Photo: number one (Shutterstock)
The worst part about makeup is losing weight at the end of the day. Disposable makeup wipes and cotton pads are expensive and wasteful, but most people consider them a necessary evil. Assuming your cleaner can’t remove makeup on its own, you need something to do it. But here’s the thing: no matter what type of facial cleanser you use, it can remove makeup. All you have to do is apply it on a dry face.
Splashing water on your face before cleaning is probably a given at this point, but it will only make the job of your detergent more difficult – especially if you’re wearing makeup, sunscreen, or both. Neither will dissolve in water, so the first few splashes will hang on the surface of your skin and create a barrier between your detergent and the material you want to remove. When you apply it to dry skin, there is no barrier so the surfactants can easily dissolve your waterproof foundation and zinc-based sunscreen. All you have to do is flush it away.
You can do this with literally any detergent in any format – liquids, gels, foams, creams, and even bars all work great. Just pump or squeeze a generous amount of the cleanser into your hands and massage into your dry face for about 30 seconds. (For bars of soap, put a lather under the faucet first and then apply the soapy water to your face.) If you’re using a super-gentle, mild cleanser, try dabbing a little on your eyes to dissolve the mascara and eyeliner.it doesn’t drip in your eyes until you add water.
Your makeup should be pretty well dissolved by this point, but for added security, slide your fingers under the faucet and use the extra water to emulsify the cleaner a little. Now you can rinse your face thoroughly and pat dry. If there are any mascara stragglers, clean them up with a damp cotton swab or washcloth.
This process is gentler, cheaper, and more effective than any other makeup remover I’ve tried. It reliably dissolves everything from minimal makeup to a full face without causing a surprising rosacea flare, which is more than I can say for makeup wipes and micellar water. If you’ve burned yourself with makeup remover in the past – or just need an easy way to wash off your thick, greasy sunscreen – aren’t spending your money on products that may not help. Your regular cleaner is probably all you need.
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