Makeup

How to Salvage Your Busted Blush

Plus, 6 other fixes for broken makeup, clogged hairspray, clumpy nail polish, and other damaged goods

by Emily Woodruff | 6 COMMENTS

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You (and Your Blush) Are Crushed Problem: Your eye shadow, blush, or powder is smashed to smithereens. Every time you open it, you're covered in the powdery stuff, and your expensive makeup is going to waste.

There are a number of ways to salvage that broken mess of a compact.

Solution 1: Rubbing Alcohol

To restore the powder to its original consolidated form, mix it with just a little rubbing alcohol. You'll need to completely crush the powder -- it won't work if just a piece is broken off. To avoid a mess, crush the makeup in a plastic bag. After transferring your mixture back to the container, add a few drops of alcohol and allow it to stabilize for a few hours. Once it's dry, I recommend pressing it back together with a coin wrapped in fabric -- this will give it a new, pressed look and will get rid of any air bubbles that cause it to be unstable. I also tried hand sanitizer in place of alcohol, and it worked just as well -- just make sure it's at least 70% alcohol.

For a step-by-step video guide, check out Michelle Phan's tutorial on how to fix broken makeup.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Busted Powder Solution 2: Vaseline

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