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by Bruria Efune

Everyone is always asking me how I keep my make-up on all Shabbos and Yom Tov long... Do I re-apply in the morning? No-way-hozay! That's totally assur! Shabbos and Yom Tov are way more beautiful than a face of make-up, why mess them up just to keep my make-up good?!

Blog: How to Keep Make-Up Lasting All Shabbos Long

by Bruria Efune

Everyone is always asking me how I keep my make-up on all Shabbos and Yom Tov long… Do I re-apply in the morning? No-way-hozay! That’s totally assur! Shabbos and Yom Tov are way more beautiful than a face of make-up, why mess them up just to keep my make-up good?!

Instead, over some years of trial and error, and those good old days when I had time to be bored with a mirror, I’ve found some great ways to make the make-up last for very long. So I put together a pile of handy-dandy tricks.

Tips before we start:

• Young teens: don’t start wearing make-up until you NEED to. Your skin will thank you! Plus, young faces that shine without any paint, are real beauty. Of course it’s also good to discuss it with your mother when you’re ready.

• Good make-up can cost a lot of money, and it adds up! I keep my most expensive items for Shabbos only.

• Many make-up stores like giving out free make-up. My favorite is when Clinique at Macy’s has free gift events. Before shopping, look up when their next event is! A bulk of my favorite items are from the free bags!

• Lots of eyeshadows come with nicely illustrated instructions, I’ve learnt a lot from them!

• Know your skin! If it’s sensitive, then don’t leave anything all over your face overnight. Let it breathe.

• Don’t expect perfection without practice… We all get better every time!

• Think princess: it’s part of tznius to look like one, so do it with pride.

• Do it lichvod Shabbos kodesh for an added mitzvah!

Okay, lets start:

1) Get a good primer.

My favorite is called Stay Don’t Stray by Benefit. It can be found in Sephora, or at a Benefit make-up stand. It comes with instructions. If you founded a better one that works well for you, great! Spread a nice drop from your lashes and up to your brow. Make sure to blend it in well.

The primer is what will hold your eyeshadow on. It’s probably the most important step here.

2) Double-line.

This step is for those of us who are trying extra hard. Put on a layer of eyeliner now. You’ll be doing it again later. My experience is that pencil lasts longest. I like Mac’s long lasting black. For less money, Almay has a good one too.

Make the top line right along your lashes. The closer in you get, the better. If you’re brave, lift your lid and line the inner lips too. It makes a difference. The bottom line should be drawn right on your bottom lashes.

Eyeliner is what you want to stay best. Make the lines dark, but don’t lose your classiness with thick.

3) Some eye-shadow tricks.

• Don’t use just one color. Get a pallet of 3-4 shades. I’ve yet to find a cheap eye-shadow that stays on well. So I go Clinique with this. Mac has good ones too, but they are usually more money, and not as skin-friendly.
Natural is beautiful, so I like pallets that blend in skin tones from white to brown. Clinique has one called Teddy Bear. I also like bronze-gold blends. Or pink-bronze. Find what’s good on you.

• When you put it on, remember: dab don’t brush! The cheap lil sponge stick that comes with the pallet is best for this. You can blend it after. Apply the make-up with pressing dabs and it will stay. Brush nicely, and it’ll fall off. This was my most vital discovery!

• Important: your brow-bone! That’s the part that drops into your eye-lid. Put a dark color there. That’s the shadow that will stay on best, and keep your eyes popping. I like making it get darker in the outer corner, and lighter in the inner.

4) Curl your lashes!

Those blessed with super-curled lashes can kindly skip this one. The rest of us can whip out our freaky looking lash crunchers and curl them from root to tip. Don’t worry about it staying, we’ll get to that soon.

5) Re-line!

Yep, do step two again. Put on some nice eyeliner.

6) Long-lasting mascara technique.

First off, invest in a good water-proof mascara. My favorite by far is Clinique’s long lasting black. Side bonus: it keeps your lashes curled!

During the week, stick to regular mascara, it’s healthier for your lashes.

Note: if your mascara is looking clumpy, you may need to buy a new fresh one. These things go bad with time.

Okay, some awesome techniques that make it last and wonderful:

• Paint both sides of your lashes. Start with the top. Don’t worry, they’ll curl back up even better when you get to the bottom side.

• Start from the root.

• Make the outer corners the darkest.

• More advanced: as you pull from the root, vibrate your hand a bit. They actually make mascaras that vibrate for you. Never tried it though.

• Re-dip often.

• Go over the very tips when you’re done, for a lengthened look.

• Spend plenty time on your top lashes, and a bit less on your lower ones.

• Humans make messes. When you get some on your skin – WAIT! Remove it with a Q-tip when it’s dry, a minute later. Otherwise you make the mess bigger.

7) Prime your highlighter!

First use a tissue to clean up the mess of powder you dripped under your eyes. Then pick the primer back up. Put a small dot, and spread it under your eyes. Too much won’t look good.

Next, get your under-eye highlighter. I’m actually very happy with one from Garnier. It’s a stick with a rolling ball, and it has caffeine to wake the skin up too.

For wrinkle-prevention: rub it all in gently, then kindly pat it down.

8) Moisture stays.

If you’re brave enough and need to keep something on the rest of your face all Shabbos long, try a tinted moisturizer. It’s usually nicer to your skin, blends things in well, and stays on longer. I use one from Clinique, because they’re usually more skin-friendly.

Extra tip: for red blotches, something companies sell nice spot cover-ups that are also medicated, and help correct the problem while hiding it.

9) Where the brush matters.

A good blush brush will make your blush last. Sephora has a nice line of them, and they last a long time too. If you’re a bronzed person, the story is the sakes there too.

You might want to put a teeny bit more than usual, just so you’ll have some left the next day.

10) Buy a lip stain, instead of lipstick.

My favorite is from Mac and it’s called Pro Longwear. It’ll last me about 24 hours, no more.

If you have a dry lip problem, try getting a lip primer to use with regular lipstick instead.

11) Be nice!

• There are a few things you can do to ruin your hard work. Let’s avoid them:

• Don’t sleep on your face! If you sleep on your side, turn your head slightly up, so you don’t smudge anything.

• Don’t touch. Don’t rub. Keep your hands away.

• No crying! You shouldn’t be crying on Shabbos or Yom Tov anyway! Unless you’re one of those who cry when laughing… Maybe slap your knee instead. I don’t know. Just don’t cry.

• Remember that everyone’s skin is different. Some will hold on the make-up better than others. But don’t despair if it’s not working. Try harder, and experiment more. You’ll get there.

I might have missed some things, and you may have more good tips, so please share them! Remember, we’re not being vain, we’re trying our best to represent daughters of The King!

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46 Comments

  • Rachel

    My rabbi told me i am allowed to put on make-up if it makes my shabbos more relaxed and more enjoyable and if i wont have it i will be very miserable.

  • jugk

    u r funny!!!! cracking up here….i have a great solution….just dont put on anything, half the ladies look way too painted anyways,,,,chill, you look gorgeous anyways..

  • to # 3

    Were not in English 101, everybody understood what she was saying. No need to correct.

  • Another idea

    Thanks for the tips. I too have tried many different types of things to make my make up last on shabbos and I’d like to recommend two lip products that work well. Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick and Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor. Both work really well. The trick is to put on at least two layers and allow lips to dry between each layer application. I recommend both because one might find one more drying or less-longer lasting. I’d buy both and give them a try and see which works better.

  • Shabbos Make-up??

    What about make-up that has a heter from reputable rabonim and is especially allowed for Shabbos with special instructions on how to use?

  • Another tip

    Be really careful when you eat the meal on Friday night. I find that if my lipstick is still on after the meal, it’ll look the same way the next morning.
    (With my pretty dry skin, just putting makeup on before Shabbos the way I do everyday (without double eyeliner or primer, using regular lipstick, etc.) is enough for it to stay for about 24 hours as long as I eat carefully and don’t sleep on my face.)

  • to number 1

    My Rabbi told me that I could turn the air conditioner on Shabbos because it makes me more relaxed and my shabbos more enjoyable, and if I wont have it, I will be very miserable!

  • i dont get it...

    doesnt it feel gross that you didnt was your face friday night and shabbos morning??? uch! rather feel dirty but pretty or clean and not so pretty… i choose the latter..
    and to ! ur rabbi is definitely not very learned…even i know more than him!

  • To number 1

    I also asked my rabbi, Rabbi Jennifer from temple shalom and she told me not only can I put on make up but I can drive to macys to restock if necessary so I shouldn’t be miserable

  • very very very very

    :DDDD :DDD :DD :D that leaves the chins :))))))) 8 chins to be exact (u can count because i didnt.)

  • ^^^^

    to number 16…….HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA UR R FUNNYYY!!! THE CHINS WILL HAVE TO COUNT THEMSELVES!!

  • makeup

    makeup on shabas and yom tov?! put on the powders at day!! my rabbi always told me she used mac and its ok

  • Hi

    Whoah, way too complicated and sounds way overdone! Just wear a waterproof mascara and long lasting lipstick like revlon color stay, it’s great.

  • Rachel

    to number 20- unless you want no eyelashes when your older – then WEAR THE WATERPROOF MASCARA….

  • to number 20

    If only it was that simple. I don’t find revlon color stay that good.

  • BR Girl

    All my friends in BR put on make-up on yom tov, so it must be allowed

  • jealousyyyyy

    ^^^^20 person u must look like a clown. just that u might as well wear nothing… pffffttt!!!!!!

  • To #22

    For long lasting lip color try Maybelline Super Stay 24 color (as in 24 hour stay) apply a few layers..let dry between layers (don’t use balm on other end of stick). Works wonders!
    Also to #21, it’s not necessary to use waterproof mascara…try Revlon Grow luscious plumping Mascara (green/silver tube)
    and apply a few coats..begin from the root of your eyelashes.

  • an oldtime fan and admirer

    go bruria go!
    Love it…
    Miss you!!!
    you have a blog?! Let me in?

  • Beauty is skin deep

    Wear no make up at all and your beauty will shine through. My skin is B”AH really clear. I never wear make up and only wash in water. No cleanser, toners or moisturisers. Hashem made you beautiful – you don’t need to paint a new face on!!!

  • a very informative article

    To #24 – If all your friends were to turn on lights on Yom Tov, that makes it “allowed”? Get some new friends, or at least educate these bimbos. Ask your teachers to discuss these Halachas in class.

    Bruria, I’m a Bubby who NEEDS make-up…at my age, we need every bit of help we can get! So thank you for these tips that will at least help me look semi-decent on Shabbos & Yom Tov.

  • REVLON

    I am 40 years old and I started wearing make-up when I was 16, this article might work for some ppl but, it has a lot to do with what kind of skin you have, I have been wearing REVLON make-up for the last 20 years, when I wear make-up from A to Z on friday before shabbos, the next morning I still have everything on my face, with a 3 day yom tov most of my eye make-up stays on, research found out that all the expensive make-up is not better then the make-up you can by in your drugstore…Good luck to everyone who believes in this article. I am a big believer about, everybody should do what they feel is important for them self, I can’t stand it when ppl write articles and shlep the Rebbe into it, yes I am born and raised as a Lubavitcher but this is 2012 not 1980!!! and the best part…right under all the comments on this article has a add for REVLON!!!

  • A Shlucha

    Beautifully written, especially for some girls who have no one to teach them. We are Jewish princesses and we need to feel like a princess all shabbos, while keeping halachos and not reapplying on shabbos!

  • To #24

    If all your friends in Bais Rivkah drove a car on shabbos is it allowed? Come on. I hope you are smarter then that.

  • To 33 and 36

    Hellooooo…!!!! Number 24 is being sarcastic. She’s not serious. Gosh stop freakin out!

  • chassidishe maidele ? or pritzus

    two words
    maris ayin
    this is what we think about for the preps for the most holiest day of the week.
    i also enjoy looking nice for shabbos, but this doesn’t warrent an article

  • TINT your lashes

    Aip I got from a good friend- TINT YOUR EYELASHES! it keeps your lashes black till th etips so looks like you are wearing mascars even if you are not

  • to #38

    to #38 How is this Maris Ayin? Yes, we beautify ourselves for the holiest day of the week. Now that you know that a good portion of us women apply our long lasting makeup before Shabbos, in honor of the holy Shabbos…do not cast suspicion and assume wrongly when you see us looking put together with our makeup. Best wishes for a Gut Shabbos!

  • Yisraela

    Marino’s Italian Ices provide great lip-color as an added bonus! Cherry for red, Chocolate for a brownish hue, Watermelon for pink/peach. I’m not kidding.

    And all flavors are pareve!

  • Neomi Gniwisch

    Beautiful article .. Written beautifully and with the warmth of a true bas yisreal :) and great info too

    ( I’m just saddened that the administration on this site does not do a good job of erasing the negative immature and st downright nasty comments )