How to remove makeup stains: foundation, mascara, powder and more
To remove makeup stains, brush off any powder dry, then rub heavy-duty liquid detergent into face makeup such as foundation, concealer or blush, and wash in the warmest water the fabric allows. Waterproof mascara and eyeliner need a dry-cleaning solvent first. Most makeup is pigment held in oils, waxes or film formers, so you have to dissolve the carrier before the color can wash out. Bleach any leftover tint.
- Best method
- Detergent for face makeup, solvent first for eye makeup
- Time
- 15 to 30 minutes plus a wash
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Stain type
- Combination
You will need
- Soft brush or dull knife
- Heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent
- Dry-cleaning solvent, for mascara and waterproof products
- Paper towels
- Oxygen bleach, for leftover color
How to remove makeup stains
- 1
Remove the excess dry
Shake or gently brush off loose powder and blush. Scrape thick foundation or concealer off with a dull knife.
Why: Dry pigment that gets wet in place spreads into the yarns.
- 2
Work out which kind of makeup it is
Face makeup (foundation, concealer, powder, blush) is mostly oil and pigment. Eye makeup and anything waterproof or long-wear (mascara, liner, some foundations) uses waxes and water-resistant film formers.
Why: The extension guide method differs: detergent alone handles the first group, but the second needs a solvent first.
- 3
Waterproof and eye makeup: solvent first
Lay the stain face down on paper towels and dab dry-cleaning solvent onto the back. Let it evaporate.
Why: Waxes and film formers dissolve in solvent, not water.
- 4
Rub in heavy-duty liquid detergent
Work heavy-duty liquid detergent, a prewash stain remover or a paste of powder detergent and water into the stain. Let it sit a few minutes.
Why: Detergent emulsifies the oils and holds the pigment in suspension so it rinses away.
- 5
Wash in the warmest safe water
Launder in the warmest water the care label allows. If a tint remains, rewash with oxygen bleach, or chlorine bleach on colorfast whites.
Why: Warm water releases the oils, and bleach oxidizes leftover color.
- 6
Air-dry and check
Air-dry and look for a ring or shadow before using the dryer.
Why: Heat sets oily residue.
Why makeup stains, and why mascara is harder than powder
Most makeup is pigment, such as iron oxides and titanium dioxide, carried in oils, waxes, silicones or creamy emulsions. Powders are pigment plus fine minerals. That mix of oil and color makes makeup a combination stain. The oily part grips the fabric, and the pigment rides along with it.
The Kentucky extension guide splits makeup in two. Face makeup (powder, blush, foundation) comes out with heavy-duty detergent rubbed in. Eye makeup (mascara, pencil, liner, shadow) needs a solvent first, then detergent, because it's built to resist water and tears. Long-wear and waterproof foundations behave like eye makeup for the same reason.
Self tanner is a different kind of stain
Self tanner isn't pigment in oil. Its active ingredient, DHA, browns skin by reacting with amino acids, a browning reaction rather than a coating. On fabric it acts like a dye, especially on protein fibers such as wool and silk. Rinse it out quickly, pretreat with detergent and soak in oxygen bleach. Marks that have been through the dryer may only lighten.
Makeup on every surface
The method changes with the surface: fabrics can soak, carpets and mattresses can't. Pick yours for the full steps.
| Surface | What works |
|---|---|
| Carpet | Dry removal, dilute dish detergent, then solvent |
| Clothes | Lift powder dry, detergent for face makeup, solvent first for eye makeup |
| White clothes | Detergent or solvent for the base, warm wash, then bleach |
By situation
Foundation on a collar
Collars get a daily layer of foundation plus skin oil. Rub heavy-duty liquid detergent into the band, leave it a few minutes and wash warm. Dry-clean-only shirts and jackets should go to a cleaner; point out the collar.
It survived the wash
Don't dry it. Repeat the solvent-then-detergent pretreatment and rewash.
Makeup on white clothes
After the oil is out, use chlorine bleach on colorfast whites if the label allows, or oxygen bleach. See makeup on white clothes.
Makeup on carpet
The Carpet and Rug Institute's order is a dilute dish-detergent solution, a warm-water rinse, then a dry-cleaning solvent on a cloth, then a professional. See makeup on carpet.
Silk, wool, acetate and dry-clean-only items
Blot gently without water and take them to a dry cleaner. Keep acetone-based products off acetate, triacetate and modacrylic.
What not to do
- Don't rub powder or foundation with a wet cloth. Water spreads the pigment into a larger, deeper stain.
- Don't put it in the dryer before checking. Heat sets oily residue.
- Don't use acetone-based removers on acetate, triacetate or modacrylic. Acetone dissolves these fibers.
Other methods that work
Dish soap
Cuts oily foundation and cream products. Iowa State lists dish soap for oil-based stains.
Caution: Rinse well, then launder.
Rubbing alcohol
The American Cleaning Institute dabs 70 to 90% rubbing alcohol through lipstick stains on napkins, and it can help with other alcohol-soluble pigments.
Caution: It can fade dyes and is flammable. Test it first.
Micellar water or makeup remover
Made to dissolve makeup on skin, so it's commonly suggested for fabric spots. No fabric stain guide covers it; treat it as traditional, with weak evidence.
Caution: Oily removers can leave their own stain. Wash afterward.
Shaving cream
A popular tip because it contains soap and surfactants. There's no cited source, so it's traditional, with weak evidence.
Caution: Rinse thoroughly.
Stain still there?
A darker, oily ring remains
The oil is still there. Apply dry-cleaning solvent from the back, let it evaporate, then rub in detergent and rewash.
A faint beige or brown tint remains
That's pigment. Wash again, then soak in oxygen bleach. Mineral pigments may take a couple of washes.
Safety
- Solvents and rubbing alcohol are flammable. Ventilate and let them evaporate before washing.
Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.
Questions
How do you get foundation out of clothes?
Scrape off the excess, rub heavy-duty liquid detergent into the stain and wash. Use an all-fabric bleach for any color that's left.
How do you get mascara out of clothes?
Dab dry-cleaning solvent on the back of the stain first, then rub in heavy-duty liquid detergent and wash. Waterproof mascara won't respond to water alone.
Can you remove makeup from clothes after washing?
Yes, as long as it hasn't been through the dryer. Don't dry it; repeat the solvent and detergent pretreatment and rewash.
How do you remove self tanner from clothes?
Rinse quickly, pretreat with detergent and soak in oxygen bleach. Self tanner acts more like a dye than makeup, so set marks may only fade.
Other combination stains
Sources
- Stain Removal Guide, American Cleaning Institute
- Stain Removal for Washable Fabrics (HE 2-840), University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
- Quick and Easy Stain Removal for Clothing (HS 305, May 2026), Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Spot Solver: Makeup, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- A General Guide to Stain Removal (Extension Bulletin E-1453), Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service (archived bulletin)
Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.