Shaving foam, nail varnish remover, and liquid dish soap all have wider cleaning uses for beauty-related spills and stains, new research has revealed.
The team at FalseEyelashes.co.uk – stockists of the biggest selection of lashes in the business – collaborated with cleaning experts Heather Barrigan and Henry Paterson to give some advice on the products and processes to use if you make accidently make a mess during your makeup or beauty routine.
Cleaning stains and spills
Seven scenarios were discussed, including water-based cosmetics, oil-based cosmetics, powders, sun cream, lash glue, nail varnish, and fake tan:
Water-based cosmetics
- Stains caused by water-based makeup and cosmetics can be cleaned using shaving foam. Just apply the foam directly to the stain, allow it to sit for a minute & rub it in with a cloth or your finger, making sure to work the foam into the stain. Once you’ve worked the foam in, rinse it away using cold water. Then blot the area with a clean, dry cloth. Then launder clothes as usual – if the stained garment is machine washable, wash it on the warmest setting permitted by the label. If the garment cannot be washed in the washing machine, hand wash it in warm water. Air-dry the clothing because the heat from the dryer can cause the stain to set
- If you don’t have shaving foam to hand, blot away any excess makeup with a paper towel, be careful not to spread the stain or push it deeper into the fabric. Rinse the area with warm water. Pre-treat the stain with detergent by massaging it in. Allow the detergent or dish soap to work for 20 minutes on the stain. Then launderas usual
Oil-based cosmetics
- Dampen the stained area of your clothes with cold water. This enables the solvent to spread quickly and loosen the stain. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to sit on the stained area for a few minutes. Rub it gently with your finger to break up the oils within the makeup. Gently blot the stained area with a clean cloth or a paper towel. Do not rub it on the stained area because you’ll end up spreading the stain. Clothes, bedding, or other items that can go in the laundry should then be washed as usual. For carpets, allow the area to dry before vacuuming
Powders
- If it’s on an item of clothing or bedding that you’ve spilled makeup on, you can simplyshake it off over the sink. Spillages on hard floors can be brushed or vacuumed, and the vacuum should also work on carpets and rugs too
- Otherwise, blow the excess powder away. If you rub or brush it off, you will spread the stain and make it more difficult to remove. Dampen a clean cloth or sponge and gently rub it over the stain. Rinse the cloth or sponge and repeat until there are no traces of soap. Blot the treated area gently with a dry towel to remove excess water. If you rub the area, you will damage the fabric and spread the strain. Launderthe garment as usual
Sun cream
- For spillages on clothes, begin by running cold water through from spillage from the back to flush it out. Use soft household soap and hot water. Allow it to soak for a few hours. Scrub the stains with your hands or a brush. Apply washing up liquid to the sun cream stains. Allow the garment to absorb for a few minutes before placing it in the washing machine to launder as usual
Lash glue
- Wipe the area and then use an adhesive remover. Wash the area with soap and water, then wipe it with a damp cloth once the stain has been removed. If the stain remains, go to a dry cleaner as soon as possible
Nail varnish
- First, allow the nail varnish to dry, then scrape off what you can. Next, soak a microfiber cloth in nail polish removerwith acetone. Dab the nail varnish stains with the cloth until the colour of the nail polish stain has faded. Avoid scrubbing or wiping. Launder as normal. If your clothes are heavily stained, a higher temperature and a longer process may be necessary
Fake tan
- Remove as much product as possible from the surface with a spoon, working quickly before the stain sets. Any attempts to clean up the remaining solution will only push it deeper into the fibres. Make a solution of two cups of water and one teaspoon of dish soap and work it into the carpet, working from the outer edges inwards. Blot the stain with a clean paper towel until no tan remains. Rinse the affected area by blotting it with a clean towel dipped in clean water until no soap is left. For clothes, launder as normal.
Water- vs oil-based
When it comes to telling the base of your beauty products, Henry shared that oil-based products will “often contain decyl oleate, lanolin, isodecyl oleate, or an oil – such as coconut oil, olive oil or avocado oil – in the ingredients”.
Heather mentioned that “water-based cosmetics absorb quickly and easily, leaving your skin feeling revitalised in an instant. Many foundations, such as the MAC Studio Waterweight Liquid Foundation, are water-based”. However, Henry added that “it’s worth remembering that water will be listed as the first ingredient in almost all liquid cosmetics, but this alone doesn’t guarantee it’s water-based”.
Saffron Hughes, MUA at FalseEyelashes.co.uk, commented:
“Before attacking a stain, check the sewn-in care label on your item to determine the proper cleaning method for the fabric. If you’re using products or chemicals, test on a discreet area first, to ensure that you won’t damage or discolour the surface or material.
“When trying to remove stains yourself, there’s always a risk that you could spread the stain or set it further, so for any valuable or sentimental items of clothing, call your local laundry and dry-cleaning specialist immediately to get their advice. For floor spillages, you can contact a local floor or carpet cleaning company for professional help”.
For more information on the full research, visit: https://falseeyelashes.co.uk/blogs/news/makeup-and-beauty-products-shelf-life-expiration-cleaning
