Closet Care: How to get rid of makeup stains from your clothes

It is no exaggeration that only a handful of things in this world are more annoying than staining your perfectly planned outfit with a spot of foundation or lipstick, just as you're about to step out of the door. And I speak from experience because, as a beauty enthusiast, having my hands coloured by new lipliners or my fingertips smeared with glittery eyeshadows is not uncommon. And in one second of distraction, the deed is done. A look has been destroyed. But outfits aren't the only thing in the firing line, with towels also vulnerable to stray product - especially waterproof mascaras.

Yet, I am not willing to give up on my clean girl aesthetic by abolishing each and every kind of white fabric that might come into contact with my face. Instead, I have taken a deep-dive into research with one aim in mind: to find out good ways to clean your clothes, bed linen, or towels from these dreaded makeup stains. From TikTok and Pinterest to expert opinions (aka our beauty editor), this is the final verdict on the top five tips of how to save your clothes from a beauty accident.

This is perhaps my personal favourite trick for the days when the universe seems to be against you. As obvious as it sounds, makeup removers are good allies for cleaning up little blemishes like foundation drips or shadow smudges. The secret is to press the spot for a few seconds with a cotton pad soaked in micellar water or a classic makeup wipe, and then rub the area carefully so as not to damage the fibres of the fabric. After this, most of the stain will likely be eradicated – and hopefully the need for a last-minute outfit change too.

TikTok is perhaps the best place to find those tips that are so unusual that it makes you curious to try them out – as is the case here. On the platform, many users preach hairspray and shaving foam as great alternatives for removing makeup stains, especially lipstick. But the chemical reason behind the success of this random trick is that these formulations can cut through the oils present in our makeup products, making the washing cycle more efficient than ever. According to internet gossip, it's Kim Kardashian's favourite trick — so it must be worth a shot.

It might sound obvious, but due to its grease-cutting power, soap and water will always be your go-to combination to clean oil-based makeup such as foundation and concealers. However, the secret here is the soap choice; preferably select one for dishwashing purposes as it contains an alkaline formula and more efficient and intense ingredients to degrease your stain. Another critical point is speed — don't leave your stained shirt in the laundry basket; the more time you wait to clean it, the harder it is to achieve the initial appearance.

Your pressed powder or blush slipped from your hands and crashed to the floor. The scene is heartbreaking - but what about the trouser hems now covered by the fine-coloured powder? First of all, resist the temptation to automatically sweep the product away with your hands. This will cause the pigment, still loose on the surface, to stick to the fabric fibres and create a stain. Instead, the best tip here is to use your hair dryer to blow away the particles. If any stain is left behind, resort to the above topics as a second step, but the process will be much faster and much less messy.

Now you know how to clean your clothes from stains, but how do you avoid the annoying spots in the first place? Our beauty editor, Esteban Villanueva, spills the tea: "For me, the best tip for not staining clothes and towels with makeup is to not put me in a position where this can happen. So, I always go for blue navy, dark grey or black towels that I know if they get dirty with eyeliners, mascara or foundation, it will be easier to wash than a white towel, for example", he shares. Aesthetically speaking, the change of having an entire bathroom set in dark colours may be different than what you're used to, but we guarantee that the practicality is worth it. "Also, I always carry a big silk scarf with me, so whenever I need to change outfits on the go, I can protect my face from rubbing it on the clothes. So, if I have to stain something, it's only the scarf. In extreme situations, a piece of fabric or even a kitchen towel will also do the job", he adds.