I love my store-brand makeup remover wipes.
I use them everyday and every night. They make me happy.
However, those store-bought wipes aren’t cheap. And I seem to buzz right through them fast, like scary fast. So in order to save some money and not have to run to the store all of the time, I decided it was time for DIY Homemade Makeup Remover Pads.
The original recipe appeared on Beautylish, but I changed things up a little bit so they were closer to my beloved store brand and I LOVE THEM! I hope you do too.
DIY Homemade Makeup Remover Pads
What you will need:
- 1 quart wide mouth jar
- 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil
- 2 squirts of tear-free baby wash
- 2 cups of purified water
- 2 packages of cotton pads
- Optional: Tea Tree Essential Oil (will help with acne, but should NOT be used on the eyes) or Frankincense Essential Oil (will help rejuvenate the skin and decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles)
- Microwaveable bowl
Instructions:
1. Mix 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, 2 squirts of tear-free baby wash and 2 cups of purified water.
2. Microwave in 10-20 second increments until melted and well blended.
3. Place about 50 cotton pads in you quart jar.
4. Pour your liquid mixture over your pads in the jar. Press pads down to help soak up the liquid. Add more pads to fit, pressing down.
5. Secure lid tight and keep in a dry, cool place.
6. Use your pads to remove your makeup daily.
And don’t forget about our DIY Homemade Eye Cream.
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Becca Wilkinson has a creative “need” and will do anything to avoid laundry. She writes over at Cul-de-sac Cool about design, DIY/crafts, easy eats, family, funny experiences and of course, motherhood. Becca wants to spread happiness, helpful tips, pretty things and funny experiences throughout the land. She is the proud mother of three boys and married to her college sweetheart. In her past life she was a graphic designer. Becca has learned a lot these past years about juggling boys, blogging, family and suburban life.
where can I find Coconut oil?
You can follow the link and purchase it on Amazon or most natural health food stores carry it.
They also carry it at wal mart now. $7.00 for a pint
Costco, Sams
And Aldi is starting to carry refined coconut oil, too!!
I know!! It’s awesome isn’t it?
Do you use this on eye makeup too? Sounds amazing and I can’t wait to try it! Also do you use the small or large cotton pads? Thanks for being so awesomely creative!
Yes to eyes. 🙂 And I think it depends on the mason jar you use. I’d just make sure the cotton pads have a “little” room on the sides.
Is regular bottled water the same as purified water?
No. I’d buy a gallon of distilled water, bottle water can sometimes be just tap water in disguise. 🙂
Can you add some essential oils to this?!?
Absolutely. I’ve heard great things about Lavender and Tea Tree Oil.
I would not put tea tree oil in an eye makeup remover pad!! Tea tree oil is great for pimples and greasy hair, but in the eyes it stings and burns! It’s not meant to go inside the body. And also yes unrefined, virgin coconut oil would be more beneficial.
Look for Unrefined coconut oil, rather than refined.
unless you’re committed to making a fresh batch every week then i wouldn’t suggest any diy with water. you risk mold and bacteria infestation…
Yes. I agree. Mine got moldy.
This looks incredible! But do you need baby body wash or can you use sensitive skin body wash. (That’s all I have at home currently.)
I prefer the tear-free baby wash because it is so gentle. With that being said, as long as your sensitive skin body wash isn’t too harsh (remember, this is your face), you should be okay.
You keep the water in the jar with the pads? Or do you soak the pads then or out the water?
The goal is to have you pads FULL of liquid. If they are soaked and you still have liquid in the bottom of your jar, dump it because it will turn the pads moldy over time.
What can be added if anything to prevent the the moldy smell? I drained the liquid and kept secured in a mason jar but the next day it smelled of mildew. Can adding frankincense or lavender act as a preservative? Can they be used on the eyes? I really love these makeup removers but don’t feel too comfortable with the mildew smell. If the water is left out then how much coconut oil should be used?
I would either add Frankincense or use distilled water (or both).
Storing them in the fridge will also help keep mold at bay, plus it’ll make them feel a bit more refreshing than room temperature pads.
I do this, and I add with hazel to it as well! Love it !!
Can you use cotton balls instead of the cotton pads?
You could, but as a general rule cotton pads soak up less than cotton balls…so you will have a “soggier” remover pad.
To save money, but more importantly, the environment, I use a face cloth and warm water to remove most of my make-up. I wet the cloth and hold it over my eyes – this softens and removes most of it. I do this a few times, holding the cloth under my eyelashes and the over them the next time and then if there is any residual mascara that’s when I use one of those cotton pads with a wee bit of olive oil. Then I use gentle facial cleanser. This eliminates the need to use multiple pads.
Roughly how much baby wash is in a “squirt”? Mine doesn’t have a pump..
Usually around 1 teaspoon. 🙂
Can you use tea tree oil and frankincense together or other combinations of essential oils?
You bet. Those two oils work well together. Another favorite is tea tree and lavender. 🙂
Can you use tear free baby shampoo instead of baby wash?
Yes.
A gew suggestions to make this more natural and eco friendly.
Use cloth wipes- I cut old fleece pillow cases into small rectangles. So spft and you can easily wash them with towels, bedding etc. I also use dr. Bronners liquid castille soap in mild instead of regular store bought products to reduce the chemicals.
Great ideas!!!
GREAT idea! Thanks so much for your tips everyone
Is the frankincense ok for the eyes?
Yes. On the outside of the eye. Especially if it is diluted.
I found this today and want to try it. Reading the comments, I have a question about what essential oil to use….if using as an eye make up remover, do NOT use tea tree oil? Is Frankensense or lavender ok to use as an eye make up remover? I am looking primarily for an eye makeup remover pad to make. What other oils could you use around the eyes?
How long will these keep for? I’m concerned about some of the comments talking about mold and such. Since there are so many pads in here and since I don’t wear a TON of makeup, I’m worried that it’ll get moldy before I can use them all!
I only made a half batch, and there’s a tiny bit of water at the bottom (I’d estimate 1/2 tsp) but I’m still worried!
I’ve made this a dozen times or so. Only one time I had a tiny spot of mold appear. But that was because I ignored the jar for a very long time. I’ve never had a problem other than that. I suppose you could refrigerate if you wanted.
Would I be able to use Unscented Castile Soap instead of baby wash?
Yes. Great idea.
This is excellent! I make this all the time. Works great. I love it
My daughter in law made this and she said the coconut oil solidified. Has anyone else had this problem? I know it is a solid at room temp or cooler so wondered about this. Can fractionated coconut oil be used in stead?
Yes, it could. It’s just more expensive.
Yes I did. The second batch I used the coconut oil however this time I added a small amount of carrier oil with the ingredients and it has worked perfectly. I added a small amount and after hardening I re-melted and added another amount. Just keep adding small amounts of carrier oil until it sets up softer to spread. I used “distilled” water and have had mine sitting in my medicine cabinet over 2 years “yes, you read 2 years right”, and absolutely no mold or rancid smell. It doesn’t take much at all to spread all over.
i know it sounds silly but i have a problem in finding purified water ,is it the tunic water ? i guess not
okay what else can be used instead ?
and if you can help me with home made deodorant as my skin is very sensitive and gets dark from store deodrorants i will be grateful … thanks for sharing
Try distilled water. It is in the same section as the bottled water.
How many drops of essential oils do you use to make this recipe, I am using frankincense and Tea Tree oil and lavender
I’d only add one or two.
How long can you store them without them drying out?
Do you have to warm the bottle up or the cotton pads everytime you wanna use? Cuz i know the coconut oil will get solid once at room temp.
Has anyone had issues with their eyes reacting to it? I used it for the first time last night and my eyes are both exceptionally red today. It’s possible it’s just allergies, but my eyedrops aren’t working. If coconut oil gets in your eye, does it react that way?
I absolutely love these! They take my makeup off great and leave my skin so soft! But I’m thinking mine went bad because every time I use them I get a sty in my eye… It didn’t look like any mold just residue from from the cotton pads and oil I assumed. What can I do to make this and it not go bad? I also wanted to try using a reusable fabric like a tshirt.. how can I do this and keep it good? I don’t wear make up every day maybe 3-4 times a week and use these every time I do.