CLEANING OFF MY MAKEUP AND WIPING AWAY THE YEARS

CLEANING OFF MY MAKEUP AND WIPING AWAY THE YEARS

A beauty-industry insider recently told me that common wisdom states that every time you don't take your makeup off at night, you age seven days. Yikes.

So to battle the clock and counteract past laziness, I've been on a mission to find my ideal makeup remover.

To set the criterion, I have fair, dry skin and I'm a contact-lens wearer, so I want a non-aggressive cleanser that doesn't strip away moisture or sting my eyes. And I'm low maintenance, so I don't want to have to rinse away the cleanser either. I find that extra step can be drying.

My current faves:

1. Lancome Bi-Facil Instant Cleanser for Sensitive Eyes, about $35 (125 mL). This is not a new product, but it does the trick quickly and leaves my skin feeling dewy-soft and clean. A classic. (www.lancome.com. Available at drug stores and major department stores.)

2. Nuxe Paris Micellar Cleansing Water with 3 Roses, $21 (200 mL). I love this super-green formula - and its distinctly floral scent - and the fact that it feels so soothing on my skin: Douse a cotton ball with it and gently wipe away the day's makeup from eyes, face, lips and neck. It really does feel like water, but it does an effective number on the grime. (www.nuxe.com. Available at drug stores, Ogilvy in Montreal, and the Bay.)

-- Deborah Fulsang