Why you’ll love it:
The Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil lives up to its name with a formula packed with nourishing essential oils and botanicals that hydrate while they cleanse.
I don’t pack any skin-care when I stay with my parents, choosing instead to raid their medicine cabinet. My mom uses grapeseed oil to take off her makeup, so that’s what I use when I visit. It’s honestly so effective I’ve wondered why I bother with “real” makeup remover after all.
Of course, there are plenty of makeup-removing oils formulated specifically for use on your face. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil is my current favorite. It’s the perfect first-step to a double-cleansing routine as it removes makeup easily while nourishing the skin with healthy oils. However, it definitely leaves behind some residue.
The ingredients list contains “an aromatic blend of pure botanical oils” including hydrating squalane, primrose oil, and redness-soothing lavender essential oil, with no mineral oil, soap, or sulfates.
I apply this with my hands, massage to break the makeup down, and wipe off with a warm cloth before washing my face. It’s a godsend if you’re feeling dry or wearing heavy, waterproof makeup. I also love the pump-bottle packaging, which makes the product harder to spill than most oils, and keeps the sleek blue bottle clean.
Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil has a 4.4-star rating at Sephora based on 126 reviews. “I really like this because it is gentle but actually gets all of my makeup off. Makeup wipes typically burn my eyes, so I was looking for something that didn't. My face feels refreshed after I wash this off and I would definitely recommend,” wrote one shopper.
The remover is featured by editors at Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, PopSugar, and Vogue. Allure’s Jessica Chia wrote, “Unlike other oil cleansers, though, it gives a little lather, so you can really tell it's cleaning.”
Pros: Pump bottle, hydrating, a little goes a long way
Cons: Greasy residue (but rinses off easily), pricey
Buy the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil from Sephora for $32