Make-up expert's credit card trick for banishing stubborn foundation stains

26 November 2023 , 15:55

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The credit card hack can seriously help (Stock Image) (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

When you get make-up stains on something where it shouldn't be, it can be heartbreaking - but one expert has shared her handy hack to banish the unsightliness from your posessions once and for all.

Rather than throwing your foundation-covered things in the bin, make-up expert Saffron Hughes, make-up artist at FalseEyelashes.co.uk, shared that there's a way that will easily, and cheaply, get rid of any traces of pesky make-up.

The hack works a treat on carpets, upholstery, or other surfaces you may have accidentally spilled it on. But, how fast you need to act depends on the formula of the foundation.

Saffron's top tip for removing foundation is to use fairy liquid and a credit card, or a butter knife. She advised that before you treat a liquid foundation stain, look at the bottle to determine whether the one you're using is oil or water-based. You may already know this if you've painstakingly chosen one to suit your skin type, but if you're blissfully unaware, you need to check.

Saffron said: "If you accidentally get a foundation stain on your carpet, upholstery, or other, you need to act fast as naturally foundation sets quite quickly. However, how you act depends on the foundation formula.

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‌"Oil-based formulas should be treated quickly to prevent the stain from setting. Firstly, remove the excess foundation from the clothing using a credit card or butter knife - whatever you have to hand.

"Dampen the stained area with cold water then, using a teaspoon of dish soap which acts as a degreaser for oil-based products, massage it into the area then blot with a damp cloth."

However, if the formula is water-based, then you need to sort out the stain in a slightly different way. Saffron recommended to "Do the same but swap washing-up liquid out for your usual washing detergent. When blotting the stain, be careful not to wipe the product as you risk spreading the stain further."

She also warned to: "Never use the heat from a hairdryer to speed up this process as it can cause a stain to set."

Danielle Kate Wroe