How to Remove Makeup the Right Way

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The way you take your makeup off at the end of the day is just as important — if not more so — as how you put it on. Going to sleep with traces of mascara or foundation might not seem like a big deal initially, but it can lead to a range of skin issues, such as clogged pores, uneven texture, dullness and irritation. Here, the actress Ellie Bamber, currently starring in the play “The Line of Beauty” at London’s Almeida Theatre; the drag artist Opera Tang, who regularly removes glitter, craft glue and hair spray (for setting) from her face after performances; and the makeup artist Tilda Mace, who’s known for her otherworldly special effects and whose clients include FKA Twigs and Megan Thee Stallion, share their best tips for proper makeup removal.

Ellie Bamber, 28, actress

I’m a little obsessed with makeup removal; it’s a ritual. After a long day onstage or in front of the camera, I’ll double- or triple-cleanse to make sure every trace is gone. I start with a cotton pad soaked in Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O Micellar Water to lift away the first layer. I follow that with a balm, like Sarah Chapman’s Ultimate Cleanse, and then Dr. Barbara Sturm’s foaming cleanser. I finish by swiping a cotton pad spritzed with Clinisept+’s Skin, a hypochlorous acid spray that I use as a toner, and exfoliate with Skinbetter’s AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads twice a week.
When I’m doing multiple makeup changes in a day, my skin can get a little stressed. So I try to fit in face masks whenever I can. I find them really soothing, especially when I’ve kept them chilled in the fridge. Rodial’s Pink Diamond Lifting Face Mask and 111SKIN’s Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask are two of my go-tos.
Be gentle with makeup removal. I use microfiber flannels, which I even pack when I’m filming on location. I also stick to cleansing with cool water to avoid irritating my skin with heat.