By Andi Douglas, nwaMotherlode beauty editor
We all have a dusty old makeup bag stashed in the back of our bathroom cabinet filled with ill-fated expensive makeup that has cracked, melted or dried up before its time…it was so young and beautiful! Such a tragedy you can’t stand to throw it away.
Until recently, I considered those products lost for good. Thankfully, the geniuses on the Internet (and I don’t mean that sarcastically this time) have opened my eyes to shelf-life saving techniques for your traumatized goods.
Melted lipstick is probably the most common and easily corrected mishap. If it’s still contained in the tube, but can’t be rolled up, you can simply use a lipstick brush for application, which can be a hassle, but you will actually end up with a prettier lip in the end. Most makeup artists recommend using a brush, anyway. If your lipstick has broken off at the base, but is otherwise in good shape, use a match to melt the end, very carefully, and reattach it to the base. Put it in the fridge for at least and hour and a half to secure it.
Cracked blush is one of the most aggravating of make-up injuries, partly because it always seems to happen in the car, and partly because it sometimes happens without provocation. You can undo any breakage with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), a trick I saw on Pinterest via Katrina Lomidze. You simply put a few drops of alcohol into the powder and let it soak in. Then, using the back of a spoon for a smooth finish, “schmoosh” the powder back into shape. Let it sit out overnight; the alcohol will evaporate and leave you with a beautiful, usable compact. This will work on any powder makeup, btw.
I’ve always suspected that when my mascara starts flaking and I send it sailing into the trashcan, that there is actually a secret reserve of unused mascara inside the opaque tube. I wish they’d put a little viewing window on the side like a ballpoint pen, but alas, I have to just guess how much is still in there. Well, no more! Add 4-5 drops of saline solution to the tube; insert your wand a stir. Voila! Fresh mascara! This can be repeated until it’s empty, but remember to always toss mascara after an eye infection.
Maybe you just have a powder shadow or blush that you loved in the store, but hated at home and never took the time to return (been there, done that a thousand times over). Try crushing it up and mixing it with some clear nail polish to create a custom mani…so chic, so cool!
So, there’s a little make-up 911 for you. Do you have any DIY tips for reviving beauty products? Click on the comment button below and share them with the rest of us!
Have a question for Andi, beauty blogger and fellow mama of three? Andi welcomes your questions and feedback to Beauty Buzz. E-mail her at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com. Click here to read more about Andi.
Note: This post originally published on nwaMotherlode in April 2014.
