How to Remove Makeup

Here’s another Reader Request!

“Hi Wycee! I use a make up remover from Victoria’s Secret and it works just fine. Just wanted to know if you have a favorite make remover or any recommendation? BTW, great job with the site. Very informative and helpful.”

I use Olay Daily Facials hydrating cleansing cloths, because they’re cheap (I buy them in bulk at Costco) and I think they work well for my needs. Here’s how they look like at Costco (I was trying to be slick and took the picture on my cell phone yesterday haha):


For $17.79, you get 5 packs of 30 cloths (that’s 150 cloths total) in one box. That makes each cloth only 11 cents (compared to MAC Wipes that come out to 40 cents each), and the box lasts me 5 months!

The steps below show how I remove my makeup every night. There’s really no right or wrong way of doing this, as long as you’re using safe products and are gentle on your face (especially around your eye area). This is a routine that works well for me.

STEP 1

Gather your makeup remover supplies. I’m just using an Olay Daily Facials cloth, which is initially dry. If you don’t use these cloths, you can do similar steps with your makeup remover and cotton balls, rounds, or squares.

Note: I also like using Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover with cotton balls, because I usually get a travel-size bottle during free gift with purchase promotions at Macy’s and Nordstrom. Maybelline 100% Eye Makeup Remover is another one of my favorites that I keep in my makeup kit.

STEP 2

Wet the cloth with lukewarm water (or soak some of your makeup remover in a cotton ball/round/square).

STEP 3

Start with gently pressing the cloth (or cotton) around your eye lid area with your eyes closed. This will begin dissolving your eyeshadow. Then softly wipe around your eye area and lightly on your lashes if you’re wearing mascara.

The cloth has two sides — a smooth one and a textured one. Use the smooth side around your eyes and any other delicate or sensitive areas of your face.

STEP 4

Now use the textured side to lightly exfoliate and clean up foundation and blush on the rest of your face, neck, and behind your ears.

If you’re using makeup remover with some type of cotton, you can apply more pressure on these areas than you did around your eye area.

STEP 5

Rinse your face with water, and finish with a splash of cold water. Pat your face dry with a towel, and apply any nighttime moisturizer if desired.

STEP 6

If you still have leftover eye liner or mascara (especially waterproof ones) on or around your eye area, get a Q-tip and place a small amount of your everyday face moisturizer (or your eye makeup remover) on your finger. Roll one end of your Q-tip on the moisturizer.

STEP 7

Gently rub the end of the Q-tip to remove the remaining makeup.

Be careful not to get any moisturizer in your eye — if you don’t completely soak your Q-tip with moisturizer, then it will be less likely that you will get any in your eye.

That’s it! :)

I also recommend exfoliating your face 1 to 3 times a week (depending on your skin type) with a separate facial scrub product on a clean face. I usually exfoliate with Clean & Clear Morning Burst Scrub every 2 days in the morning while in the shower, since my face is free of the makeup I washed away the night before. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin and helps your skincare products work more effectively.

May 13th, 2010 in Techniques | Share
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