How to: repair crushed pressed powders/ eye shadows

So we have all had a day where our brother, sister, boyfriend or sometimes even ourselves (even though we don't like to admit it) have knocked one of our favourite pressed powders/ eye shadows on to the ground, only to have it shatter into a million pieces. It's pretty devastating! And that happened to me today. I couldn't bear to part with my MAC pressed powder so I attempted to fix it and it actually worked. I had heard that 'rubbing alcohol' can help mend broken powder and the one that I found was Isocol antiseptic rubbing alcohol for $9.99 at Woolworths. It's also sold at Coles, Chemist Warehouse, Priceline and Terry White Chemists.

Step 1: Wrap the compact in cling wrap. Ensure it is tight so that the powder is sealed in.

Step 2: Use a rounded cheese knife/ spatula to crush the whole contents of the compact and then remove the cling wrap

Step 3: Gradually add around 10 drops of rubbing alcohol.

Step 4: Take the spatula and begin to smooth over (what most don't tell you is at first it doesn't look like it will work, but as you keep adding the alcohol, the surface turns pasty enough to smooth over.)

Step 5: Clean up the edges with a Q tip and a bit of alcohol. But don't be too fussy as when you put your powder brush to it, it will smooth out and you will be able to clean it.

Step 6: Leave compact open overnight to dry out and be ready for use.

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