How to Properly Remove Your Make-up

When we sleep with makeup on, we don’t give our skin the time it needs to regenerate and repair itself. Even if there is residual makeup on your skin, it prevents your skincare and serums from being effectively absorbed. So while removing makeup with a facial cleansing wipe after a long day is better than doing nothing at all, it’s definitely not a habit you want to keep.

The easiest way to remove makeup is oil cleansing. To do this, massage a small amount of your favourite facial oil onto your face.

Pay special attention areas where you used waterproof products such as liquid lipstick, eyeliner and mascara. Massage gently to break the makeup down, and then wipe away with a tissue or cotton pad.

Repeat as often as necessary until no more colour comes off. You can then take a warm washcloth, or a Makeup Eraser cleansing cloth, and remove any residue, further cleansing the skin. Alternately, you can use a micellar water on a cotton pad to ensure you get every stitch of makeup off, while also softening and toning the skin.

The most popular way of cleansing the skin is with a foaming facial wash. The only issue with this is that it can be too harsh for some skin types, and can strip your skin of moisture. You definitely want to avoid using soap to cleanse the face, unless it’s a specifically formulated facial soap that won’t offset your skin’s pH. If you have a pH balanced facial cleanser that works for your skin type, you can boost its cleansing power with a device like a Clarisonic or a Foreo Luna.

Another common mistake people tend to make is using hot water to wash their face. While you may think that the hot water is melting your makeup off, it’s also stripping the skin of beneficial oils, ultimately leading to that uncomfortable, tight, dry skin feeling. Opt for lukewarm to cool water for the best results.

To maximise your skincare and ensure you don’t end up with clogged pores, try to exfoliate twice a week with a mild scrub. Something abrasive enough to slough off dead skin and dry patches, but also gentle enough, so that it doesn’t tear your delicate skin.

Makeup removal should also extend to your pillowcase and brushes, not just your skin! Pillowcases can hold bacteria and facial irritants. Hair products, perfume, sebum, oils, residual makeup and the like can build up on your pillowcase, and end back up on your face when you sleep. You should wash and change your pillowcase every two to three days to avoid unwanted skin irritation and breakouts.

Likewise, cleanse your brushes often, so you’re not reapplying old makeup to your skin each day. Especially as your brushes may have gathered dust particles and other pollutants while sitting on your counter. Ideally your brushes should be shielded from dust, but in a well aerated place so they don’t develop mould while they dry. Usually closed up bathrooms are not the best place to store makeup or brushes.

If you’re experiencing breakouts, consider moving your makeup setup to a more ventilated area. Brushes can be deep cleaned at least two times a week with baby shampoo or antibacterial soap, or in a pinch, they can be spot- cleaned with rubbing alcohol, although I don’t recommend making this a habit as it can be too drying for the bristles.