How do you remove your makeup? I’ve got some tips to help get rid of all that foundation and improve your skin at the same time.

If you’re just washing your face in the shower or quickly before bed then you might not be getting rid of all traces of makeup. Try this test: after cleansing, rub your face with a face wipe or cotton pad dipped in toner and see what comes off. If you see foundation, your skin is not clean. This means you are probably going to bed with makeup still on your skin! If you get breakouts and blemishes, this could be the root of your problems.

This isn’t just a beauty industry trick to try and convince you to buy more products. Most ordinary cleansers do the job well enough, they just need a little assistance.

Use A Cloth

A simple facewasher or microfiber towel will help to work that makeup off your face. After applying your cleanser, gently rub your face with the cloth. Don’t miss any areas! Make sure to wash the cloth regularly, or use a different one each day. You should be able to wash them in the washing machine when you do a normal load of washing.

Cleanse For At Least 30 Seconds

Most of us apply cleaner to our faces, rub it in for a few seconds and then rinse it off. This isn’t really long enough. Instead, try massaging the cleanser into your skin for at least 30 seconds. Really work it over your face and neck, and then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Continue massaging as you rinse to make sure all traces of the cleanser are removed. For a seriously deep clean, cleanse twice.

Get Obsessed With Face Wipes

Face wipes are one of the easiest ways to get rid of your makeup. Simply swipe across your face, rubbing a little bit harder at any areas that contain heavier makeup. Then you'll get the absolutely joy (secondary only to inspecting pore strips) of looking at just how much makeup you've removed from your skin. Follow with your regular cleanser and nightly routine. Try Wotnot Facial Wipes available in the bellabox store.

Use A Specific Makeup Remover

You might prefer to add another step to your skincare routine. The addition of a dedicated makeup remover can do wonders for your skin, plus if you wear a lot of eyeliner and mascara you’ll find it much easier to remove these. There are so many different products out there. Removal balms like Clinique’s Take The Day Off and The Body Shop’s Camomile Cleansing Butter are massaged onto dry skin and help melt away your foundation. If you want to go old school, a simple cold cream rubbed over your face will help break down the makeup and make it much easier to remove. For stubborn eye makeup try Neal’s Yard Eye Makeup Remover. Follow this with your regular cleanser.

Need more advice? Read our four tips for pimple free skin!

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