I dropped my MAC blush on the floor () and it broke loose from the pan, so now there's just a ton of loose blush in the container. Now there's no way of using it that doesn't end in a big mess.

But I don't want to throw away MAC blush.

Should I try to put it in a different container or something? What can I do with it? I have some Benefit 10 powder that's broken as well (that wasn't my fault though - it was like that when I got it).

i don't know if this works with the blusher but it does work on eyeshadows.

you mix the broken pieces with a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol. so it makes a paste, pot it again & let it dry completely which is a few days.

let me see if i can look up the exact steps though...

Standard Method:

* Soak the broken product in alcohol to make paste

* Smooth out with your finger wrapped in saran wrap, using only the tip, minimize contact. Paste will be dark.


At this point, you can simply allow to dry undisturbed for 2-3 days by air, or continue by doing the following:


* Bake in increments of 3 minutes in oven preheated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degree centigrade). Be sure to stabilize the pan of product on some foil whilst baking. Do NOT use a heat-conductive platform such as a cookie sheet.

* Watching non-stop, do this until paste just begins to lighten, signaling evaporation of alcohol. Any shortcuts or leaving the product alone for even a few minutes could result in over-heating and alteration in color.

* When lightening begins, remove from oven and let sit undisturbed at room temperature for 2 days. The product will be a little lumpy, but recovered.


Incidentally, the standard method does work for creating a soft-textured eyeshadow from MAC pigments. The resulting product is softer than a standard shadow, so do be careful.

Method #2


* Collect all the broken product onto a piece of paper.

* Create a funnel with the paper and then pour the powder back into the pan.

* Using plastic wrap and your index finger, push all the powder back into the pan with medium force. Keep on pushing until the powder is flat.



Method #3

* Arrange all of the broken pieces back into the pot, and lay a tissue over the pieces.

* Take the end of a bottle (the old-style MAC hyper real bottle caps worked perfectly for MAC and similarly sized shadows) and press over the tissue with the bottle or bottle cap.

* Remove the tissue, and the product will be perfectly pressed back into the pot and the surface will be as smooth.



Adding Hatch marks
This should be done just as the product is still damp but NOT pasty from repair with alcohol (you should be able to press on it with your fingers).


* Get a piece of wax paper over your shadow and firmly press down all over the e/s making sure it is set firmly and the surface is an even as possible.

* If you see cracks, lightly spray with alcohol and press again using your finger or wax paper.

* Take an old pair of coarse jeans and turn them inside out. (Levi's work well, as do any other thick heavily textured material)

* Carefully take one of the inside out legs and put it over the surface and press firmly all over.

* Voila! You have the pretty hatch mark you lost in breakage. If the imprint is not showing as much as you want, spray with alcohol and press again or press harder.



Making your broken product into a loose powder
Instead of trying to stuff the broken product into the pan, you can just make it all into loose powder.

* Get a small mortar and pestle (available from kitchen stores) and put all of the product into it, scraping out the unbroken remnants if desired.

* Grind product as finely as possible.

* Put the loose powder in a small tin or tub, and apply using a brush.

Wow, thanks for all this

idk if I can get hold of pure alcohol, I'll have to see.

It's really completely shattered and some of it is already pulverized so I guess crushing it with a mortar would be the easiest method now. and maybe I'll mix it with something else since the colour was bit wrong for me from the start.

That's some very thorough advice! I'll need to remember that for the next time I drop my make up bag.

i've done this with about 8 of my eyeshadows b/c i keep knocking them off the counter

i've never done the oven portion though. just let it dry for a few days.

I would put it another container. try mixing a little in with your other broken blush, it may be perfect.

if you have some blush or eyeshadow that you don't use much - you could clean it out & use that.

why not a small gift box? just dip in your make up brush, tap, & apply. if you're into it, put a little nail polish on the box, so it can be on display.

broken blusher is a good name for a 90s riot grrl kitschy pop punk girl band.

I prefer when blusher/compact powder is broken, you get more on yr brush.

Yeah, it's so true.


it was a pos rep. but i have no sub, cuz imma & don't see how to use my pal pal like i did last time.

If it doesn't look damaged + you can get away with it.
Go to MAC + say that it just dried up and brokeee.
They replace it.
Well, they do with eyeshadow at least!