I’d had a hectic event-filled last weekend, with a good friend’s wedding on one day and my little nephew’s first birthday party on the other. I think I need a weekend after that weekend! It was the first time in a long time that I’d worn makeup every single day of a week, late into the night. When I got home, it was all I could do to stop myself from falling into bed and crashing.
Yet, I dragged myself to my dresser to go through my makeup removal ritual, finishing off in the shower. And feeling heaps better for it! Do you ever feel like this? Or have you ever felt that you were too tired or even lazy to remove your makeup before falling into bed?
You shouldn’t of course. Going to bed with your makeup on is bad for your skin (and disaster for your sheets!) Never mind if it’s mineral makeup or natural makeup. Makeup is makeup. You should only go to bed with nothing on your skin except your skincare. So, here are a few ways to make the makeup removal task after a long day, or late night out, quicker and more painless, without damaging your skin.
Use a cleansing oil
I haven’t used a cleansing oil regularly in at least 6 months because I find it too drying for my skin. But, I keep a bottle on stand by because a cleansing oil is perfect as an all-in-one express makeup remover when it’s late or you’re tired. You don’t have to hassle with eye makeup remover or face makeup remover. Just use the oil all over, wash it off and it does the trick! Perfect for quick removal of waterproof makeup.
For a high end version, Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils get a lot of love. From the drugstore/pharmacy, get the Hada Labo Cleansing Oil. Here are the many I’ve used over the years.
Try an all-in-one cleansing balm
Cleansing balms are something new to me, and I’ve only tried 2 so far – Eve Lom and Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser. But this is an on-going journey for me, so I’m going to try more as I go along. I’ve found that the Eve Lom one does a pretty decent makeup removal job, and it leaves my skin feeling very clean thereafter, ready to proceed with my skincare. So, I like that.
Don’t lie down
Well, unless you are really unable to stand on your feet any longer (or drunk :P) don’t lie down when you get home. Inertia and tiredness will ensure you’ll find yourself there for a few hours. What I do when I get home and am exhausted, is to immediately start the shower running, and to immediately remove my makeup. Once you get the process started, it usually flows quite smoothly.
Makeup Remover Wipes will do it in a pinch
I don’t like using cleansing wipes. I’ve tried them over the years and they may work while you’re out, with no access to clean water, but if I have access to water, I use a proper makeup remover. I found Simple cleansing wipes effective and affordable. The Biore ones aren’t bad either. Do note that baby wipes or wet wipes aren’t interchangeable with makeup remover wipes. The former are essentially just wet tissue. The latter helps remove makeup.
Not double cleansing your skin for one night won’t kill you
You read it right! While I am a firm advocate of double cleansing, not doing it for one day or night, won’t kill you. If you’re too tired, doing the minimum to rid your skin of makeup, clean it and then put on some basic skincare will still help you better than not removing it at all.
Just use a basic moisturiser and skip the lengthy skincare routine
If you can barely keep your eyes open after washing off your makeup, and the thought of the 5 step layering skincare routine before you makes you feel exhausted, don’t do it! Your skin can survive one night without that favourite serum. Once your skin is clean, just apply a basic moisturiser and go off to bed. You can make up for it the next day 🙂
Have you ever felt too tired or lazy to remove your makeup after a long day or late night? Any tips to share?
I sometimes feel it, but I make it a point to never skip the makeup removal nor night skincare. I have done all of the above at some point or another, but I will generally still drag my body around to go through the motions of double cleansing, and using at least 1 serum and a night cream. I also have a habit of washing my hair, which is crazy, but it does keep me awake long enough to blow dry, do my skincare routine, then crash. Helps me sleep better too (and I don’t muss up my sheets :D)
Paris B
Hahahaha! Me love using face oils instead of moisturizers to do the job if im just too ried or lazy. Sometimes I just wish I have a mini-me to help clean me up everytime im home after work and that mini-me can also help apply my makeup every morning. Such a chore! Hehe
Good idea using a face oil Liyeun! It’s like serum and moisturiser in one 😀 I LOLed at the mini me comment – now wouldn’t we all want that eh? 😀
You got it spot on! Saturday night, I was literally dead on my feet. Removed my contact lenses and cleaned them, oil cleanser, shower, moisturiser and slept with wet hair. I had the most beautiful bed head samba hair the next morn but hey that’s what holidays are for! I skipped then lengthy skincare routine because I was terrified I might fall asleep standing up 😛
Oil cleanser is the best invention ever for the lazy/tired girl, I swear. So much quicker than messing about with balms, which is why I still need a bottle on stand by. I can’t believe you slept in wet hair! That’s one thing I can’t do >.<
These are great tips! I always make sure to take it all off and at least do one-step moisturizer before I pass out at night, regardless of how tired (cough drunk) I am. I’ve been using Shu Uemura cleansing oil but love the Ren cleansing balm too.
Glad you agree Sheila! 😀 REN has a cleansing balm?! Damn I need to get it!
For those days when I’m dead tired and can fall asleep even before my head reaches the pillow, I’ll just swipe with my make up cleansing wipes. 2 sheets, smack on some moisturizer and zzzzzz……
Cleansing wipes are also good to cheat on the shower! Yeah I know, but when you are dead tired, I really can’t be bothered with a shower 🙂
LOL!! Thanks for the shower cheat, Honey! 😀 It’s useful to know – never know when you may not have access to water and need a quick freshening up 😉
Disagree with the “not double cleansing for one night won’t kill you”. It will lead to a bad habit once you start thinking this way. Skincare products is absorbed while you sleep. Your pores will open during some parts of the sleep cycle and absorb whatever’s on the surface. Not thoroughly cleansing means residual makeup gets absorbed into your pores too. Yuck no! Not double cleansing is just as bad as not removing makeup at all. No matter how tired, I will force myself to double cleanse, and pat on skincare.
For the most part, I’d agree with you Rin – it’s easy to slip once, and then turn it into the norm 🙂 But on the days when one is seriously too out of it, I think it’s ok to slip once. Then again, I don’t because it’s too ingrained in me, but for those who do find double cleansing a chore, it’s better they cleanse then not cleanse at all 🙂
Oh no matter how tired I am I always clean my make up off! Even when I came home tipsy I some how found a way to crawl to my bathroom (I think I took ages because the ground moved beneath my feet) and wash off my make up and put on my pajamas, haha!
You even changed! See, you weren’t THAT out of it hehe… But ya, I can’t go to bed fully clothed either! Somehow, I have to change into pyjamas 😛
Agreed wholeheartedly with #3-#6. On normal nights I double cleanse followed by the whole multi-step moisturizing routine, but doing the makeup wipe + quick wash + quick moisturize thing once in a while won’t make your face fall off.
Another tip I thought of is it hop in the shower instead of just washing up in the sink. Do a cold or lukewarm one if you’re on the verge of passing out. Personally I feel like I have to put less effort into rinsing my face that way because the shower nozzle does it for me. 😛
Haha! I like that – won’t make your face fall off 😀 It’s true though. It won’t and we can make up for it the next day with a nice pampering mask 😀 Ooh I like your tip about hitting the shower immediately too! I do that. Once you step into the shower, it’s easier to get going with the rest of your routine, especially if all your cleansers are already close at hand
On days I’m dead tired…. hhhmmm… It’s already embedded in me that I must remove all traces of makeup, so that’s non negotiable. However, I’d skip all the lotions and potions and just pat on a thicker layer of face oil as an overnight treatment. I’m kinda glad I never really have these kind of nights anymore. Really bad for skin!
I agree! Late nights, whether for fun or for work totally wreaks havoc on the skin. Better not to stay out too late anyway these days 😉
gagagagagagga!!! Don’t lie down is the hardest tip but one that is compulsory!! Once you are down, you’ll be in Slumbershire until you regret it (for not taking off makeup)… hahaha… That’s so true!
Well, I am scared to my bones about clogged pores so I always remove them. Maybe I don’t clean mascara off so well when I am tired, or those damnit stubborn gel-liner (especially tight lined) but foundation and the rest HAVE TO come off!!
Glad to know you have a great weekend. My weekend is pretty quiet. Stayed at home because 1 girl was down with a mild cold. Boooo! :-[
See, I’m so glad you agree with me on not lying down! Seriously, some days when I get home later than usual and I’m tired, then I lie down on my bed and next thing you know, it’s a couple of hours later >.< So, these days, I make it a point not to even sit down when I get home, but get everything I want done, then take time to relax. The weekend was hectic! But ok-la once in a while. These old bones can't take it much longer >.< I hope your girl gets better soon!
lucky you for that almost flawless skin you have now. my skin is a chore. just a day skipping my usual routine, I’ll wake up with rough patches on my face… but you are right though that we can make it up the next day… I’d be putting on scrub mask and then to wash it off and put on a clay mask and then the hydrating mask after washing off the clay mask 🙂
yes, no matter how tired I feel, I’d double cleanse and also shower. going to bed feeling dirty is a no-no for me.
Haha Thanks Juan 🙂 I have to agree that my skin is at the best its ever been now. Definitely worth our white taking care and investing money and time in it! We can always makeup for one skipped day. I try to give myself a mask the next day so my skin feels better and double masking is a great idea! I haven’t used a clay mask in ages. Maybe it’s time to see what gunk can be extracted hehe…
I have been using shu uemura for many many years. One bottle can really last me for up to 2 years! haha! Now I am interested to try hada labo as my shu ones is finishing. I tried their lip balm and it suits me because I have an easily irritated sensitive lips. So let’s see how their cleansing oil works on me! ^_^
2 years! That’s quite something. I do run through my cleansing oils quite quickly because I’m generous with it. I think if Shu Uemura works for you then Hada Labo might too. I can’t use either coz they both break me out, but they get loads of raves! Would be good to know if they work for you 😉
Yea, two good years. Maybe its because I only put on light make and its not an everyday basis, so it last. Love reading all your post. Although I have just started few weeks back, but now it seems to become my daily read. ^_^
Ah that might explain it 😀 Thank you for reading, Audrey! It keeps me going 🙂
Just Yesterday! I was so tired that I didnt have the energy to go through the evening skin care routine but thank god I had no makeup on 🙂
Haha that’s the best thing because you don’t have to worry about makeup removal! Hope you’ve recovered from the exhaustion 🙂
I love your tip on not lying down because once you do that, you will never get up and probably just fall asleep on the couch. Hahaha. No matter how tired or tipsy, I will still double cleanse because I am just anal in wanting my skin to be clean. But I would probably only use a toner and a good serum (Estee Lauder’s ANR) before hitting the bed to ensure my skin still looks good when I wake up the next morning 🙂
Haha See, people understand! 😀 Seriously, the biggest mistake I’ve ever made is to lie down when tired. Getting up after that is torture! I double cleanse too LOL Its too much of a habit for me and all my cleansers are in the shower anyway so it’s easy to reach out for them. But for those who don’t have them within reach, I can understand how it can be easy to slip out of routine 😉
Hi Paris~ Love this post. Thanks for the tips! 🙂 When I m just too tired or had a looong day, I’ll still make sure I use makeup remover and cleanser. However, I’ll skip the other steps of my skincare and make sure I use eye cream and moisturizer. Or, eye cream and sleeping mask.
Wah Rin, at least you still do the eye cream! On normal days, I don’t even use eye cream LOL 😀 Good on you!
I totally second what you said-Don’t lie down.Many times when I come home from uni/work,too exhausted too move or do anything,I would sit on my couch and read blogs&online news on my laptop while eating takeouts.And then before I knew it I’ve already been sitting on my couch for like 4 hours.The end result is I’ve to rush everything.Do the dishes,garbage,quick shower,removing my make up skin care routine.Sigh.
After a long day at work,I would remove my make up using cleansing oil.I’m not a big fan of makeup remover wipes.It looks like it might give me clogged pores.I’ll cleanse my skin,apply toner then go straight to sleeping mask(skipping eye cream&serum).I think skipping eye cream and serum once or twice a week won’t kill me.Still better than sleeping in make up right?I see sleeping mask as a moisturizer for lazy moments(when we’re too tired to go through the 5 steps),sleeping mask makes sure that I wake up with glowy skin. 🙂
LOL I can totally commiserate with you Christine! So often, I lose myself sitting around that before I know it, so much time has gone by and it’s late! AND I’m even more tired LOL So these days, when I get home, I try not to sit around, but get stuff done before I relax. Else, getting up is the next chore haha… Good idea on using a sleeping mask. At least you treat your skin while you sleep.
I did feel lazy to remove the makeup occasionally when I reach home quite late. But as you said, I will drag myself for showering and definitely you will remove those makeup while you are showering. I tried not to sleep with makeup on but I did once before that and I felt regret. Now, as the age slowly rising, I know it’s really really important to remove makeup before sleep to protect your skin.
Ah we all think we’re invincible as youths right? 😉 I try not to have too many late nights as well. Skin can’t handle all of that very much anymore !
Simple makeup wipes are the best in a pinch! Then follow up with a moisturiser before hitting the sack 🙂 Yep, think I’ve perfected the lazy girl’s makeup removal and night skincare routine lol.
Haha That does sound perfect in a pinch! Just be sure not to have that “pinch” happen too often. Cleansing wipes aren’t the best makeup removers for our skins 😉