The Best Halloween Makeup Removers: The Pros From American Horror Story and More Weigh In

This Halloween, we’re taking a no-fear approach to our beauty routines. Suicide Squad face tats à la Harley Quinn? Yes, please. Kardashian contouring? Lay it on thick. But as anyone who has gone full-on with their costuming can tell you, there’s a potentially scary flip side to a professional-level makeup job that arrives at the end of the night. That’s why we’ve asked television and film experts on both ends of the special effects spectrum for their tips on the best products to wash away the aftermath of your face-painting adventures, from Jem and the Holograms–worthy neon and glitter to American Horror Story–level goth and gore.

Rule No. 1: The best starting point may actually be your cleanser. American Horror Story’s head of makeup, Eryn Krueger Mekash, relies on a trio of face washes before traditional makeup removers. Taut’s pH-balanced Liquid Facial Cleanser and Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser, along with basic coconut oil, are staples in her kit that emulsify even thickly layered pro paint. If fake lashes are involved, she suggests reaching for a product specifically geared toward eyes. “Urban Decay makes a great makeup remover called Meltdown. You can use this to get the lashes, glue, and mascara off.”

 

 

 

 

On set for the newly released Jem and the Holograms, out today, lead makeup artist Mary Klimek says she became obsessed with Josie Maran’s Bear Naked face wipes and Argan Cleansing Treatment for removing face paints and bright colors. “The girls would sometimes have their makeup on for eight or more hours—the hot pink on Aubrey Peeples [Jem] was the hardest to remove.” A pro trick for eliminating stains from the skin? Both Klimek and Krueger Mekash swear by the dye-erasing power of shaving cream. “If anything stains, it’s fake blood,” says Krueger Mekash. “We use shaving cream to remove any residue.” Klimek is also a fan of the nourishing formula in Kate Somerville’s Lash Enhancing Eye Makeup Remover, and suggests a soothing toner to calm inflamed skin after intense removal rituals. “I love the Aloe Vera Toner from Mario Badescu—it was a staple on set!”

After all is fresh and fully cleansed, how does one eradicate those lingering sparkles that seem to turn up on every surface and cheek, whether part of your costume or simply dance-party stowaways? Some experts suggest using a piece of Scotch tape to lift away individual specks, while others prefer the textured side of a hot towel to sweep away residue. If all else fails, Klimek relies on the cure-all remedy of a hot shower—which, happily, also sounds like the perfect strategy for wrapping up the night.

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