Monday, 25 January 2016 10:43

What's Your Recipe for Properly Removing Makeup?

Written by   Gina Charles, D.O., founder of Dr. G Makeup Artist

Heading straight to bed and curling up underneath the comforter is especially tempting after a long day. However, this ceremonious event cannot take place without first removing any makeup. Removing makeup is crucial in preventing a plethora of skin care concerns, like enlarged or clogged pores, skin irritation, blemishes, and worn-out looking skin.

Eye Makeup Removal
For any work day or night out, it is recommended to wear waterproof mascara and eyeliner and a long-lasting or intensely-pigmented lipstick, even though it can be difficult to remove. Removing this type of makeup at the end of the day prevents clients from waking up with raccoon eyes and stained lips. An oil-based eye makeup remover for waterproof mascara and eyeliner should be used. Glycerin, the key ingredient in most eye makeup removers, aids in skin conditioning and reducing viscosity of products.

Directions
Apply a dime-sized amount of eye makeup remover to a cotton pad. Using cotton balls is not ideal because of the fibers it leaves behind. Close the eyes and hold the pad over the eyelids and eyelashes for 10 seconds, allowing the product to dissolve the waxes before wiping. Since the skin around the eye is sensitive, it is important to be gentle and not scrub when removing makeup from that region. Gently wipe around the eyelid, waterline, and eyelashes. For optimal results, use one pad for each eye.


For DIY lovers, the following household items can be substituted for eye makeup removers. DIY clients can use avocado oil, no tears baby shampoo, and vegetable oil/shortening. They can also try petroleum jelly (safest item used for removing waterproof eye makeup), three tablespoons of grapeseed oil and one tablespoon castor oil, and one part jojoba oil and two parts water. However, results have been shown to vary when compared to commercial products. Do not use the household items all at once.

Makeup Foundation Removal
After removing eye and lip makeup, proceed with removing long-lasting foundation, blush, concealer, and bronzer with makeup remover wipes. Using wipes will help remove the bulk of the makeup. An ingredient to avoid in makeup remover wipes is 2-bromo-2nitropane-1,3-diol. This chemical releases low levels of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Directions
Remove a makeup wipe from its package and wipe the entire face. After wiping off the majority of makeup, it is important to give the skin a proper cleanse. A daily facial cleanser product should be capable enough to remove residual makeup.


Wet the entire face and then massage a generous amount of cleanser all over it. Be sure to include the hairline, sideburns, and chin during this process. If a significant amount of long-lasting foundation is used, employ a cleansing brush to help break up the makeup after massaging the cleanser into the face.
Next, use a clean, damp washcloth to wipe the lather off the face. Then, rinse the face. Pat the face dry with a face towel (no rubbing). Now that the face is freshly cleansed, follow up with a normal post-cleanse routine (skin toning and moisturizing).

Remember, no matter how tiring the day was, removing makeup is non-negotiable. To promote healthy-looking skin, it is important to spend the extra few minutes needed to effectively remove makeup. Just like the body needs to breathe and be cleansed, the face does, too.

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