Makeup in Spanish is maquillaje (mah kee YAH heh), and the verb for "to put on makeup" is maquillarse (mah kee YAR seh). Below you’ll find every product name you actually need (lipstick, mascara, foundation, eyeliner, blush and concealer included), how to say them out loud, and the phrases to ask for them in a pharmacy or shop.
Makeup Vocabulary in Spanish: Products
This table covers the products people ask for most: lipstick, mascara, foundation, eyeliner, blush and concealer, plus the rest of a full makeup bag. Pronunciation is written the way an English speaker would say it, with the stressed syllable in capitals.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| el maquillaje | makeup | mah kee YAH heh |
| el pintalabios / la barra de labios | lipstick | peen tah LAH byohs / BAH rrah deh LAH byohs |
| el rímel / la máscara de pestañas | mascara | REE mel / MAHS kah rah deh pes TAH nyahs |
| la base (de maquillaje) | foundation | lah BAH seh |
| el delineador (de ojos) | eyeliner | deh lee neh ah DOR |
| el rubor / el colorete | blush | roo BOR / koh loh REH teh |
| el corrector / el tapaojeras | concealer | koh rrek TOR / tah pah oh HEH rahs |
| el polvo / los polvos (compactos) | powder | EL POHL voh |
| la sombra de ojos | eyeshadow | SOHM brah deh OH hohs |
| el esmalte de uñas | nail polish | es MAHL teh deh OO nyahs |
| el iluminador | highlighter | ee loo mee nah DOR |
| la prebase / el primer | primer | lah preh BAH seh |
| el brillo labial | lip gloss | BREE yoh lah BYAL |
| el delineador de labios | lip liner | deh lee neh ah DOR deh LAH byohs |
Makeup Verbs: How to Talk About Putting On Makeup in Spanish
Once you know the products, you’ll want the verbs that go with them. "Maquillarse" is reflexive, so it changes with who is doing the action: "me maquillo" (I put on makeup), "te maquillas" (you put on makeup), "se maquilla" (he or she puts on makeup).
- maquillarse = to put on makeup (moh kee YAR seh)
- desmaquillarse = to take off makeup (dehs mah kee YAR seh)
- aplicar / ponerse = to apply (ah plee KAR / poh NEHR seh)
- esfumar / difuminar = to blend (es foo MAR / dee foo mee NAR)
- remover / quitar / sacarse = to remove (reh moh VEHR / kee TAR / sah KAR seh)
- limpiar = to clean (leem PYAR)
- humectar = to moisturize (oo mek TAR)
Makeup Tools in Spanish
You’ll also need the words for what you apply your makeup with:
- la brocha = brush (LAH BROH chah)
- el espejo = mirror (el es PEH hoh)
- el rizador (de pestañas) = eyelash curler (ree sah DOR)
- la esponja de maquillaje = beauty blender (es POHN hah deh mah kee YAH heh)
- el humectante = moisturizer (oo mek TAHN teh)
- el limpiador facial = facial cleanser (leem pyah DOR fah SYAL)
- el perfume = perfume (pehr FOO meh)
Useful Phrases for Buying Makeup in a Spanish Speaking Pharmacy or Shop
Knowing the words is one thing, asking for them in a store is another. These are the phrases you’ll actually use at a farmacia or perfumería (pharmacy or beauty shop):
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Dónde puedo encontrar el maquillaje? | Where can I find the makeup? |
| ¿Tiene pintalabios rojo? | Do you have red lipstick? |
| Estoy buscando una base para piel seca / grasa. | I’m looking for a foundation for dry / oily skin. |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta este rímel? | How much does this mascara cost? |
| ¿Puedo probarlo? | Can I try it? |
| ¿Tiene una muestra? | Do you have a sample? |
| Necesito un corrector para las ojeras. | I need a concealer for dark circles. |
| ¿Es hipoalergénico / apto para piel sensible? | Is it hypoallergenic / suitable for sensitive skin? |
| ¿Aceptan tarjeta de crédito? | Do you accept credit card? |
We hope now you have enough vocabulary to do your makeup, or buy it, every night out during your trip!
Frequently Asked Questions About Makeup in Spanish
What is the Spanish word for makeup?
The Spanish word for makeup is maquillaje, a masculine noun, so it’s "el maquillaje." It covers makeup in general, the same way "makeup" does in English, and it’s the word you’ll see on packaging and store signs across Spain and Latin America.
How do you say "to put on makeup" in Spanish?
"To put on makeup" is maquillarse, a reflexive verb. Say "me maquillo" for "I put on makeup," "te maquillas" for "you put on makeup," and "se maquilla" for "he or she puts on makeup." The opposite, taking it off, is "desmaquillarse."
How do you say face makeup in Spanish?
Face makeup is "el maquillaje facial" or simply "el maquillaje para el rostro." In everyday conversation, most native speakers just say "maquillaje" and let context make clear you mean face products rather than, say, eye or lip products.
What are some common Spanish makeup product names?
The core products are base (foundation), corrector (concealer), polvo (powder), rubor or colorete (blush), delineador (eyeliner), sombra de ojos (eyeshadow), rímel or máscara de pestañas (mascara), and pintalabios (lipstick). Names shift slightly by country: colorete is more common in Spain, rubor in Latin America.
If you are travelling to a Spanish speaking country and need to learn some Spanish, we can help you! We offer Spanish Classes in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Once your makeup vocabulary is solid, keep building with our guides to parts of the body in Spanish and bathroom vocabulary in Spanish.
We also have:
Spanish School in Argentina
Spanish School in Barcelona
Spanish School in Madrid
Spanish School in Mexico
