How to remove lip gloss (and the lipstick underneath)
Remove lip gloss with a makeup remover suitable for lips: moisten a cotton pad, rest it against your closed lips, then sweep gently without tugging. If you wore liner or lipstick underneath, remove that colour too rather than stopping when the glossy surface is gone.
The shoes can come off first. Then give the lip combo a proper exit: remover, a soft pad and a mirror, not a dry tissue dragged back and forth. The aim is to take off the makeup, not rub until your lips look a different colour.
Does lip gloss come off easily?
The cleanup depends on what you wore: clear gloss by itself, a tinted gloss, or gloss layered over a separate colour product. That tells you what to look for as you remove it.
With a clear gloss such as Green & Jaded, the finish is a transparent base with fine pearlescent shimmer. If you wore it over red lipstick, the red is a separate layer to remove. Do not mistake the disappearance of shine for the end of the job.
Before you start, set a few clean cotton pads beside your remover. Use one area of the pad for the first sweep and a fresh area for checking the edges. You will be able to see what you are picking up without repeatedly passing the same makeup-covered patch over your mouth.
If the gloss felt heavy before removal, keep that separate from the cleanup question. Our guide to why lip gloss feels sticky covers amount and layering; save that for your next application; tonight, just take it off gently.
What is the best way to remove lipstick?
Use a gentle press-and-sweep method rather than scrubbing. In its Canadian lip-makeup removal tutorial, Clarins places a moistened cotton pad over the lips, then supports the corner of the mouth while sweeping the pad across. Its specific tip is not to tug at the skin.
With gloss on top, work through it like this:
- Choose a remover intended for the area. Check that its directions include lips. If the colour underneath has its own removal instructions, use those to choose the product.
- Moisten a soft cotton pad. Use the remover as directed rather than trying to make a nearly dry pad do the work. Keep your lips gently closed.
- Rest the pad on your lips. Give the remover its directed contact time before sweeping; Clarins shows a brief pause.
- Support, then sweep. Hold the corner of your mouth in place with one hand and move the pad gently across with the other. Avoid stretching your mouth wide or sawing the pad back and forth.
- Use a fresh section for remaining makeup. Check the upper lip, lower lip and border separately. Repeat gently where you can still see product instead of automatically repeating the whole sequence.
- Finish as the remover directs. Rinse if required, then check the result in the mirror before moving on to the rest of your routine.
For the surrounding face, the American Academy of Dermatology's cleansing guidance says to avoid scrubbing, rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel. Keep that same light touch when you finish the rest of your makeup removal.
What is the best lipstick remover?
The useful choice is a remover labelled for lips and appropriate for the makeup you wore, not whichever bottle has the strongest-sounding name. Clarins identifies both its Cleansing Micellar Water and Velvet Cleansing Milk for lip-makeup cleansing. Check your own bottle for lip use and rinsing directions.
| What you wore | What to check | Your mirror check |
|---|---|---|
| Clear gloss alone | A remover whose directions include lips | Visible gloss or pearl still at the border |
| Tinted gloss | Removal directions for the particular gloss | Remaining tint as well as shine |
| Gloss over liner or lipstick | The colour product's removal instructions too | The outline, corners and colour layer |
If your current remover already says it is suitable for lips, start there. You may not need another bottle. Keep the gloss tube out of this step: a lip oil or gloss sold as makeup is not automatically a makeup remover.
How to remove unremovable lipstick?
First check whether you have removed only the top gloss. A coloured outline or lipstick patch needs attention to that layer, not another dry wipe over the shine-free parts.
Put the pad down for a moment and check the lipstick's removal directions. If it specifies a particular remover type, switch to an appropriate lip-safe product rather than pressing harder with the wrong one. Use a fresh pad and the same gentle method.
In the mirror, relax your mouth and check the Cupid's bow, corners and lower border. For a little gloss on the surrounding skin, use a clean section of the pad to lift that spot separately. If you still see pearl, check whether it is a visible patch of makeup rather than continuing to wipe your whole mouth.
Do not turn removal into exfoliation. A scrub is not the next step simply because the colour is stubborn, and the no-tugging advice still applies. You are looking for leftover makeup, not trying to erase your natural lip colour.
When you build the look again, our gloss over matte lipstick guide covers that combination. For a fresh start with gloss alone, use the application guide.
FAQ
Can I just blot the gloss off with a tissue?
Blotting can be a first step for lifting excess product, but it is not the same as completing removal. Follow with a remover suitable for lips and check any colour underneath.
Do I have to rinse after micellar water?
Read the directions on your particular bottle. Do not assume that one micellar water's rinse instructions apply to every other product.
Should I use a lip scrub to remove shimmer?
Start with your lip-safe makeup remover and a gentle sweep. Check a visible leftover spot with a fresh pad instead of using a scrub as the default removal tool.
How do I tell whether the lip liner is gone?
Look along the outline separately from the centre of your lips. If you can still see the drawn border, remove that remaining makeup gently before calling the cleanup finished.
