Make-up & lipstickon washable cotton
Do NOT add water first — foundation and lipstick are oil-based, and water just spreads the pigment.
Phase 1: Immediate first aid
Use what you have right now. Nothing to buy.
Blot & isolate
Lift off excess product with the edge of a card or a dry cotton pad. Don't wipe — it smears the pigment.
Pantry pre-treatment
You need
15 ml micellar water
Method
Soak a cotton pad and press it on the mark for 30 seconds, then lift. Turn the pad and repeat — it dissolves the oils holding the pigment.
Final flush & wash
Rinse the treatment out from the back with lukewarm water. Wash on the care-label setting, then air-dry and check in daylight before any tumble-drying — heat sets whatever is left.
Why this one's tricky
Foundation, concealer and lipstick are designed to cling and resist water, so plain water just smears them. Lift off what's on the surface with the edge of a card, then dissolve the oils that hold the pigment with micellar water or neat washing-up liquid before rinsing. Lipstick often needs a few rounds. Waterproof mascara and long-wear products are the toughest; isopropyl alcohol on a cotton pad can help on white cotton.
Phase 2: Deep restoration
If a faint shadow remains after the initial rinse, or for fabrics that cannot tolerate water agitation:
Residual ghost-ring or dry-clean-only fibre?
Normal washing often won't shift the last trace of a set-in stain. Treat it with a targeted spotter before it goes anywhere near tumble-dryer heat — heat locks in whatever is left.
AlbaChem Dry Spotter
Solvent-based spotter for grease, oil, wax, make-up and ink. Works without water, so it suits fabrics that can’t be wet-cleaned.
Apply a few drops with a cotton bud, tamp gently, then flush as the label directs. Patch-test first.
- Vanish Oxi Action
Pick the formula labelled for this stain type — the range is split by stain.
Build your laundry first-aid kit
Top 3 essential spotters for next time — one for each stain family.
- AlbaChem Dry SpotterGrease, oil, wax, make-up, ink
- Alba-ProBlood, urine, grass, chocolate
- Alba-TanWine, coffee, tea, tomato, curry
Always patch-test on a hidden area first. Never mix bleach, ammonia, vinegar or peroxide together. For valuables, see a professional cleaner.