Clean Up With Our 10 Favourite Makeup Cleansers

Removing your makeup properly is the key to healthy skin. However, the wrong cleanser can leave skin dry and susceptible to breakouts. The best makeup cleansers are effective at removing makeup, dirt, and other impurities or aggressors without being too harsh, and also leaves skin feeling smooth, hydrated, and nourished. These 10 are the best. —Jennifer Cox

L’Oreal Paris Hydrating Face Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid, $20, available at Shoppers Drug Mart

Discover the secret to smooth, hydrated skin. This gentle daily cleanser provides a burst of hydration with the power of hyaluronic acid. It’s designed to effectively cleanse the skin of makeup and other impurities as well as replenish moisture, visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and refine skin texture. 

Superfood Cleanser from Youth to the People, $39

This is the green juice cleanse… for your face. A powerful but gentle daily face wash, it’s formulated with superfood antioxidants from kale, spinach, and green tea to give your skin the ultimate cleanse. It works effectively to prevent buildup in pores, remove makeup, and balance pH without drying or stripping. Now that’s refreshing!

Caudalie Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser, $40

With no soap or sulfates, this 99 percent-natural gel-to-foam cleanser visibly tightens pores and minimizes blackheads and breakouts. This non-drying formula is powered by antioxidant polyphenols, purifying essential oils, and hydrating grape water, and it absorbs unwanted oils, leaving behind fresh, clean skin.

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser, $24

This non-stripping, pH-balanced formula helps maintain skin’s natural acidity and reduce flare-ups. The sumptuous, creamy texture never leaves skin tight or dry. Infused with a powerful antioxidant blend, it helps safeguard skin against environmental aggressors while also calming irritated skin.

Biossance Amino Aloe Gentle Pore-Minimizing Cleanser + Squalane, $29

This is a gentle foaming gel cleanser with a powerful amino acid complex that instantly breaks down pore-clogging dirt and makeup. Plus, it has aloe to calm and soothe your skin. Experience a deep cleanse that envelops your face in an antioxidant-rich, non-stripping formula for soft, hydrated skin.

Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser, $53, available at Sephora Canada

Formulated with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and a soothing and nourishing blend of African oils, this balm cleanser transforms from an oil to a milk to cleanse and moisturize, leaving behind a dewy glow. It melts away all traces of dirt, makeup, and sunscreen from skin, removing even water-resistant formulations. This cleanser is also free of essential oils, silicones, and fragrance.

ILIA The Cleanse Soft Foaming Cleanser + Make Up Remover, $44

Reset your skin with this foaming facial cleanser that feels like nothing… but does everything. It removes makeup, mineral SPF, and pollution without stripping, it respects pH for a healthy skin barrier, and it replenishes hydration that’s normally lost during cleansing. ​It rinses clean to leave skin soft and refreshed.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water with Salicylic Acid, $15, available at Shoppers Drug Mart

This is a comprehensive all-in-one cleanser designed to cater to the needs of oily to acne-prone skin. Formulated with advanced micellar technology as well as salicylic acid, this cleanser effectively removes makeup, dirt, and oil without the need for harsh rubbing. It thoroughly cleanses pores, leaving skin looking clean and purified.

Gentle Cleansing Cream from Nivea, $9, available at Shoppers Drug Mart

Specifically formulated for dry skin, this gentle cream cleanser perfectly removes makeup and other impurities, safeguarding your skin from drying out. It’s enriched with natural almond oil to carefully maintain your skin’s moisture balance, leaving your skin looking healthy and beautiful.

Sephora Collection Mini Express Waterproof Makeup Remover, $14

This product quickly removes all types of makeup, including pesky, stubborn eye makeup. It contains cornflower extract and leaves the skin soothed from the very first use with no greasy finish. This product is also suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.