The first natural makeup remover I used was plain ol’ coconut oil. At the time, I was new to the idea of using natural products on my skin, and coconut oil seemed to be–according to the internet– the answer to my every skincare need. Heck, coconut oil seemed to be the answer to every problem in life. Unfortunately, my skin wasn’t a huge fan of coconut oil.

After the coconut oil experiment, I moved on to a witch hazel blend, which worked very well.

In the spirit of experimentation, I eventually switched over to a new makeup remover option. This time, a balm.

The balm was honestly a mistake. A good mistake.

The balm was initially a boo-boo cream product that was created for a client’s website. With extra jars of perfectly good boo-boo cream (just beeswax, oil, and a bit of essential oil) sitting in my medicine cabinet, I tried using the cream as a makeup remover. Why not? The cream removed my makeup, including eye makeup. Soon, the cream (renamed to a balm) became my favorite makeup remover.

A few months ago, I got the itch to experiment again. This time, I began experimenting with a disposable wipe/facial pad option. The inspiration for this particular makeup remover came from my past experiences and the simple ingredients in my “medicine” cabinet.

I’ve now been using the wipes on a regular basis. After all the craziness of September (Hurricane Irma, evacuation, Alaska), I’ve been enjoying the convenience of simply opening a jar and pulling out a moist, ready-to-use makeup remover wipe.

Now, the question must be asked…

Which makeup remover option is the best?

Well, the answer simply depends on your own preferences, current season of life, and the ingredients you have on hand.

If you’re new to do-it-yourself beauty, and don’t want to purchase multiple ingredients or actually make anything, use 100% oil.

If you love using the oil, but want something that doesn’t drip, try the makeup remover balm.

If you’re looking for something that’s not super oily (although using 100% oil as a makeup remover doesn’t make your skin “oily”), try a witch hazel and oil makeup remover.

And finally, if you’re looking for an easy, ready-to use makeup remover (one that isn’t 100% oil-based), try today’s makeup remover option: Gentle Makeup Remover Wipes.

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Gentle Homemade Makeup Remover Wipes

A gentle witch hazel and aloe vera based makeup remover. Add facial pads/wipes to the solution to create a ready-to-use makeup remover option. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty

Keyword Makeup Remover Wipes

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 14 cotton pads

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 2 TB witch hazel I’ve been using Thayer’s Original
• 1 TB aloe vera gel *
• 1 tsp sweet almond oil **
• 1/4 tsp castile soap I’ve been using baby mild

Special Equipment:

• 14 cotton facial pads
• 1 4-ounce jar with a lid***

Instructions

• Add the ingredients to a 4-ounce jar. Gently shake the jar to combine the ingredients.  
• Add the cotton facial pads to the jar, pressing the pads down in the liquid. The pads will absorb most (or all) of the liquid. Place the lid on the jar. Store the jar at room temperature. 

To Use:

• Remove a moistened facial pad from the jar and wipe the face with the pad to remove makeup. I use both sides of the pad. This recipe makes 14 wipes, so the wipes will need to be replaced, and a new solution made, every two weeks. Wash your face with a facial cleanser after using the wipes. 

Notes

*Look for aloe vera gel with minimal ingredients (just aloe and natural preservatives). Fresh aloe would be lovely, but it would greatly reduce the shelf-life of this product. I like Real Aloe (linked above) and Majestic Pure Aloe Vera. 

**Use your favorite nourishing/carrier oil, such as: grapeseed, jojoba, olive oil, etc. I like sweet almond oil. 

***The jar pictured is a 4-ounce Weck Jar. Small mason jars also work well.

The post Gentle Homemade Makeup Remover Wipes (Disposable, Travel-Friendly) appeared first on Live Simply.

A makeup remover? Really?!

Why do I need such a specialty product in my life? 

Those were the very thoughts rumbling around in my constantly-questioning mind a couple of years ago, after reading a beauty book which suggested that makeup remover is essential in a skincare routine.

Since the book and author were reputable, I decided to add a makeup remover to my nightly skincare routine. At this point, I had already switched over from using a very expensive department store brand to homemade skincare products, so I decided to research simple options to naturally remove makeup.

Within one night of using a makeup remover, coconut oil, I immediately realized that I was wrong. A makeup remover truly is essential to a skincare routine if you’re going to wear makeup, even more natural makeup. Because here’s the dirty truth: A cleanser is meant to cleanse the face, not remove makeup. Which means every single night I was going to bed with a superficially clean face. I thought my face was clean, but the truth was that most of my makeup remained on my face day after day.

I’ve been using a makeup remover ever since that night of revelation, followed by a gentle cleanser. And each night I’m shocked at how much makeup my trusty makeup remover strips away.

Since reading that book (I can’t even remember the title, but clearly the idea of removing makeup before bed really made an impact on me.), I’ve experimented with a few different natural makeup removers, ranging from simple one-ingredient oils to a homemade balm.

Today, let’s talk about each of the makeup removers I’ve tried over the past couple of years. Each person is different, so my goal is to present to you the natural options I’ve loved for removing my makeup, naturally, and then leave the decision up to you for which makeup remover will work best for your schedule, your skin, and your skincare routine.

1. Coconut or Olive Oil

This option only requires one ingredient you probably already have sitting in your real food pantry: oil. The basic idea behind using oil to remove makeup is that oil dissolves oil. Since makeup products are generally made of some oils and waxes, and your face secrets oil, an oil, like coconut or olive oil, removes the makeup from your face.

To use coconut or olive oil to remove makeup, apply a small amount of oil to a cotton ball or facial pad, and then gently wipe the face with the oil-moistened pad. Once your makeup has been removed, wash your face with a cleanser. I’m currently using this cleanser. If you’d like a soapy cleanser, I’ve also used this honey face wash recipe.  

Pros

Easy to find in your pantry. Only one ingredient. Inexpensive. Last forever (until your oil goes bad).

Cons

Coconut oil, as a skincare product, doesn’t agree with everyone’s skin. I’m not sure if this has something to do with genetics (my personal opinion), or the fact that coconut oil has a higher chance of clogging pores than many other oils. Olive oil really doesn’t have a con, in my opinion.

2. Witch Hazel and Nourishing Oil

After using coconut oil for a few months, which didn’t agree with my skin after repeated uses, I switched over to a combination of witch hazel and a nourishing oil, olive oil. Witch hazel is an easy-to-source, natural ingredient that’s also used as an astringent in skincare routines. For this recipe, I recommend using an alcohol-free witch hazel so it doesn’t dry out your skin.

To make this makeup remover, combine 3 tablespoons of alcohol-free witch hazel and 2 tablespoons of nourishing oil (like olive oil). Before each use, shake the bottle. To use this makeup remover, apply a small amount of oil to a cotton ball or facial pad, and then gently wipe the face with the moistened pad. Once your makeup has been removed, wash your face with a cleanser. I’m currently using this cleanser. If you’d like a soapy cleanser, I’ve also used this honey face wash recipe.  

Pros

Lasts a few months. Great for someone who doesn’t want to use 100% oil on their face. Another perk of this recipe is that you can use the basic concept to make reusable face wipes, which are very handy if you travel!

Cons

Since this recipe is very liquid-y, it’s easy to use a bit too much and get some in your eye(s). Not that I know anything about this from experience ;). This is more of a user error than a product con, but it’s definitely worth mentioning. Another con of this recipe is that you need to purchase witch hazel, which isn’t a basic kitchen ingredient. The good news is that witch hazel has many uses, and it lasts a while, so one bottle can be used in multiple ways or kept for an extended period of time.

3. Makeup Remover Balm

This is the makeup remover that I’m currently using, and absolutely adore. Every single makeup remover shared here is a great option for naturally removing makeup, but hands-down this one wins my heart and face. The balm combines the power of an oil, olive oil or jojoba oil for me, and beeswax to create an easy-to-use product.

To make this makeup remover, combine 1/4 cup of jojoba oil (or olive oil) and 1 tablespoon of beeswax. Melt the beeswax into the oil, then pour the mixture into a container, and allow it to cool and harden. To use this makeup remover, apply a small amount of the balm to a cotton ball or facial pad (I scoop a small amount from the jar using the cotton pad), and then gently wipe the face with the balm-moistened pad. Once your makeup has been removed, wash your face with a cleanser. I’m currently using this cleanser. If you’d like a soapy cleanser, I’ve also used this honey face wash recipe.   

Pros

Easy to use. No oil spills (once it’s made). Lasts several months.

Cons

More prep time required than the other makeup remover options. Another con of this recipe is that you need to purchase beeswax, which isn’t a basic kitchen ingredient, but it may be used to create multiple other homemade products, and it lasts forever.

Do you have a favorite way to naturally remove makeup?

The post How to Naturally Remove Makeup: 3 Easy Makeup Remover Options appeared first on Live Simply.

Today’s recipe should probably be labeled, “Accidental Makeup Remover Balm.” There are a couple of good reasons for the “accidental” label:

1. This recipe was originally intended to serve as a boo-boo cream. The kind of cream that’s applied to accident-related ouchies.
2. The idea of using this recipe as a makeup remover was an accidental discovery.

Behind the public photos and recipes on the blog, I live a double life. Don’t worry, this is a good kind of double life. I’m not a spokesperson for McDonald’s or anything crazy like that, lol. Behind the scenes, I work on freelance photography, recipe development, and video projects for companies in the natural world. Most of these projects don’t have my name attached to them, so you’d never know the photographer or recipe developer was little ol’ me.

And this brings me to accidental reason number one…

Last year, one of my freelance jobs required making an ouchie cream video. The recipe was incredibly simple: jojoba oil, beeswax, and a few drops of kid-friendly boo-boo essential oil blend. The recipe made a ton of ouchie cream, which meant that I was left with a giant tub of cream sitting in my medicine cabinet. A huge perk to being a recipe developer.

PS: When it comes to food jobs, it pays to be my neighbor ;).

Now, about accidental reason number two…

The ouchie cream from that video job sat in my medicine cabinet for a few months. It was used from time to time when a child fell, and I didn’t have any of my homemade boo-boo cream available.

A few months ago, as I washed my face and removed my makeup before falling into bed, I opened my medicine cabinet and suddenly had a multi-purpose revelation, I wonder if this ouchie cream would work to remove makeup, particularly my stubborn mascara?

I grabbed a cotton ball, stroked it against the thick ouchie cream, and gently wiped my right eye. I pulled the cotton ball away from my eye to examine the results. There on the cotton ball sat my hard-to-remove-with-facial-cleanser mascara. That night, I decided to finish using the last few drops of my liquid makeup remover over the next few days, and start using the ouchie cream as my nightly eye makeup remover.

Here I am, a few months later, writing a do-it-yourself post for making 2-ingredient makeup remover.

This makeup remover is like a balm since the ingredients are comforting and soothing. Makeup Remover Balm sounds like a professional title versus Accidental Makeup Remover. The “accidental” secret is safe between you and me, and the rest of the internet now.

Before making this super easy, long-lasting makeup remover balm, let’s take a look at the ingredients:

Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil is actually a cold-pressed, liquid wax versus an oil. Jojoba oil is held in high-esteem in the natural beauty world because it mimics the oils that our bodies naturally produce. I’ve used jojoba oil as a moisturizer over the years in my face wash, facial cleanser, liquid makeup remover, shea butter lotion, wood furniture polish, and now this makeup remover balm. This usage chart from Dessert Essence includes severals practical ways to use jojoba oil. Some people may find that jojoba oil is too heavy, so I’ve included other oil options at the bottom of the recipe (below).

Beeswax: Beeswax is mainly added to this recipe to take a liquid oil to a firm state. The beeswax also adds a few benefits beyond the consistency factor. Beeswax, a natural ingredient thanks to hard-working bees, provides a protective barrier to the skin without clogging pores, and may also help to soothe the skin. Beeswax is the ingredient that takes this makeup remover from an oil to a balm.

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2-Ingredient Makeup Remover Balm

This makeup remover is like a balm since the ingredients are comforting and soothing.

Course How To

Cuisine Beauty

Keyword Makeup Remover Balm

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 /4 cup

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup jojoba oil
• 1 TB beeswax pellets

Instructions

• Add the oil and beeswax pellets to a double boiler, or you can use a glass or metal bowl set over a pot of boiling water (as seen in my photo). Once the beeswax melts, pour the makeup remover balm into a storage container (with a lid). Allow the makeup remover to set and cool before use. Store the sealed makeup remover in a cool, dark place for several months.
• To Use: Using a cotton ball, scoop out a small amount of makeup remover. A little bit goes a very long way, so you don't need a ton of makeup remover to get the job done. Gently wipe off makeup using the cotton ball. Follow-up with a facial cleanser. My facial cleanser and Clarisonic Mia do a great job at removing powder and/or liquid foundation, so I really don't need the makeup remover for anything other than my mascara.

Video

Notes

The “where to buy” links provide links to the actual products I use. As always, I recommend shopping around online and at local stores for the best prices and products you love.

Oil Note:

I prefer jojoba oil in this recipe, but I’m sure you could also experiment with other oils, like olive oil, apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, and almond oil. You could also try a mixture of two different oils if the jojoba oil is too heavy.

You could also use oil as-is to remove makeup, without adding beeswax. I really prefer the thick consistency of this balm over straight-up liquid oil. I’ve also found it’s much easier for oil to accidentally drip into my eye (OUCH!) when using oil from a bottle.

I’ve thought about experimenting in the future with adding aloe vera or rose water to this makeup remover, but that experiment is for another day and time.

The post 2-Ingredient Makeup Remover Balm appeared first on Live Simply.

Without coconut oil? 

Kristin, Kristin, Kristin. I thought you were a natural gal- AKA: a lover of all-things coconut oil? A coconut-oil-heals- every-ailment blogger…

Have a boo boo? Coconut oil! 

Frizzy hair? Coconut oil! 

Grumpy kids? Coconut oil! 

A cup of black coffee? Coconut oil! 

Okay, so maybe you aren’t thinking the above thoughts, but I am.

Between Thursday’s super weird granola bar dream confession (#sorry) and today’s random self mumblings, if you’re still here, thank you! You’re such a good friend!

So, back to coconut oil. Or in this recipe, back to not using coconut oil.

Shortly after my first homemade product, foundation powder, I learned about a magical white substance: coconut oil. Of course, I just had to get my hands on a jar. I’ll admit the taste wasn’t pleasing (I’m not a straight-up coconut fan), but I was determined and found ways to incorporate this miracle substance into my family’s diet: smoothies, frying (plantains and chicken), baking, and Bulletproof Coffee. Since we were already eating coconut oil and I was looking for ways to reduce the toxins in our home caused by many traditional store-bought products, I decided to venture into the world of DIY coconut oil recipes.

My first DIY coconut oil recipe was a super simple three-ingredient moisturizer for the face and body. Instant love! The coconut oil moisturizer was easy, cost-effective and worked wonders on my skin within just a few days. I was hooked.

I continued to use my homemade moisturizer for over a year, until I noticed my skin was experiencing grumpy issues. While my skin has always been more on the sensitive side, the moisturizer appeared to escalate its grumpiness. Breakouts and dryness appeared on various parts of my face.

After much research, I learned some skin types don’t respond well to prolonged cosmetic use of coconut oil. My coconut oil moisturizer is a great product (the reason I left it on the blog), and many readers comment on that one recipe about their pleasing skin results, but my skin needed a temporary break.

I decided to try my creative hands at a new DIY moisturizer. My skin immediately thanked me for the change. After a couple of months I decided to post the recipe here on Live Simply. Homemade lotion (without coconut oil) has been live for over a year. The number of comments from readers in need of a product without coconut oil due to allergies or skin issues has confirmed my belief–coconut oil is amazing, but doesn’t solve every ailment for every person.

I think all this coconut oil talk begs the question: Is coconut bad for the skin? 

This is 100% my personal opinion based on my own research and experiences. 

I don’t believe coconut oil is bad for cosmetic use. In fact, I think it’s an amazing product for many people. I also believe coconut oil doesn’t agree with some people’s skin, whether long-term or just short-term.

It’s so important to listen to our skin, which is why I offer recipes that use coconut oil and others that don’t. Everyone is different. I still use coconut oil in some body products, like my homemade deodorant, without any negative side effects. Homemade products allow you to truly listen to your skin’s needs and tailor DIY projects accordingly.

Many homemade makeup removers require the use of coconut oil. In fact, if your skin tolerates coconut oil, using this one ingredient on a cotton ball or facial pad is a simple, inexpensive answer. If your skin needs a break from coconut oil or you have a coconut allergy, this recipe will remove makeup naturally without irritating the skin. Remember, getting to know your skin is always the answer when using natural skincare.

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DIY 2-Ingredient Makeup Remover (Without Coconut Oil)

2-ingredient makeup remover without coconut oil.

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty, Body

Keyword Makeup Remover

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 /3 cup

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 3 TB witch hazel
• 2 TB jojoba oil or sweet almond, avocado, apricot kernel, olive oil, or fractionated coconut oil (if you want to use coconut oil). I like to use jojoba or olive oil.

Instructions

• Pour both ingredients into a small storage container.
• To Use: Shake the bottle, then apply the makeup remover to a Q-Tip, cotton ball or facial pad. Wipe desired area (mascara, foundation, etc.) with the Q-Tip or ball/pad.

Notes

The “where to buy” links provide links to the actual products I use. As always, I recommend shopping around online and at local stores for the best prices and products you love. Find my favorite DIY ingredients and tools, here.

Ingredient Notes

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.

Witch hazel is a gentle and effective skin cleanser. The nourishing oil helps dissolve oil and cleanse the face. When paired together, the ingredients are gentle on the skin (concealer foundation, powder, and blush) and the eye area (mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow). Use caution around the eye area. Avoid using this recipe in your eye–this can happen when too much solution is applied.

More DIYs You May Like:

DIY Homemade Deodorant with Lavender

7 Money-Saving Recipes Using Castile Soap

DIY Honey Face Wash

The post DIY 2-Ingredient Makeup Remover (Without Coconut Oil) appeared first on Live Simply.

A couple of weeks ago, after publishing the DIY Honey Face Wash, a Live Simply reader commented, “Do you think this could be incorporated into DIY face wipes? Maybe not even disposable ones, but a jar of cloths that I washed regularly. I have gone to bed in make-up a few nights because I was just too tired.”  Immediately my head began spinning with DIY possibilities.

What a brilliant idea!

For this reason and so many more, I love each and every one of you. You’re the reason Live Simply is such an amazing community of like-minded people looking to simplify the often complex world of real food and natural living.

Reusable wipes are not a new thing here at Live Simply. Two of my favorite DIYs are the reusable floor and surface wipes. Both are super easy to make and leave my home sparkling clean (which is no small task with two dogs, two kids, one husband, and eight chickens).

While many people feel overwhelmed with the idea of making homemade cleaners, I’ve found both reusable cleaning recipes require less time and effort to make and use than ordering and/or going to the store for a bottle of cleaner. Plus the savings are quite significant.

When a homemade product is super simple to maintain and packs major cleaning power, I’m much more likely to incorporate the product into a long-term lifestyle. That’s why you will never find complicated homemade products here at Live Simply. Who’s got time for that? Not this gal. Simple is the name of the game around here.

DIY Facial Wipes are the epitome of a simple beauty routine. Baby washcloths are used to make the wipes extra soft, durable, reusable, and affordable. I spent $3.99 for a pack of four washcloths at Target. A simple cleansing solution is then poured over the washcloths. This solution is created by only using four natural ingredients. Let’s take a look..

H2O. Because this solution sits on the counter for weeks, I recommend using distilled or boiled water to keep bacteria from growing.

Witch Hazel. Witch hazel is a well-known, natural astringent that’s used to remove excess oil from the skin. Witch hazel is also known for the treatment of acne.

Nourishing Oil. Since oil dissolves oil, it’s only natural to add a nourishing oil to a homemade facial cleansing recipe.

Castile Soap. One of my favorite multi-purpose DIY ingredients. Castile soap is a concentrated vegetable-based soap with easy to recognize ingredients.  I use castile soap for everything from homemade laundry detergent to body wash and hand soap. I recommend using either the  Baby Mild Castile Soap or Tea Tree Castile Soap  for facial cleansing.

The creation of homemade facial wipes came at just the right time. Last weekend our family enjoyed a mini-vacation. We spent one night at a hotel and the following day at Disney World. I didn’t want to pack all of our personal care items for a 12 hour overnight vacation. Instead of packing a face wash or oil bottle, I grabbed two reusable facial cleansing wipes and placed them in a snack-size baggie. The facial wipes were the perfect travel solution!

If you travel frequently, these wipes will dramatically reduce the weight and volume of your suitcase. Trust me, I have first-hand experience. My only caution is to skip the castile soap if you don’t have access to water during your travels.

Even if traveling (let alone getting out of the house to go to the grocery store once a week) isn’t your thing right now, DIY Homemade Facial Wipes are an affordable time-saver for removing make-up at the end of the day, or facial cleansing without the need for an actual bottle of soap.

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DIY Homemade Reusable Facial Cleansing Wipes

DIY Facial Wipes are the epitome of a simple beauty routine. Baby washcloths are used to make the wipes extra soft, durable, reusable, and affordable.

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty, Body

Keyword Facial Cleansing Wipes

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 7 Washcloths

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup distilled water boiled water will also work
• 1/2 cup witch hazel
• 1 TB jojoba oil or other nourishing oils: almond, avocado, olive, apricot, argan
• 1 TB castile soap Baby Mild or Tea Tree
• 7-10 washcloths
• 1 glass storage jar I found the jar pictured at Target

Instructions

• Place the baby washcloths in the storage jar. Set aside.
• In a medium-size bowl, combine the distilled water, witch hazel, nourishing oil, and castile soap.
• Pour the liquid solution into the storage jar, covering the baby washcloths with the solution. Press the washcloths down into the liquid.

Notes

To Use: Remove one washcloth from the jar. Use the washcloth to wash your face and remove make-up and dirt. Rinse the washcloth under warm water and then wipe your face with the clean washcloth. Moisturize your face with a coconut oil moisturizer, lotion, or facial serum.

 

 

The “where to buy” links provide links to the actual products I use. As always, I recommend shopping around online and at local stores for the best prices and products you love. Find my favorite DIY ingredients and tools, here.

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.

More DIYs You May Like:

 DIY Homemade Honey Face Wash

 Homemade Foundation Powder

DIY Homemade Facial Serum

The post DIY Homemade Reusable Facial Cleansing Wipes appeared first on Live Simply.