How to Fix Broken Compact Powder

It’s impossible to describe that feeling when you accidentally break your favorite compact powders into a million pieces.

In those moments, we take a split-second pause, mentally preparing to go through the five stages of grief, because we are sure it will end up shattered all over the floor.

I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to me, and as much as I want to save it, it’s such a big mess that I end up sweeping and throwing it all away, and throwing my money away in the process! Until I said no more, there has to be a solution to this waste.

And there is. Before you throw your powder makeup straight into the trash, there might be a way to bring it back to life. If the powder is broken inside the compact, it can be saved!

Today we are going to explain how to repair your broken powder makeup using only one ingredient that you probably already have at home and in just 5 minutes, so you can use it the next morning as if nothing had happened.

How to fix broken compact powders

How do you fix makeup? There are a couple of different ways, but it depends on the type of product that has broken.

Here is everything you need:

• Broken compact powders or any other broken powder makeup (eyeshadow or blush)
• Isopropyl alcohol (the higher the concentration, the better: I use 70%)
• Cling film or wipe (optional, but it keeps your fingers clean!)

Step by step directions:

The way to fix broken powders depends on the extent of the breakage. If it’s just a crack, you can press it directly with a makeup brush to blend it, making sure it’s well pressed into the container, to prevent new cracks from forming.

If the powder makeup is completely crumbled, break it up even more. Yes, I’m serious. You can put it in another container and use it as loose powder.

But if you’re looking for a complete restoration, then this is what you should do:

1. Gather all the pieces of broken makeup in its original container, and crush everything (even the parts that haven’t broken). The finer the product, the better the chances of bringing it back to life. To avoid getting dirty, you can gather and crush it with the help of a cotton swab or a toothpick.
2. Pour a few drops of alcohol into the compact and let it absorb. Use your finger, the back of a spoon, or a small spatula to mix and smooth out the makeup. At first, I used my finger (which is still stained with makeup after about 10 hand washes), but I found that better results are obtained by placing a piece of cling film over the top of the makeup, and then rubbing the film to smooth the surface. If the mixture is still too dry, add a little more alcohol and rub again.
3. Once the makeup is smooth and compact again, all you have to do is wait, preferably overnight. The alcohol has to dry out, and once it does, the powders will come together again and the alcohol smell will disappear.

And that’s it! The makeup will be perfect the next day, almost as if it had never broken, ready to use again.

Wondering how to apply them? In this post, I tell you more extensively.

Notes

Make sure your hands are completely washed and clean before touching the powders, as we do not want the makeup to transfer any unwanted bacteria to your skin.

I hope you find this tip for fixing your broken compact powders useful.

And if you still haven’t found the ideal ones for your skin, check out this article with The Best Compact Powders on the market, The Best Translucent Powders to perfect the complexion, or The Best Bronzing Powders for an even tone.

We also like these from Mercadona, a good low-cost option; although without a doubt, we prefer those from the Maderas brand.