Beauty Tips

7 Genius Hacks for Removing the Most Stubborn Makeup

Glitter nail polish. Eyelash extensions. Waterproof mascara. All fun to wear -- all a nightmare to take off. Here's how to remove makeup and other beauty treatments that are notoriously a pain in the you-know-where to remove

by Sharon J. Yi

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How to Remove Gel Manicures Gel manicures can last up to four weeks, but once it's time to switch up your color, you'll have to make another appointment with your salon to get your mani removed. Removing the gel requires soaking your nails in 100 percent acetone, which isn't readily available in stores (tip: you may be able to find it in a hardware store). While it's recommended you remove gel manicures at the salon, if you want to save the $15, Beth Fricke, manicure artist for OPI with ArtistsbyTimothyPriano.com, shares how to remove gel manicures at home.

Step 1: Soak a cotton ball with acetone.
Step 2: Place the cotton on the nail and wrap each finger in aluminum foil, which will soften the gel lacquer. Leave on for 5 minutes. Alternatively, Fricke also loves CND Shellac Remover Wraps, $3.99, which are cotton pads that have adhesive tabs so that all you have to do is soak them in acetone and wrap them around your nails.
Step 3: Remove the cotton and foil, and scrape off softened gel with a birchwood stick.
Step 4: If the surface of your nail is rough, gently buff the nail.
Step 5: Apply a nail strengthener, then generously apply cuticle oil to the nails and cuticles. We recommend CND SolarOil, $7.99.

While Samira Asemanfar, founder of Bellacures, says this process can be drying, it's a far better option then peeling off the gel polish. "For the love of nails, do not peel them off!" she says. "While it seems like an easy way to remove the gel layer, without soaking them in acetone, you'll end up peeling off the first layer of your nail bed as well, which will severely weaken your nails."

SEE NEXT PAGE: How to Remove Eyelash Extensions

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Older comments

Interesting tips!

by robyne00 Friday, April 12, 2013 at 02:33PM Report as inappropriate

Is there anything vaseline can't remove?

by schien Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 03:11PM Report as inappropriate

Great tips! Waterproof mascara is such a pain! And I hate paying the fee just to get my Shellac removed in the salon. And I'm about to get eyelash extensions, so I'm glad I read this first!

by Erin4 Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 11:20AM Report as inappropriate

cold cream rules

by LittleBunny Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 05:53PM Report as inappropriate

love love love love cold cream!

by rayshaviolet Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 04:31PM Report as inappropriate

cold cream, even from the dollar store, removes all eye makeup including WP, in a flash AND moisturizes. A winner.

by veryvanilla Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 08:56AM Report as inappropriate

Good tips

by EricaC123 Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 06:32AM Report as inappropriate

I wish there was a tip to remove liquid foundation before cleansing the skin.

by springsblue Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 08:26AM Report as inappropriate

nice tips!

by teema Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 01:29AM Report as inappropriate

Ick, I hate cold cream! After using it, I needed to wash my face multiple times to get all of THAT stuff off. I haven't tried the glitter nail polish trick but I need to.

by LipglossandSpandex Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 09:12PM Report as inappropriate