Removing make-up properly is a vital step in any skincare routine. Find the formula to suit your skin – plus 12 products to try.
Whether you wear the full gamut of maquillage or just a hint of coverage, taking the day off (including sweat, SPF, pollution and dirt) is a crucial first step in your evening beauty routine. It allows skin to breathe, unclogs pores and enables your subsequent skincare steps to effectively penetrate the skin and get to work as your skin renews overnight.
By now we all know make-up wipes are neither good for the environment nor skin, doing nothing to truly breakdown our make-up and remove it cleanly from the skin. If traces of make-up are left, it can lead to acne, blocked pores, dullness and irritation, especially around the eyes.
Read on for tips on how to find the right make-up remover for your skin’s needs to effectively erase the day without stripping the skin.
Always make sure that you scan packaging for the term ‘non-comedogenic’, meaning it won’t clog pores. This is crucial given that the idea of a make-up remover is to clear and cleanse pores of the day’s make-up and grime.
Again, do your research and avoid ingredients lists containing alcohol, fragrance and sodium lauryl sulphate to prevent irritating and stripping the skin of its natural oils and upsetting its natural microbiome.
Find the right formula for your skin – whether you need a water-free option, a blemish-busting treatment or a cleanser that will nourish whilst it cleanses. We outline four textures to try depending on your needs, plus nine products we rate, starting at £5.
A popular texture for sensitive skins, milks and creams are calming and gentle, without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Ideal for soothing complexions that don’t react well to water-based cleansers.
Micelles – or oil droplets, suspended in water – can draw out impurities, breakdown make-up and often contain hydrating ingredients for a moisture boost too. A good first cleanse, especially on stubborn eye-make-up, before going in with a nourishing or treatment step with skincare benefits.
These are great for skin that needs a lightweight, hydrating or treatment cleanser. A formula popular with blemish-prone skins, it’s also a good fit for those looking for exfoliation in their cleanse step for brighter, clearer skin. When opting for a foaming formula, make sure that it is non-drying. A gel-formula doesn’t have to equal squeaky, stripped skin.
Perfect for mature or drier skins that need some added TLC along with a cleanse, balms and oils are packed with skin-softening and nourishing plant oils and butters to add much-needed vitamins and moisture-boosting plant glycerins. These help to strengthen and repair the skin’s natural barrier.
By Lydia Mansi
September 2022
By now we all know make-up wipes are neither good for the environment nor skin, doing nothing to truly breakdown our make-up and remove it cleanly from the skin. If traces of make-up are left, it can lead to acne, blocked pores, dullness and irritation, especially around the eyes.
Read on for tips on how to find the right make-up remover for your skin’s needs to effectively erase the day without stripping the skin.
What To Look Out For In A Make-Up Remover
Always make sure that you scan packaging for the term ‘non-comedogenic’, meaning it won’t clog pores. This is crucial given that the idea of a make-up remover is to clear and cleanse pores of the day’s make-up and grime.
Again, do your research and avoid ingredients lists containing alcohol, fragrance and sodium lauryl sulphate to prevent irritating and stripping the skin of its natural oils and upsetting its natural microbiome.
Find the right formula for your skin – whether you need a water-free option, a blemish-busting treatment or a cleanser that will nourish whilst it cleanses. We outline four textures to try depending on your needs, plus nine products we rate, starting at £5.
Milks & Creams
A popular texture for sensitive skins, milks and creams are calming and gentle, without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Ideal for soothing complexions that don’t react well to water-based cleansers.
TRY:
ROC
Multi-Action Milk Make-Up Remover, £13.49La Roche Posay
Toleriane, £20The Ordinary
Squalane Cleanser, £5.50Micellar Waters
Micelles – or oil droplets, suspended in water – can draw out impurities, breakdown make-up and often contain hydrating ingredients for a moisture boost too. A good first cleanse, especially on stubborn eye-make-up, before going in with a nourishing or treatment step with skincare benefits.
TRY:
Garnier
Vitamin C Micellar Water, £6.99CeraVe
Micellar Cleansing Water, £11Bioderma
Sensibio H20 Eye, £12Gel & Treatment Washes
These are great for skin that needs a lightweight, hydrating or treatment cleanser. A formula popular with blemish-prone skins, it’s also a good fit for those looking for exfoliation in their cleanse step for brighter, clearer skin. When opting for a foaming formula, make sure that it is non-drying. A gel-formula doesn’t have to equal squeaky, stripped skin.
TRY:
Antipodes
Gospel Vitamin C Gel Cleanser, £25Glow Recipe
Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser, £31Kate Somerville
ExfoliKate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash, £38Balms & Oils
Perfect for mature or drier skins that need some added TLC along with a cleanse, balms and oils are packed with skin-softening and nourishing plant oils and butters to add much-needed vitamins and moisture-boosting plant glycerins. These help to strengthen and repair the skin’s natural barrier.
TRY:
Drunk Elephant
Slaai Make Up Melting Butter Cleanser, £31Caudalie
Vinoclean Make Up Removing Cleansing Oil, £18Elemis
Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter, £30By Lydia Mansi
September 2022
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Lydia Mansi
Lifestyle Editor
Lydia is an all-round lifestyle guru, tireless champion of women in business and our resident expert on beauty.
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