We all wear makeup. In fact, according to a recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology, 95% of women wear some sort of cosmetics on a daily basis. But how many of us remove that makeup before we go to bed?
It's not just an inconvenience; leaving makeup on overnight can cause problems with your skin, including acne and breakouts. If you're not already removing your makeup completely every night before heading to bed, here are the reasons why you should:
- It will help keep your pores clear.
- It will prevent any bacteria that is on your face from spreading deeper into your skin and causing inflammation or infection.
- It will give your skin a chance to "breathe" overnight so it can repair itself naturally while you sleep without having to fight off anything foreign in its environment or protect itself from damage caused by harsh chemicals in makeup products or other skincare products that may be drying out your skin even more than it already is due to poor hydration levels from lack of water intake throughout the day (or night).
If you wear makeup, you know the struggle of removing it. But when you're trying to remove your makeup, there are two important things to keep in mind:
Don't rub! Rubbing can cause irritation and micro tears in your skin that leave behind debris from your makeup application.
Don't use harsh products. Harsh products can be too abrasive for the delicate skin on your face and can further irritate it if you're already experiencing irritation due to your makeup application.
How To Remove Your Makeup
The most important thing to do when removing your makeup is to double cleanse. This means using an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. Make sure you're using the right product for your skin type.
Oil based makeup removers are used to dissolve all types of makeup. This includes eye makeup and waterproof mascara, which can be difficult to remove with just soap and water. You can also use facial wipes to remove your face makeup, but those tend to be harsh on the skin so use sparingly or avoid them completely if you have very sensitive skin.
Step 1: Use an Oil Based Cleanser
I prefer to use any non-comedogenic oil as my all-purpose facial oil. Jojoba oil, Grapeseed oil, Argan oil, and Sweet Almond oil are all great for not clogging pores. After washing my face with warm water, I put about 5 drops of Jojoba oil in the palm of my hand and massage it all over my face for about 30 seconds, paying special attention to eye makeup. Once I've massaged it in, I wipe away all makeup with a clean towel or cotton pad. This will leave your skin feeling silky smooth!
Step 2: Use a Water Based Cleanser
Once you've removed all of your makeup using an oily cleanser, it's time to wash away any remaining residue using a water based cleanser like Luxury by Sofia’s 2 in 1 Organic Makeup Remover. Simply apply this cleanser to your damp face and wipe it off with a clean towel, or rinse off with warm water.
What to do after you remove your makeup?
After you remove your makeup, it's important to take care of your skin. Here are some tips on how to care for your skin:
Cleanse: Wash off the residue from your face with a gentle cleanser. Avoid using cleansers that contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as this ingredient can irritate sensitive skin and cause breakouts.
Toner: To balance out the pH levels in your skin and prepare it for moisturizing, apply a toner after cleansing. Toners help remove any remaining dirt or makeup residue from your pores and reduce oiliness on the surface of the skin.
Apply a hydrating and nourishing eye cream like the Luxury by Sofia Age Defying Eye Cream with Matrixyl 3000 around the delicate area under your eyes where fine lines and wrinkles can develop prematurely due to exposure to sun damage.
Moisturize with a face cream rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C or E like Luxury by Sofia’s face creams made with premium anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Sunscreen (during daylight hours): Sunscreen should be applied daily no matter what time of year it is. In addition to preventing sun damage, sunscreen will also prevent premature aging of your skin caused by UVA/UVB rays from the sun.
And remember to get a good night's rest!
