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DIY: How to Restore Broken Powder Makeup

In this post, I'll be sharing the DIY technique that I always use to repair my broken powder makeup.


I've broken quite a few powders already, and I was able to restore most of them using this technique. Why there's a need to press the powder again, you may ask. I, for one, think that broken or loose powder is messier to use and more wasteful because once the powder is loose already, I tend to pick up more product with my brush and end up tapping so much excess off.

To restore your broken powder makeup, you're gonna need:
  • your broken powder makeup, of course!
  • rubbing alcohol
  • small container (if the powder pan is too small)
  • spatula


Steps:

1. Transfer the powder to a slightly larger container if you think that the pan is too small. Using your spatula, break down any solid pieces of the powder remaining.


2. Add just a few drops of alcohol to the powder and mix well until it forms a paste. Don't add too much alcohol or else the powder will take longer to dry. You just need enough amount to form a paste so you can smooth the powder out.


3. Once you feel that the paste is free of lumps, transfer it back to the powder pan, then smooth the surface out using the flat side of the spatula. 


4. Let the alcohol evaporate by leaving the pan uncovered for a few minutes. You can check whether or not the powder is already dry by touching or by smelling it. If there's still a strong alcohol smell, leave the pan uncovered for a few more minutes. Clean up the edges of the container while waiting.


And that's it! You have just restored your broken powder makeup. It's pretty easy. I'm so happy I was able to fix my eyeshadow because the shade is just gorgeous <3

Looks new again! NOT! Haha. It doesn't look perfect, of course,
but it now looks decent enough to use :)

This is a Pinkies Collection eyeshadow, by the way. Haul post *here.*

This technique can also work for other kinds of broken powder makeup like blushes and bronzers as long as they're not one of those baked, marble or multicolor types. In fact, I also used this method in restoring the ELF bronzer that I broke.

Finished product

I hope you found (or will find) this DIY helpful! Let me know if you have any DIY concerns and I'll see what I can do for you :)

Comments

  1. sugar sugarMay 11, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    thanks for sharing this aya dear! i am too lazy to do anything like this LOL! =)

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  2. Ar-ArMay 11, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    Awesome! and where did u learned that?

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  3. PammyMay 11, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    I do that too! On my powder foundies nga lang since I have this knack of breaking powder foundies. Haha! :P

    I only use Isopropyl alcohol though. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. fashioneggpplantMay 11, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    wow, amazing :)

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  5. AyaMay 11, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    @Sugar, haha! I didn't want to waste the product so I decided to press it again :D

    @Ar-Ar, thanks! I've heard so many people say that we can use alcohol to press powders so I decided to give it a try and see if it would work. And it did. Hehehe

    @Pammy, haha! I always drop my compact too. Rubbing alcohol can be isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. I just used whatever's available. Hehehe

    @Fashioneggplant, thanks dear :D

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  6. LisaMay 11, 2011 at 3:32 PM

    Wow thats amazing in always just end up throwing my broken shattered make away.. I'll try this in the future :)

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  7. Jes RoqueMay 11, 2011 at 3:33 PM

    This is very helpful, Aya! :)

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  8. AyaMay 11, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    @Lisa, hope this helps :)

    @Jes, glad it is! :D

    ReplyDelete
  9. ElaineMay 11, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    But I hear sometimes alcohol might mess up the formulation of powdered cosmetics. Is this true? :|

    ReplyDelete
  10. CatmareMay 11, 2011 at 9:44 PM

    Thanks for the tip! Now I know what I'd do next time :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. HollieMay 11, 2011 at 9:46 PM

    another awesome DIY! it's a good thing though that I don't break my pressed powders. But I'll definitely do this if it happens. Thanks for sharing this is really super helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownMay 11, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    i loved to do it when i was in hk =D!
    1. i could use the recovered product again
    2. it was actually fun to do it, like doing a mini lab LOL

    but it sucks that i couldnt find rubbing alcohol in melbourne =_=... ahhh.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AyaMay 12, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    @Elaine, I read somewhere that some have different formula and don't take in alcohol as well as others do. But I guess as long as you put in just minimal amount of alcohol, your makeup will be fine. So far I haven't ruined any of mine yet :/

    @Catmare, no prob! :D

    @Hollie, aww glad you found it helpful! You're so lucky you haven't broken any yet. Haha :)

    @Liz, true true! I was sort of reliving my chem lab days when I did this DIY. :D And I always though rubbing alcohol is everywhere :/

    ReplyDelete
  14. EmMay 12, 2011 at 1:21 AM

    This is great! Thanks for sharing, Aya. This would be very helpful.

    Btw, I'm Em. New follower here :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. AyaMay 12, 2011 at 1:35 AM

    You're welcome Em! Thanks for following :D

    ReplyDelete
  16. BonnieMay 12, 2011 at 1:54 AM

    How did you get to be such a genius???

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownMay 12, 2011 at 1:58 AM

    I actually had this problem too and I did basically the same thing you did, except I cut out a piece of hard plastic the size of the blush and used that to press on the product. I still can use the blush intact now :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. DaleMay 12, 2011 at 2:28 AM

    This is such a great tip, I seriously have thrown so many powders away when this happens. Thanks for the tip, definitely following now. You have very intersting posts.

    xoDale
    I have a fashion blog here in San Francisco
    www.savvyspice.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. AyaMay 12, 2011 at 4:39 AM

    @Bonnie, :D

    @Charlene, it's really helpful, right? Glad you were able to save you blush :)

    @Dale, glad you find it helpful:) Thank you for following dear :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. JbreezybabyMay 12, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    great tip! done something like this, very helpful to have an alcohol around for sure! :D

    ReplyDelete
  21. SloperationMay 14, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    I've done this a few times! Thanks for sharing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. AyaMay 15, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    @Sloperation, totally works, right? :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. KaisenseiMay 23, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    Wow i totally am learning a lot from u today! Hmm Im gonna try this as well. Tnx tnx!

    ReplyDelete
  24. AyaMay 23, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    @Kai, yey glad you find it helpful :D This is the product of my clumsiness - a DIY post. Hahaha

    ReplyDelete
  25. AyaAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    @Kai, yey glad you find it helpful :D This is the product of my clumsiness - a DIY post. Hahaha

    ReplyDelete
  26. SloperationAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    I've done this a few times! Thanks for sharing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. AyaAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    @Bonnie, :D

    @Charlene, it's really helpful, right? Glad you were able to save you blush :)

    @Dale, glad you find it helpful:) Thank you for following dear :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. DaleAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    This is such a great tip, I seriously have thrown so many powders away when this happens. Thanks for the tip, definitely following now. You have very intersting posts.

    xoDale
    I have a fashion blog here in San Francisco
    www.savvyspice.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. CharleneAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    I actually had this problem too and I did basically the same thing you did, except I cut out a piece of hard plastic the size of the blush and used that to press on the product. I still can use the blush intact now :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. HollieAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    another awesome DIY! it's a good thing though that I don't break my pressed powders. But I'll definitely do this if it happens. Thanks for sharing this is really super helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  31. CatmareAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    Thanks for the tip! Now I know what I'd do next time :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. ElaineAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    But I hear sometimes alcohol might mess up the formulation of powdered cosmetics. Is this true? :|

    ReplyDelete
  33. AyaAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    @Lisa, hope this helps :)

    @Jes, glad it is! :D

    ReplyDelete
  34. fashioneggpplantAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    wow, amazing :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Ar-ArAugust 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    Awesome! and where did u learned that?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Paige Seven BautistaDecember 10, 2011 at 12:45 AM

    Just tried this! (http://supercalipaigealistic.tumblr.com/post/13971725394/just-restored-my-pulverized-press-powder)

    Thanks for sharing! You're a Press-Powder-Saver! :D

    ReplyDelete
  37. FramarDecember 20, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    Thank you for this tutorial!  My 96 year old mom goes through a ton of face powder - she is needing a new compact every other week or so - thanks to you I have reclaimed one entire new compact with broken bits from her old ones!!!  :)

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  38. AyaDecember 20, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Glad to know you found this helpful! :D

    Thanks for the post :D

    ReplyDelete
  39. AyaDecember 20, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Awww thank you! Glad I could help :)))

    ReplyDelete
  40. Saucysassy27December 22, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Someone help! I added too much rubbing alcohol and now its super hard! Will this evaporate??? how can i fix it?? I love this blush soo much and its discontinued! ;( 

    ReplyDelete
  41. Tricia CApril 4, 2013 at 11:04 PM

    Hi Aya! Thanks for this. Great help! I posted a link about this in my blog http://lipstickandpaper.blogspot.com/2013/04/rescue-my-broken-pressed-powder.html :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Tricia CApril 4, 2013 at 11:06 PM

    Hi Aya! Found your site when I was looking for a remedy for my broken pressed powder and blogged about it. I linked your site my a blog post :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. Gellie AbogadoJuly 6, 2013 at 3:19 PM

    thanks for this aya! will do this if i break one of my blushes or eyeshadows dati kasi i throw it kaagad. lol

    ReplyDelete
  44. ileOdarodJuly 8, 2013 at 10:42 AM

    I've always found this method useful as I used to always break my face powder. I wonder though, does it work for loose mineral eyeshadows too if i want to put them in a pan?


    A Hint of Sunlight

    ReplyDelete

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