How to Get Rid of Black Eye Make-up

The amazing thing about eye makeup is that it really does suit everyone. Often, however, finding the perfect eye shadow for your eye colour and complexion can be tricky ­– colourful eye make-up is not for everyone. Luckily, whether you’re going all out with a smoky eye, or using just a dab of mascara to bring out your eyes, you can never go wrong with a classic black.

Unfortunately, black eye make-up, while very flattering, has a reputation forfinding its way to where you need it the least, and whilst you want your eyeliner to last all day (and potentially all night as well), no one likes black marks on their favourite shirt. No need to panic though! If you follow these simple instructions, and remember to always check the label or the website of your chosen detergent before use, your laundry will come out of the wash stain-free and gorgeous again.

So before you throw yourclothesin the washing machine and hope for the best, follow these handy tips for removing those stubborn black mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow stains.

Mascara

Mascara, especially the waterproof kind, has a tendency to find its way onto your favourite blouse; and the higher quality it is, the harder it can be to remove the stain. Don't try and rub the mark – it will only spread it further and make it even harder to get rid of. Instead, apply a bit of make-up remover (suitable for removing waterproof make-up) onto a sponge and carefully dab at the stain until the sponge absorbs the black colour. Make sure not to accidentally reapply the colour to the fabric once removed – use more than one sponge if necessary. Once the stain is completely gone, you can wash your garment as usual.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner and mascara often go hand in hand, but what works for mascara stains cannot always quite get rid of eyeliner marks. If you are struggling to remove black eyeliner stains, dig up your stain remover and soak the affected area for a couple of minutes. Wash the fabric afterwards, using colour bleach or chlorine solution, to make sure your garment will be as good as new after the wash. But be careful before you throw your laundry in the dryer – you need to make sure the stain is completely gone. If not, the hot air might set it instead, making it more challenging to remove.

Eyeshadow

Blending dark eyeshadow is essential for the ultimate smoky eye look. Easily applied to the skin, it unfortunately sticks just as well to fabric. But as long as you don't attempt to brush away the stain, you will be perfectly fine. Most of the time, soaking the garment in stain remover will do the trick, and your shirt or blouse should be as good as new after a wash. But if you're facing a more stubborn stain, apply the liquid detergent of your choice to the stain, working it into the fabric using your fingers. Wash the clothes as usual afterwards, and, if necessary, add a bleach suitable for your fabric.

There you have it: the next time your black eye make-up makes a dash for it, try one of these simple tips to get your clothes (and your look) perfect again.

P.S.: This is a guest post from Surf Excel. By working with bloggers, surf Excel wants to encourage bloggers to share experiences and also exchange information in a network of high-quality blogs, and the first way they want to accomplish this is by offering readers their own tips and ideas.