I have tried a lot of different make up and skincare products in my life, and with most products I realise it's difficult to have an absolute opinion because it works for some people and it doesn't work for others. But I can GUARANTEE, that this is ONE product that works for every skin type, it's budget friendly, comes in different sizes (great for travel), has been tried and tested for generations in my family, it doesn't contain any harmful chemicals & is super gentle on your skin.
Ok prepare yourself. I'm going to tell you my secret, and it's going to change your life - Johnson's baby oil! yes! you read right, it's baby oil!
It is honestly the best & most gentle make up remover you will ever use. If you wear a lot of heavy make up or eyeliner/mascara, you will know how difficult it is to get out product completely without damaging your skin. There are times when I'm toning and my cotton pad picks up bits of dried waterproof mascara a day or maybe two days later (even after double cleansing!) In addition to taking off all the product, when you use removers that aren't that good, you end up tugging and pulling sensitive skin around your eyes that can lead to discolouration, eye bags and redness.
So here's my best tip for removing make up: ditch the cotton pads, make up removing wipes, fancy removers and cleansing balms, and get yourself a muslin cloth/soft handkerchief and a bottle of Johnson's baby oil.
The first thing to do is pour a little oil onto your palm and rub it into your skin with circular motions - eyes, mouth, cheeks and all. This helps to disintegrate the make up and break it down before you use your cleanser/facial scrub. It's not pretty and you definitely come away looking like a panda but it's worth it! Trust me! (I even use my finger tips to work the oil into each individual lash). Once you feel like the make up has broken down sufficiently (and your reflection scares you a little - stage 4 of panda eyes),
Use a muslin cloth or your handkerchief to wipe away all the product. It comes off in one clean smooth wipe. (I keep a few of these cloths handy, because they do tend to stain, even if you wash them). Once you've cleansed with oil (this is what the beauty industry refers to as oil cleansing), sometimes I like using a cotton pad with micellar water just to go over it and pick up the remaining bits of product that might still be left behind (leaving any product behind is a serious pore clogging hazard!!!) If I feel like all the product has come off, then I skip this step entirely & instead use my trusty facial scrub (Fresh Cosmetics' Strawberry Sugar Face Polish) or current daily cleanser (Clinique or Dr.Sebagh's oil control cleanser), followed by toner, serum and moisturiser.
Why I don't use make up wipes? Fancy removers? Micellar Water only?
I personally think that make up wipes are the least preferable option from this list. They do not take off your make up entirely and clog your pores. They're soaked in chemicals that are harsh on your skin, and that's why I just stay away from them completely! (Face it, it's not even good for the environment, going through packets and packets of this stuff!) Similar to wipes, I think fancy chemical make up removers often fall short too and this leads to tugging and pulling your skin in an attempt to get every last bit of make up off, while exposing your face to harsh chemicals after its already had a hard enough day. Another reason I don't use chemical make up removers is because I feel like using a cotton pad is just not the right option to take off all your make up; the surface area of one pad is just too small, which means you have to use a million (not cost effective or sustainable at all!) and i find the fibres often stick to my lashes or eyebrows which I absolutely hate! With muslin cloths or handkerchiefs, you can use them for years and just hand wash them after every alternate use. For people who don't use a lot of heavy make up, a good option is micellar water. What is it? Micellar water is made up of tiny oil cleansing globules suspended in water, it essentially follows the same principal as using an oil based cleanser but because it's suspended in water, it's slightly easier to work with and while I think both Bioderma and Garnier have come up with amazing products, I still struggle to get off all my waterproof make up if I use only this, but nonetheless a good affordable option, especially when you're travelling!
Why you should never use just 'any' other home-pressed oil (coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil) - A very important tip to remember is not to use just any other oil you find at home, while different essences & oils have several healing properties, oils that are not used for cosmetic purposes do not have the necessary solvents in them, and using them in their natural form can cause you to have rashes/breakouts. This is because they form a thin layer on top of your skin, that doesn't budge EVEN after washing with water and soap (as we traditionally know fat molecules repel water molecules) and this could lead to clogged pores, which is the root cause for most skin problems: Acne, blackheads, whiteheads, etc. so make sure you don't get creative for this one! stick to a known cosmetic brand like Johnson's! At less than INR 100 or (£1) for a small bottle that will easily last you 6 months to a year, it puts all other budget friendly options to shame!
I hope you've enjoyed reading this, and if you have any other questions about make up removers, cleansing balms or towels, feel free to leave them in the comment section below or dm me on instagram @alldressedupandnowheretogo20, and I'll be sure to respond :)
Happy almost weekend :) lots of love xx Far