your face with an oil, the face on your skin doesn’t need to produce more acne-inducing oils.

 

A bonus benefit: using this to remove eye makeup will also condition your eyebrows and lashes.  No more losing your lashes to mascara and the damaging process of removing it!  Coconut oil acts like a hair conditioner and strengthens, thickens, and lengthens your lashes.  More on that point later….!:)

 

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Anyways, while using coconut oil is the most basic of steps in natural living, it’s definitely one that deserves the fame it gets. Where soap, water, and most facial wipes struggle to remove stubborn mascara, coconut oil makes removal look easy. (And more importantly, feel easy).  Its gentle on the skin, tough on makeup, and moisturizes while removing product, something that very few cleansers can claim!

 

Edit: Since the time of this post, I have thoroughly enjoyed using coconut oil as a natural makeup remover. I still highly recommend it. However, for those who are allergic to coconut, I have discovered an amazing natural makeup remover based with golden jojoba oil. You can find the oil here.