by BR Amelia
I once spent $37 on a single eyeshadow. Ridiculous, I know. But it was the closest thing I could find to a shade in a limited edition palette that I'd completely hit pan on and couldn't live without. Then, tragedy hit. I was standing at the bathroom counter, placing the shade on my lid, and in an absolute fumble-finger moment it went flying from my hands, smashed on the marble tiles and broke.
$37 of eyeshadow in smithereens.
I was gutted. Could have cried an actual river into existence. However, it's not the only powder product I've had fall to pieces - there's been blushes break while travelling, not to mention setting powders crack after being dropped. Basically I can't be trusted around a powder product. Thankfully there is a fix. A way to make them if not good as new, then certainly brought back from the brink of being added to landfill before their time. How? Read on...
What You Need
Fixing a broken powder product needs four things:
- a small bowl (like a ramekin)
- a spoon
- rubbing alcohol (also known as isopropyl alcohol)
- a paper towel or tissue
The Process
This may seem counter-intuitive, but the first thing to do is to tip all the powder product into your small bowl and then break up the powder with the spoon (or a knife/spatula/something that's good at breaking things to bits) until it's fine in texture.
Next, add isopropyl to the powder and mix it togther. The amount of isopropyl you use will depend on the amount of product. Start with a few drops and go from there. You want to use enough to make it a thick paste, but not so much that it becomes watery.
Lastly, put the paste mixture back into the pan, then place your paper towel or tissue over the top of it and use the back of the spoon to press the product in, leaving the surface flat.
From there, leave the compact open so that it can dry out. Once the mixture's dry it's good to use once again!
As for my beloved $37 eyeshadow? It was scattered all over my bathroom floor and truly beyond repair, but the next time I find myself having a cosmetic calamity (and it's only a matter of time), I'll be getting my beauty first aid on for sure!
So, have you ever broken a powder cosmetic before? Did you fix it or send it to the great round bin in the sky? And will you be trying this trick the next time you have a whoopsydaisy? Chat below!
OMG this is amazing! I never knew you could fix pounders. I always kept trying to use the broken bits until it started 'leaking' out of the packaging then I'd give up and throw it away. I will have to try this next time!