How To Remove Waterproof Eyeliner from Clothes? [Step By Step]

You were getting ready for an evening and just then! The eyeliner decides to adorn your clothes instead of your eyes. God forbid if that’s a white dress.

After a few seconds of panic when you finally realize what actually has happened, it’s time to get rid of it.

In the meanwhile, check below waterproof eyeliner online:

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	NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Epic Ink Liner, Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - Black, Vegan Formula	Check Price On Amazon

How Difficult Is It to Remove Waterproof Eyeliner?

Waterproof eyeliners or any other waterproof makeup is oil-based. The natural reason being oil repels water.

Substances like silicone, dimethicone copolyol (it’s a silicone-based oil) form the basis of waterproof makeup. Wax is especially used to render this property in eyeliners.

Normal eyeliners can be easily removed from clothes by rubbing water into them. That’s definitely not the case with waterproof ones.

Especially the gel/cream ones are quite adamant. As the name and utility suggest, it repels water hence, water singly can’t help its removal. Other methods are to be followed for this purpose.

How To Remove Waterproof Eyeliner from Clothes?

Waterproof eyeliners whether liquid, pencil or gel/cream can be removed from clothes using dish wash liquid and makeup wipes.

Humid and sweaty weather, swimming, sports imply that you’d mostly be in contact with moisture/ water. Under such a situation waterproof makeup comes to the rescue.

You probably won’t like to have your eyeliner smudged all over your face. (Remember Lady Gaga’s eyeconic eye makeup? Yes, something like that.)

Waterproof eyeliner sure has its utility well defined. However, there will be some hassles when you actually want to remove it. 

The following methods work best while the stain is fresh. Don’t wait for the liner to dry out.

1. Dish wash liquid and Water method
2. Using the makeup wipes

Removing Waterproof Eyeliner from Clothes Using Dish Wash Liquid & Water

Dishwashing liquids or liquid detergents can be used to take the waterproof eyeliner off your dress. Such detergents have something called surfactants in them.

As I told you before, waterproof makeup is oil-based and these surfactants let the insoluble oil (or anything oil based) mix readily or easily with water.

Thus, the dishwasher breaks the eyeliner and helps to clear it off. It’d require a maximum of two or three repetitions to make it all clean.

This method can pretty much work with any garment whether woolen, cloth, light-colored or dark.  

Required Material:

• Dishwashing liquid /liquid detergents
• Cold water
• Brush

Procedure (Step by Step):

1. Spot treatment

Well, I know that’s quite a fancy name for this step. All it means is to put 2-3 drops of the detergent specifically at the place which has the eyeliner stain.

You can add a few drops of water to quicken the process. Make sure you use cool water. Warm water might further let the stain settle into the cloth fibers.

Now rub the place using a small brush being careful not to spread the stain elsewhere.

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2. Rinse

When you’re convinced with the spot treatment and believe that the stain has come off, you can rinse it.

Again, cold water works the best. If the stain has come off completely you can dry it.

Otherwise, repeat the same process until it’s clean. Drying the cloth before the stain actually comes off would make the stain a lot more stubborn.

Removing Waterproof Eyeliner from Clothes Using Makeup wipes

It would sound quite obvious and surprising at the same time. The makeup wipes that remove makeup off your face can also remove it from your clothes.

Makeup wipes contain chemicals (like surfactants, solubilizers and emulsifiers) that break the makeup particles on your face (or anywhere).

Due to these chemicals, they can take off waterproof makeup as well. Hence, it can be used to clear the bit of liner on your clothes.

It is not recommended to use this method for delicate materials like silk and white/very light colors.

As you know, makeup wipes don’t remove makeup totally and leave some residue behind, its application becomes a bit risky on white or very light garments.

Required Material:

• Makeup wipes (not oil based)

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	Cetaphil Gentle Makeup Removing Face Wipes, Daily Cleansing Facial Towelettes Gently Remove Makeup, Fragrance and Alcohol Free, 25 Count	Check Price On Amazon

Procedure (Step by Step):

Rub off the eyeliner

• That’s pretty much it. Just grab your makeup wipes and rub on the required spot until it looks clean.
• This is the easiest trick if you’re continuously working with such waterproof makeup and don’t have time to rub liquid detergents every time. Doing makeup on your friends? Family? Yourself? This is just what you need.
• Non-oil based makeup is advised because oil based ones can do more harm than good. The inherent oil composition of the wipe would further ruin the cloth. Think about lighter oil stains!

Precautions:

For both of the above-listed methods, the cloth should be put to heat drying only after the stain is completely removed. Otherwise, the stain might become a semi-permanent issue, ruining a dress forever.

Also, most importantly, read the instructions on your cloth. If it requires being dry cleaned, please don’t use any other method. It would further aggravate the situation. Just take it your dry cleaner.

Final Words:

For those of you who love makeup and putting up a beautiful liner (graphic/ cat-eye/ anything else) on your lids is almost a routine, keeping such tricks is helpful.

So, don’t panic, do the little necessary bit and you’ll be sorted. Hope this was useful to you!