I may be a slacker in many other departments, but when it comes to my bedtime ritual of really cleansing my face, I adhere to it with the staunch religious piety of a newly converted nun.

I cannot fathom the thought of going to bed with even the lightest veil of makeup. Doing so is a cardinal skincare sin, and is akin to marinating your pores in makeup (and you have the after-effects to show when you wake up looking like you’ve had a rendezvous with The Grouch from Sesame Street). 

It may sound tedious, but I like to make a ritual out of it. It’s my me-time where my bathroom is my sanctuary and I get to really pamper my face with all the love it deserves after a long hard day.

Here is a step by step walk-through on how I get every ounce of makeup and grime off my mug every night:

Step 1: Tie your hair up into a comfortable bun. Don’t let stray hair get in the way of your deep-cleansing ritual.

Step 2: Use a high-quality makeup face wipe to rub off the first layer of makeup. I really love the brand new Johnson’s Hydration Fresh Hydration Micellar Cleansing Wipes, enriched with rose water.

Top Tip: Start with the lips. Lipstick is the most pigmented makeup we use on a daily basis, and you don’t want to spread this across the rest of your face. Next, do the eyes, and use the rest of the unused portion of the wipe for cheeks, chin and forehead. 

Step 3: Pour approximately a teaspoon of raw, organic coconut oil into the palm of your hand and apply liberally all over your face. Massage it through to gently unlock makeup that the wipe missed. Rub off the oil with a cotton pad. Why organic coconut oil? Click here for one of my most-read beauty posts.

Step 4: Wet the face and apply a dollop of your favorite facial cleanser all over your face. My current favorite is the Antipodes Juliet Skin Brightening Gel Cleanser from Neal’s Yard Remedies. Use the Foreo Luna 2 to work it all over your face and decolletage. I am absolutely obsessed with my Foreo Luna 2, click here for more info.

Step 5: Rinse off, and admire your squeaky-clean face. Your pores are breathing again! Use this opportunity to massage in a high-quality facial oil (Rosehip Oil is my favorite) and let it do its magic as you get your beauty sleep.

The whole process takes under 10 minutes and trust me, your skin will be thanking you for it for years to come. Go on, join the clean skin squad and let your natural beauty shine through. Even makeup looks better on clean, well cared for skin.