By Hannah Coates

• I’m a little obsessed with makeup removal; it’s a ritual. After a long day onstage or in front of the camera, I’ll double- or triple-cleanse to make sure every trace is gone. I start with a cotton pad soaked in Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O Micellar Water to lift away the first layer. I follow that with a balm, like Sarah Chapman’s Ultimate Cleanse, and then Dr. Barbara Sturm’s foaming cleanser. I finish by swiping a cotton pad spritzed with Clinisept+’s Skin, a hypochlorous acid spray that I use as a toner, and exfoliate with Skinbetter’s AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads twice a week.
• When I’m doing multiple makeup changes in a day, my skin can get a little stressed. So I try to fit in face masks whenever I can. I find them really soothing, especially when I’ve kept them chilled in the fridge. Rodial’s Pink Diamond Lifting Face Mask and 111SKIN’s Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask are two of my go-tos.
• Be gentle with makeup removal. I use microfiber flannels, which I even pack when I’m filming on location. I also stick to cleansing with cool water to avoid irritating my skin with heat.

• When I perform, I dance and sweat onstage, so I rely on makeup that won’t budge. Afterward, my favorite way of removing it is with Shu Uemura’s Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil; it works for absolutely everything. If I’m in full drag, I’ll use two pumps. On “regular human” days, just one does the trick.
• I always double-cleanse when I’m wearing makeup because as drag queens we like to layer it on. My second step is La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser, which is great for my combination skin. I rinse it off with my hands — never a cloth — because my skin barrier is easily compromised, and I avoid anything abrasive. To finish, I slather on La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Balm B5.
• If you’re using an oil cleanser, your makeup should melt off — if it doesn’t, the makeup is far too harsh and has no business being on your face in the first place. Take your time to work the cleanser into the skin; a few minutes of massage is the secret to breaking everything down. I mean, I use craft glue on my face, and even that comes off!
• If you love doing crazy glitter looks, try removing them with masking tape. Put it on the sparkly areas and peel it off before you cleanse. It makes the process so much easier and saves you from turning into a full-face disco ball when you cleanse (which can also be irritating for sensitive skin).

• When I’m taking makeup off talent on set and don’t have access to a sink, I use cotton pads and Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O Micellar Water. Bioderma is so effective that it removes everything without the need for rubbing, which also makes it ideal for sensitive skin. I usually soak two cotton pads, place them gently over the eyes, and let them sit for a few seconds to break down the makeup. Then I softly sweep them down and around. I use a clean edge on the remaining black residue under the eyes. After that, I use a fresh cotton pad to remove base makeup from the rest of the face.
• At home, I always wash my face — which can be breakout-prone, especially around my jaw — with a foaming cleanser, to lift off any lingering makeup and grime. I’ve been using Dermaviduals’ Cleansing Milk With DMS and iS Clinical’s Cleansing Complex, which were both recommended by my dermatologist, but when I ran out recently, I picked up CeraVe’s Foaming Facial Cleanser, which is a great drugstore alternative.
• For stubborn mascara and eyeliner or staining red lipsticks, I swear by organic coconut oil. I gently massage it around my eyes, then wipe with a towel. Or I’ll switch it up with Weleda’s Nipple Balm, massaging it all over my face until it’s really slippery, then rinse.
• When I walked in Mowalola’s spring 2025 show, I was covered head to toe in body paint and 3-D-printed prosthetics. To take it all off, I used Sherman Laboratories’ Pro-Clean Cleansing Oil, then wiped with a fresh, hot towel. For a large prosthetic piece, I mix in a bit of Pros-Aide’s Remover and scrub. It doesn’t matter what you’ve got on your face; this combination always gets it off.

• Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover, $36.
• Garnier Micellar Cleansing Eco Pads (Reusable), $12.
• Junoco Clean 10 Cleansing Balm, $15.