Megan Lawless' $12 Balm Cleanser and VMAs Extensions Strategy

Megan Lawless revealed her $12 e.l.f. balm cleanser removes full makeup and stage blood after filming Obsession—plus her VMAs extension strategy.

By Daniel OkaforSeptember 28, 20263 min read

Updated September 28, 2026

Jorts, Extensions and a $12 Balm Cleanser: Megan Lawless’ VMAs Beauty NotesAI-generated

The takeaway

Megan Lawless removes full makeup and blood after filming Obsession with the e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, priced at $12.
Lawless wore long extensions at the 2026 VMAs specifically to balance a revealing look, describing her style as 'elevated street style' with boyish elements like jorts.
She skipped pre-show pampering due to her schedule but wanted a massage or a first-ever lymphatic drainage massage.

Megan Lawless credits a $12 drugstore cleanser with removing a full face of makeup—and stage blood—after filming Obsession.

The breakout star, who plays Sarah in the hit series, walked the teal carpet at the 2026 VMAs in what she called a first for her public style.

"I really wanted to do an elevated street style," Lawless told the carpet reporters. "I haven't shown off that side of my style yet…I love wearing dresses, but I also love a jort. I love having boyish elements to my wardrobe."

The rest of the styling followed the same instinct, including what she described as "some revealing" chest—and that gave her hair a specific job on the carpet.

"I wanted some long extensions that were edgy and sharp but also would block some of my side boob," she said.

On-Set Essentials

Lawless' red carpet look was new territory. Her approach to taking it all off is well practiced.

Asked what removes a full face of makeup after a long day on the Obsession set, she named a balm cleanser over a wipe—specifically the e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, priced at $12.

"I'm actually a big fan of the e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm ($12)," she said. "I love a balm in general. The Clinique one is good, too. When I take off makeup that way, I actually enjoy it. I feel like pulling everything out, and it gets rid of everything so seamlessly. Waterproof mascara, it comes off with a balm."

Her endorsement spans two price tiers: e.l.f.'s $12 balm and Clinique's cult-favorite counterpart. Both rely on the same mechanic—a balm texture that dissolves product, including waterproof mascara, rather than tugging it off with a wipe.

Self-Care Wishes

Pre-show pampering was another matter. Lawless kept it honest: there wasn't much, though she wished otherwise.

"I love massages," she said. "I didn't get one because I've been busy, but I would have loved to get a massage or a lymphatic drainage massage. I've actually never done that, but I wanted to do that for this. I just didn't have the time."

A massage or lymphatic drainage session was on her wishlist for the night, but her filming schedule got in the way. She has never tried the drainage treatment, and the VMAs would have been her first.

Lawless joined a 2026 VMAs carpet heavy on statement beauty, from Taylor Swift's '60s-inspired eyeliner to Lisa's sculptural nails. She arrived without the extra hour in a chair—and still made the impression.

For brands, the takeaway is concrete: an actress on a breakout hit, asked unprompted about her removal routine, named a $12 mass-market cleanser first. Lawless' filming schedule shows no sign of slowing, which suggests her balm-first routine—and its budget price point—will stay in rotation as Obsession keeps her on set.

Original: go.skimresources.com