Mascara Week Part 3: Removal

One of my least favorite tasks is removing my mascara at the end of the day.  It's SUPER important that it gets done, though.  You really just don't want to sleep in with those chemicals and products on your eyes!

It's no secret that some mascaras are harder to remove than others.  I've used everything from tubing mascaras that come off with just water and some pressure from your fingers (which are a cinch to remove!) to super duper waterproof (in other words, good luck).

Here are my tips for getting every last speck of whatever mascara you have on, off!

If it's pretty easy to remove...

Water usually does a pretty good job!  Wash your face with your normal soap and water, and if your soap is gentle, carefully rub a little over your lashes (eyes closed!!) to help break down the mascara.  I usually just use whatever is left on my fingers after washing the rest of my face.  This will usually leave a little residue that can easily be cleaned up after with some water based or cream based makeup remover.  My picks are Bioderma (find it on Amazon or Ebay) or Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover ($16.50).

If it's average...

This is how I remove probably 80% of my mascaras.  First, use either water based or an oil based remover on a cotton pad.  I have yet to find my Holy Grail oil-based remover, but I did enjoy Sonia Kashuk Remove ($10).  Gently press the remover over your eyes for a few seconds to help break down the mascara, then wipe away.  You likely won't get everything off using this alone.  From there...either wash or face as described above, or go in with a makeup remover wipe.  Mac Wipes are my pick, but they aren't technically eye-safe.  For other great wipes, check out my post comparing a bunch of brands.  With your eyes closed, carefully rub the wipe over your lashes.  I also then open my eyes and "pinch" my lashes from the top and bottom with the wipe in my fingertips.  Be very, very gentle...you don't want to pull your lashes out!  This method really lets me get everything off, but you have to be very careful and gentle.  

If it's stubborn or waterproof...

This is the method I would use to remove anything waterproof, or something stubborn like Benefit They're Real.  First, use an oil to get most of it off.  No, not an oil-based remover.  A straight oil.  My favorite is Josie Maran's Argan Cleansing Oil ($12 for 1.9 oz...which will last you forever, or $32 for 6 oz.), but you could even use something as simple as olive oil.  I like Josie Maran's because it is specifically meant for this and it does not irritate my contact lenses at all.  (I plan to do a full review and demo of this product, because I really do love it.)  BE VERY CAREFUL!  With your eyes closed, rub the oil into your lashes and all over your eyelids.  Your eyes will be completely and totally black and you'll look like a freak!  ;)  But the genius part of this is that the oils just wash right away with water.  No soap needed.  And they take about 90% of your stubborn mascara with them.  I clean up any residue with one of the two methods above.

Let me know your favorite products and methods to get your mascara off!  Do any of my tips work for you?

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Pick Through My Trash: Product Empties

One of my favorite types of videos to watch on YouTube are beauty girls' product empties videos.  I'm always trying to use things up, especially now that I have put myself on a serious no-buy and I'm trying to just enjoy and condense my collection!  I love seeing what people think of products and if they would re-purchase them after they've had a chance to fully use the products.  I take a lot of recommendations from these types of videos, so I figured I would start doing them myself!

I don't plan to do these on any regular basis...just when I have a full bag of items to share.  So without further ado...here are my product empties for the past few months.

Products Mentioned:

Beauty Secrets Pure Acetone ($6 for 32 oz. at Sally's, which is the size I buy)

I would and have repurchased

Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Antibac Hand Soap ($5.50 full price, but they're always on sale)

These are a staple in my house...I always have one of the B&BW scents in each bathroom and the kitchen.

Yes to Blueberries Face Wipes ($6)

Not a fan of these...see my full thoughts in this post.

Mac Wipes ($20 for 45 wipes)

My favorite wipes evah!  I already have repurchased them.

Mac Penultimate Liner ($19.50)

Not sure if mine was a dud or what, but I would not buy this again.

Gilette Venus Disposable Razor ($12.49 for 3, but again, buy on sale with coupons!)

I generally just buy whatever razors are on sale and have coupons, but I would get these again.

Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena Body Wash (Now called Coconut Lime Breeze...$12.50)

Love this scent, and again I'm a big fan of B&BW body washes.

LUSH Almond & Coconut Shower Smoothie ($22)

This was my 2nd tub of this...LOVE it.  Such a luxurious product.

Soap & Glory Hand Food ($12)

I would buy this again, but don't plan to until I'm out of other hand creams.  It was good, not amazing.

Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo ($8)

Loved the scent, but hated the texture.  I likely would not repurchase this.

Oral B Glide Pro Health Dental Floss ($4)

This was fine, but I get so many samples from the dentist that I wouldn't buy it!

Lancome Absolute Eye Premium Bx Replenishing Eye Cream ($95 for 5 oz.)

Hated it.  No way I would buy the full size.  (I had a 1 oz. sample...NO WAY did I buy it for that price!!)

Mac Brush Cleaner ($25)

Best brush cleaner I've used.  I would absolutely repurchase and will when I finish up the bottle of Sonia Kashuk cleaner I have already.

And a bonus item I forgot to mention in the video....

Givenchy Noir Couture Mascara ($32)

I did really enjoy this, but it's no Benefit They're Real ;)

Hope you enjoyed :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Mommy Makeup Monday: Fastest Makeup Removal Method

On Mondays, I share a tip, product or tutorial that will help you look polished and put-together quickly and with minimal effort.  You definitely don't have to be a rushed mom to benefit from these posts...anyone who needs to be out-the-door fast (and who doesn't?!) can appreciate Mommy Makeup Mondays!

Happy Monday!  Sorry for the radio silence these past few days...my Macbook decided it needed to spend some quality time at the Apple store, but it's back and in a much better mood now :)

So let's discuss face cleansing and makeup removing wipes.  They are my go-to method of cleaning my face before bed on those nights that I'm just about too exhausted to even care.  But because I know how bad it is to sleep in your makeup, and because I'm sick of throwing my mascara-smudged pillowcases in the wash every morning, I keep a stash of wipes in my vanity for quick and super easy makeup removal.  It will take about 2 minutes to get all your makeup off, and you'll be in bed before you know it!  It's SO worth the tiny bit of effort...your skin will thank you in the morning!

A quick roundup of my favorite and not-so-favorite wipes:

Image Source: maccosmetics.com

1.  Mac Wipes.  You cannot beat them for makeup removal.  They take everything off; the end.  Mac does indicate that they aren't eye-safe, so those with sensitive eyes may want to try another type of wipe.  Personally I've always used them on my eyes with no problem.  The one downside is the price - $20 for 45 wipes, or $29 for 100.  (Personally, I would be afraid of the 100-pack drying up by the end.  Mac's packaging is by far the best with this issue, but the ends of my 45-packs are usually pretty dry.) 

Image Source: simpleskincare.com

2. Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes.  These are a good buy for the money (around $5 for 25 wipes), and they're readily available at Target.  They smell nice, do a solid job of makeup removal, and I like that there are no harsh chemicals in them.  I would rate these on the better side of average, although they still don't compare to Mac's wipes. 

Image Source: target.com

 3.  Up & Up Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes.  Sold only at Target stores, these wipes are actually really great!  For 30 wipes, you'll pay less than $4, and they will do a great job of removing makeup.  These were my go-to wipes for years, until my eye area grew sensitive to them.  I've taken a break from them, but I will definitely repurchase them in the future.  Unless you have super-sensitive skin, I would definitely recommend trying these out.

Image Source: target.com

4.  Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes.  These are another favorite of mine.  They smell so nice, like chamomile and white tea.  It's a gentle scent, and doesn't linger, but is so nice when you're using them.  They also do a great job taking off makeup, although these are better for face makeup than eye makeup.  They run about $5 for 30 wipes.

Image Source: olay.com

5.  Olay Wet Cleansing Towelettes for Sensitive Skin.  I have to be honest, I didn't love these wipes.  They were good for cleansing, and never irritated my skin at all, but only did a fair job at makeup removal.  Plus, every time I purchased a pack, the last 4 or 5 wipes was almost entirely dried out by the time I got to it.  (I typically go through a pack per month.)  These are also a little pricey...between $6 and $7 for 30 wipes.

Image Source: ponds.com

6.  Pond's Luminous Clean Wet Cleansing Towelettes.   I am currently using these wipes after finding them available on Amazon's Subscribe & Save program.  (Amazon's normal price is less than $5 for 30 wipes.  Plus I get 20% off with Subscribe & Save!)  I haven't formed many opinions yet, but the fact that they contain kaolin clay (known for drawing crap out of your pores) intrigued me.  I will say that I won't use them on my eyes...I didn't find that they got off all my liner/mascara, but I'm excited to see if they end up improving the appearance of my skin!  I will update as I use them.

Image Source: yestocarrots.com

And the one I would skip over:  Yes to Blueberries Cleansing Facial Towelettes.  They're about $6 for 25 wipes, but in my opinion they smell awful and don't remove makeup well at all.  I found myself scrubbing to get it all off.  Skip these - you won't regret picking up something, anything, else.

I have yet to try either Neutrogena's wipes (I am all about the grapefruit scented ones!) or Garnier's wipes, but I have heard good things about both.  Neutrogena may be my next purchase if I decide to switch from the Pond's Luminous Clean wipes.  We'll see.

Overall, I think wipes are just the best way to get rid of your makeup and give your face a quick clean before bed when you're about to fall asleep sitting up.  I wouldn't use them every night, though, especially if you have acne-prone skin.  They aren't a foolproof substitute for good old soap and water, but they do a damn good job!  (And besides, if you need that extra layer of clean, it's easy enough to run over your face with some toner on a cotton round to get all the grime off.)

Do you use face wipes?  Have I missed a must-try brand?  Share what you love about them!

Do you have an idea for a Mommy Monday post?  I'd love to hear it!  Leave it in the comments below or email me at abeautylush@gmail.com.

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.