Remove Your Makeup with Ease

Taking off your makeup during the party season is just as important as putting it on.

Laura McGoldrick has her mum to thank for her healthy skin and glowing complexion — the TV presenter and actor says her mother, sports agent Leanne McGoldrick, taught her early on about skincare, which has paid off after years in the spotlight under heavy makeup.

“I did a lot of theatre as a young child, so I had to learn very quickly about makeup and putting it on and taking it off,” she says. “My mum always said to me, ‘You’ve got to take care of your skin and sometimes it’s going to cost a bit for the products you use, but you only get one shot at looking after it.”

Some of those good habits instilled early on include drinking lots of water, moisturising morning and night, never going to bed with makeup on, wearing sunscreen everyday, and asking questions about what you should be wearing and what you could be doing better.

Leanne is her fashion icon, Laura says, and “glamorous and beautiful”, a “total babe”.

“My mum used to go to a lot of events, so I would sit and watch her put her makeup on. That was one of my favourite things because we’d talk and gossip.”

Laura jumps between jobs and engagements on a normal working week, but starts each day in the NZME makeup room getting ready to film NZH Focus. Then she might go to her current acting gig on TV show Westside, to MC or appear at events, or do more filming. In a normal day she'll take her makeup on and off twice, but on a busy day it might be more like four times. She tries each day to give her skin a break in between commitments, and on weekends she aims to go makeup-free.

“I don’t wear makeup everyday if I can avoid it, just because I think it’s good to give your skin a bit of a breather,” she says.

“That’s a lot of heavy makeup — with TV makeup, there’s a lot of it. And with hi-definition television now, all the makeup takes another step. Sometimes it can be so heavy it feels like you’re peeled it off with your hands. It feels so nice to take it off.”

On the flipside of that, Laura says, she feels great with it on, and feels particularly sexy and beautiful when she’s sporting a nice lipstick or glossy lips.

“A good gloss is really saucy. A heavier eye and a nude lip can also look really sexy, I like that look.”

But it depends on the occasion.”I really think that less is more sometimes when it comes to your makeup, and can be very sexy.

When women are feeling good within themselves, she says, they radiate confidence.

“It’s a really empowering thing. It might be because they’ve had their makeup done, they’re feeling a little sexier and a little more confident. There’s nothing more empowering as a woman than seeing another woman walking around like that, for whatever reason — makeup, good day, she’s been to the gym, her hair looks good — I think it’s cool to watch as other women and we should embrace it.”

Laura says she didn’t have great skin growing up and has eczema on her face, so is fastidious about her skincare regime.

“I think I do have good skin because I look after it — I pride myself on how much I look after it.

“I take a long time in the bathroom before bed cleansing and moisturising but the great thing using Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water in Oil is that I can now remove my makeup with ease.”

Quick and easy

Makeup removal has never been easier and better for your skin than with Garnier’s new Micellar Cleansing Water In Oil and Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Wipes.

The two new products combine Argan Oil and vitamin E with Micellar technology and cleansing oils to remove the most stubborn long-wear and waterproof makeup, and have the added bonus of cleansing and nourishing the skin — all in one quick and easy step.

Bringing a gentle skincare touch to makeup removal, with no vigorous rubbing or rinsing, the Argan Oil prevents skin drying out, while the vitamin E leaves it feeling soothed, hydrated and beautiful, without leaving a greasy film.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water in Oil ($13.99) and Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Wipes ($8.99) are available from selected supermarkets, pharmacies and department stores now.

Laura (and Laura's mum) share their beauty tips and behind the scenes shots at Viva.co.nz/Garnier