Singapore-based General Practitioner, fondly known as GP Samuel by the TikTok community, posted on the Sep 26 a makeup remover experiment.

He wanted to find out if the micellar water was effective when pitched against the holy grail oil makeup remover.

So, GP Samuel applied a thick layer of makeup on his skin, and proceeded to examine his skin under a dermoscopy – a small, handheld microscope-like device which helps doctors look at skin conditions in detail.

What he noticed was a layer of yellowish and patchy foundation that was sitting atop of his skin.

GP Samuel then proceeded to use four pieces of gauze (oops, instead of cotton pads) soaked in micellar water to remove the foundation on his skin. Four rounds! That’s way more than most of our lazy selves would commit to.

Micellar water seems like an easy way to remove makeup. However, most of us are probably not doing enough.

How many rounds of micellar water should I be using to ensure my skin is sufficiently clean? As many rounds as it takes until the cotton pad clears up completely. That could be three, four, or even six rounds of cleansing.

What GP Samuel did here was the right way to use micellar water – he attempted four rounds in hopes that his final gauze would clear up.  Then, he investigated.

Turns out, GP Samuel saw that there was leftover makeup pigments in clogged in his pores. Unfortunately, the micellar water did not fully clear out the makeup from his skin.

Another observation was the redness – the four rounds of wiping left his skin red.

This could potentially be an issue for individuals with sensitive or acne-prone skin, since the wiping could irritate the skin and aggravate existing conditions.

For comparison’s sake, GP Samuel then proceeded to remove his makeup with an oil-based makeup remover. Upon examination, he quickly concluded that the oil-based makeup remover gave him much cleaner results with a single step.

A double cleansing step with another regular cleanser would have removed all excess oils and given him an even cleaner skin.

For its effectiveness and speed, GP Samuel concluded that the oil-based makeup remover was the most convenient option for him.

If you’re new to oil-based makeup removers, here are five oil makeup removers to try:

Starting with the most classic and well-loved cleansing oil in the beauty industry… the Japanese skincare brand, Shu Uemura’s brown-bottled Ultime8 cleansing oil ($19 for 50ml mini).

Suitable for all skin types, this is a cleansing oil that can be used daily as a face wash or makeup remover.

Key ingredients include the famed Japanese Tsubaki oil (basically camellia seed oil) known for its antioxidant and anti-ageing benefits.

Also, this is a single-cleanse oil. Pump the oil into your palms, rub it all over your dry skin (with makeup or not), and then rinse away the oil until the milky water turns clear. Done!

On par with Shu Uemura’s cleansing oil is fellow Japanese skincare brand, DHC’s famed Deep Cleansing Oil ($42 from Amazon Singapore).

This cleansing oil has been around since 1995, and was specially formulated to remove makeup. Unlike most of the oil face cleansers that you see on drugstore shelves which contain mineral oils as key ingredient, DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil’s main component is… virgin olive oil.

Note that the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil requires a double cleanse. You’ll need to wash your face with a regular face cleanser after.

Given the longevity of this cleansing oil in the global industry, you’ll easily find lots of positive reviews about this product. However, thanks to its lasting fame, you can also expect rampant fakes and counterfeits of this product. To be safe, buy in-store from a trustworthy drugstore such as Sephora, Watsons or Guardian.

If the above two classics were too pricey, here’s a budget option – Senka’s All Clear Oil ($18.20).

This Senka All Clear Oil is often pitched against Biore’s cleansing oil ($18.90). Both are just a couple of cents apart in price, although Senka is owned by Shiseido while Biore is owned by Kao.

Senka’s All Clear Oil is the most lightweight cleansing oil in the list. It’s texture is almost water-like, which allows it to spread the fastest, and lift your makeup away quickly as well.

With that being said, the oil will drip messily from your palms, between your fingers, and down your elbows. This is best used in a bathroom.

The Shu Uemura cleansing oil carries a faint botanical smell, but that’s about it – none of the above cleansing oils had any scent or aroma to them.

If you struggle to decompress and unwind at night, consider this Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil ($21 from iHerb Singapore) instead.

Suitable for dry to normal skin types, Burt’s Bees’ face cleansing oil has a ton of great reviews under its belt. Most users lauded it for its aromatic herbal fragrance.

While it does its job well, reviewers have noted that the plastic packaging tends to leak. You’ve got to be careful! No travelling with this one, for sure.

Here’s an interesting oil face cleanser – the Aesop Remove ($36 from Net-a-Porter).

For the artistic souls, this aesthetically-pleasing bottle will be up your alley. Suitable for all skin types, this formula is touted as an eye and lip makeup remover (though we’re sure you can just use it all over your face).

There are few reviews of this product on the World Wide Web. Judging from the brand and its products, we won’t attempt to remove our Friday night thick makeup with this. However, lightweight daily makeup sounds about right.

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