How to Clean Lipstick

Last Updated: February 16, 2023 References

The right lipstick can instantly transform your look and make you feel more confident. But keeping your lipstick clean to prevent the spread of germs, removing long-wearing lipstick from your lips, or getting lipstick stains out of your clothing can sometimes seem like a challenge. The key is having the right products on hand to clean the lipstick in each situation, so you can get the job done as quickly as possible.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Sanitizing Your Lipstick

1
Fill a cup with isopropyl alcohol. To clean and sanitize your lipstick, you’ll need a bottle of isopropyl alcohol, which you can find at any drugstore. Pour enough into a plastic cup so you’ll be able to easily submerge the lipstick into it.^{[1]
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- Isopropyl alcohol comes in different percentages. For cleaning your lipstick, 70% is usually the best option. It’s strong enough to kill the bacteria and germs that might be present on the lipstick, but won’t evaporate as quickly as higher concentrations.
2
Dip your lipstick in the alcohol. Take the tube of lipstick that you want to clean, and turn it all the way up the entire bullet is exposed. Submerge the lipstick in the cup of alcohol, and hold it there for 15 to 30 seconds.^{[2]
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- Be careful when you’re holding the lipstick in the alcohol so you don’t bang it against the side of the cup and damage the bullet.
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3
Wipe off the lipstick and let it air dry. After you’ve let the lipstick soak in the alcohol, remove it from the cup. Use a tissue to wipe off the top layer of lipstick from the bullet, and leave the lipstick uncovered so it can finish air drying the rest of the way.^{[3]
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- To avoid dripping alcohol all over your table or counter, tap the lipstick container gently against the side of the cup when you pull it out to knock off any alcohol droplets before they fall.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Lipstick from your Lips

1
Blot your lips to remove the excess lipstick. When you’re ready to clean your lips of lipstick, take a tissue and blot it against your mouth to remove the top layer of lipstick. Gently press the tissue against your lips until you’re no longer getting a lot of color off.^{[4]
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- Make sure not to rub the tissue over your lips, or you may wind up smearing the lipstick around your mouth.
2
Apply a layer of petroleum jelly to your lips. When you’ve removed the top layer lipstick with the tissue, spread a thick layer of petroleum jelly over your lips like a mask. Allow it to sit on your lips for 1 to 3 minutes, leaving it on the longest for dark, matte lipstick shades.^{[5]
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- If you don’t have any petroleum jelly on hand, you can also use coconut oil or baby oil. However, apply just a thin coat to your lips or you may wind up with lipstick-colored oil running down your chin.
3
Wet a cotton pad and use it to wipe your lips. When you’ve let the petroleum jelly sit on your lips for a couple of minutes, take a cotton pad and dampen it with warm water from the sink. Wipe the pad over your lips with firm pressure to remove the remaining lipstick.^{[6]
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- Don’t use cotton balls to wipe your lips. They’re usually too fuzzy and can wind up sticking to your lips.
- Be careful when you’re wiping the cotton pad over your mouth to make sure that you don’t rub it beyond your lip line -- you can wind up smearing lipstick on your face that way. It helps to “wrap” the pad around your index finger to keep it confined to the lip area.
4
Wash your face as your normally would. If you just want to clean your lips of lipstick so you can put on a new shade, you’re ready to go. If you’re removing the lipstick at the end of the night, follow up by washing your face with your favorite cleanser.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Devorah Kuperland
Makeup Artist & Stylist
Expert Interview. 16 April 2020.} That will remove any lingering lipstick or smudges around your mouth.^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Out Lipstick Stains from Clothing

1
Blot the lipstick stain with a damp cloth. If you’re out and notice a lipstick stain on your clothing, don’t rub at the stain with a napkin or paper towel. Instead, blot the spot with water to help remove the top layer of pigment.
- If you’re out a restaurant and can ask for seltzer, use that to blot the lipstick stain. If you don’t have access to seltzer, use cold water.
- Never blot a lipstick stain with warm or hot water. That will set the stain.
2
Apply a pre-wash stain remover to the stain. When you’re ready to clean your clothing, start by applying a pre-wash stain remover to the spot. Allow the stain remover to sit on the stain for 1 to 3 minutes, or according to the product’s label.
- You can use a dry cleaning spotter in place of the pre-wash stain remover. They’re available in home dry cleaning kits. If you use the spotter, though, make sure that it evaporates completely before washing your clothing.
3
Wash the clothing according to the label instructions. After you’ve let the stain remover sit on the lipstick stain for several minutes, clean the clothing in a washing machine. Make sure to follow the recommendations on the clothing label as to what temperature and cycle you should use.In some cases, you may need to handwash the item.^{[9]
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4
Reapply the stain treatment and launder again. Once you’ve finished washing the clothing, remove it from the machine and check the stain. If it’s gone, you can dry the item according to the label instructions. If the stain lingers, apply more of the stain remover and re-wash the item until the stain is gone.^{[10]
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- If you’ve tried using the pre-wash stain treatment to remove the stain and your clothing hasn’t come clean, you may want to try the dry cleaning spotter. It is more concentrated, so it may be more effective on a stubborn lipstick stain.

Community Q&A

Question

How do you clean a bowl or cup that has lipstick on it?

Community Answer

Wash the item with dish soap and warm or hot water. Scrub if needed. That should do the trick!