Am I cleansing (at night) properly?

[LifeInAHamsterWheel]

I wear makeup every day. When cleansing at night I remove eyemake first using cotton pads and Nivea eye makeup remover (the 2 phase one that you have to shake). I then use Nivea lotion (in the blue bottle) with cotton pads. Then I use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser I apply to my face and wash off with a facecloth.

Does this sound ok or am I missing a trick? I seem to get through a lot of eye makeup remover and I'd like to use something cheaper but I find this is the cheapest one that works for me (please recommend if there is a cheaper alternative!) If I swapped the CeraVe cleanser for some sort of cleansing balm, would I be able to skip the eye makeup remover step? Should I drop the "lotion" step in between and just go straight for the facecloth?!

Caroline Hirons is useful for this stuff. Personally I like a balm cleanser (Clinique Take the Day Off) and find it adequate for removing eye make-up. You could follow that with your CeraVe cleanser. Are your cotton pads reuseable? If not, for environmental reasons consider switching for something that is. I use Face Halos.

I would consider using a balm or oil cleanser as your first cleanse. That will remove your eye makeup and other face makeup well. Wipe off with a cloth and then do a second cleanse with a non oil based cleanser, something like the cerave if that already works for you to remove any residue.

Reusable microfibre makeup pads are great and less costly and sustainable over time than cotton pads.

I often use a small reusable remover pad to wipe around the eyes when I use cleansing balm to avoid smearing my mascara all around my face but that's personal preference and only something I do if my eye makeup is heavier or there's no need.

What you are doing is suffice however I would recommend a balm as it removes all makeup including eye makeup and waterproof. then cleanse with the cerave afterwards. I swear by the take the day off balm by Clinique. its around £22 I think, but mine lasts me around 10 months. Its a nice treat to put on your birthday/xmas list or ask for boots giftcards to put towards. If you want a cheaper alternative then the Body Shop also does a balm too.

Thank you both. I think I'll swap to a cleansing balm to remove all makeup including eye makeup and then use the CeraVe for a double cleanse.

Micellar water might work

I use Simple cleansing oil first to take off most of my makeup, it is great for getting eye make-up off without rubbing/wiping the eye area. Also very cheap and lasts ages. I then do a second cleanse with Paulas Choice anti-aging face wash (most of my skincare is from PC). I do all of this in the shower (not approved of but I turn pressure and temp right down for that part of the shower).

Almond oil is a very cheap and effective first cleanse, if it agrees with your skin. I picked up a small bottle in a supermarket to try it out, then bought a bigger bottle on Amazon.

Cleansing oils are a good first step. The simple one is very good and removes waterproof mascara with ease. It's also very reasonable.

Thanks for the further replies. I do actually have a bottle of almond oil so could try that - do I use it the same way I would use a balm?

You don't need to double cleanse - I find it makes my skin a bit sensitive actually (that could be the flannels as opposed to the cleansers!). But I do use a good oil based cleanser to get everything off first time. Cerave hydrating oil cleanser and body shop camomile cleansing oil are good ones.

I think there is also evidence to suggest oil cleansers are less disruptive to your skin barrier too. Dr Natalia Spierings talks a lot of sense about this kind of thing. She's on Instagram.

I have tried all sorts of more expensive brands, but I'm now sticking with 'B. Melting Cleansing Balm' from Superdrug as my 1st cleanse. I use a wet facecloth to remove it and all my makeup comes off. You only need a little bit. So I think I would recommend that over using cotton pads and nivea, only because it lasts for ages and would be a little bit more environmentally friendly.

Baby oil for the eye make-up. Baby lotion for the rest of it. Dirt cheap, and gets it all off.

After makeup removal a quick wash with a decent facewash (according to your skins needs) will remove any last traces;add your nighttime moisturiser/serum if using.