Stripping Naked – Taking My Makeup Off

I’ve done so many FOTD posts, but wanted to do something a little different. So, today I am showing you how I take off my makeup, what I use and how I do it. It’s not often I lay myself bare like this, but it means I can share some products with you that I use and maybe you’ll find something that you’ve not heard of before.

Stripping Naked - Let's get me naked!
Stripping Naked – Let’s get me naked!

So, here we have me (Hey <waves>) all made up, but it’s the end of the day and I need to get this off my face. See I do love makeup, but strangely love removing it at the end of the day and seeing my face bare – a reverse transformation if you like. Before I go on, please ignore my lovely pink shower cap on my head! I was doing a hair treatment pre-colouring and needed my hair covered. I don’t usually sleep in this!

1. The first thing I ever apply to my face is my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. Now, I don’t really think this is how it’s supposed to be used, but I find this great at removing a lot of my makeup in one go and getting my face prepared for the next stages. I apply this to my face and leave it to work a minute or so. I then take my muslin cloth (Which luckily I have a few of as it goes straight in the wash afterwards) and run it under the hot tap. Wiping most of my makeup off and leaving me looking something like Alice Cooper (Mmm attractive).

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is a must!
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is a must!

2. What I do next is a little strange but bear with me ok? I take my Queen Cosmetics Eye Makeup Remover and smear this all over my eyes. It’s a great product because it doesn’t sting at all and I put it all over my lashes and under my eyes. It’s really gentle too and I apply it quite heavy. It now looks like I’m a panda, but this doesn’t last long. I leave the eye makeup remover working while I go onto the next part.

Panda Eyes! Queens Cosmetics Eye Makeup Remover is the most gentle eye makeup remover! Perfect for those with sensitive sore eyes!
Panda Eyes! Queens Cosmetics Eye Makeup Remover is the most gentle eye makeup remover! Perfect for those with sensitive sore eyes!

3. My cleanser is next which I used to remove the other traces of dirt, grime and makeup from my face. I found that although Eau Thermale Avene Gentle Cleanser is extremely light on the face and good for sensitive skin, my eyes just don’t like it. So, I apply this to all my face with a cotton pad avoiding my eyes and the Queens Cosmetic Eye Makeup Remover. My face feels clean and cleansed after, all traces of makeup are gone and it’s just my Panda Eyes that need sorting!

Eau Thermale Gentle Cleanser is great for sensitive skin and removing make up
Eau Thermale Gentle Cleanser is great for sensitive skin and removing make up

4. Taking a few cotton pads (I do wear a lot of eye makeup) I dampen them lightly with a water spray (I actually use Eau Thermal Avene Water Spray, but this is through pure laziness and normal tap water is just as good for this job!) and then remove my eye makeup. This may take a few tries in honesty, I like all traces to be removed but the Queens Cosmetics Eye Makeup Remover makes this job super easy!

Eau Thermale Avene Spring Water Spray - Laziness personified but its great for dampening brushes, sponges and cotton pads!
Eau Thermale Avene Spring Water Spray – Laziness personified but its great for dampening brushes, sponges and cotton pads!

5. When my face is bare and naked I then like to tone it, my favourite toner which doesn’t react to my sensitive skin is the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic, which I have in a spritzer bottle. Super quick, 2 or 3 sprays around my face and my skin feels amazing – not forgetting smells great too!

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic is my favourite toner, it smells amazing too!
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic is my favourite toner, it smells amazing too!

6. No its time to moisturise, lately I’ve stopped using serum/oils at night. Although my skin really loves them my favourite is a little pricey and I use it twice as fast if I used it at night too (Got to think of the purse strings). So, at present I use 2 different moisturisers depending how my skin is feeling. If I’m menstrual (My skin gets slightly oilier then) I use Liz Earl Skin Repair Moisturiser in Normal/Combination. My skin really loves this product but only when its oilier than normal. Generally though I have 2 favourites for my dry skin which I absolutely love and swear by, Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream (Very reasonable and amazing!) or Eau Thermale Avene Skin Recovery Cream. Today, I’m using the Skin Recovery Cream (My fourth tube of it may I add, but it lasts really well and my skin looks better for using it) which I massage all over my face, but again avoid the eye area.

Moisturiser, my skin drinks this! I love Eau Thermale Avene Skin Recovery Cream
Moisturiser, my skin drinks this! I love Eau Thermale Avene Skin Recovery Cream

7. Nearly finished now I promise! Two more products for the eyes. I apply my eye cream which I’ve just changed as I didn’t find my previous one was that great, so am now trying and using a sample I have of the Liz Earle Smoothing Line Serum. So far, I’m really impressed with this. It works well on my eyes, is gentle and doesn’t react with my eczema I have under my eyes. I lightly pat the product under my eyes, onto my lids and any fine lines (I have frown lines if you haven’t noticed).

 Liz Earle Smoothing Line Serum has been working wonders on my fine lines
Liz Earle Smoothing Line Serum has been working wonders on my fine lines

8. Last product for the eyes is my eye lash Growth Serum from GOSH. I started using this just over 3 weeks ago and can say I have definitely noticed an improvement in eye lash loss, I have also seen growth (This has been more apparent in the 3 weeks) and thickness/volume. I apply this to the base of my upper lashes and then swipe down any remaining product over the lashes.

Gotta make my lashes long and luscious! GOSH Growth Serum has been really working for me and its so reasonable too
Gotta make my lashes long and luscious! GOSH Growth Serum has been really working for me and its so reasonable too

9. Last final product, lip balm. I choose anyone at hand and I have a lot. I love my original Carmex and mostly use this. Just a small swipe over my lips so they are moisturised and ready for the next day.

Naked. No makeup, my skin feels amazing and is ready for a good nights sleep!
Naked. No makeup, my skin feels amazing and is ready for a good nights sleep!

I know, that sounds a lot of work doesn’t it? But all my makeup is removed, my skin feels amazing and looks clean and fresh. Plus, it takes about 5-10 minutes to do! My skin is looking so much better for it too.

I think its really good to have a skin care routine. You only get 1 skin after all and looking after it really helps. I’m 37 now, I still don’t really look my age and although that has much to do with genes (Both my Mum and Nan still look fabulous!), taking care of my skin helps too.

I hope you enjoyed my post with a difference today, it makes a change from a ‘Get Ready with Me’ or ‘Face of the Day’ and shows my skincare regime. Maybe, I’ll do a day time one next.

Lots of Love,

Mel xxxx