“Never sleep with makeup on.”

Every woman knows this age-old beauty wisdom by heart and most of us have our preferred makeup removing ritual. But a proper makeup removal routine that does not damage your skin is a bit more complicated than simply cleansing your face until there is no visible residue left. In this article, we compile makeup removal mistakes that we have made so you don’t have to.

Not Removing Every Last Bit Of Makeup

Tired after a long day out? Don’t skimp on your makeup removal routine. Use an adequate amount of makeup remover and let it sit on your skin long enough so that all traces of makeup can be dissolved. When it comes to the delicate eye area, place cotton pads soaked with makeup removing solution and let them sit for 1-2 minutes before wiping off stubborn mascara, eyeliner or eyeshadow.

Dermatologist Ranella Hirsch advises, “Let the technology do the work. Apply makeup remover and let it sit, and sit some more. Give it a couple minutes, say, while you brush and floss.”

Pick Cleansers Over Makeup Wipes

No matter how gentle makeup wipes claim to be, these sheets generate unnecessary waste that is detrimental to the environment. Rubbing facial wipes on your skin causes micro-tears and pushes makeup deeper into your pores. Some people may advocate using baby wipes because they think that if the wipes are sensitive enough for baby skin, they should be good enough for their faces. However, baby wipes are not designed to effectively remove makeup so chances are there will be traces left.

If you really have to use makeup wipes because you do not have any other types of makeup remover on hand, follow up with a regular cleanser after as not all wipes are formulated to be left on your skin.

Not Using A Cleanser Developed For Makeup Removal

Using a regular facial cleanser is not enough to remove your makeup. Such cleansers are designed to only rinse off dirt, excess oil and impurities that sit on your complexion and they do not have the technology to break down cosmetic particles. If you find visible makeup traces on your towel when dabbing your skin dry or smudges underneath your eyes when waking up the next morning, chances are your cleanser is not doing a good enough job.

Instead, switch to using a cleansing milk such as our luxurious Organic 2 In 1 Makeup Remover & Luxury Cleanser that combines makeup removal and facial cleansing into one easy step for a fuss-free experience.

Neglecting The Edges Of Your Eyes & Nose

Hard to reach areas of your face, such as the corners of your eyes and nose, may be overlooked resulting in makeup build-up over time that can lead to serious issues like eye infections and severe breakouts. Go slow when tackling these hard to access areas, massage gently with makeup remover and rinse over a few times.

Forgetting About Your Hairline, Chin & Neck

If you had applied foundation close to your hairline and on your chin and neck, you will need to use a makeup remover on these areas as well. Not doing so will clog your pores and trigger breakouts. Push your fringe back with an elastic headband to properly cleanse near your hairline. When rinsing off with lukewarm water, ensure that no cleanser residue is left on your chin and neck.

Not Following Up With Moisturizer Immediately After

The best time to apply hydrating skincare products is immediately after you have cleansed your skin so as to lock in the moisture and take advantage of clean damp skin to boost absorption. Apply your skincare routine after you have removed your makeup, such as a serum, eye gel and moisturizer, then treat your lips to a nourishing lip balm.

Now that you are aware of these common makeup removal mistakes, bear them in mind so that your cleansing ritual does not sabotage your goal of achieving healthy glowing skin.