It can be tough to remove make-up at the end of the day, not only are we tired and lackadaisical, we’ve deliberately filled our cosmetic bags with products that boast their longevity. While in reality an all-day lip stick might be reduced to an uneven smear on the outer edge of the lips and waterproof mascara may clump and flake. Those products seem to be more difficult to remove when we actually want to take them off.
How To Properly Remove Make-Up
But make-up removal is a vital part of a health skin care regiment. Leaving make-up on can clog pores, causing breakouts, and block your skin from benefiting from all of the other good things you’re doing for it (basic cleansing and moisturizing among them). To help you fine tune your makeup removal habits, here are a few useful tips:
- Use an oil-based remover. It may seem contrary to logic, but oil is more effective and less damaging to skin than an astringent. This is similar to cleaning delicate wood furnishings with oil–it helps lift dirt while moisturizing the wood.
- Be gentle. Mascara can be stubborn, but patiently holding a remover-soaked cotton ball against your lashes for ten seconds can loosen it and make it easy to wipe away. Being too rough and repeatedly stretching the skin around the eyes can lead to fine lines.
- Wash up. Use your regular cleanser (matched to your skin type) to remove any remaining grime from the day. Especially if you live in a city, the things that are filling the air can be unsettling. Wash regularly with tepid water–not hot or cold–to avoid broken blood vessels and shocking the skin with extreme temperatures.
- Use the right tool for the job. Make-up remover is great for removing make-up, and cleansers are great or washing away the day–they aren’t both great for both jobs. Unfortunately, neither are the wipes that claim to remove make-up and wash your face in one easy step. Often, wipes will just redistribute make up, rather than remove it, and leave dirt on the skin.
Want to learn more about cosmetic dermatology? Enjoy a free cosmetic consultation with with Jill Hude, Four Points Dermatology’s new certified PA. Contact Four Points Dermatology to schedule your next appointment.
