"Put down the makeup wipes": 5 things you should be doing if you wear makeup every day.

Listen to this story being read by Erin Docherty, here.

Are you a person who wears makeup on your cute mug every day? Yes? Great! Pull up a chair and pour yourself a tea/whisky, because we need to have a wee chat. About your skin, specifically. 

As it turns out, there are a few things we should all be doing now we're back on board with makeup after a long pandemic-fuelled hiatus. Goodness, what a time that was.

Watch: Here's what 100 layers of foundation looks like - in case that's something you were wondering. Story continues below.

And look, we're not saying you need to get in there and spend a whole heap of money on fancy new products. Certainly not. We just want to share some fresh ways to look after your skin now that we're back into the whole 'getting ready' thing again. 

We even hit up skin expert Dr Imaan Joshi from Skin Essentials to help us out. 

So! Here are five rules you should be following if you wear makeup every day.

1. Double cleanse.

If you're very consistent with the makeup but not so consistent with the skincare - you're going to have a bad time. 

Because if you're not one to give your skin a 'break' from makeup, this means you're going to want to have a good skincare routine in place to keep your skin healthy and happy. And it all starts with a good double cleanse. 

Woah, woah, woah - put down those makeup wipes, friend. Most skin experts advise against using face wipes, because they just drag makeup around your face, irritate your skin and do everything BUT clean your face.

So! For the first cleanse, opt something like micellar water, a cleansing oil or a cleansing balm - these will be able to help lift makeup from your skin and get it prepped and ready for a second cleanse. 

What kind of product you go with will obviously depend on your skin type, but there are lots of different options on the market - so there's something for every face.

Dr Joshi said, "At night, cleanse your makeup with appropriate makeup removal products, especially if they’re listed as waterproof and similar. For example, you can use an eye makeup remover and micellar water to remove makeup."

Next, reach for a hardworking cleanser to keep those pores nice and clean. 

Now, if you ask a dermatologist or a skin expert, most of them will tell you that a good gentle cleanser is sufficient for the average person - you really don't need to go about spending big on your face wash. It just needs to be a smart one that won't strip and irritate your skin. 

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, $15.49, or Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser, $34.99 will do the job nicely.

2. Use actives.

If your skin can tolerate it, Dr Joshi said there are some specific active ingredients that will help keep your skin as smooth as possible for makeup application. 

Meaning? No foundation chilling in fine lines and wrinkles and no powder clinging to dry patches.

"Use retinol at night, alternating with AHAs/BHAs if your skin can tolerate them, to improve fine lines, wrinkles and skin luminosity," Dr Joshi recommends.

If you're new to retinol and don't know where to start, La Roche-Posay Redermic Retinol B3 Serum, $71.95 is a great option. 

Alternatively, read our round-up of the best retinol products for beginners.

3. Add hydration.

To give your face the best possible chance of staying plump and happy under makeup, you're going to want to keep it juicy and hydrated.

Because nothing is worse than applying makeup to thirsty skin. Ugh. Sucks. Having perpetually thirsty, dry, red and irritated skin under your makeup is not a vibe. 

The solution? Serums (or moisturisers) with hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid.

Dr Joshi said, "Hyaluronic acid under your makeup can add a dewy texture or, used at night, give skin a drink of hydration."

There are so many great hyaluronic acid serums on the market, but if you're looking for something savey, you can't go wrong with The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, $12.90.

For something spendy, Medik8 Hydra8 B5 Intense, $104, is a very good time for the face.

Image: Adore Beauty/Mamamia 

4. Never go to bed with your makeup on.

For the love of glycolic acid, please tell us you're not sleeping with your makeup on.

Washing your face before bed is probably one of the most important steps in your skincare routine (bar sunscreen). And with all that dirt, sweat, grime and sunscreen... as if you wouldn't want to wash your face!

"Never go to bed without removing makeup," said Dr Joshi.

Not cleaning your face at night not only wreaks havoc on the health of your skin, but it actually ages your skin, too.

"Our skin heals and repairs at night when we sleep and it’s also most active then, which is why active ingredients such as retinols are great applied at nighttime."

Plus, there's no point in spending all your time and money on perfecting your makeup only to not look after your skin properly. That's just silly.

Have some micellar water by your bed as the bare minimum (Bioderma Sensibio H2O Soothing Micellar Water Cleanser, $20, is always a good option).

5. Keep it simple.

Let's keep it simple, friends! While the beauty world might make it all seem a little overwhelming, the best thing you can really do for your skin is to not overcomplicate things.

If you're wearing makeup every day, all you need to do is have a good routine in place with hardworking products - and you shouldn't have any issues. (Oh, and obviously wash all of your makeup tools and brushes regularly, etc.).

"Keep skincare simple especially if you’re in an industry where you’re still required to mask," said Dr Joshi. "Makeup under masks is a common cause of acne and irritation."

"Stick to simple skincare that works - a good cleanser and SPF under your makeup (even if your foundation has SPF listed, you won’t apply enough for the sun protection)."

"I like to aim to help patients achieve skin where makeup is optional - i.e. it enhances your looks and highlights your beautiful skin rather than being used to cover up flaws."

Want to hear more from Erin? Follow her on Instagram.

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Feature image: Instagram;@drimaanjoshi/Chemist Warehouse/Adore Beauty/Mamamia.

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