Makeup Composition History and Facts
Spill some foundation or blush on the carpet? Or perhaps that blue eye shadow has decided to leave an unexpected trail behind.
Well, have no fear, fellow cosmetic lovers – do-it-yourself makeup stain removal is just a few easy steps away. With COIT’s step-by-step guide, you can learn how to get makeup stains out with relatively little hassle.
What’s In Your Makeup?
From foundation to mascara to eye shadow, blush and more, every day, hundreds of millions of men and women go through their daily beauty ritual. Makeup makes people feel good, allows them to express themselves, and keeps our visually-focused society delighted and entertained.
When it comes to the actual ingredients in makeup, across the various brands, the basic formula is essentially the same. When you’re trying to remove makeup stains, it’s good to know what kind of ingredients you’re actually working with:
- Water
- Oil
- Wax – paraffin, petroleum, beeswax, carnauba wax, or candelilla wax
- Talc, mica, or kaolin clay (filler that allows the makeup to be smoothly distributed across your face)
- Pigments, i.e. iron oxide
- Jojoba oil for dry skin
- Zinc or magnesium derivatives
- Olive oil, castor oil, mineral oil, or lanolin
- Vitamin E or aloe vera
There has been some concern over the safety of makeup, as research suggests that there are some dangerous chemicals lurking in everyday products. According to the Huffington Post, certain cosmetic brands use “Mercury in your mascara? Yep, it's in there. Endocrine disruptors in your lip gloss? It is possible.” For more information about how to evaluate the safety of the makeup you’re using, visit EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database.
The History of Makeup
Now that you’ve got some more information about what’s in your makeup and the potentially harmful substances that your body could be absorbing, let’s rewind a bit and take a closer look at the history of makeup.
The first traces of makeup can be found in ancient Egypt. In fact, when excavating Egyptian tombs, archaeologists have found makeup canisters and kits that were used. Did you know that Cleopatra used lipstick that was made out of ground carmine beetles? Some Egyptian women also used water and clay to add a dash of color to their lips.
During ancient Greek and Roman times, traces of makeup have also been discovered. Using ground-up stones and minerals, women were known to paint their faces, necks, and chests. Thanks to a mixture known as ceruse, made of lead and vinegar, the famous Queen Elizabeth I would paint her face white. Unfortunately, ceruse contained lead, which often led to hair loss or even death!
Modern Day Makeup
The makeup the modern world uses was initially developed (and continues to evolve) in 1914 and 1915, by companies like Maybelline and Max Factor. Revlon appeared on the market in the 1950s, followed by countless other brands that exist today. With 33.3 billion dollars spent on makeup each year, the profitable cosmetic industry shows no signs of slowing.
Remove Makeup Stains with COIT’s Spot Center Guide
So the next time you encounter a makeup stain, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s inside that unsightly spot. Check out COIT’s guide to learn how to get makeup stains out.
How to Remove Makeup Stains from Carpet
COIT's Guide on How to Remove Makeup Stains from Carpet
When you’re in a hurry, it’s oh-so-easy to spill some of your powder, mascara, foundation or eye shadow onto your beautiful plush carpeting. Yikes! But there’s no use crying over spilt blush, right?
Instead of banishing all your makeup products, how should you go about removing makeup from carpet?
COIT’s guide will show you the way, step-by-step.
How to Get Makeup Out of Carpet – Method # 1
1. Upon discovering the makeup stain, it’s best to act as soon as possible. If you see any excess makeup on the surface of the carpet, carefully scoop it up with a cloth or plastic spoon.
2. For each specific makeup stain, there is a specific solution you can mix when tackling how to remove makeup stains:
- Nail polish: no-color, no fragrance non-acetone nail polish remover
- Foundation (liquid): 3% hydrogen peroxide solution
- Eye-liner and mascara: 1 cup of warm water with ¼ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid
- Lipstick: paint remove or rubbing alcohol
3. After you’ve mixed the appropriate solution based on the specific makeup type of stain you’re tackling, add a small amount of the solution to a clean white cloth. You’ll want to make sure the cloth is damp, but not completely soaked.
4. Blot the makeup stain (avoid rubbing) using the saturated cloth. It’s important to firmly blot to lift as much of the makeup residue out of the carpet as possible.
5. Repeat steps # 1-4 until the makeup stain is no longer visible.
6. After the stain has been removed, spray the affected area with water to rinse out any solution. Once the carpet is completely dry, vacuum the area.
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How to Get Makeup Stains Out of Carpet – Method # 2
If you’re looking for a way to answer the question of how to remove makeup stains using dry cleaning fluid, follow these steps:
1. Clean any remaining makeup residue off the surface of the carpet.
2. Soak a clean cloth in a bit of dry cleaning fluid, and then apply the cloth directly to the carpet stain.
3. Let the solution soak into the carpet for about 5 minutes.
4. Blot the solution with a clean cloth to soak up any excess makeup coloring.
5. Rinse the affected area of the carpet with cold water. Repeat above listed steps until the stain is no longer visible.
How to Get Makeup Out of Carpet
Using Professional Cleaning If the above mentioned solutions don’t seem to be working as well as you’d like, consider investing in COIT’s professional carpet cleaning services. Our expert technicians will inspect your carpet to first determine the best treatment to remove dirt, dust and tough stains. Next, using commercial grade equipment, our team will extract the toughest stains, making the air you breathe in your home even healthier. Call COIT today to learn more about our 100% satisfaction guarantee and don't forget to checkout our coupons!
Remember to always do a spot removal test on a portion of carpet or upholstery that is normally not visible. These are suggested treatments only and COIT can't be held accountable for any damage sustained by use of the treatments in this spot removal guide.
