How to Clean Lipstick

Co-authored by Devorah Kuperland

Last Updated: May 4, 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

Download Article

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]
X
Research source}
- 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]
X
Research source}
- 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.
Advertisement
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]
X
Research source}
- 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

Download Article

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]
X
Research source}
- 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]
X
Research source}
- 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]
X
Research source}
- 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.
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]
X
Expert Source

Devorah Kuperland
Makeup Artist & Stylist

Expert Interview. 16 April 2020.} That will remove any lingering lipstick or smudges around your mouth.^{[8]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Out Lipstick Stains from Clothing

Download Article

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.
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]
X
Research source}
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]
X
Research source}
- 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

Search

Add New Question

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!

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 0

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Always sanitize your lipstick if you plan to lend it to someone else -- and sanitize it again when it’s returned to you. You may also want to sanitize your lipstick after you’ve been sick so you don’t continue to expose yourself to germs.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Makeup removing wipes are a good option when you want to clean lipstick from your lips in a hurry. You can also use one to dab at a lipstick stain on your clothing in an emergency.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0