How To Remove Your Make-up The Right Way

1. Start with a pre-cleanse 

This sounds unnecessary but most experts agree the first step to squeaky clean skin is to use either plain water on a cotton pad, or a wipe to remove the top layer of grime. This ensures you don’t mix the day’s make-up with excess dirt and simply redistribute it around your face and into your open pores.  

2. Remove every ounce of make-up 

Find yourself a cleanser you love and stick to it. A lot of people still like to use basic soap and water, but this can upset the pH balance of your skin as soap is alkaline while the epidermis is acidic. Instead, try any gentle wash off cleanser available in bars, creams liquids and foams. Avoid ingredients such as lanolin or fragranced formulas as these can aggravate the skin. Once you’ve found ‘the one’, massage it over your face and let it sit for 15 seconds. Don’t forget your hairline, under your chin and around your ears. Then wipe with a wet, white cotton washcloth so you can really see all the make-up is gone. Keep going until nothing else comes off on your cloth.  

3. Don’t forget your neck 

Your neck is exposed to just as many elements as your face, meaning it’s likely to show similar signs of ageing. Keep your neck fully cleansed too, avoid pulling downwards, instead pushing up as you go, otherwise skin can damage and stretch over time.  

4. Use a different remover for your eyes 

This isn’t a necessity if you’re someone who hates the multi-step process, but many dermatologists recommend it because the skin around your eyes is so delicate. Look for ones specifically formulated for this area and try using a cream or oil-based cleanser which breaks down stubborn mascara and eyeliner effectively. A top tip is olive oil works just as well, if you’ve run out of your go-to cleanser or need a quick fix.  

5.Not everyone needs a toner 

Opinion is divided as to whether a toner is necessary after cleansing, but really, they’re only required if you have oily skin and want to counteract it. Even then, a good cleanser and water should be doing all the work you need. If you did want to try one, avoid alcohol-based toners as these can strip the skin rather than nourish it. A great alternative is a light spritz of a face spray like Caudalie’s Eau De Beaute Elixir, which gives a fresh finish without any tightness.  

6. Keep exfoliation to a minimum 

Think of exfoliation as your one tool to remove dead cells and bring back a brighter complexion. The good news for the lazy amongst us, is you only need to do this step once or twice a week after cleansing. Any more and you’ll end up irritating your skin and could cause a rash or peeling.  

7. Moisturiser always comes last 

A lot of people slap moisturiser on haphazardly, but you really won’t reap its benefits unless your skin is completely spotless. This is because unless the pores are clean, moisturiser can just reblock them, locking in oil and existing dirt on the skin – this is when you’ll begin to see breakouts and those pesky red bumps that can often appear underneath the dermis.

Try a new tool  

Come home too tired to fully cleanse? We hear you, we’re not robots. But thankfully, these three new formulas are here to help, allowing us to remove make-up at lightning speed in the comfort of our own beds… 

Micellar Pads:

We’re all aware of micellar waters one-swipe no-rinse philosophy and now you can get hold of the beloved formula in pre-soaked wipes. They’re not recommended for daily use as they can leave residual product on the skin, which can be a little harsh. Occasionally however, these are super handy and much better than leaving any make-up sitting on the surface. We recently trialled the SkinMatrix HD Micellar Water Pads and were really impressed with how much came off. Our skin also felt incredibly fresh, especially considering we hadn’t fully cleansed. 

Halo Hero:

Eco-friendly and chemical-free, these sponges were designed to remove all make-up using just water. We were sceptical, but after drenching it under the tap and giving our face a good once over, our make-up had broken down and it didn’t leave our skin feeling red or irritated. The only bugbear is that you might find your mascara doesn’t disintegrate as easily, if so follow up with an oil in the morning to wipe away any panda eyes. One big bonus is you can reuse these up to 200 times, just pop them in the washing machine after use. 

Magic Mitts:  

Similar to the Face Halo, this bigger mitt is made from microfibers so it’s gentler to use than a face cloth but still an effective exfoliator. It emulsifies make-up, which can then be easily swiped away without disturbing the skin’s natural acidic film, making it perfect for those who suffer with acne. In short, this one is pretty genius and has rave reviews galore, with some fans dubbing it life changing, while others claim it even makes light work of removing stubborn liner.