How to remove makeup properly may seem obvious, but if the foundation you thought you’d scrubbed off the night before mysteriously appears on your pillow in the morning and your lashes feel brittle, chances are you’re making a mistake somewhere in your cleansing routine.
Lifting away mascara and base isn’t simply a matter of window-wiping with a cotton pad and thinking the job’s done. A proper deep-cleanse requires a bit more attention and, trust us, it’s well worth the extra effort.
After all, if makeup is left to sink deep into pores, and grime is allowed to build up over time, it spells bad news for our skin in the form of spots. It’ll also create a film between your skincare and your skin, which means anything you put on after is redundant.
The aim of your cleansing routine is to get deep into pores and vacuum them out before you load back up on makeup and environmental pollution particles the next day. We asked A-list facialist, Nichola Joss, whose clients include Gwyneth Paltrow, Meghan Markle and J-Lo, how to get it right.
Update your beauty routine with these products
Drunk Elephant E-Rase Milki Micellar Water
Garnier Micellar Water Facial Cleanser Sensitive Skin
The Inkey List Reusable Cleansing Pads x 3
A step-by-step guide for how to remove makeup properly
1. Break down makeup and grime with your first cleanse
“I would always recommend a double cleanse routine for removing makeup,” says Nichola. “Start with an oil or micellar bi-phase cleansing product, applied to a cleansing pad, which will easily and effectively remove topical makeup, grime and daily environmental pollution.”
Micellar water is formed from little micelles (spheres of mild surfactants combined with purified water), which attract makeup, excess sebum and daily grime on the surface of your skin – like a magnet – leaving it clean and refreshed.
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