If you've ever dropped a brand new eyeshadow or bronzer on the floor, you know how it feels to find it shattered into a million pieces on the floor. It's a similar feeling to dropping your phone, and it's pretty much heartbreaking. While it may be hard to imagine, unlike your iPhone, there's actually a simple and effective solution to have it looking and feeling good as new in less than 24 hours.
You can re-press any powdered makeup compact back together using rubbing alcohol, a small Tupperware container, a spoon and a paper towel, according to Allure. While you might be skeptical about putting rubbing alcohol in makeup that is eventually going to go on your face, it's a necessary part of the process as it re-binds the powder. Alcohol is also extremely pure, so it doesn't change the makeup very much and evaporates quickly, so it will dry faster than most liquids.
Reddit user earworms has posted a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use this process, photos included, so you never have to ditch a shattered makeup palette again.
Step 1: Dump all the pieces into the Tupperware container.
Step 2: Use the spoon to crush up the chunks until they're fully the consistency of powder.
Step 3: Add about two capfuls of rubbing alcohol (This is based on a regular size blush or bronzer. For smaller products, like eyeshadow, one capful would get the job done).
Step 4: Mix the powder and rubbing alcohol together with the spoon until it's a thick consistency. "It's OK if you use too much [alcohol]," the user wrote. "But if you do use more you just have to wait longer for it to dry."
Step 5: Once it's about the consistency of peanut butter, put it back into its original makeup container.
Step 6: Wait a couple of hours for the product to dry but be sure to regularly check up on it as you'll need to catch it when it's almost completely dry but still a little damp.
Step 7: When it's at that stage where it's almost fully dry, place the paper towel over the makeup and lightly pat it to soak up any of the excess rubbing alcohol.
Step 8: With the paper towel still on the product, cover it with something, like a book, and press down gently to make sure all the alcohol is mopped up.
Step 9: Remove the paper towel and leave the makeup open to air dry overnight until the product is completely dry.
