How to Remove Halloween Makeup From Your Face

It's late on Halloween night. The block parties in Carnegie Hill have wound down, the trick-or-treaters have cleared out of Yorkville, and the costume party on Second Avenue is over. Now it's just you, the bathroom mirror and a face that's still green, glittery or streaked with fake blood. Don't scrub it off with a hot washcloth, and don't sleep in it. Here's how to remove Halloween makeup gently, product by product, so it doesn't turn into a November breakout.

Quick answer: how to remove Halloween makeup

Take off anything glued on first (lashes, gems, prosthetics) with the remover made for that adhesive.
Dissolve, don't scrub. Massage a cleansing balm, cleansing oil or a thin layer of petroleum jelly over the paint on dry skin for about a minute.
Rinse, then wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, your fingertips and lukewarm water.
Repeat only where color is left. A second cleanse is kinder than rubbing harder.
Moisturize and go to bed clean. Skip scrubs, acids and retinoids for a few days.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If your eyes or lips swell or you have trouble breathing, get emergency care right away; for a rash that doesn't settle, see a dermatologist or your doctor.

Why gentle removal matters

Costume makeup is built to stay put, so water slides right over it and most of us start rubbing. That's where the redness starts. "Avoid scrubbing your face, even when removing makeup," advises the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). For heavier or oil-based products, Baylor College of Medicine dermatologist Dr. Oyetewa Oyerinde suggests an oil-based remover or even petrolatum jelly, followed by a gentle cleanser. She's cautious about wipes: "the friction can lead to skin tears and exaggerate the appearance of pores over time." And the FDA is blunt: "Don't go to bed with your makeup on."

Step by step: how to remove Halloween makeup from your face

1. Check the label

The FDA's first rule: "Remove it the way the label says." Many paints and adhesives have a matching remover.

2. Take off anything glued on

Soak a cotton pad in the right remover, hold it on the edge of the lash strip, gem or prosthetic for about 30 seconds, and ease it off as it loosens. Never peel or rip.

3. Melt the paint

With dry hands on dry skin, massage a cleansing balm, oil or thin layer of petroleum jelly over painted areas for about a minute, then rinse. If you're prone to breakouts, the AAD suggests an oil-free makeup remover instead.

4. Wash with a gentle cleanser

The AAD recommends lukewarm water, your fingertips and a gentle, alcohol-free cleanser, then patting dry with a soft towel. Still see color? Repeat steps 3 and 4 on that spot instead of pressing harder.

5. Do your eyes last

Hold a pad soaked in eye makeup remover on closed lids for a few seconds, then wipe downward. As the FDA puts it, "the skin around your eyes is delicate."

6. Moisturize and stop there

Finish with a plain, fragrance-free moisturizer. Give scrubs, acids, retinoids and at-home peels a few days off.

How to remove the stubborn stuff

Face paint, even green, blue and black

Water-based paint usually comes off with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser; cream and grease paint needs the oil step first. Strong pigments can leave a faint tint that fades with gentle washing, so don't chase it with a scrub brush.

Glitter

Press a little cleansing oil over it and lift it away with a cotton pad in one direction. Use cosmetic glitter only, and keep it away from your eyes: University of Miami dermatologist Dr. Shasa Hu warns it can scratch the cornea. If a fleck gets in, don't rub; rinse with clean water.

Fake blood

Take it off as soon as you can, since red dye can stain the longer it sits. Oil first, then a gentle cleanser. Skip rubbing alcohol, bleach and household cleaners; a faint pink tint fades with gentle washing.

Spirit gum and lash glue

Soak, hold and let the matching remover do the work. For lash glue, run a cotton swab with an oil-based remover along the lash line and wait; yanking can take natural lashes with it. Stop if a remover stings or burns.

Liquid latex

Loosen the edges with warm water and a little oil, then peel slowly, taking extra care around your brows and hairline. If you have a latex allergy, skip liquid latex entirely: the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology notes that "the most severe latex allergy can result in anaphylaxis."

The morning after, and when to see a pro

Mild pinkness usually calms with a day or two of gentle care: cleanse, moisturize, wear sunscreen and keep your hands off. Itching followed by a rash, hours or days later, can be contact dermatitis, according to the AAD; stop using whatever might have caused it. New bumps can be acne cosmetica, which the AAD says can take a few days to six months to appear. Not sure which one you have? Our face-paint rash vs. breakout guide compares them side by side.

Emergency care, right away: trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling of your eyes or lips.
A board-certified dermatologist or your doctor: a rash that blisters, spreads quickly, is painful, involves your eyes or lips, comes with a fever, or shows signs of infection like pus, crusting or warmth (from the AAD's rash warning signs).
An eye doctor: an eye that stays red, painful or watery after glitter or paint got into it.
An esthetician: skin that's calm but feels congested or bumpy a week or two later. A facial isn't a treatment for a rash or allergic reaction, so wait until any reaction has fully cleared.

A post-Halloween pore reset on the Upper East Side

Once your skin is calm, a professional cleanse can clear what costume makeup left behind:

Advanced Pore Cleansing Facial ($89, 60 min): cleansing and extractions for congested skin and blackheads. New to ROW 89? Your first one is $79 with code FIRSTVISIT through December 31. Book online.
Pore vacuuming add-on ($59): ask for it when your nose and chin feel especially clogged.
Deep Pore Cleansing Facial ($119, 60 min): a deeper cleanse in the same hour. Compare both on our pore cleansing facial page.
HydraPure facial ($139, 60 min) or Ultra-Hydrating Glow Facial ($148, 80 min): for skin that feels tight rather than congested. See the full facial menu.

If breakouts keep coming after the costume is packed away, our Clear Skin Acne Program ($795) pairs acne facials and mandelic peels with LED light therapy and a progress check with Rocio Romero, PA-C, and starts with a free 15-minute consult. Not sure which acne treatment fits you? Text us at (917) 554-1005. Medical treatments are provided through ROW 89 Aesthetics PLLC.

Wondering whether the candy bowl is to blame, too? Read what dermatologists say about Halloween candy and breakouts.

Already planning next year's costume? Our Upper East Side Halloween guide has a beauty countdown for the weeks before the big night.

Visit ROW 89 on East 89th Street

ROW 89 is at 219A East 89th Street, between Second and Third Avenues, in the middle of Yorkville and a short walk east of Carnegie Hill and Museum Mile. We're about five minutes from the 86th Street Q station and about ten from the 86th Street 4/5/6. Facials are on the second floor, and we're open 10am–8pm every day. Book online or call (212) 722-1959.

Frequently asked questions

Is it bad to sleep in Halloween makeup?

Yes. The FDA says wearing makeup too long can irritate your skin and let flakes get into your eyes, and the AAD advises removing all makeup, including eye makeup, before bed. Even a quick oil cleanse and rinse beats nothing.

What removes face paint from skin?

Water-based paint usually comes off with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser. For cream, grease or oil-based paint, use a cleansing balm or oil, a makeup remover or a little petroleum jelly first, then a gentle cleanser.

Can face paint cause breakouts?

It can. Pore-clogging products can lead to acne cosmetica. Removing everything the same night and keeping your routine gentle for a few days lowers the odds.

How can I tell an allergic reaction from irritation?

Irritation from rubbing usually looks pink, feels tight and calms within a day or two. An allergic reaction often starts with itching, then a rash, sometimes with blisters, and can appear hours or days later. Stop using the product and see a dermatologist or your doctor if it doesn't settle.

When can I get a facial after Halloween?

Once your skin is calm, with no rash, rawness or open spots. If you had a reaction, wait until it has fully cleared and check with your doctor first.

How to Remove Halloween Makeup Without Wrecking Your Skin: Face Paint, Glitter, Fake Blood and Spirit Gum