Can You Do Wudu with Makeup on?

In order for Wudu to be valid it is essential to remove anything that may prevent the water from reaching the skin, such as wax, dough, sticky substances and the like, so that the purpose of washing those parts of the body in Wudu may be achieved. 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! When you intend to offer the prayer, wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles.” [Al-Ma’idah 5:6]

It says in Al-Insaf (1/144): “Among the conditions of Wudu being valid is removing anything that may prevent water reaching that part of the body.” 

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Al-Mawdu` (1/492):

“If there is any wax, dough or henna’ etc on his body and that prevents the water from reaching any part of that limb, then his Wudu is not valid, whether there is a lot of that or a little. If there is any trace or colour of henna left on the hand etc, but not the henna itself, or there is a trace of fat or oil such that when the water touches the skin it will run over it, but not stay, then his Wudu is valid.”

From this it may be understood that if makeup has been removed before doing Wudu and only the colour is left, then Wudu is valid. Based on this, if the makeup prevents the water from reaching the skin, then Wudu is not valid, but if it is just colour or there is a little of it left that does not prevent the water reaching the skin, then Wudu is valid. 

For more details, please see the following category: Nullifiers of Wudu.

And Allah knows best.