Does Wearing Lipstick When Fasting Break The Fast?

EsinIslam Ramadan

The Awqaf - Living Shariah

What is the ruling on wearing lipstick during the day in Ramadaan? Does it break the fast? Please note that some lipsticks have a slight taste and some have no taste; some types of lipstick may be dry and some may be moist.


Praise be to Allaah.

All kinds of preparations that are put on the outside of the body, whether they are absorbed through the skin or not, and whether they are for treatment, moisturizing, beautification or any other purpose, do not break the fast unless they are swallowed by the fasting person.

The mere fact that it has a taste does not affect the fast so long as one does not swallow anything.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (15/260):

What is the ruling on women using kohl and some cosmetics during the day in Ramadaan? Do these things break the fast or not?

He replied:

Kohl does not break the fast of men or women according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions, but it is better to use it at night if one is fasting.

The same applies to soaps, creams etc that are used to beautify the face and are applied to the surface of the skin, including henna, makeup and the like. There is nothing wrong with using them for one who is fasting, but makeup should not be used if it will cause harm to the face. And Allaah is the source of strength. End quote.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the ruling on a fasting person using ointment to treat dryness of the lips.

He replied:

There is nothing wrong with a person using ointment to moisturise the lips or nose, or moistening them with water, or with a cloth and the like, but he should avoid anything that could reach the throat. But if anything reaches the throat without him intending it to, there is no sin on him, just as if he rinses his mouth and some water reaches his throat by accident, his fast is not invalidated by that. End quote.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (19/224).

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) said in Fataawa ‘Ulama’ Balad al-Haraam (201):

There is nothing wrong with applying creams to the body when fasting if there is a need for that, because the cream only reaches the surface of the skin and does not enter the body. Even if it is absorbed by the pores it is not regarded as breaking the fast. End quote.

And Allaah knows best.

Ramadan Team

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