Halloween is a magical time for creativity, self-expression, and a little bit of spooky fun. It’s a time when you can go all out with intricate face paint, fake blood, or a full-on monster transformation for that incredibly special Halloween look and chances are there will be some blood red lipstick, stubborn black eyeliner and longwearing waterproof mascara involved.
However, what many people don’t know is that caking on all that special effect or heavy-duty make-up even for one day, can take a nightmarish toll on your skin both during and after its application. Heavier, thicker, and more artificial, these products aren’t always formulated with quality in mind, leading to all sorts of problems like irritation, clogged pores, dryness, and breakouts – and that’s before you’ve taken it off!
You’ll already know how much of a cardinal sin is it to go to bed without removing make-up – well that goes double for Halloween face paint and even though it’s the last thing you want to do after a night out it’s not worth damaging your skin for. Sleeping with any kind of make-up can cause premature ageing not least the heavy duty kind! This is because when your skin is covered in makeup it isn’t able to breathe or repair itself properly and over time this can lead to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles at the very least. In addition, sleeping with this heavy make-up on can also rob your skin of radiance, leaving blackheads and breakouts in its wake –you really don’t want any spooky surprises when you ‘unmask the fun’ having slept in your Halloween look all night!
So, the night is over and it’s time to remove your heavy make-up – but where do you begin? A simple face wipe won’t cut it I am afraid. There is no denying the convenience of being able to swipe a wipe over your face but unfortunately, they only pick up surface level grime and cannot dissolve steadfast make-up, plus they tend to leave behind a residue that won’t do your skin any favours – enter double cleansing, a regime skincare experts have sworn by for years.
Make-up designed for Halloween is mean to be long lasting and often contains steadfast pigments and silicones that cannot be easily dissolved but double cleansing is your secret weapon especially after a night of ghoulish fun! Doing exactly what it says on the tin, it is essentially cleansing the skin twice with two different types of cleansers – an oil and a water-based. Oil based cleansers are an effective way to break down heavily pigmented make-up, dirt and pollution whilst also removing deeper impurities that may not be visible to the naked eye. Then a water based cleanser works to remove any remaining impurities simultaneously conditioning the complexion making it a squeaky clean slate for the rest of your skincare regime to work effectively.
Age benefit Melting Cleansing Elixir (your first cleanse) is a luxurious balm to oil based formula that turns an arduous chore of removing Halloween costume make-up into an enchanting ritual. The ultimate facial in a jar, it is sumptuously soft and oh so soothing as it effortlessly breaks down and melts away even the most stubborn make-up on the face AND eyes while curing your complexions cravings. Supercharged with a medley of nourishing oils and lipids including ceramide rich Oat Lipids and nutritive Algae Oil these barrier saving actives are the answer to your skincare bugbears (especially post Halloween) from irritation and sensitivity to a rough, bumpy texture. Packed with essential fatty acids you’ve got a delicious recipe for a smooth, protected, and fresh face complexion. And with the rebalancing cocktail of botanical oils including Meadowfoam, Jojoba, Sweet Almond, and Borage oil this ultra-hydrating cleansing balm floods thirsty skin cells with moisture as it sweeps away cosmetics leaving skin looking fresh, clean, and balanced.
TOP TIP: Warm the sumptuous balm in your hands and apply to dry skin massaging in circular motions for two minutes. Focus on areas with more make-up like around your eyes and over your lips. To remove dampen a cleansing cloth in warm water and gently wipe over the whole face and neck taking extra care around the delicate eye area.
Imagine how your skin feels after this single cleanse – velvety soft and oh so smooth. Now let’s double up and take off ALL the remaining bewitching make-up look. Gentle Silk Cleanser makes for the perfect cleansing partner and gives the skin that all important gentle second cleanse to wash away any last traces of Halloween night without stripping skin of its radiance or essential moisture. Equal parts effective and decadent it has been formulated with Silk Extract and Cottonseed Oil that leaves skin feeling bouncy, nourished and beautifully dewy. With a texture like satin and a delicate and finely floral fragrance this really is the picture-perfect second step in your cleansing ritual.
TOP TIP: For a squeaky clean finish, remove this milky cleanser with damp pads and follow with an application of Gentle silk Toner.
So, whether you’re planning to’ bewitch and beguile,’ ‘trick or treat’ or ‘haunt and horrify’ our cleansing companions will take away the stress of washing away ‘Halloween night’ out of the equation so that you end the day with a ‘fresh from the spa’ complexion.
Lucy x
