CLEAN SWEEP: It's late. Bed is beckoning. Clean skin is the furthest thing from your mind, even though you know you will be sorry in the morning . . .
If you are serious about make-up (and I take it you are if you're reading this), then you have to get serious about removing it. God knows, we are willing to put an inordinate amount of time on precision application, so why do we begrudge five minutes or less to get our skin back to what nature intended? Because it's not the fun part of the evening, that's why. It's a chore. Well, think about this for a moment. The face looking back at you through the mirror can be dry, oily and listless or the way you would like it to be - glowing and radiant, and it all starts with good clean skin.
It's like reading the instructions on a tin of paint: start with a clean, bare surface. The preparation is always the boring bit, but you will get a much better absorption rate from your moisturiser on a properly primed surface. Choose your weapon. Wipes, creams, oils, emollients, are all in the running.
Even with the best of intentions, there will always be nights when you would be happier crawling into bed. Let me introduce you to your new best friend, the cleansing wipe. Not recommended as a permanent way to cleanse though, but better than doing nothing.
Next come the creams, my personal choice, as they impart a lovely silky feel to the skin.
Oils have become very popular as a cleansing agent. My friend has been using Johnson's baby oil as an eye make-up remover for years, but Shu Uemura is the high king of cleansing oils. The advantage of oils is they leave the skin feeling soft and nourished, even before you apply moisturiser. Take your pick, and feel that halo glow.
Phyl Clarke
THE GOODS
CETAPHIL GENTLE SKIN CLEANSER Will clean very thoroughly, and is recommended for sensitive skins, including teenagers. At €8.79 for 200ml it's great value, too. From pharmacies.
EVE LOM CLEANSING CLEANSER It's a gasping €75 for 100ml, but once you've used it, you will understand. From Nue Blue Eriu, South William St Dublin 2.
SIMPLE CLEANSING WIPES Nice soft fabric but not too wet. €5.45 for pack of 25; at supermarkets and pharmacies.
LAURA MERCIER PURIFYING OIL New kid on the block with a blend to suit different skin types. €45 for 200ml at Brown Thomas, Dublin 2.