Your lashes suffer more when you remove mascara than when you wear it

It is eleven at night. You are tired, you grab a cotton pad and you rub your eye until the mascara is gone. We have all done it. Repeated every day, that little gesture is one of the roughest things lashes go through, and it is very easy to change.

The Korean double cleanse was not created just for the eyes, but it brings exactly what they need: patience, and products that do the work for you.

Two cleansers, two jobs

The idea rests on something we learned at school. Oil dissolves oil. Makeup, sunscreen and the skin's own grease come off best with an oily texture, while sweat and dust come off with water.

So you use two products, one after the other. First comes an oil or balm cleanser on dry skin. Massage it gently for a minute, add a little water until it turns milky, and rinse well.

Next comes a mild water-based cleanser. A small amount is enough. Choose one that does not leave your skin tight, because that squeaky-clean feeling often means you have overdone it.

If you are wearing neither makeup nor sunscreen, one cleanser is usually plenty. Nobody is checking.

What your lashes are asking for

Eyelid skin is very thin. Lashes also shed naturally, so losing the odd one is normal. What you want to avoid is pulling on them for no reason. Try this:

• Soak the pad. Use a dedicated eye and lip remover. Dry cotton creates too much friction.
• Wait. Rest the pad on your closed eye and count to twenty. The product softens the mascara with no effort.
• Slide down slowly. Move the pad towards the tips, without circling.
• Finish with a cotton bud. Moisten it and go along the lash line with very little pressure.

With waterproof mascara, the waiting matters even more. It is made to last, so it needs a moment to let go.

Habits that slip in unnoticed

Sleeping in mascara leaves lashes stiff and can irritate the eye. Even after a long evening, that one minute is worth it.

Rubbing your eyes with a towel does not help either. Pat dry, as you would with a delicate fabric. And take care with eyelash curlers: use them on clean lashes without mascara, since lashes break less that way.

If you wear contact lenses, take them out first. If a product makes your eyes itch or turn red, stop using it and speak to your optician, eye doctor or pharmacist.

After cleansing

Clean, dry eyes are ready for your night care. If you use a lash serum such as CILARIA, apply it now at the base of the lashes with one thin stroke, as though drawing a very discreet line. Its formula contains panthenol, glycerin and peptides and has no fragrance, which is welcome in such a sensitive area.

All of this takes only a few minutes. At first you will have to remember. Then it becomes automatic, like switching off the light before sleep. Your lashes are with you all day. At night, be gentle with them.