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Whether you're wearing a full face of makeup or just a swipe of mascara, removing it before bed is a crucial step in any skin care routine to keep your skin healthy. Makeup, oil, sunscreen and environmental debris build up on the skin throughout the day, contributing to clogged pores and irritation. Here's how to remove makeup properly for a clean, healthy-looking complexion.
Is sleeping in your makeup that bad? In a word, “yes”! New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Charlotte Birnbaum explains: “Oil, dirt, pollutants and makeup when left on the skin [overnight] can lead to breakouts, irritation, styes and even accelerated aging of the skin." In other words, you’re doing damage when you go to bed without a good cleanse. Taking five minutes to tackle the issue head-on will make a world of difference now and later.
And we get it, after a long day or night out, it can be tempting to hit the sheets without washing your makeup off, but this skin care step isn't optional. While one slip-up won’t ruin your complexion, consistently skipping your nighttime cleanse can cause cumulative damage. Some of the other effects of inconsistent makeup removal include:
Skin renews itself overnight, so when you leave makeup on, you're interfering with the skin’s natural turnover process. As you sleep, dead and damaged skin cells are shed from the surface and replaced by new, healthy cells. Hence the term "beauty sleep."
Oil and makeup naturally dissolve one another, which is why oil-based cleansers are an effective first step.
Apply a cleansing oil, cleansing balm or creamy cleanser to dry or damp skin and gently massage using circular motions. Pay particular attention to areas where makeup tends to build up, including:
Consider applying the Coconut Milk Cleanser, which is creamy and gentle enough for all skin types. Place a small amount in your hand and dilute it with water. Then, use your fingers to swipe it gently across your eyelids and lips, and use circular motions to lightly massage it over your face. Rinse clean with lukewarm water.
The skin around the eyes is delicate and deserves extra care.
To remove eye makeup properly:
If you’ve done a double cleanse, you’ve probably removed most of your eye makeup, but it’s worth touching up the area with a gentle product like our Herbal Eye Make-up Remover. This pH-balanced remover comforts the delicate eye area with calming cucumber, lavender, calendula and chamomile, helping leave skin feeling soothed and refreshed.
Remove remaining impurities with a second cleanser. Now that you’ve loosened and lifted your makeup, you need to sweep away stubborn dirt, grime and bacteria left on the skin. Simply apply your favorite cleanser to wash your face more deeply and target specific skin concerns such as acne or aging. With this two-step process, you clear away pore-clogging impurities while helping reduce the appearance of dullness and signs of premature aging. Ideally, the second cleanser should be gel-based or foaming.
The Stone Crop Gel Wash works for all skin types and hydrates while cleansing, thanks to the inclusion of shea butter and stone crop ingredients. For those with problem skin, consider the Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam to clear blocked pores and help balance the complexion. This foam features time-released encapsulated salicylic acid to unclog pores and contains a natural herb blend. Alternatively, if you’re concerned with the appearance of large pores, the Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser contains a Lactic Acid Complex that works together with mangosteen to give the skin a smoother, more radiant finish by sloughing off dead skin.
Our Eminence Organics Product Support Representatives also recommend following your cleanse with the Pineapple Refining Tonique to lift any residual debris from the skin. It reveals a brightened and smoother-looking complexion that will be even more receptive to the application of subsequent products.
Even the most thorough cleansing routine can miss areas where makeup often lingers.
Before rinsing, make sure you cleanse along the hairline, around the ears, under the jawline and across the neck. Pulling your hair back with a headband can help ensure no makeup residue is left behind.
Try our Calm Skin Chamomile Cleanser to remove the impurities of the day. Infused with chamomile, arnica and rosemary, this calming cream cleanser is perfect for sensitive skin prone to redness and makes a great second step in a double cleanse.
If you're fighting the appearance of breakouts, our Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser is a good choice to remove excess sebum from your complexion. It’s a clarifying cream-gel cleanser that treats oily skin with cucumber and tea tree oil, while sweet almond milk and yogurt reduce the visible signs of problem skin without stripping moisture. In other words, it can help your skin recover from past “mistakes.”
Ready to start double cleansing? Watch this video for tips and product recommendations from our Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar.
Some occasions (like your wedding day) call for heavy-duty makeup, while others (Halloween parties) require full-fledged face paint. Whether your look is more romantic comedy or horror movie, the removal part can be a little scary. But fear not! We have a few tips, tricks and treats to help.
Since wedding makeup is essentially just regular makeup with long-wearing and waterproof benefits, you don't have to veer too far from your usual routine, with a few exceptions. You’ve probably been spending extra time taking care of your skin leading up to the big day, so don't stress too much about the aftermath of one very long day in full makeup — but all the more reason to get it off before bed!
Start with the eyes. Your false eyelashes may have stayed on through your vows, first dance and those tear-jerker speeches, but they shouldn't stay on overnight. Just like with waterproof mascara, your best bet is to use makeup remover on a cotton round and hold it over the eye for 10 or more seconds. This should loosen the glue and allow you to gently pull the false lashes off without taking any of your real ones with them. If you don't have eye makeup remover, use the oil-based first step from your double-cleansing routine or simply place a warm, moist face cloth over the eye for 10 seconds. Long-wearing eye shadow can be removed the same way. Make sure you're treating the delicate area gently to avoid irritating the skin.
To tackle the heavy-duty foundation, a double cleanse is recommended. Follow the instructions above and if you have the time and energy, finish off with an overnight mask to help replenish any moisture. The Kombucha Microbiome Leave-On Masque is a great option.
Halloween makeup is a whole different beast. Not only is it usually applied with a heavier hand than regular makeup, but it can be a nightmare for your skin. While it might be tempting to go all out with face paint from Halloween stores, these products — often used just once a year — aren't typically designed with your skin’s health in mind. Fortunately, many specialty makeup brands offer high-quality, skin-friendly special effects cosmetics. As with all products you apply to your body, do your best to avoid ingredients like heavy metals and formaldehyde. When using these types of makeup, taking extra steps to protect your skin becomes even more essential. Here's a simple routine you can follow to remove Halloween makeup effectively.
"To keep the skin happy, healthy and radiant, taking time to prep your skin before will help prevent dryness, breakouts and irritation," says Natalie. "Cleanse the skin with a gentle cleanser, then apply a hydrating serum like our Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum and our Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Concentrate, which works as a primer."
To remove your Halloween makeup, break through the thick layer with an oil-based product like the Stone Crop Cleansing Oil or a cream-based option like the Coconut Milk Cleanser. Both formulas remove dirt and debris from the skin, effectively breaking down makeup without causing dryness.
The next step is a second cleanse. Even if you used an oil-based or foamy cleanser initially, traces of makeup often remain on the skin. A gel or another foaming cleanser next is your best bet. Follow that with a swipe of toner like the Pineapple Refining Tonique for a gentle exfoliation or the Kombucha Microbiome Balancing Essence to help soothe dry, dull skin.
Pro tip: If your costume includes body or face glitter, a lint roller will lift it off the skin. The adhesive is much gentler than what you'll find in regular tape (which is what a lot of people use).
Still not feeling squeaky clean? Keep reading to learn what other methods you can use to effectively cleanse the skin.
You can give your skin a facial steam to deepen your cleanse. Steam softens surface debris and releases any leftover grime and makeup that is still trapped in your pores after washing. Follow these steps for a facial steam at home:
Skip the cleansing wipes. While they may be convenient, most makeup wipes won’t fully remove your makeup. According to James C. Marotta, MD: “Very few makeup wipes contain ingredients that can actually break down all of your face oils, makeup and gunk on your skin, so you’re really just rubbing bacteria, irritants and makeup wipe residue around your skin.” Plus, many cleansing wipes contain certain ingredients and preservatives that can irritate the skin and cause dryness. And if you're looking for one more sign to ditch the wipes, think of their impact on the earth. Many traditional makeup wipes aren't biodegradable, and some estimates suggest that over 20 million pounds of wipes end up in landfills every day. That’s over 7.6 billion pounds a year!
Makeup removal gives your skin a clean slate, but it needs to be followed with proper care to maintain your skin’s health and resilience. After cleansing, continue your skin care routine with these essential steps:
If it's still daytime, apply SPF to protect your skin from the drying and aging effects of UV rays. We recommend the Radiant SPF Protection Fluid that helps keep skin looking smooth while providing broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection.
How do you remove makeup properly? Start with a makeup remover or cleansing oil to dissolve cosmetics, then cleanse your face with a water or gel-based cleanser. Pay extra attention to areas where makeup tends to linger, such as around the eyes, hairline and neck.
What is the best way to remove waterproof makeup? The best way to remove waterproof makeup is to use an oil-based makeup remover or cleanser that can break down long-wearing formulas. For eye makeup, hold a saturated cotton pad over the area for about 10 seconds before gently wiping away the product.
Can you remove makeup with just cleanser? While a cleanser can help remove makeup, a double-cleansing routine can be more effective for removing heavy or long-wearing cosmetics. An oil-based first cleanse helps dissolve makeup before a second gel or foam cleanser removes remaining dirt and impurities.
Is it bad to sleep with makeup on? Yes. Regularly sleeping with makeup on can contribute to clogged pores, breakouts, irritation and dull-looking skin. Leaving makeup, oil and other impurities on the skin overnight can also interfere with the skin’s natural renewal process.
Are makeup wipes good for removing makeup? Although makeup wipes are convenient, they may not fully remove makeup and can leave behind residue. Implement a thorough cleansing routine instead of relying on makeup wipes to cleanse the skin.
Are you looking for more advice about which products to use in your cleansing routine? Visit an Eminence Organics Spa Partner for skin care recommendations from a licensed esthetician.
Thea is the Marketing Copywriter at Eminence Organics. Over the years, Thea has loved working as an editor, copywriter and content marketer for a vast range of brands ranging from BRIDE Magazine and Time Out Magazine to Microsoft and Adobe. On a personal quest to quen… Read more
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