How to remove makeup properly before bed, step by step
A simple routine to take off eye, lip and face makeup without rubbing, plus lip care and cleaning your sponge and brushes.
However tired you are at the end of the day, taking your makeup off before bed is a step not to skip. Sleeping in makeup leaves skin looking tired and dull in the morning and weakens lashes over time. The good news: the right routine takes about five minutes.
Start with the eyes
Hold a cotton pad soaked in makeup remover on your closed eye for about ten seconds so mascara and eyeliner melt, then wipe gently downwards. The skin around the eyes is thin, so never rub.
Then the lips
Liquid and matte lipsticks are long-wearing and need a few seconds with the remover too. Hold the pad on your lips for a moment, then wipe from the corners to the centre.
Then the face
Use a fresh pad and wipe gently from the centre of your face outwards. Repeat until the pad comes away clean, and don't forget the hairline, under the chin and the neck.
Cleanse, then moisturise
After the remover, wash your face with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm, not hot, water, then apply your usual moisturiser. If your lips are dry, especially with air conditioning, apply a lip mask before bed and wake up to softer lips.
Clean your tools
- Sponge: wash it after every use with water and a little soap, squeeze it out and let it air-dry.
- Cream and foundation brushes: once a week.
- Powder and eyeshadow brushes: about every two weeks.
Clean tools give smoother makeup and keep your skin clean.
Common mistakes
- Rubbing your eyes hard to remove mascara.
- Using only wipes without washing your face afterwards.
- Using the same pad for the whole face.
From Ahla
AHLA Makeup Remover is gentle on the skin and removes makeup and impurities without harsh rubbing, in a 300ml bottle with a press pump that puts the right amount straight onto the pad. Pair it with the AHLA Hydrating Lip Mask for dry lips.
