How To Remove Makeup: Bare-Faced Beauty in 9 Easy Steps
Discover how to remove makeup, eye makeup and sunscreen with my 9 simple steps for fresh-faced, makeup-free skin.
- 12th March 2024
- By Charlotte Tilbury
6 minute read
Darlings, there’s nothing more satisfying than taking off your makeup at the end of the night. Discover how to remove makeup without scrubbing and scraping your skin and learn how to use my skin-cleansing secrets like Charlotte’s Magic Hydration Revival Cleanser and Take It All Off to ensure removing makeup is quick and easy.
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How To Remove Makeup: 9 Easy Steps
1. Remove jewellery and tie hair back
First thing’s first, darlings, you will need to remove any jewellery and tie your hair back before applying makeup remover. Wearing rings can be abrasive on your skin when applying skincare, so it’s best to go sans jewellery when removing your makeup. Long hair and bangs can also get in the way when washing your face, but this is easily addressed by slicking hair back with a headband or using a hair tie.
2. Choose a high-performance, effective makeup remover
Always reach for a high-performance makeup remover that makes removing makeup quick and easy. I created Take It All Off makeup remover to effectively dissolve makeup including hard-to-shift formulas like lip stains and waterproof mascara. It’s infused with comforting CHAMOMILE and soothing EYEBRIGHT, helping to hydrate and condition skin while removing all traces of today’s makeup look.
3. Shake to activate your makeup remover
When using a biphase makeup remover like Take It All Off, shaking the bottle before use will activate the formula. Shaking Take It All Off will cause the oil and water layers to mix, ensuring that you are getting all the benefits of both elements when removing your makeup.
Tilbury Tip: Always remember to check the lid is on securely before you shake, darlings!
4. Soak a cotton pad with makeup remover
To apply makeup remover, I recommend using a soft cotton pad that gently swipes onto the skin. Cotton pads are preferable to cotton balls as they are easier to manoeuvre around the face and are less likely to shed cotton fibres. Once you have shaken your makeup remover, soak a cotton pad with enough product to cover your entire face.
Tilbury Tip: Reusable cotton pads are better for the environment, darlings. Remove your makeup with a reusable cotton pad, then wash it at a high temperature to cleanse it ready for reuse.
5. Swipe over your lips, lids, and lashes
When removing your makeup, start with the most stubborn areas – your lips, eyelids, and eyelashes. Makeup products like longwearing lipstick and liquid eyeliner can be difficult to remove and it can be tempting to scrub away at them, however, this can irritate your skin. Instead, use a high-performance makeup remover and lightly press your cotton pad onto makeup and hold for 10 seconds to let the formula take hold, then gently swipe to remove.
Tilbury Tip: Take your time when removing your makeup, paying attention to hard-to-reach areas like the corners of the eyes. Working in sections will help to prevent you from swiping lipstick and mascara all over your face.
6. Remove foundation and other complexion products
After removing your eye makeup and lip products, swipe onto the rest of your face to melt away your base makeup. Use gentle, swiping motions, starting from your nose and moving outwards along your cheeks, across your forehead, and along your jawline.
Tilbury Tip: If you wear bright colours or full-coverage makeup, you may want to use a fresh cotton pad for this step.
7. Don’t forget your ears, neck, and hairline
It’s easy to forget certain areas of your face when removing your makeup. Some common faux pas are forgetting to remove foundation and sunscreen from your ears and neck, as well as missing makeup that has travelled into your hairline. Be thorough with your makeup removal and keep a keen eye for leftover makeup.
8. Deeply cleanse with facial cleanser
Makeup remover and facial cleanser go hand in hand, darlings. Once you have removed your makeup with makeup remover, cleanse your complexion with a gentle cleanser to wash away any last traces of makeup and excess product. I created Charlotte’s Magic Hydration Revival Cleanser to cleanse skin to the power of three – it hydrates, cleanses, and gives your complexion a magic, fresh-faced glow while washing away any last traces of stubborn makeup.
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9. Revive the look of skin with magic skincare
After cleansing your skin, complete your skincare routine to nourish and replenish your complexion. I recommend applying Charlotte’s Magic Hydrator Mist and Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir after removing makeup, then moisturising with Charlotte’s Magic Water Cream, my fragrance-free gel moisturiser that drenches skin with hydration to immediately revives the look and feel of skin after thorough makeup removal.
Tilbury Tip: If you’re looking for a nourishing night cream to apply before bed, discover Magic Night Cream for overnight skin rescue – it’s like beauty sleep, bottled!
How To Remove Makeup: More FAQs
Does cleanser remove makeup?
Yes – applying a face cleanser is an effective way to wash away makeup. It works best when used in tandem with a makeup remover. First, use a makeup remover like Take It All Off to dissolve and melt makeup, then cleanse with a gentle cleanser like NEW! Charlotte’s Magic Hydration Revival Cleanser to wash makeup away and reveal a glowing, makeup-free canvas.
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How often should I wash my face if I wear makeup?
Everyone should wash their face twice a day, whether they wear makeup or not. It’s best to wash your face once in the morning and again in the evening. If you are wearing makeup, your face will require a more thorough cleanse. Add a makeup remover like Take It All Off to your skincare routine and always remove your makeup before going to bed – no exceptions!
Discover how to wash your face
Is it better to remove makeup before or after shower?
It’s best to remove makeup before getting into the shower. Warm, steamy showers can cause your pores to enlarge which in turn can allow makeup to sink deeper into them. By removing makeup before you shower, you are helping to prevent your pores from becoming clogged while freshening up your complexion before you shower. Once you are in the shower, the water will then help to rinse away any final traces of makeup.
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Author Details
Charlotte Tilbury
Founder, President, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty
With over 30 years experience, Charlotte Tilbury MBE is the world's number 1 makeup artist and British beauty entrepreneur. Charlotte established Charlotte Tilbury Beauty in 2013, which is now a record-breaking beauty brand that has won over 400 awards.
