How to Get Makeup Stains Out of Clothes, Pillowcases, and More

Any makeup worth its price tag is formulated to stay in place all day. This is great for our faces, but not so great when it comes to doing laundry. Whether you've dripped a bit of foundation on a favorite sweater or some stubborn mascara was left behind on a pillowcase, learning how to best remove makeup stains from clothing and linens is a useful skill to add to your cleaning knowledge arsenal.

Ahead, you’ll find some tips, tricks, and expert advice to help you remove makeup stains from virtually any soft surface around your home or in your closet.

Meet the Expert

• Shana Hoy, co-owner of Harlow, a salon on Music Row, and co-founder of Reckless Makeup

• P’tricia, a Brattleboro, Vermont-based stylist and makeup artist

• Kinsey Stewart, owner of Ava Couture Beauty in Nashville, TN

Related: How to Remove Every Type of Stain, From Grease and Coffee to Wine and Lipstick

How to Pre-Treat Makeup Stains

All three of our experts agree: The earlier you can treat the stain, the better the outcome will be. The pigments and oils in cosmetics can set into fabric fibers over time, making them harder to lift. Treating right away prevents the stain from fully absorbing.

If you’re not at home or you’re in a rush, Shana Hoy, co-founder of Reckless Makeup by Harlow, recommends a quick fix: “If you spray alcohol-based hairspray directly on the spot as soon as you notice it, the product will come out more easily when you wash it,” she explains. “We do that all the time at the salon when someone drops hair color or makeup on their clothes.”

Removing Loose and Pressed Powder

According to Hoy, powder makeup stains are usually the most forgiving. Since they are dry formulations, they tend to wash out with ease if you follow these simple steps.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Hair dryer

• Laundry detergent

1. Use your hair dryer on a low, cool setting to blow the powder off the fabric without rubbing or smudging it onto the fibers.

2. Launder the item as usual.

Removing Foundation Stains

When it comes to foundation and concealer, water-based liquid formulations often come out during regular laundering with no pre-treatment necessary. Oil-based formulations are trickier.

For tough stains and oil-based products, P’tricia, a Vermont-based stylist, swears by an old classic: “I use Murphy’s oil soap and let it soak overnight. Especially for oil-based stains, I’ve found Murphy’s always breaks it down.”

Related: Take a Look Inside Martha's Makeup Bag: These Are the 14 Products Our Founder Swears By

Materials You’ll Need:

• Murphy’s oil soap

• Laundry detergent

1. Carefully remove any excess product, being careful not to push it into the fabric.

2. Apply a small amount of Murphy’s oil soap at full strength to the stain.

3. Allow it to soak for 15 minutes to overnight.

4. Machine wash in the warmest water recommended by the instructions on the item’s tag.

Removing Lipstick Stains

Lipstick stains are among the toughest to remove, but Hoy usually finds success using just a handful of materials most people have right in their kitchen. “It will foam up and release the stain like magic!” Hoy explains.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Dawn dishwashing liquid

• Baking soda

• White vinegar

1. Mix equal parts Dawn and baking soda in a bowl until it forms a thick paste.

2. Apply the mixture to the lipstick stain, allowing it to penetrate the fabric. Do not rub.

3. Carefully pour the vinegar onto the treated stain about a teaspoon at a time.

4. Repeat step 3 until there is no further foaming reaction, then rinse thoroughly.

5. Launder as normal.

Related: Learn More Lipstick Stain-Removing Methods Here

Removing Mascara and Liquid Eyeliner Stains

Kinsey Stewart, owner of Ava Couture, a Nashville mobile hair and makeup service, uses the same product to both clean her makeup brushes and remove stubborn makeup stains. “It’s obviously an off-label use, but since [makeup brush cleaner] is designed to dissolve product from the natural and synthetic bristles on makeup brushes, it works on natural and synthetic clothing fibers, too,” Stewart says. Her method is as follows.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Colorless and rinse-free makeup brush cleaner

• Laundry detergent

1. Before applying to the stain, test a small, inconspicuous area for colorfastness.

2. Apply directly to the stain with a saturated cotton ball.

3. Carefully blot, being careful not to rub.

4. Repeat as needed until the stain is gone.

5. Launder according to the item’s instructions.

Removing makeup stains from fabric doesn't have to be a frustrating ordeal if you act quickly and use the right products. With common household items like dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar (and a few easy techniques), you can tackle even the toughest stains and keep your fabrics looking fresh and clean.

Related: The 10 Best Stain Removers for All Your Clothes