How to remove your Halloween makeup safely and easily

The spooking season has begun and it’s time to paint our faces and scare the heck out of our friends and family! Special effects makeup or just plain old Halloween makeup can be a little tricky to get off of our faces once applied, so here’s my guide to getting that blood and gore off without damaging your skin. Just remember, be patient and remove your makeup gently so as not to damage your skin or cause irritation.

Liquid Latex and Silicone
Liquid latex and silicone can usually be gently peeled away from the skin without much fuss, however, when layered up it can tend to be a little tougher to remove. To help me remove such materials, I like to use a wondrous little product called Isopropyl Myristate. In short, it’s an emollient that’s used in our cosmetics already and helps the makeup to slide right off. I use a little on a cotton pad to saturate the area, then gently and slowly begin to peel the makeup away. You can always apply a little Isopropyl Myristate to a cotton bud and push it under the liquid latex or silicone to help it slide on off of the skin if it’s still a little tough to remove.

Prosthetic Pieces
Prosthetic pieces like chins or noses can be gently peeled away from the skin. Use Isopropyl Myristate for the tougher to remove pieces followed by an oil based cleanser.

Greasepaints and Cremes 
Greasepaints and cremes can be a little more time consuming to remove as they tend to repel water. The best way to get this type of makeup off is to use an oil based cleanser. The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is brilliant for this, but Coconut Oil from your kitchen cupboard will work great too if you don’t want to splash your cash on a fancy oil cleanser. Simply apply a little oil to your dry face and work it in with your fingertips to massage the makeup away, remove it using a soft, wet muslin cloth and repeat the process until the makeup has disappeared.

Fake blood
Some fake bloods are easy to remove with a little oil cleanser and water, but some are specifically designed for ultra long wear and require a specific remover. Some brands will have their own remover that you can buy along with your fake blood. In the case of stubborn fake blood stains or coagulated blood, I tend to rely on my trusty Isopropyl Myristate to gently cleanse the blood away.

Spirit Gum & Scar Wax
Spirit gum is easily removed with Spirit Gum remover followed by your cleansing routine. I love the Mehron Spirit Gum Remover as it’s really gentle on the skin. As for Scar Wax, I tend to use my metal spatula to scoot the majority off followed by either Isopropyl Myristate or my regular cleanser depending on how much is left on my skin.

After removing your makeup thoroughly, it’s great to follow with a proper skincare routine to replenish the moisture and surface oils that have just been cleansed away. If you have the time, treat your skin to a soothing face mask before following with a nourishing moisturiser to keep your skin happy and healthy. I really rate the Starskin Red Carpet Hydrating Coconut Bio Cellulose sheet mask followed by something like the Decleor Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution Hydrating Gel Cream or the Caudalie Overnight Renewal Cream. Don’t forget to add a slick of your favourite lip balm to rehydrate your lips too!

© Rachael Divers 2017.