How to Remove Your Halloween Makeup Without Ruining Your Skin

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The last thing you want to do after a night out—on Halloween no less—is deal with taking off your makeup. But if you think your skull face paint is spooky, just wait until you see your face after sleeping in it the next day. Spoiler: It's not good. As a pro makeup artist (and former Hedwig and the Angry Inch performer), I know just as much about taking makeup off as I do about putting it on. Follow this foolproof advice, along with our handy GIF tutorial, to keep your skin from turning into a nightmare the morning after Halloween. (Or Dia de los Muertos.)

Step 1: Start with embellishments

Rhinestones, sequins, anything that required you to glue it on, that's the first thing you want to tackle. The reason? Makeup remover won't easily slide between them, meaning you won't be able to get a thorough cleanse. Also, rhinestones tend to stick together when they're wet (think of wet sand at the beach), making them trickier to take off (especially after a cocktail or two). If you used latex-based lash glue to attach them, you'll probably be able to flick them off easily. If you used stronger glue, like spirit gum or Pros-Aide, try dipping a Q-tip in a special remover like Super Solve and work the edges until they come off. Whatever you do: Do not dig into them with your fingernails. It could scratch or scar your skin. You know what your mother always said about not picking blemishes? The same rule applies here.

Step 2: Soften makeup with an oil-based cleanser

Most Halloween makeup is designed to last longer, which means it contains various oils, waxes, pigments, or silicones that regular face wash can't dissolve. That's where an oil-based cleanser like L'Occitane Immortelle Oil Makeup Remover comes into play. It'll better break down all that long-wear stuff and will leave your face looking and feeling cleaner. With dry hands, use your fingertips to massage several pumps of the remover onto your (also dry) face, being sure to rub it over your eyes, lips, and other places you applied makeup.

Step 3: Rinse, rinse, rinse. Repeat

Next, splash lots of water on your face, massaging it in with the cleanser as you go. But don't reach for a cloth right away. The cleanser is water-activated, meaning it'll turn into a creamy lather as your makeup starts to dissolve. Keep rinsing until the water looks clear.

Step 4: Focus on your eyes

If you still have mascara or other makeup on your eyes, saturate a soft cotton pad with waterproof makeup remover and hold it on your eyes for five seconds. Then gently wipe it away. (Note: Holding it down is important because it gives the remover time to break down the makeup particles. Not only is it ineffective to drag it or smudge it, it's also rough on the delicate skin around your eyes.) Try Chanel Demaquillant Yeux Intense Eye Makeup Remover and Muji soft unbleached cotton pads.

Step 5: Spot wash tough-to-get spots (like your hairline)

By now, most of your makeup should be gone, but if you still have any residue left, dabbing on micellar cleansing water, like Bioderma Crealine Micellar Water, with a cotton pad will both rinse skin and condition it. You might be tempted to skip this step, but be warned: It's helpful because you can see if there are any traces of makeup remaining. Plus, a cleansing water is pH balanced, so it won't dry your skin out like tap water.

Step 6: Get any remaining bits of glitter off

Didn't go for glitter this year? Feel free to skip ahead. But if you did, and still have any stray sparkles hanging around, listen up. Since makeup remover won't dissolve glitter, and trying to scrub it away can irritate your skin, the gentlest way to get glitter off is with fashion tape. Just dab it wherever you see a shiny speck. Why fashion tape over, say, office tape? This stuff is a red carpet secret designed to keep daring outfits from revealing too much. In other words, it's effective, but skin-safe.

Step 7: Moisturize

Last but not least, make sure to put on a moisturizer before you pass out. Raw organic jojoba oil is great because it's nourishing and gentle on all skin types. It also doesn't contain any retinols or exfoliating ingredients, which you won't want to use after stressing your skin so much (i.e. after wearing a face full of makeup all night long). The extra-rich natural emollients will leave your skin baby soft by morning.

The whole process only takes about five minutes. (That's about the time it takes to place a pizza order at 1 A.M., just saying.) Yes, it's a lot of steps, but your skin will thank you in the morning.