Is Wudhu valid if it is performed over Makeup?

Question:

My husband likes makeup and i put it on for him, i wanted to ask if wudu is valid if performed over the makeup??

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The answer to your inquiry depends on the type of makeup you wear. Some types of makeup are waterproof or water resistant. They form a barrier between the skin and water or at least resist the penetration of water to some degree.

If the makeup you wear is of this kind, then no, it is not permissible to perform wudu over it since those parts will be left dry and your wudu will not be valid.

Since wudu is a condition for the validity of prayer, one should take the way of caution and avoid anything that could potentially impact the validity of wudu.

While your intention to beautify yourself for your husband is commendable, it should not pose a risk to the validity of your wudu and consequently, your salah.

As an alternative solution, you can remove the makeup prior to making wudu and reapply it afterwards. Likewise, in days of menstruation [haidh], when you are not praying salah, you can keep the makeup on all day long if you wish without having to worry about wudu.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best,

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.