If you’ve ever combed through beauty stores or the beauty aisles at big box retailers, you are familiar with the plethora of makeup removal products. How do you choose the right cleansing oil, makeup wipes, mi cellar waters, or makeup removers? You should put a lot of thought into which makeup products you put on your face, and which products you use to remove them. For this reason, we want to provide you with a natural makeup remover that contains two nourishing ingredients.
What Is A Cleansing Balm?
A cleansing balm is essentially a skin cleanser that contains a combination of oils, waxes, and emulsifiers. Cleansing balms are solid, unlike makeup removers that are liquid. Like dissolves like, which means that oils and butters can dissolve other oils, makeup, and thick coats of sunscreen. Because cleansing balms contain natural ingredients, it takes two steps: the initial step removes makeup and the second step is a thorough cleanse, removing grime, oils, and whatever you didn’t remove in step one.
Shea Butter
Commercial makeup removers tend to dry out your skin, stripping it of its natural oils. This can lead to damaged and irritated skin, but this won’t happen when you use shea butter. Shea butter contains a large amount of oleic acid, which is a fatty acid that moisturizes and nourishes the skin. Shea butter is easy to apply and remove from the skin, and it also works to deep condition the skin, leaving it moisturized after makeup removal. Just make sure that the shea butter you purchase is unrefined because you want high quality ingredients for your skin, especially your face. There are unscented and scented varieties, but some scented shea butters contain essential oils that are harsh on the face.
Coconut Oil
Most of you have a jar of coconut oil in their pantry at this point. It’s been touted as the “miracle ingredient,” helping to whiten your teeth, reduce redness on the skin, or enhance the appearance of hair. Some people praise coconut oil, while others warn against it because it can potentially clog pores. It may be comedogenic, encouraging the formation of blackheads, but each person has their own opinion on coconut oil. According to beauty experts, coconut oil is an effective, natural ingredient for removing makeup. It exhibits antibacterial, anti-yeast, and detergent effects, all of which help to remove makeup.
DIY Cleansing Balm
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unrefined shea butter
- 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
Instructions:
- Add the shea butter and coconut oil to the top of a double boiler over medium-low heat. Make sure there is about one inch of water in the bottom of the double boiler.
- Once the ingredients are melted, stir to combine and remove from heat.
- Pour the mixture into a small, heat-safe glass jar and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. Place it in the fridge for about one hour to solidify.
- Remove the cleansing balm from the fridge, screw on the top of the jar, and store it at room temperature. Use when ready.
A Quick Note: If you live in a hot climate, consider melting one tablespoon of cosmetic beeswax pellets with the shea butter and coconut oil. This will help prevent your cleansing balm from softening at room temperature.
