How to remove foundation, lipstick and mascara stains from carpets, clothes and towels with expert advice from makeup artist, Hayley Walker
Makeup stains are the bane of our lives.
Foundation smudges, lipstick blots, and mascara streaks are so easy to get on carpets, clothes and surfaces yet so tough to remove. Even with your standard washing products and techniques.
Yet there are a couple of tips and tricks that can take the hassle out of the whole thing, and prevent temporary stains becoming permanent marks. Here’s how to handle makeup mishaps, with expert advice from Justmylook’s makeup artist, Hayley Walker.
We’ve explained how to remove specific types of makeup stains from certain fabrics below, but as a general rule, Walker says: “As soon as you notice a stain, avoid rubbing it.” Instead, immediately hold the item under cold running water to prevent the stain from setting deeper. This works because it helps to wash away surface makeup before it gets deeper into the fibres.
Washing up liquid’s ability to break down oil makes it effective against all types of makeup stains. The soap cuts through the oils and waxes found in many makeup products, plus it’s gentle enough to not cause further damage and most people have access to it already.
An oil-free makeup remover can also be particularly effective for makeup stains on clothes. Use with a disposable mascara spoolie wrapped in a cotton pad for targeted stain removal. Oil-free removers are best because they dissolve makeup without adding more oil to the stain, making it more resistant to water.
Finally, for a quick fix, apply an alcohol-based hairspray onto the stain. Once dried, remove any leftover residue with a wet wipe. The alcohol in hairspray helps to break down the makeup components, making them easier to wipe away.
iStock Foundation is typically oil-based and designed to stay on the skin. This makes it particularly challenging to remove from fabrics, like clothes and carpets, because the oils and pigments in can bind tightly to the fibres. The pigments are meant to be long-lasting and can stain fabrics, while the oil can penetrate deeply, making it resistant to usual washing techniques.
For foundation, avoid rubbing the stain. Instead:
We’ve gone into more detail, and list other options, in our How to remove foundation from clothes quickly using shaving foam, alcohol and a toothbrush
Towels are a little more hard-wearing, and forgiving when it comes to washing and scrubbing. Walker recommends:
As you can’t put your carpet in the washing machine, removing foundation stains are a little more fiddly.
Shutterstock Lipstick contains waxes and oils, both of which are designed to stick to lips meaning they can easily transfer to fabrics.
The oils and waxes can quickly bind to fabric fibres upon contact and the waxes’ stickiness and the oils’ ability to seep into the fabric make lipstick stains particularly stubborn.
For a thorough removal, place your clothes in soapy water for at least an hour, letting the mixture penetrate and disperse the stain.
Like with foundation stains, you can be a bit more rough with towels.
For lipstick stains on carpets:
Shutterstock Mascara is often waterproof and contains pigments, waxes, and oils, making it particularly resistant to water. Regular cleaning methods rarely work because these ingredients are formulated to last, and resist moisture. The pigments provide intense colour, while the waxes create a thick, sticky layer that helps the mascara cling to lashes. As a result, the mascara also clings to carpets and clothes. Waterproof mascaras are specifically designed to resist smudging and running.
“Mascara stains can be the bane of our lives sometimes, however, there is a method to removing this,” says Walker. “Similar to other makeup stains, applying dish soap on the affected area and letting it soak can loosen the makeup. Work the solution under warm water before placing the garment in a washing machine for a thorough cleaning.”
If you get mascara on your towels:
Victoria is founder and editor-in-chief of mamabella, freelance journalist and Mum. She has a passion for empowering people to feel beautiful whatever their age, size, skin type and budget
