Makeup can be surprisingly difficult to remove from leather—especially when the leather is light in color.
A customer contacted me after foundation and bronzer had transferred onto her white deerskin Kimani Tassel Earrings. Rather than experiment directly on her earrings, I recreated the problem on a piece of matching deerskin leather and tested several cleaning methods.
I tested water, Lexol leather conditioner, and Dawn Platinum Erasing Dish Foam.
The first two methods didn't remove the makeup. The Dawn Platinum successfully removed it from my test piece.
Watch the video below to see what I tested and how the leather responded.
What Worked - and an Important Caution
The Dawn Platinum solution worked on the specific deerskin leather I tested, but that does not mean it is a universal leather-cleaning solution.
Leather varies considerably in finish, absorbency, color, and construction. A cleaning method that works beautifully on one piece can damage another.
If you're dealing with an important or valuable leather item, test any cleaning method on an inconspicuous area first—or, when possible, on a scrap of the same leather.
Want more leather-care and repair information?
I've put together a comprehensive Leather Repair & DIY Care Guide covering stains, scratches, cracking, peeling, dry rot, broken handles and straps, zippers, mold and mildew, garment alterations, and more.
[Read the Leather Repair & DIY Care Guide →] https://lisacantalupo.com/pages/artisan-leather-repair-restoration
