The Nod Shop05 Nov 20264 MIN

The party’s over, take your makeup off with these products

Wash the night away with viral cleansing balms, homegrown heroes or dermat-led finds

Alia Bhatt Instagram

Instagram.com/aliabhatt

The end of the year, by design, is a major sporting event if you really think about it: back-to-back Diwali soirées, winter weddings, and a full beat for NYE. You’ve nailed a foolproof makeup look for all of these, but the real test of endurance comes at 3 am, when you’re dying to hit the sack but locked in a standoff with waterproof mascara and wondering if it would hurt to sleep as it is just once (you can, but please don’t).

A hasty swipe of a makeup wipe won’t undo your eight-step makeup base, but double cleansing will. Entrust a balm, oil or micellar water for the task, followed by a water-based cleanser to sweep out the pores. In other words, the only way to avoid waking up to a fresh crop of breakouts is a removal routine that’s thorough and kind to your skin barrier. Consider the edit below your festive clean-up crew:


Jump to:

The foolproof basic makeup remover

The one Reddit won’t stop talking about

For those with acne-prone skin

The K-Beauty balm blowing up online

A homegrown dermat-rec

The French pharmacy staple

The one with a unique texture

For heavy-coverage foundation

01

The foolproof basic with rave reviews

Foaming cleanser for oily skin, CeraVe, ₹1,249

Sometimes, you just need a fuss-free cleanser that gets the job done. This dermatologically tested formula is packed with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to thoroughly cleanse without stripping your skin. It’s a basic, reliable option with universally stellar reviews for a simple reason—it works.

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Foaming cleanser for oily skin, CeraVe, ₹1,062
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02

The one Reddit won’t stop talking about

Soothing cleansing balm, Deconstruct, ₹349

Packed with oat oil to moisturise and bisabolol to instantly bring down inflammation, Deconstruct’s cleansing balm melts away layers of stubborn waterproof pigment without stripping your moisture barrier. Redditors are fiercely loyal to this homegrown find, with one user declaring, “This performs expensive!! Take it from someone who has tried Korean oil cleansers; it performs better than them.” At this price point, you won’t feel guilty about squeezing out a generous dollop at the end of the night.

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Soothing cleansing balm, Deconstruct, ₹349
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03

For those with acne-prone skin

Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep cleansing foam, Anua, ₹1,150

If the combination of sweat, full-coverage makeup, and late nights has your skin breaking out, this is your holy grail. Formulated with heartleaf extract, a botanical ingredient with natural antibacterial properties, it dives deep into the pores to clear out congestion and soothe inflammation without drying it out.

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Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep cleansing foam, Anua, ₹1,150
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04

The K-Beauty balm blowing up online

Purifying cleansing balm, House of Hur, ₹2,399

A K-beauty favourite with glowing comments across beauty forums, it operates with a rotating grinder mechanism (hello, Eyepatch Gate) to dispense a sherbet-like texture that transforms into a milky emulsion upon application.

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Purifying cleansing balm, House of Hur, ₹2,399
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05

A homegrown dermat-led saviour

Barrier Comfort Gentle Ceramide cleanser, The Formularx, ₹699

When your skin barrier is crying out for help after days of heavy glam, a dermat-led formulation is a godsend. Bonus points if it is a homegrown brand that is incredibly gentle and brimming with ceramides.

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Barrier Comfort Gentle Ceramide cleanser, The Formularx, ₹699
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06

The tried-and-tested French pharmacy staple

Vinoclean micellar cleansing water, Caudalie, ₹2,375

A French pharmacy staple for good reason, Caudalie’s vegan micellar water is infused with grape water and chamomile and sweeps away grime from sensitive skin without leaving it squeaky.

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Vinoclean micellar cleansing water, Caudalie, ₹2,100
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07

The one with a unique texture

Waterbank gentle gel cleanser, Laneige, ₹1,800

If you’re a textural skincare snob, Laneige is going to win you over with this one. It boasts a uniquely bouncy, cushiony gel texture that foams up pleasingly, leaving the skin feeling fresh and plump after a long night out.

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Waterbank gentle gel cleanser, Laneige, ₹870
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08

What will remove your heavy-coverage foundation

Gentle cleansing oil, Sulwhasoo, ₹3,000

When you’ve baked and contoured like there’s no tomorrow, a cleansing oil is a must. Sulwhasoo is the only thing you should reach for, because it effortlessly emulsifies and obliterates layers of heavy foundation and stubborn waterproof formulas, all while treating your skin to a nourishing blend of mulberry and citrus peel.

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Gentle cleansing oil, Sulwhasoo, ₹3,000
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09

The perfect post-party wind-down

Vitamin C green tea toner pad, Innisfree, ₹1,990

Saturated with green tea and vitamin C, toner pads offer a final, refreshing sweep to ensure that every last bit of makeup is gone while giving your skin a quick, brightening boost before bed. Put more than one and it also doubles as a soothing face mask.

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