How to Get Makeup Out of Clothes

All makeup lovers know the pain of staining clean clothes with foundation flubs and cream blush blunders. You need these tips if you love ruby-red lips, mysterious smoky eyes, and the look of peachy, flushed cheeks. Discover how to get makeup out of clothes, fabrics, and carpets in this solid-gold guide to stain removal.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved approximately 12,500 chemical compounds for cosmetic and personal hygiene products in America. Most cosmetic goods contain anywhere from 5-50 unique ingredients, and each one performs a specific function that contributes to the look and longevity of the product.

The assortment of substances and textures in modern cosmetic products makes stain removal intimidating and confusing. While makeup has vastly different recipes and formulas, there are several constant ingredients like water, thickeners, emulsifiers, pigments, and fragrances. Find out how to treat a range of makeup stains in this beginner-friendly guide that will get you back to glamour.

How to Remove Makeup Stains From Clothes

Liquid foundation spills, eyeliner smudges, and runaway mascara wands aren’t a problem anymore. Discover first-rate strain removal tips using safe ingredients to clean makeup stains on clothing and household fabrics.

Learn how to treat every kind of makeup stain, including lipstick, cream-based cosmetics, setting powder, lash glue, and more; every makeup enthusiast wants a better toolkit and more resources. These tricks mean you don’t have to choose between loving makeup up and having stain-free clothes.

Makeup Wipes for Stains

Humans love accentuating their features; we’ve been doing it for over 10,000 years. The ancient Egyptians used kohl and powdered galena (lead sulfide-PbS) for application around the eyes and lids to make their eye color pop. Many other African societies ground up natural clay and minerals to make colored cosmetics and body paint.

Modern makeup is much the same; manufacturers use mineral agents like manganese, iron oxide, and mica flakes to achieve and provide a rainbow of desirable colors. They also use natural botanical pigments from vegetables and even the shells of cochineal insects. Makeup is meant to last, which means getting creative with removal.

Does makeup come out of clothes? It depends on your approach. A quality makeup remover wipe cleanses your face and is fabulous for treating makeup stains on clothing.

Each makeup wipe contains lathering and cleansing agents that dissolve stubborn emulsifiers and pull makeup particles from fibers. Gently blot the stained area, rinse with cold water, and launder as usual.

How to Get Makeup Out of Clothes With Rubbing Alcohol

Today’s makeup and cutting-edge cosmetics require complex chemistry. Thickening agents give your favorite products creamy consistency, emulsifiers keep other ingredients like water and oil from separating, and pigments provide lasting color. Find out how to break down stubborn makeup mixtures with one simple household solvent.

Start by gently scraping the excess makeup off the fabric with a butter knife or an old credit card. Grab a few cotton balls or pads and dampen them with rubbing alcohol. Press the wet cotton pad against the stained area, allowing the rubbing alcohol to penetrate the stain and dissolve the cosmetic bonds.

Rubbing alcohol is ideal for oily makeup stains, grease stains, and even ink stains. Turn your garment inside out and rinse the stain with cold water. Use a clean cloth to blot any greasy, runny makeup splotches, and continue to rinse as required. Follow up with a run through the washing machine and air dry.

Getting Makeup Out of Clothes With Shaving Cream

We all do the “makeup dance” as we wrestle our shirts over our heads; racks of foundation-smudged clothes at the local department store show how hard it is to keep liquid foundation off clothing. Discover how to remove makeup stains from clothes with this incredible trick.

A can of white foam shaving cream is one of those unexpected secret weapon hacks that works wonders on just about any foundation stain. Don’t use heavily dyed or gel shaving cream because it could discolor your clothing. If you have any doubts, do a small patch test before you proceed.

Spray a blob of shaving cream on the stained area and wet it lightly, then use a clean cloth to blot up the foundation marks. Let the shaving cream sit for ten minutes for stubborn stains, scrub lightly with a toothbrush, and rinse in cold water. Always air dry to ensure the stain is gone before using the dryer, as the heat sets stains into the fabric.

Best Tips for Dealing With Mascara Stains

A quick pass with the mascara wand is often the finishing touch before heading out. Mascara thickens and darkens your natural lashes to give the illusion of a longer lash line.

It’s also a bit fussy, and the potential to drop the mascara wand down the front of your shirt is real. Here are a few helpful tips for cleaning up a rogue mascara stain with basic cleaning supplies.

Makeup wipes are marvelous for removing makeup stains from clothing, including the dreaded waterproof mascara. Flip your garment inside out and place the stained area over a paper towel. Compress the makeup wipe against the back of the mascara stain, pushing the product out of the fibers and into the paper towel.

Rinse your clothing with cold water, and if the stain is gone, dry it on a hanger. If the mascara won’t let go, squeeze a drop of dish soap or liquid laundry detergent onto the back of the stain, massage the fabric with your fingertips, and rinse again. Continue the process until the stain disappears.

How to Clean Lipstick Stains Effectively

We can’t talk about how to get makeup out of clothes without talking about lipstick. Whether you prefer a bold or more subdued color palette, a lipstick stain takes time to eliminate. You need these pointers to make lipstick stain removal a little easier.

While most stains benefit from cold water, oil-based stains like those from your favorite lipstick require hot water. Treating the lipstick stain with hot water helps dissolve the oils, waxes, and fats used in lipstick production and allows the particles to wash away.

Scrape off any surface lipstick; use a flat edge like a spoon. Fill a bowl with hot water and a tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Soak the stained area in hot water for a few hours, scrubbing periodically with a soft brush. Once the stain lightens, put the clothing in the washing machine, and add a bonus cup of color-safe oxygen bleach.

Getting Cream-Based Makeup Stains Out of Clothes

Cream makeup products are always in style; cream contour sticks, blush, and eye shadow are more popular than ever and show no signs of slowing down. When applied with a deft hand, cream-based cosmetics give a healthy glow and make the skin look more luminous.

Cream-based makeup is longer-lasting than its powder counterpart, primarily due to its oil content. The ingredients that give cream products longevity also make them sticky and difficult to remove. However, hot water and your preferred laundry detergent make getting makeup out of clothes a breeze.

Set the washing machine to hot water, add some oxygenated bleach or regular laundry soap, and run the cycle through. Cream cosmetic stains should disappear within one normal wash cycle and usually don’t require extra pre-treatment. If the stain warrants it, use a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol or a portable stain pen for extra protection.

Making an Incredible Stain Remover Paste

The more you love makeup, the more you’ll appreciate this DIY recipe for an incredibly effective stain-fighting paste. Discover how to remove makeup stains from clothes with an all-purpose paste made from non-toxic ingredients.

Fill a small bowl with one part baking soda and two parts dish soap. Stir well to create a paste-like consistency; it should resemble liquid white glue. Brush the dish soap paste onto the stain with a soft brush, such as an old makeup brush or nail brush, and let it sit for ten minutes.

Soft circles starting at the outside edges of the stain and working inward are the best way to tackle most stains. Rinse your garment in cold water, or use hot water for oil-based lipstick and cream cosmetics. One paste treatment should be enough, but repeat if you still see a faint makeup outline on the material.

How to Get Rid of Setting Powder Stains

People have used face powders in some form or fashion for thousands of years. A velvety setting powder or sheer oil-absorbing powder completes any makeup look with the promise of staying power. Unfortunately, setting powders are made of finely-milled minerals that cling fibers and become a chore to clean without knowing this clever trick.

Getting makeup out of clothes is deceptively simple when it comes to powder. The knee-jerk reaction is to brush the power away with your hand or a cloth. Don’t bother; rubbing or smearing pushes the power particles deep into the fibers. Instead, correct any powder puff problems with a blast of air from the hair dryer.

Set your hair dryer to cold air and blow away that powdery mess; some people blow it into the toilet or the front door. Once the bulk of the powder is gone, turn the garment over and blow from the back to get any stragglers.

If you don’t have a blow dryer, get the vacuum and use the hose; it’s also great for larger spills on the carpet and flooring.

Cleaning Lash Glue From Clothing Quickly

Eyelash extensions and false eyelash applications are among the fastest-growing beauty sectors worldwide. It’s so easy to go overboard with lash glue; one minute, you’re attaching a feathery eyelash, and the next, you’re picking dried lash glue out of your favorite shirt.

Blot the glue splatter with a clean cloth or paper towel. Use gentle pressure and try not to wipe it aggressively. Find a small glass bowl and mix the rubbing alcohol, salt, and nail polish remover to make a helpful cleaning agent. Spread the mixture over the glue stain and allow it to sit for 15 minutes.

Rinse the stained area with warm or hot water to loosen the glue bonds and allow them to wash away. If you still spy some leftover residue, repeat the process. If this DIY cleaner doesn’t do the trick, there are specially-designed cleaning products just for lash glue spills.

Tips for Cleaning Halloween Makeup

Of course, we had to throw in a few convenient tips for removing Halloween makeup. Halloween is a massive celebration in North America, so big that many other countries are adopting the traditions for themselves, including intricate face painting and spooky-themed makeup.

The American Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) tests and approves any dyes used in cosmetic products, including Halloween makeup. It’s unlikely that a tray of drugstore Halloween paint would stain your skin or clothing because they use the same approved dyes found in everything from lipstick to cake mix.

Still, these grease paint-style makeups are a handful without the proper tips. You only need an alcohol-based substance like rubbing alcohol or face toner and a cotton pad. Soak the stain, blot the excess makeup away, and toss your clothing in the washing machine to finish the job. Don’t let Halloween makeup stains scare you.

How to Wash Makeup Out of Carpet Fibers

Carpets and upholstery are often a casualty of splatters and spills; makeup mistakes are bound to happen, no matter how careful you are. Fortunately, most cosmetics are oil- or dye-based, and you don’t need a high-end cleaning product to get makeup out of fabric and carpet fibers.

Lift as much of the makeup as possible with a dull knife or the side of a spoon. Fill a measuring cup to the two-cup line, and add a tablespoon of dye-free dish soap. Dampen the corner of a clean cloth and sponge the stain, starting at the outer end and working toward the center.

Never rub the stain into the carpet fibers because it drives the makeup molecules further into the carpet pile and the padding underneath. Once the stain lifts, give the carpet some time to air dry and follow up with the vacuum to lift and fluff the carpet back up.

Use a Dry Cleaning Service for Delicates

Before using any cleaning product or homemade cleanser, the first thing on your checklist should be reading the care label on your clothing. Some fabrics are so delicate you can’t put them in the washer or use abrasive stain-fighters like rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover.

Getting makeup out of clothes made of wood, silk, chiffon, crushed velvet, or even certain types of delicate trim and embroidery sometimes needs a professional’s touch. Search for a tag that says “dry-clean only” to let you know how to clean the garment safely. Tossing it in the washing machine is tempting, but you should resist the urge.

Improper care and using aggressive cleaning methods on fine fabrics damage the fabric weave and shorten the life of your clothing, sometimes ruining the piece altogether. If you love your clothes and treat makeup stains carefully, don’t be afraid to consult your local dry cleaning or laundry service company with questions.

The cosmetic industry is big and lucrative, generating around 50 billion dollars annually. There are thousands of makeup brands making thousands more products, and they all contain different combinations of ingredients. As long as you follow these guidelines, you’ll have no trouble dealing with makeup stains on your clothing.

Keep a supply of makeup wipes in a convenient location to immediately address spills and splatters. Use gentle cleaners like liquid dish soap or laundry detergent to treat light makeup stains, or try a cotton ball wetted in rubbing alcohol to dissolve waxy, greasy makeup marks.

Knowing how to get makeup out of clothes puts you in a powerful position. It lets you rescue and refresh any makeup-stained garments in the closet. Prevention is essential, too. If you must dress before your makeup routine, put a towel around your shoulders and clip it at the neck to keep surprise stains off your clothing.

If you loved learning how to get makeup out of clothes, carpets, and upholstery, share these stain-fighting tricks with your fellow makeup lovers on Pinterest and Facebook.