Help! My Shirt Has a Makeup Stain
The scenario is all too familiar: You pick up your freshly cleaned white blouse, throw it on over your head, look and the mirror and then you see it: a foundation stain. But you were so careful! How could this happen? And most importantly, what can you do about it? The good news is that makeup stains are not the end of the world (although some are trickier than others to remove). We reached out to Lindsey Boyd, co-founder of The Laundress, a line of eco-friendly detergent, fabric care, and home cleaning products, to get her tips and tricks for removing even the most difficult of makeup stains from your favorite garments.
Not all stains are created equal
Boyd says the easiest marks to remove are those left behind by foundation, blush, bronzer, and eyeshadow. And you can stop worrying about those mascara marks on your towels. “Mascara is so easy to get out, it’s actually one of the easiest stains to remove, especially when you use a proper stain remover,” says Boyd. Anything with a dye, like a lipstick, is going to be more difficult to get out of any fabric. Lipstick also has the added challenge of being more of a waxy texture plus added ingredients that might make it a high gloss or long-wear formula — so try to apply your lipstick after you put on your shirt or dress.
Be mindful of the fabric
“The easiest fabrics to get any stain out of are cotton and linen because it can take the most abuse,” says Boyd. That means a high temperature and a lot of agitation. “That fabric is durable and strong so you can really work a stain.” With a stain on cotton or linen, apply a stain remover, work it into the stain with your fingers and let it soak (up to overnight). When washing, use the hottest water temperature possible. “Silk and wool are easy to get a stain out of, but you cannot use hot water,” says Boyd. “You have to use tepid or room temperature water. You don’t want to use cold water.” Also with silks and wools, you can’t use as much agitation and can only let the stain remover soak for a maximum of 30 minutes. Try The Laundress Stain Solution ($18) the next time you notice bronzer on the neckline of that white linen dress.
Dealing with a stain on the go
If you find yourself with a makeup stain while you’re out and about, stay calm. Boyd says the three tricks are agitation, water temperature, and soap. If you are able to get to a bathroom, use the hottest water temperature possible for that fabric, and work in whatever soap is readily available. You’ll need to use your fingers to work in the soap and agitate the stain, then rinse it again and let it dry. It might be messy, but it will work.
Treat tough stains twice
In the situation that you washed a shirt before you realized you had a makeup stain, Boyd says you can run into the issue of the stain being “baked in.” “It will be harder to get out the second time around, but it’s not impossible,” says Boyd. “You may need to do the process a couple of times.” With lipstick stains, often times you’ll get the wax out, but the dye will be left behind. In this situation, she recommends using a bleach alternative, which works on really tough stains like red wine or oil. The Laundress All-Purpose Bleach Alternative ($15) is safe enough to use on cotton and linen.
Go to a pro
“For the most part, you can spot treat anything on your own,” says Boyd. “There are those things that are questionable, like a suit jacket, anything with structure or embellishments. With these items, take it to a professional.” Even if these items are made from a washable fabric, like silk, the construction of the garment is the bigger factor, but you can still do your part to help. “You can absolutely pre-treat a makeup stain before bringing it to the dry cleaner.”
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