Does Baby Oil Remove Makeup? (Explained)
There are a lot of new makeup removal products on the market these days.
Many of them sell for top dollar and don’t even seem to work that well.
The amount of makeup-removing products can get confusing as one company tries to compete with another, failing to provide a streamlined solution for removing makeup.
This leaves many of those who wear makeup wondering whether or not good old-fashioned baby oil is effective in removing makeup.
Using baby oil to remove makeup has been a long-standing myth, and if it does actually work, it can help you save time and money on other costly, ineffective products.
Does Baby Oil Remove Makeup?
Yes, you can use baby oil to remove makeup.
Composed of either mineral oils or vegetable oils, baby oil is gentle on your skin, making it especially great for those with sensitive skin.
The oils help break down makeup, like foundations, lipsticks, and eye shadows, clearing your face from makeup residue or impurities.
Because of its content, baby oil is especially effective at removing waterproof eye makeup, like mascara and eyeliner.
These hard-to-remove makeup products are easily broken down by baby oil, giving you a fresh and clean face.
It actually works great with both water-based and oil-based makeup without the need to roughly scrub your face.
What Are the Types of Baby Oil?
There are generally two types of baby oil: mineral oil-based and vegetable-oil based, and we’re not talking about the kind of vegetable oil you cook with.
Vegetable-oil-based baby oils contain naturally derived oils like olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, and sunflower oil.
These are gentle oils that also are gentle on your face and help hydrate your skin.
The more popular and socially accepted form of baby oil is mineral oil-based, which is a colorless and odorless derivative of petroleum.
Though this type of baby oil is made up primarily of mineral oil, mineral oil-based baby oils usually contain small percentages of additional ingredients.
Some of these added ingredients might be aloe vera, Vitamin E, or fragrances.
Like vegetable oil-based baby oils, mineral oil-based baby oils are gentle on the skin and work to lock in moisture, giving you a makeup remover that is perfect for sensitive skin and won’t dry your face out.
They also both work like a barrier to protect your face from air pollution, dirt, wind and cold chapping, and other outside elements that could dry out or damage your skin.
Unlike most mineral oil-based baby oils, vegetable oil-based baby oils have a lot of other skin health benefits like antioxidants and vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Because they’re derived from nature, for some people vegetable oil-based baby oils are preferred.
How Do You Use Baby Oil to Remove Makeup?
If you’re using mineral oil-based baby oil, it’s recommended that you pour a few drops of the oil onto a cotton ball or cotton pad.
Depending on how much makeup you have on or where it is on your face, you might need to do this step a few times during the removal process.
Assuming you have a full face of makeup, start with the eyes, gently rubbing your cotton ball or pad over your eyelids being sure to wipe off your eyelashes as well.
Then rub another freshly anointed cotton ball or pad over your forehead, cheeks, and neck, ensuring you wipe all over your face, getting everywhere you applied foundation.
Lastly, use yet another cotton ball or pad to rub over your lips.
Though baby oil removes makeup, it isn’t meant as a face cleanser, so you’ll still need to wash your face with a cleanser of your choice.
This should get your face free of any lingering makeup.
When using vegetable oil-based baby oil, experts say to skip the cotton balls and pads, and simply (and carefully) pour a couple of drops of the oil onto your fingertips before massaging the oil into your skin.
Vegetable oil-based baby oils tend to be a bit thicker in consistency and don’t need the assistance of cotton absorption.
Once you’ve rubbed your entire face, or where you want your makeup removed, with your fingers, wash your face with a gentle cleanser to remove the excess baby oil from your skin.
What Are Other DIY Ways to Remove Makeup?
Because most baby oils (mineral oil-based) are derived from petroleum, some people are squeamish about applying them to their skin.
Though it’s safe, some don’t want to use it for ethical or other personal reasons.
When this is the case, there are still many other common household items that can be used to remove makeup.
This helps you avoid using many chemical-heavy and expensive makeup removers.
After all, many store-bought makeup removers contain questionable ingredients.
With the current cultural push to use more naturally derived ingredients in cosmetics and beauty products, some of these DIY makeup removers are just as effective as store-bought.
Witch hazel has been used for a number of things, but actually works great as a makeup remover.
Found in most health food stores and some beauty stores, witch hazel is also gentle on the skin and effective at removing makeup.
It’s often used to calm irritated skin, working great on acne, sunburns, and insect bites.
It’s also mixed sometimes with aloe vera, giving your skin even more calming hydration.
Witch hazel also works excellently as a natural toner, keeping your skin smooth, clean, and bright.
Creating a homemade makeup remover is also a great and easy choice.
Just mix baking soda and honey together.
The baking soda works to gently break down the makeup particles, while the honey acts to distribute moisture. This mixture also works as an exfoliate without drying your skin out.
Some people swear by other household items like milk, yogurt, and smashed cucumbers as makeup removers.
If you’re so inclined, it’s worth trying them out!
What Are the Advantages of Using Baby Oil to Remove Makeup?
There are many advantages of using baby oil as a makeup remover.
The biggest advantage is the savings in money you’ll see.
It costs next to nothing to purchase a bottle of baby oil, whereas some manufactured makeup removers cost upwards of $45 or more per bottle.
There’s no telling that these high-end makeup removers are even more effective, as you’re most likely paying for the name.
Besides saving hundreds of dollars over the years, using baby oil to remove your makeup is perfect for those with sensitive skin.
It’s often hard to find beauty products that work for you if you do have sensitive skin, so it’s always a relief when you do.
After all, baby oil is made for the most sensitive of all types of skin: baby skin.
If it’s gentle enough for a baby, it must be gentle enough for you.
For others, baby oil provides an ample amount of hydration.
Many makeup removers and toners dry skin out, causing users to make up for the dryness by slathering on loads of moisturizer.
These drastic changes are not great for your skin, as it prefers balance.
Keeping your skin properly hydrated all of the time helps keep you looking younger and helps keep your face wrinkle-free or at least minimizes the wrinkles and fine lines you do have.
Also, baby oil not only moisturizes your skin but provides a barrier against outside pollutants, without clogging your pores.
Keeping your face clear of dirt, debris, and other skin-damaging irritants.
If you use vegetable oil-based baby oils, you’re also infusing your skin with healthy vitamins and antioxidants, helping keep it firm, smooth, and happy.
What Are Other Uses for Baby Oil?
Besides makeup remover, baby oil has many other uses that most people don’t normally think about.
Many of these other uses also pertain to your beauty routine, so you can save even more money by using baby oil in new ways.
It’s excellent at cleaning makeup brushes.
Unlike some brush cleansers that dry out your brush bristles, baby oil works as a cleanser and a conditioner.
Just by applying a couple of drops of baby oil to your brushes and gently massaging the bristles, you help cleanse them of unwanted pollutants and keep them soft and functional.
After you’ve thoroughly worked the baby oil into the brush, rinse it under warm water, and lay it out to dry.
Baby oil also works as an excellent substitute for shaving cream.
Like makeup remover, shaving cream prices continue to rise.
However, baby oil offers all of the same benefits at a fraction of the price.
It’s soft on your skin, softens your hair follicles, and helps your razor glide more easily over your skin.
This helps prevent cuts and shaving burns and rashes.
For pregnant women or those with unwanted stretch marks, baby oil is great at helping to soothe and smooth your skin, help its elasticity, and possibly prevent stretch marks after birth.
However, the science is still a bit loose on this specific use.
Another use for baby oil is applying small amounts to the ends of your hair, helping liven up your dry ends.
Doing this can help make your hair more shiny, bouncy, and vibrant.
Just remember not to apply directly to your scalp (unless you have scalp dandruff you want to address) or pour large amounts directly onto your hair, as this will weigh your hair down and make it look greasy.
Is Baby Oil Safe to Use on Your Face?
If used properly, baby oil is safe to use as a makeup remover on your face.
It’s probably much safer than over-the-counter makeup removers that can contain harmful and even toxic ingredients.
Because mineral oil is regulated by the FDA and undergoes significant refinement when used in baby products, mineral oil-based baby oils are entirely safe for you to use on your face and other areas of your body.
It won’t clog pores and works as an emollient, which means it smooths and softens your skin.
However, some people do not recommend using baby oil as a makeup remover if you have acne-prone skin or are prone to frequent breakouts.
Since baby oil acts as a barrier, protecting your skin from outside elements, it also prevents frequent cell turnover, which can easily lead to breakouts.
Some environmentalists have qualms about mineral oil-based baby oil because it’s derived from petroleum, and therefore, they refuse to use it on their faces, but it’s been shown to be completely safe.
Any time you use a new skin product, it’s recommended that you do a small skin test first.
Rub a couple of drops onto your arm and let it sit for a few hours.
If you don’t see a skin reaction of any kind, you should be safe applying the oil to other body parts.
