Taking off your makeup: it can easily be marked as the best part of your day. A simple ritual that helps with wiping away the day, a consistent routine can help with relaxation as a key part of the wind-down routine in the evening.
For some, a seven-step evening skincare routine is just the thing to spiral into an evening of self care, but if you don’t have that much time (or don’t enjoy your skincare routine that much), even just removing your makeup can feel like the perfect way to mark the end of a day.
A nightly ritual that seemingly takes no time at all still requires some attention to detail. Here are five ways you may be removing your makeup wrong and how to fix them.
1. You use a face cleanser on your eyes.
This is probably the greatest mistake made when doing your evening skincare routine. We’ve all done it: you’re ready to unwind after a long day and grab the closest product resembling a cleanser. This sounds good in theory, however most cleansers use ingredients to lather and foam which are quite drying by nature. As this skin is some of the thinnest on your body, there is an increased sensitivity to cleansing.
2. You rub too harshly.
We’ve been hearing it for years: your under-eye area requires a gentle touch when it comes makeup removal and skincare application. When you rub too harshly, it causes irritation and redness, resulting in flaking skin and, eventually, fine lines. Simply saturate a cotton pad and gently swipe away makeup. If you require heavy-duty makeup removal, hold the pad to your eye for a few seconds before wiping.
3. You don’t cleanse your eyebrows.
There’s no denying that your brows define your face but, when it comes to removing makeup, they can often be forgotten. That odd in-between area of your face, your eyebrows are still considered a generally sensitive area. As the majority of eyebrow products contain some form of wax to grab onto hairs, it can be especially stubborn to remove.
4. You use the same cotton pad for all cleansing.
Besides being unhygienic, when you use a cotton pad more than once, you’re simply wiping old makeup back onto your eyelids – the opposite of what you want. After swiping away makeup, use the quartered approach to your pad, folding it in half (and then into a quarter) to remove any lingering traces of your smoky eye. This will ensure you’re always using a fresh piece of the cotton pad. If you’re reusing the same cotton pad for sustainability reasons.