How To Really Get Lipstick Stains Out Of Your Clothes
Getting makeup on your clothes happens to the best of us. Especially after you've carefully applied your look, the slightest smudge can cause some serious frustration. Luckily, with a cue tip and some patience, you can remove lipstick from your clothes and any spots on your face with ease.
First of all, ditch the common items you plan on using like a napkin and natural cleaners such as baking soda — both of these can make the stain worse, Byrdie notes. "Any frantic attempts can end up making more messes, leaving you with traces of paper lint on the item and an even larger stain," says Lindsey Boyd, a co-founder of The Laundress. She recommends waiting until you get back to your home to work on any stains, even if it's difficult to hide the pink mark on your sweater. That way, you can avoid deepening the spot and fully remove it.
"We always recommended holding off on the DIY remedies and treating the stain with the proper products at home. You run the risk of worsening the stain if you reach for whatever's around instead of just waiting and using the right products later. We can almost always remove old, set-in stains," Boyd adds.
Once you get home, it's time to grab the dishwashing soap.
You'll need dishwashing fluid and a toothbrush to remove your stain
Just like other stains, a few household products can quickly dilute even the most stubborn marks from your lip color. "My best tip is really so simple but so effective. Use diluted dishwashing liquid. Let it sit for a few minutes and use a toothbrush or nail brush to scrub out. Repeat as necessary. It never fails," Troi Ollivierre, co-creator of LoveSeen lashes and founder of Troi Ollivierre Beauty shares with Byrdie.
However, if there are any lifted spots of the stain, The Spruce suggests removing them with a butter knife before applying any soap or products. Lipsticks are made with oil or wax, by removing remnants of these first, you can avoid spreading the stain or deepening it. Then, apply stain remover and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Wash your clothes in hot water and check to see if the stain is no longer visible. If it is, repeat the process before putting it in the dryer.
"My go-to technique to remove a lipstick stain is to first remove the bulk of the pigment with eye makeup remover with a cotton bud. Then I use a dab of Dawn liquid soap on the area, let it soak for at least 5 to 10 minutes, throw the item in the washer. It comes out clean every time," Sébastien Tardif, celebrity makeup artist and co-founder of Veil Cosmetics tells Byrdie.
For dry-clean only fabric, gently blot the mark with a paper towel before dropping it off at the cleaners. Whatever you do, do not try to rub it off!