Natural Makeup Remover
For a long time, I used makeup remover wipes without a second thought to how wasteful they were. They were a convenient component to my nightly routine that spared me from repeatedly scrubbing at my eyes with soap and a facecloth. And while I wasn’t thinking about “wipe wastefulness” at the time, I wasn’t completely satisfied with how my skin felt after using them. The wipes left a residue on my face and tended to dry out the skin around the corners of my eyes. I found that I had to apply lotion or chapstick around my eyes after using wipes- which seemed counterintuitive to the “moisturizing” claims on the packaging. When I started to assess the areas of my life in which I was contributing to wastefulness, my makeup routine was at the top of the list. I vowed that after I used the last of my makeup remover wipes, I would find a more sustainable solution.
On average, about 20 million makeup remover wipes are disposed of everyday. These wipes end up in the landfill or flushed into sewage systems that are not equipped to process them. There are various products on the market that misleadingly claim to be biodegradable… leaving out the fact that it takes approximately 100 years for a single wipe to decompose. Add on to this the non-recyclable packaging they are sold in, and the amount of waste is staggering.
I am happy to say that I have found a natural and environmentally friendly solution for removing makeup- including waterproof mascara! What’s even better is that this solution actually moisturizes and nurtures your skin. Over the last few years, I’ve used jojoba oil to remove my makeup- and I’ve never once thought about going back to my old routine.
A simple switch to your makeup-removal regimen will help reduce your carbon footprint and prevent thousands of wipes from piling up in the landfill throughout your lifetime.
Once you have used up the last of your existing makeup removal products, consider purchasing a set of reusable and washable cotton pads and organic, cold-pressed jojoba oil. I’ve outlined some useful information to get you going below- I’m confident you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of this single-ingredient natural makeup remover.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba is a shrub that grows in dry regions in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Jojoba oil is produced from the seeds of the plant and is used as an ingredient in shampoo, lipstick, makeup, lotions, and a variety of other self-care products. Jojoba oil is even used in the production of some medicines!
Jojoba oil:
is moisturizing
hypoallergenic
contains antioxidants
has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
does not clog pores
is safe to use around the eyes
helps regulate sebum production
Since jojoba oil is hypoallergenic, it is generally considered safe to be applied topically. However, before using any product on your skin, you should always conduct a patch test.
To do a patch test:
Apply a few drops of oil to your inner arm.
Cover the area with a bandaid.
After 24 hours, remove the bandaid and inspect your skin for any signs of irritation. If there are no indicators of irritation, you should be in the clear to use the oil on your face.
Though jojoba oil is safe to use around the eyes, try to prevent the oil from going directly into your eyes.
Jojoba oil effectively removes waterproof mascara and leaves your skin naturally moisturized.
