Can I wear makeup or lipstick while fasting?

Detailed answer

Yes. Wearing makeup does not break your fast. Foundation, powder, mascara, eyeliner, blusher and similar products stay on the skin. They are not food or drink and do not reach the stomach, so your fast remains valid.

Why it does not break the fast

The fast is broken by eating, drinking, intimate relations and things that clearly take their place (Al-Baqarah 2:187). Products applied to the skin are not in this list, even if a tiny amount is absorbed. This is the same reason creams and lotions do not break the fast.

Lipstick and lip balm

Lipstick, lip gloss and lip balm are allowed. Because they sit on the lips, close to the mouth, take a little care:

• Do not lick your lips or deliberately swallow the product.
• If a trace reaches your mouth without you meaning it, spit it out and carry on. Your fast is still valid.
• Choose a long-lasting or unflavoured product if you tend to taste it.

Kohl and eye makeup

Mascara and eyeliner do not break the fast. Most scholars also hold that kohl does not break the fast, even if a taste is sometimes felt in the throat, because the eye is not a passage for food. Some scholars hold that kohl breaks the fast if its taste reaches the throat; if you want to be careful, apply it at night.

Beyond the fast itself

Ramadan is about more than avoiding food and drink. The usual Islamic guidance on modesty applies whether or not you are fasting, and many women use the month to simplify their routine and give more time to worship. For wudu, remove any waterproof makeup or product that stops water from reaching the skin, so that your wudu is complete.

Tips

• Keep lip products light during the day.
• Take off long-wear products before wudu, or plan your makeup around prayer times.
• For nails, see nail polish in Ramadan.

In short, makeup is not a reason to worry about your fast. Enjoy the month and focus on what matters most.