Makeup, so fun to put on, so painful to take off. But if there’s anything we’ve learned about skincare the hard way, it’s to take off your makeup before you go to sleep. If you don’t, you’re bound to wake up with blemishes (whiteheads and blackheads), irritation or dry patches. Makeup is not meant to stay on all day and all night. And whether it’s the end of a long workday, or you’ve been out and about socializing for the evening, it’s all too easy to crash without removing it.
But especially as we age, we have to take extra special care of our skin which includes a healthy regimen of washing off makeup before resting. Plus, mascara and lipstick stains are really hard to get out of pillowcases sometimes! And waking up with racoon eyes is almost as bad as having to take it off in the first place.
You might think you are doing enough by simply using a face cleanser and calling it good. Not quite. Because most makeup is meant to stay on all day, for hours, with environmental factors, changing body temperatures or just surviving your many facial expressions – it requires specific cleansing for it to come all the way off. Your typical face wash just can’t get effectively get all your makeup off AND cleanse your skin. Nor should it. Which is why it’s important to use a product specifically meant for makeup removal. Now don’t get me wrong, you’re still going to need to use a cleanser for your face too, but in order to truly remove all of your makeup, the combination is your best bet.
Tips for removing your makeup successfully:
Be Patient
It’s a pain, especially when you’re exhausted and just want to hit the hay, but your skin really requires some extra love and time. One of the best, time-saving methods for doing this is to start removing your eye makeup with an oil-based, eye makeup remover. Start wiping away mascara, liner and eyeshadow with a flat cotton pad and let the oil loosen your makeup while you brush, floss, put your jammies on, whatever. By the time you go to remove all of your makeup it will come off much easier. Often, when we’re in a rush, we use a cleanser not meant for removing makeup and then we have to scrub and rub with fingertips or a towel and this is horrible for your skin. It can cause major irritation and lead to wrinkling faster. Plus, this gives the remover time to penetrate your lashes, and really bond to the makeup so it will be super easy to come off.
Don’t Rely on Wipes Alone
If you’ve tried makeup removing wipes, you probably already know – they won’t take everything off. They can help make the process easier by loosening up your stay-put foundation, but you’re still going to have to use a face cleanser to remove everything. If you’re only relying on face wipes and putting moisturizer or a serum on top, you could be making your skin situation worse because you’re trapping makeup and dirt in your pores.
This goes for baby wipes too. A lot of people think that because baby wipes are meant for sensitive skin, it should be fine. But think about what a baby wipe REALLY wipes up. I don’t think you want the same chemicals on your face. Not to mention, it will dry out your skin in a heartbeat. If you are going to use wipes, get specific makeup removal wipes and use these as part of the multi-step process.
Literally, Find a Makeup Remover
Yes, you’re still going to need a face cleanser and it’s going to be a process, but if you really want to remove all your makeup to give your skin its best chance at looking young and staying healthy you’ll need to use a specific cleanser formulated to remove makeup. Micellar water and cleansing oils are two great options for this. Both have ingredients that pull the makeup off your skin (along with other bacteria, dead skin cells, etc.). But there are plenty of options for specific makeup removers that come in a variety of textures like gels, milks or lotion-types. Whatever your pleasure, just find one that will work for you and use this for the foundation, blush, lipstick, bronzer, etc. That’s what these products are formulated to clean.
Be Gentle with Your Eyes
The skin around your eyes is particularly sensitive. And if you’re really layering it on, smoking out your eyes, using liquid liner or any waterproof products, it can be tricky to get all of it off. It will lead you to want to get aggressive, which is the last thing you should do. A lot of people forget to cleanse the edges of the eyelid where a lot of buildup can occur. Particularly, waterproof mascara can be a real chore to remove. This is where patience comes in! Fortunately, there are specialized waterproof makeup remover options as well.
Remove Excess Oil
One of the best ways to ensure your makeup is all the way off is to take a second pass with flat cotton pads and wipe around the eyes. You’ll be getting any excess makeup remover off too and minimizing the possibility of waking up with racoon eyes.
Cleanse
This is when we finally get to wash our face! If you’ve gone through the makeup removal steps, your skin still deserves the cleanse it relies on to rid your face of impurities, blackheads, gunk, etc. Your face can acquire a lot of residue throughout the day and this is where it really comes off. Plus, if you’ve missed even a speck of makeup, this will ensure your face is extra clean and makeup free. Cleansing is also important for balancing your pH levels. Just make sure you’re using the right cleanser for your skin type. It’s such an important step that it’s worth finding the right cleanser for you.
Use a Toner
Toners are a great addition to your nightly skin routine. Not only will they get even the most stubborn makeup off as a last step, they also, well – tone. There are a variety of toners on the market for different skin types. Ultimately, you are using a toner to help your skin drink up your moisturizer more effectively. It takes two seconds and quite honestly, using a toner feels refreshing!
Moisturize
You’ve almost made it! The end is in sight! This is where you give your skin an extra special treat. Whether it’s your favorite moisturizer, serum or eye cream, it’s important to use something to treat your skin. The makeup removal process can be incredibly drying and now that your skin is fresh and clean, it has the best chance of soaking up your moisturizer for a dewy, glowing face in the morning. Even if you have oily skin, it is still recommended to use a moisturizer. And there are plenty to choose from for any type of skin.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve effectively removed your makeup, cleansed your face and helped with its hydration needs, you’re ready for the pillow that beckons you. When you wake up you won’t have to worry about scrubbing the circles around your eyes or figuring out how to get your lips back to their natural color. You can start your routine with a fresh face and be on with your day.
If you’re curious about which types of products to use for your detailed routine, there are a variety of options for every skin type. And if you don’t really know your skin type, you can always go to a dermatologist and get a little guidance. Of course, we always recommend going the organic route, because there are a lot of chemicals in many products that can damage your skin in the long run. When you use organic or plant-based products, you’ll have peace of mind that you are nourishing your skin throughout the process. And you’ll likely notice a significant difference in the way your skin looks and feels when you switch to organic. Always make sure to avoid parabens and sulfates, both of which are notorious for being more harmful than good and have been linked to breast cancer, among other things.
We know, we’ve been there. It’s been a long day and boy would it be nice to do one wash and call it good, but if you care about the health and vigor of your skin, it’s worth going through all the steps to remove your makeup. If you’ve been using the same old one-wash cleansing routine for years, you might notice an immediate difference in the way your skin reacts (bye bye, blackheads!).
And if you’re one of those that goes straight to bed without removing your makeup (hey, we’ve all been there at some point), you’ll realize that putting makeup on each day will be a much more enjoyable process now that your skin is exfoliated, clean and moisturized. When you apply makeup over layers of dead skin and grime, it doesn’t have the same effect. You may even find yourself using less makeup because you are just so happy with the way your skin is glowing!
