March 07, 2017

Natural Make-up Removal Tips

 

 

 If you wear makeup, chances are you love the ease of makeup remover wipes. They come in these neat packages, filled with things that smell good and give you a clean face in seconds-or so we’ve been led to think. Those wipes are made with chemicals that can leave a residue on your skin, and let’s face it-who rinses their face after using them? Isn’t that the point of it being so easy? So you go to sleep with who-knows-what seeping into your skin. We barely know what’s in makeup these days (with the exception of some natural brands) and we’re not too sure about what’s in those wipes, either. Is the easiness worth it?


The good news is, I have a few simple, natural makeup-removing hacks using things you can find in your kitchen and DIY beauty staples. Including a DIY version of the wipes we’ve grown to love/hate.


Personally, I only wear eye makeup. Liquid and powder foundations don’t allow my skin to breathe, so I stopped wearing them before the natural versions went on the market. To remove my eyeliner and mascara at night, I place a little oil on a cotton ball or washcloth, rub my eyes gently until the black gunk is gone. Then I’ll rinse with warm water. Bonus: I’ll take a washcloth with warm water, lay it over my face for a quick steam treatment, then gently exfoliate. This is by far the easiest and most gentle method. You may have heard of it-it’s a mini version of the oil cleansing method. Some crunchy makeup-wearers are fans of this method. They slather oil all over their face and wipe it off with a warm, wet washcloth. No harsh chemicals here, so it doesn’t strip your skin of moisture.


I like to use coconut oil, jojoba or sweet almond oil to remove my eye makeup. Jojoba oil is the closest to our natural sebum (oil produced by our skin) so it’s really the best for this. You could even blend a number of your preferred oils and keep in a small container for easy use or travel. I would recommend staying away from coconut oil for full-face makeup removal since it can clog pores.


If you need something with a bit more power to remove foundation, try making an elixir with witch hazel. All you need is a small bottle, witch hazel, the oil of your choice, and water. Look for alcohol-free witch hazel so it won’t sting your skin or eyes. Add two tablespoons of each ingredient to the bottle. When you’re ready to use it, shake it up, add a few drops of the elixir to a cotton ball or round, apply to your face, rinse, and you’re good to go!   


If you’re still set on the makeup remover wipes, here’s an easy DIY method. It uses the same recipe as above, with an added natural antibacterial agent and paper towels.

 

You will need:

Makeup remover exlir

A roll of paper towels (cut in half)

A container with a lid

Tea tree essential oil


Steps:

Add your elixir to the bottom of the container, add 1 or 2 drops of the essential oil. Place the paper towels in the container and close the lid. Give it a little shake, and let the paper absorb the liquid. Next, remove the cardboard center. In no time, you’ll have super easy, skin-friendly wipes. And for my super green peeps, cut up an old t-shirt instead of paper towels for a reusable version.


Let’s aim for simple, clean skin care. I love using just a handful of ingredients that I can pronounce and know how they benefit my skin. Now you get to see how easy it is! Go get your glow on! - N