How to Fix Broken Eyeshadow
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Fixing Broken Eyeshadows and Powders
That heart-stopping moment when your eyeshadow slips through your fingers. Will it have survived? Alas, no, your favourite shade has shattered into a million pieces. At this stage, many of you will already have relegated it to the bin, and some will keep it nevertheless, until one day you forget it's broken when opening it and spill it all over yourself. It was never a happy ending, until a few months ago that I discovered they can actually be fixed, and all is not lost.
Most of us don't even consider the fact we can re-press our eyeshadows and blushers, but when you think about it, they had to be powder at some stage before originally being pressed, so if we simply replicate this process, it's as good as new! The best part - it's much easier than you might think.
On this page, I will go through the steps using my own photographs to demonstrate the best way to fix your broken eyeshadows or blushers, because they can be expensive to replace, and it's simply a waste throwing them away when there is a simple solution this irritating problem.
Most of us don't even consider the fact we can re-press our eyeshadows and blushers, but when you think about it, they had to be powder at some stage before originally being pressed, so if we simply replicate this process, it's as good as new! The best part - it's much easier than you might think.
On this page, I will go through the steps using my own photographs to demonstrate the best way to fix your broken eyeshadows or blushers, because they can be expensive to replace, and it's simply a waste throwing them away when there is a simple solution this irritating problem.
See my other lens about the Best Drugstore Make-up Products
What you will need
This method is extremely simple using products you will normally find in your house. Don't use any other products than those listed to press the powder - remember, it is going on your face!
- 1Rubbing alcohol (also called Surgical Spirit in the UK). Do NOT use White Spirit as a substitute - they are not the same thing and could be dangerous. Rubbing alcohol is used to disinfect and clean wounds, so it is safe for the skin, though it is very volatile so will evaporate quickly, meaning when the eyeshadow is dry, there will be no Rubbing Alcohol left in it.
- 2A polyethylene bag or just any clear plastic bag.
- 3Preferably, an old vest or shirt you don't need to press the powder with, but if you don't have one, kitchen roll (paper towels) will suffice.
- 4A coin slightly smaller than your eyeshadow or blusher.
- 5A small spoon or pipette.
- 6Scissors to cut your cloth.
Rubbing Alcohol/Surgical Spirit can be bought in the medical aisle of most drugstores.
Stay well away from White Spirit found in the decorating area used for thinning paint, and certainly not safe for use near the face.
What to do
Firstly, open your broken eyeshadow being careful not to spill it and place it into the corner of the plastic bag. 
Use the end of a spoon to mash up the broken eyeshadow to powder, making sure to crush all of it completely. This may seem counter-productive, but in order to press it properly, it does need to be completely pulverised. Doing it inside a plastic bag will help keep mess to a minimum. 
Carefully remove the now crushed eyeshadow from the plastic bag. It's a good idea to put it on top of a piece of kitchen roll to avoid it spilling. 
Using scissors, cut a small square of material from the vest or shirt you don't need. If you really don't have one, you can use Kleenex or kitchen roll - it presses the powder fine, but it doesn't give the same grooved surface to the powder as using material does. 
Here you can see my (beautifully cut) piece of cloth with the coin I chose to use to press the powder. Ideally, it should be slightly smaller than the size of the eyeshadow or blusher so there's an even surface, but that's more of an aesthetic point than a practical one. 
Wrap the coin with the cloth. 
Use a pipette or small measuring spoon to drop 4-6 drops of the Rubbing Alcohol directly into the crushed eyeshadow, depending on the size of the eyeshadow. Yes, the Rubbing Alcohol stinks, because it evaporates so quickly, so don't leave it open for too long. 
Dampen the cloth with a little Rubbing Alcohol, and use the coin wrapped in the cloth to press the powder. You don't need to apply a lot of pressure but make sure you press all of it right to the edges so it doesn't begin to crumble. Because you dampened the cloth, very little of the powder will stick to the cloth and it should press very easily. Ta-da!
Finished! The powder will be even and pressed just as good as new. It will be slightly damp because of the Rubbing Alcohol, so before using it, wait 24 hours for the Rubbing Alcohol to completely evaporate, leaving no trace of it in the powder. Leave your eyeshadow/blusher to dry for 24 hours before using it to ensure there is no Rubbing Alcohol left in it. It's not dangerous as it's used to clean wounds, but you don't want to be applying it to your sensitive eye area.
Rubbing Alcohol
If you can't find Rubbing Alcohol in a drugstore, you can buy it on Amazon.
About Me
Thanks for reading
I hope you found the information in this lens as useful as it was to me when I first discovered it, and it will save you the time and money in replacing the eyeshadows and blushers you have broken.
Thank you very much for reading, and please leave a comment if you have used this method, if you have any questions or have another method that works for you.
Thank you very much for reading, and please leave a comment if you have used this method, if you have any questions or have another method that works for you.
Tell me what you thought!
Please leave a comment if you liked this lens or have any other technique you have used to fix broken eyeshadows.
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semonce Oct 11, 2011 @ 6:49 am | delete
- Very worthwhile blog post. Your web property is swiftly starting to be among my top picks.
The pipette should be adjusted so that the dispensed volume will be within the required specifications. The pipette can be mainly classified into two Air Displacement Pipettes and Positive Displacement Pipettes.
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Jimmie
Mar 26, 2011 @ 7:03 pm | delete
- Well, aren't you smart! I love this tutorial!
PS I have no idea what "kitchen roll" is. Okay, maybe I have an idea -- paper towel?
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Kathryn002
Mar 26, 2011 @ 7:06 pm | delete
- Thanks. Ah, yes, kitchen roll must be a British phrase, and yes, it does mean paper towels. :D
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BubblesRFun
Mar 24, 2011 @ 8:58 am | delete
- I had no idea fixing eye shadow would be that simple.. great lens :)
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Nibbled
Mar 11, 2011 @ 5:19 pm | delete
- Wonderful idea. I was in the group that would just toss the mess, but now I've switched to loose eye-shadows anyway. Will keep this in mind if I switch back though. :)
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by Kathryn002
Hi. My name is Kathryn, and I enjoy learning about music, nature and science, economics, literature and language, psychology and human behaviour. Ever... more »
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