Removing make-up: the perfect make-up removal routine in six steps

You’re bound to have experienced this: You get home at last after a long day at work and you just want to crawl into bed. The thought of heading to the bathroom and removing your make-up does not really appeal. But you shouldn't skip this task even after a late party. If you go to sleep with your make-up on, you will have to face several unpleasant consequences:

• You’ll wake up in the morning with ‘panda eyes’ that come from smeared mascara, eyeshadow and eyeliner.
• Your pores will look enlarged. Maybe a spot will be starting to form.
• The skin will be irritated and will react with dry areas if you often fail to take your make-up off in the evening.
• Lashes with mascara on can break off more easily.
• The remaining particles of dirt or pollutants can cause oxidative stress, which encourages premature skin-ageing.

The problem is: If you don’t remove your make-up, then sweat, flaky skin, dirt and bacteria will remain on the skin, along with foundation, concealer and so on. Sebum cannot be properly excreted because the make-up is blocking the skin. This disturbs the skin’s overnight regeneration process. This can, in turn, encourager dry skin or spots. You should therefore remove your make-up properly every evening. Tip: Even if you have not been wearing make-up, you should carry out your skincare routine in the evening. Because your skin also benefits from thorough and gentle cleansing at this time.

Are you unsure how to go about removing your make-up properly? Our step-by-step guide shows you what you should look out for. This is how to thoroughly cleanse your skin in the evening and prepare it perfectly for a regenerating nightly rest.

Tie your hair back and wash your hands thoroughly. By doing this, you avoid bringing new bacteria to the skin whilst cleansing. A hairband will give your hair extra protection from getting wet as you cleanse your face.

To remove make-up from your eyelashes properly, we recommend eye make-up remover. Soak a cotton pad in the product, place it onto the closed eye and press gently. Let the cleansing product briefly soak in and then wipe off the mascara from the eyelashes, working from the inside to the outside with the pad. You can remove eyeshadow and eyeliner in the same way as well.

Traditional lipstick can be removed easily with traditional make-up removers or micellar water. It is more difficult with products that promise to be long-lasting and waterproof. With these you can once more reach for an oil-based cleanser or a rich lip balm.

Now cleanse the rest of the face – foundation, concealer, blusher and bronzer are removed in this step. A two-step system is best suited for this. Double-cleansing is particularly effective and tolerated well by the skin.

In the first step, remove most of the make-up. For this you can use, for example, a micellar water, a cleansing milk or an oil cleanser. Dry skin types benefit particularly from an oil-based cleanser because such cleansers provide additional hydration. For oily or normal skin, it is better to reach for a less moisturising product like micellar water or cleansing milk.

The second step removes the remainder of the make-up and the traces of the first cleanser. Not many people know this: Micellar water should also be washed off because it contains soap.

Caution, myth alert: Many people believe that this step is part of the cleansing routine. But a toner is not a cleanser – it’s a skincare product. If you use the right products first and have used the double-cleansing method, your skin should be completely free from dirt and make-up.

A toner rebalances the pH value of your skin and prepares it optimally for further skincare. Simply put the toner on a cotton pad or a reusable pad and sweep it over the skin. Don’t neglect frequently forgotten areas such as the roots of the hair, the ears and the spot between the chin and neck. There should now be no more traces of make-up on the cotton pad.

Now the skin is thoroughly cleansed and ready for extensive nourishment. This can be very individual and should be tailored to skin types. Combine serums, creams and face oils the way it feels good for you. In the evening, especially, maybe take time for a little facial massage to release the stress of the day.

Along with the skin type, it also depends on whether you prefer light make-up or creamy foundations, high-coverage concealers and waterproof mascara. Our tips will help you to find the right cleansing products:

To remove make-up from dry skin properly, we recommend a cleansing oil, cleansing lotion or milk. These products remove make-up as well as dirt and therefore protect the skin. Simply apply with the hands, massage in and finally remove with clean water. It is especially thorough and beneficial to use a muslin cloth dampened with warm water to remove the cleanser. If you are wearing a lot of make-up, you should use an oil-based product or eye make-up remover first.

You shouldn’t be afraid of oil-based cleansers even with oily or combination skin. These products remove all traces of make-up particularly thoroughly and care for the skin at the same time. You should just take care to finish with a cleansing gel or a cleansing foam. This removes excess oil and leaves the skin feeling comfortable.

Oils are also well-suited to sensitive skin. The moisturising texture provides a particularly protective way to remove make-up with little friction. But micellar water in combination with a cotton pad can be used as a good first cleansing step for sensitive skin – though with waterproof make-up, it is best to go for oil-based cleansers.