Finding a gentle and effective makeup remover can be a difficult task, especially when skin faces age-related changes. Here is advice from a dermatologist to find that rare gem.
Removing makeup is a crucial, even essential, step in your evening beauty routine. It helps rid the skin of makeup, but also of impurities and free radicals accumulated on the face during the day. This is why choosing the product you use carefully is extremely important. This goes without saying: we want it to be gentle on the eyes and skin, and extremely effective in freeing the skin from makeup. But depending on the stage of life, the needs are not quite the same. “When skin becomes mature, it produces less sebum. It therefore becomes more sensitive. Other factors also come into play: menopause, exposure to the sun or even tobacco.“, explains Dr. Baspeyras, dermatologist and spokesperson for the French Society of Dermatology.
In order to choose the right option to pamper your face after a long day, the professional advises choosing a certain type of product, particularly in the case of waterproof makeup. “The hydrolipidic film captures dirt throughout the day. To clean it properly, you need a product that is both aqueous and oily.“, she continues. Thus, a makeup remover oil or balm is preferred. It generally contains active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, lipids and even niacinamide in order to soothe the skin and gently cleanse it. This is also the key word of the dermatologist who has a golden rule to absolutely follow: “The best makeup remover is the one that doesn’t pull the skin.“And to add:”If you have to resort to a cream afterwards, there is a problem.“She then recommends trying a product two or three evenings, if you feel any discomfort, you stop and change your reference. There is no point in stripping your face, at the risk of damaging it and spending several weeks trying to repair the skin barrier.”With mature skin, the number one criterion we look for is tolerance and softness“insists Dr. Baspeyras.
In case of fairly pronounced makeup, the dermatologist advises carrying out a double cleansing (first with an oily product, then a second with a gentle cleanser). The little extra? “I like to finish with a little bit of thermal water and dab the skin in general. There are also floral lotions which are interesting, rose water in particular is very pleasant.“
On the other hand, if there is one thing to ban from our beauty shelves, it is makeup remover wipes: “It strips the skin, it’s aggressive, and it cleans poorly“, she assures us. Words from a skin pro!
