Getting one of the best makeup removers doesn’t mean you already know how to use one. In this article, I’ll give advice on how to best get all of that makeup gone, as well as some tips and tricks for other ways you can use your makeup remover! There is even my bonus advice on how to make your own makeup remover at home! So here is how you should remove makeup from each part of your face correctly!
In this article:
Removing Eye Makeup
The skin around the eyes is much more sensitive than the skin everywhere else on the face. It’s also where we tend to wear the makeup products that are hardest to remove: waterproof eyeliner and mascara.
Traditional cleansers tend to tug at the skin and cause irritation around the eyes, so eye makeup remover is especially important. I explain how to use eye makeup removers around the eyes in the gentlest, most effective way possible!
- Pour some of your eye makeup remover on to a cotton pad. You don’t have to completely saturate the cotton pad, but you do want to pour enough as to cover most of it.
- Press the cotton pad against your eye, and hold it there gently for at least a few seconds. This will allow the makeup remover to break down your mascara and eyeliner.
- Next, wipe the makeup remover downwards and outwards.
- Check to make sure all of the mascara and liner are gone. If there is still a bit left, press the cotton pad against your eye again, and wipe gently.
- Finish by cleaning up your upper eyelid and eyebrows by sweeping the cotton pad over the eye in outward motions, starting closer to the bridge of the nose and moving away from it.
- To clean the under eye area, fold your cotton pad in half, and press it against the lower lash line for a few seconds.
- Gently wipe the cotton pad towards the outer corner of the eye.
- If any makeup is left close to the lower lash line, either fold the cotton pad over your finger for spot cleaning, or dip a Q-tip in makeup remover and use that for more precise cleaning.
- Finish off by giving your eye area some much need moisture with the help of a serum or eye cream.
Removing Face Makeup
Some people find that a traditional face cleanser works just fine to remove their makeup, and in that case, more power to them. However, if you’re wearing layers of foundation, concealer, and powder, sometimes you need the help of a truly powerful solvent.
If you’ll be using makeup remover to clean your face, you’ll definitely want to follow these steps for the quickest, easiest, and most thorough way of doing it!
- Pour your favorite makeup remover unto a cotton pad. This time around you do want to fully saturate it!
- In wide, circular motions pass the saturated cotton pad over your whole face. This first swipe is just to work the makeup remover into the makeup – you’re not focusing on wiping things off yet! Make sure to get close to the ears and hairline as well, as makeup tends to hide there.
- Either with a new cotton pad that is more lightly saturated with makeup remover or with just the other side of your cotton pad if you were wearing lighter face makeup, wipe again, this time working your way from the inside of your face outwards, begin wiping off your makeup.
- Some people prefer to skip the cotton pad, and instead massage the makeup remover into their skin with their hands in order to break down the makeup. They might leave the makeup remover on their face for a few minutes to really let it work. This method is less wasteful, as all you have to do at the end is use one clean cotton pad or paper towel to wipe everything off.
- You may choose to do a final swipe with a damp cotton pad to make sure everything is truly gone, or you can do a second cleansing with a proper face cleanser. This is especially recommended if you have oily skin.
- Finish off with the rest of your skin care routine, including toner, serums, and moisturizers.
How to Remove Lip Makeup
While a traditional lipstick might have been very easy to wipe off, these days every company is making long-lasting lip stains made to hold for hours, through whole days of eating, talking, and drinking. These lip stains are great until the end of the night, when you don’t want to be scrubbing and irritating your lips just to get them clean. Makeup removers make the whole process super easy!
- Saturate your cotton pad with a healthy amount of makeup remover – about the same as you’d use for your eyes.
- Press the cotton pad against your lips and hold it there for a few seconds, to allow the lipstick to dissolve.
- Wipe off the lipstick gently with the cotton pad.
- Repeat the pressing and wiping if not all lipstick has been removed.
- Once your lips are clean, finish off by applying a moisturizing lip balm or lip treatment to your lips.
Makeup Remover Dos & Don’ts
- Do take your time. Even if you’re tired and you want to get to bed already, it’s much better to slowly allow all of your makeup to dissolve, rather than wipe your face aggressively. Aggressive face wiping can damage the skin, especially around the eyes, and cause all kinds of irritation.
- Don’t use cotton balls to remove your makeup. Cotton balls are not packed as tightly as cotton pads, so they can break apart and leave fibers on the skin. They’re much messier and less fun to use when compared to cotton pads.
- Do use makeup remover to fix makeup mistakes like wonky eyeliner or a smudgy lip line! Dip a cotton bud in some of your makeup remover, and use it like an eraser to fix mistakes, smooth out lines, and get rid of stray smudges.
- Don’t use steam and hot water, no matter what other sources say! While the heat might dilate your pores, it can also damage your capillaries and your skin’s moisture barrier, leaving your skin dry, irritated, and more susceptible to all kinds of damage. Stick to lukewarm water when rinsing your face.
- Do remember to clean the often forgotten parts of the face, like very close to the hair line, the eyebrows, and below the jawline.
- Don’t use a back and forth rubbing motion when removing your makeup! Instead, only wipe in one direction for the eyes, and rub in gentle circular motions for the face.
- Do switch to a new cotton pad once the cotton pad you’ve been using is totally covered with makeup on both sides.
Homemade Makeup Remover
Making your own oil-based makeup removers is one of the easiest things you can do! Literally any oil can work as a makeup remover, and you don’t have to do much!
However, I have some suggestions for oils, as well as how to make the process overall nicer.
If you have dry skin, then choose a more moisturizing oil like olive oil, jojoba oil, or sweet almond oil. If your skin is on the oilier side, you might want a non-comedogenic oil like grape seed oil or cold-pressed sunflower oil.
You will need:
- 1 opaque container (ideally of glass), with an orifice reducer top
- Botanical oil, based on your skin type
- (Optional) a few drops of a skin-safe essential oil
Pour your oil into your opaque container. Add in a few drops of essential oil. Give it a shake, and you’re ready to get cleaning!
Photos via @bymaleiah
