Comparing 3 Types of K-Beauty Makeup Removers
Torriden – DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Water
What it is: This gentle and vegan-friendly cleansing water instantly removes makeup without causing any irritation to the skin. It contains a blend of eight micro-molecular hyaluronic acids that deeply penetrate the dermal layer of skin, leaving it supple and well-hydrated. The formula also includes witch hazel extract, camellia sinensis leaf extract and panthenol, which deliver a soothing effect to skin. This product is formulated using only naturally derived ingredients, and it’s suitable for sensitive skin.
My thoughts: Dispensing a sufficient amount of the cleansing water onto four pads, I started by focusing on my eye makeup. I gently pressed the pad for a few seconds on the eye area before softly rubbing to remove eyeliner and mascara.
It required a bit of effort to completely remove the mascara, but I appreciated that the cleansing water didn’t cause any irritation. For the rest of my face, the product left my skin feeling hydrated without any sticky or greasy residue.
While cleansing water is generally effective at removing makeup, some long-wear waterproof makeup may require a different type of cleanser for thorough removal. Nevertheless, I believe this cleansing water can be an excellent option for a double cleanse routine to eliminate the layer of sunscreen and dirt accumulated throughout the day.
MIZON – Deep Cleansing Oil (Nourishing)
What it is: MIZON’s Deep Cleansing Oil is available in three variations: Nourishing, Firming and Hydrating. The Nourishing cleansing oil combines antioxidant-rich ingredients like snail secretion filtrate, olive fruit oil and grape seed oil to deeply hydrate skin and support skin regeneration. Turmeric root extract in the mix provides soothing benefits and promotes a healthy, radiant glow. This oil-based formula emulsifies upon contact with water, ensuring a thorough cleanse that leaves skin feeling refreshed.
My thoughts: In the past, I avoided using cleansing oils because I thought they wouldn’t work well with my oily skin. However, learning that the formula emulsifies with water, I decided to give MIZON’s Deep Cleansing Oil a try. I took a generous amount of product and gently massaged it onto my skin. To my satisfaction, my makeup quickly dissolved and melted away. When I proceeded to wash my face, the oil transformed into a pleasant lather. Upon rinsing, my skin felt smooth, refreshed and revitalized without any moisture being stripped away.
Pyunkang Yul – Low pH Cleansing Pad
What it is: This cleansing pad is drenched in a pH-balanced formula containing AHA ingredient citric acid and centella asiatica extract. It gently exfoliates skin and helps improve the appearance of skin texture and hyperpigmentation while leaving skin with a soothing finish. The embossed side of the cleansing pad sloughs off waterproof makeup, dead skin cells, dirt and impurities while the smooth side provides gentle cleansing and moisture.
My thoughts: To begin, I delicately pressed the cleansing pad onto my eyes, allowing it to sit for a few seconds before gently wiping away the eyeliner and mascara. The pad effortlessly removed my eye makeup without any difficulty. I took another pad for other parts of my face, and it left my skin feeling clean with a radiant glow.
The only drawback of Pyunkang Yul’s Low pH Cleansing Pad is its size. I needed to use multiple pads to cover my entire face, but I could feel the textured side working effectively. The pad is generously soaked in the cleansing formula, which was also a pleasant surprise. These cleansing pads are perfect for days when I wear light base makeup and mascara, but I can also confidently use them to remove higher coverage makeup.
Overview
After testing out the three types of makeup removers, I find that each product works well depending on different cleansing needs and preferences. Torriden’s DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Water is suitable for cleansing away light makeup, sunscreen, dirt and excess sebum but the hydrating liquid-based formula alone may not be enough to remove a full face of stubborn makeup. The emulsifying Deep Cleansing Oil from MIZON is ideal for dissolving stubborn waterproof makeup. Lastly, Pyunkang Yul’s Low pH Cleansing Pad offers the convenience of pre-soaked pads for quick and easy makeup removal!
Overall, my favorites are the cleansing water and cleansing oil. The cleansing water is perfect for those days when I don’t wear makeup but still need to wash away SPF, dirt and excess sebum from my skin. As for the cleansing oil, it effortlessly removed my makeup and left my skin feeling moisturized without any sticky residue.