You probably already know that you shouldn’t get your eyelashes wet immediately after you have them done at the salon and that certain cleansers are to be avoided if you want to keep your extensions for a long time.

But then, how do you wash your face with eyelash extensions? I wrote this quick guide to show you exactly how I do it and how I advise my clients to do it.

I’ll also share some of my favorite products that are lash extension safe and some that should be avoided.

Let’s get started!

How to Wash Your Face With Eyelash Extensions

1- Remove Eye Makeup

The best way to remove your eye makeup is by using a lint-free paper towel and an oil-free makeup remover.

Cut the paper towel into small squares and dispense a good amount of remover on it. Then, wrap your lashes with the paper towel. Do not rub or make side-to-side motions. Simply press and hold the paper towel for a few seconds like I’m doing in this picture.

Then, use the leftover makeup remover and clean the eye area. Here, it’s important not to touch the lashes. Repeat this step until your eyes are makeup free. In this picture, I’ve completely removed my eyeshadow with this method.

Now, you should know not to use cotton balls, Q-tips or cotton pads! The lint or fibers from these products can get caught in your eyelash extensions. It’s a nightmare to get them out and will most likely end up with you pulling out your extensions.

Also, make sure your makeup remover doesn’t contain any oils since oils will weaken the adhesive bond over time.

2- Wash Your Face

For this step, dispense a good amount of oil-free facial cleanser into the palm of your hands. Then, massage it on your cheeks first and then on your forehead, chin and neck.

I always prefer to use a circular motion for this step. Make sure to avoid rubbing the eyelash extensions.

3- Rinse Your Face

Now It’s time to rinse with cold or lukewarm water. I like to simply make a cup with my hands and scoop the water in. I then gently wet my face to remove any leftover makeup or cleanser.

The word “gentle” is important here. You don’t want to vigorously splash water onto your face.

If you’re doing this step in the shower, I recommend avoiding the water aimed directly at your face.

4- Clean Your Eyelash Extensions (Optional)

I always clean my extensions when I wash my face since I find it makes sense to just get it done at the same time. That said, you don’t necessarily have to do it together. But keep in mind that your extensions need to be cleansed daily to prevent bacteria buildup.

The process of cleaning your extensions involves a few steps and I’ve actually written an entire article about it. You can check it out here.

In summary, you need to coat your lashes with a special cleanser specifically designed for lash extensions. This will remove any buildup of dirt, oils, and bacteria but won’t weaken the lash glue that bonds the extension to the natural eyelash.

5- Dry Your Face & Lashes

It’s important to have your lash extensions completely dry before you go to bed. You can:

• Let them air dry.
• Use a lint-free towel to gently pat dry the lashes.
• Use a blow dryer in a low and cool setting.

To dry your face, just pat it with a lint-free towel while avoiding the eye area.

How Long After Lash Extensions Can I Wash My Face?

You should wait 4 hours after getting lash extensions before washing your face. This waiting period is required for the lash glue to completely cure and become water-resistant.

If you wash your face too soon, you risk ruining the glue bond and losing some of your extensions faster than you normally would.

A quick google search and you might find some websites saying you need to wait 24 hours (or even 48 hours!) before getting your extensions wet. Well, that is old news as they say unless your lash tech uses outdated adhesives and doesn’t force-cure the lashes at the end of the appointment.

What Face Wash Is Safe (Or Not) For Eyelash Extensions?

The number one ingredient you want to avoid is oil! I’ve said it before, but oils will just wreak havoc on your extensions. For this reason, I generally recommend using a foaming or gel cleanser as opposed to a cream-based one. Some examples of popular oil-based face wash to avoid are:

• Rice Water Bright Face from The Face Shop
• DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
• Palmer’s Skin Therapy
• Bioderma Atoderm

When wearing extensions, it’s best to use a gentle oil-free face wash formulated for sensitive skin. There are numerous ones on the market, but since I often get asked which are best, here are two that I like:

• EltaMD foaming facial cleanser: This is a classic and perfect for everyday use. I like this brand and particularly this product because it won’t dry out your skin. Also, I find the foaming types (not the creams) are best for my skin.
• Neutrogena ultra gentle hydrating daily facial cleanser: This one is made for people with sensitive skin. But most importantly for lash extension wearers, it’s oil-free. I like the deep clean it provides.

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