Melting My Face Off
One of the most common questions I'm asked as an esthetician is "What's the right way to remove my makeup?". Proper cleansing is the first and arguably the most important step in your nightly routine. Without a fresh, clean base the rest of your routine is a waste of time & good product and who has money to waste? "Not I", said the fly... New York is expensive and so is good bourbon. I need to save my money for Happy Hour, damn it.
It's easy to be lazy at the end of a long day and grab a makeup removal wipe to cleanse your face and call it clean. I promise, that wipe isn't doing anywhere near the cleansing job your think it is... I don't care what those commercials say. Using a wipe as the first step in your makeup removal process is fine, but what you do after that is what really counts. A proper cleanser combined with warm water will clean deeper and remove more dirt, oil, & makeup residue than any cotton wipe can. For my fellow makeup diehards who don't just throw on a little concealer, some powder, and a lip gloss, makeup wipes do very little to remove a full-fledged beat. For that, we have to break out the big guns...
Oil Up
For complete and total eradication of your beat nothing compares to oil-based makeup removers. Like attracts like - the oil molecules in the remover and the makeup are attracted to one another. When water is introduced it creates a creamy emulsion that breaks down any kind of makeup, even waterproof mascara or eyeliner. Oil-based cleansers or makeup removers are a great way to thoroughly remove makeup without stripping the skin of it's protective oils. For oily skin types, using an oil to cleanse can actually help balance sebum production, leading to an "oil-less" appearance over time. You don't even need to spend a pretty coin. The olive oil in your pantry can remove heavy makeup as well as nourish your face with Omega-3 fatty acids. Boscia is an awesome, affordable brand with two makeup removers I love. Their MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil is my go-to for melting off a full-face of makeup and is made with skin-loving avocado, olive, & jojoba oils. It also has a blend of amino acids to strengthen the skin as well as antioxidants to fight free radical damage. Boscia's Charcoal MakeUp Melter is a rich balm and dissolves even the most stubborn eye makeup. It has many of the same oils as the cleansing oil but has the added benefits of TWO types of activated charcoal, an ingredient known for helping detoxify the skin. Both products are water-soluble and rinse off easily without leaving a greasy residue on the skin's surface. I legitimately cannot live without them and will storm Boscia's corporate offices if they ever discontinue them. I sweatergawd...
Double Time
When I put on makeup, I PUT ON MAKEUP. I go big or I go bare. Doing my makeup has turned into my most relaxing and rewarding form of self-care. It's essentially meditation and I love using all the tools in my shimmery toolbox every time I put on a face. As much as I adore makeup, all those layers of primer, foundation, powder, shadow, highlight, & lipstick have to come off at the end of the night. That means double cleansing.
Effectively eradicating a full beat requires a two-step cleansing process. Once I've used one of the aforementioned oils, I always follow-up with a solid cleanser to finish the job. I'm an oily girl so I love a foaming cleanser like Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash. This cleanser has tea tree oil, Awapuhi, & soothing chamomile and is super gentle despite its foamy nature. Desert Essence is one of the first natural skin care brands I used and fifteen years later their products are still among my personal favorites.
Here's What You're NOT Gonna Do
In nearly a decade in the beauty biz I have come across some fairly unorthodox makeup removal methods (and even more strange makeup application methods but I digress). The most egregious of methods is Baby Oil. Yes... Baby Oil. "But Nandi, you said oil is the best". I sure did but a majority of Baby Oils' main ingredient is Mineral Oil, one of the most clogging oils on the market... even more so than coconut oil. Mineral Oil is a by-product from refining petroleum, the natural resource that makes fossil fuels. Would you use motor oil to remove your makeup? Nope. Moreso, would you use motor oil to hydrate your baby? Hell to the naw, Bobby B. Mineral Oil usage cosmetically leads to excessive blackheads, rough skin texture, & a lot of times causes sensitivity in the skin. Mineral Oil is a more common skin care ingredient than you think. It can be found in old school "Cold Cream" and even in some incredibly expensive "luxury" moisturizers. Are you experiencing sudden breakouts or clogs from a new product? Check the label for Mineral Oil. Always be sure to read the ingredients list on any oil, balm, or rich cream before buying to avoid damaging your skin in the long-run.
To recap: Don't just wipe, wash. Olive Oil can be your skin's coolest friend. Finally, baby oil shouldn't be used on babies nor on your baby face. I know we're all tired by the time we get home from a long day of slaying our various games but just a little bit of extra effort can go a long way to improve the health of your skin. Treat your face like the precious jewel that it is. You only get one...
Unless you're a Kardashian... then you get a few.
