Here's How To Fix That Shattered Powder Compact

One of the worst sounds you can hear is the smack of your prized possession hitting the concrete. You just know it has shattered, and you'll probably have to go out and buy a new one. No, I'm not talking about your iPhone. I'm talking about your trusty (and now broken) powder compact. Because unfortunately, we have all dropped a powder on the floor before. And if you haven't yet, trust me, you will one day. Don't worry about it though. I'm convinced it helps restore makeup karma. Besides that, and unlike your iPhone, it's something that can pretty easily be fixed at no extra cost to you.

Whether the whole powder has shattered, or just a few pieces have crumbled out, there's no need to toss anything. In fact, it is especially important to fix a partial crumble. This is because if some pieces have chipped out of the compact, the rest of the powder is more sensitive to further breakage. Not only is this powder-fixing trick easy, but it can also restore any amount of broken pieces to the compact. Although it may not look as good as new when you're done, it will feel and perform like new. Here's what you'll need:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Spatula
• Tissue
• Ziplock bag (for a total fix)
• Straw (for a partial fix)

1. Prep the Powder

If your powder has only partially broken like this one, all you have to do is make sure the pieces you want to reincorporate are in place.

If your powder has totally shattered, you'll want to carefully pour the broken pieces into a Ziplock bag. Once the bag is sealed, use your fingers or even the compact itself to gently crush the powder until it has an even consistency of a loose powder. Then, carefully pour the powder back into the compact.

2. Add Alcohol

The next step is to saturate the broken areas with rubbing alcohol. If you only have a small area like this, just use a straw to drop alcohol. Dip the straw into the alcohol and use your finger to seal the top end. Keeping your finger over the top end, place the bottom end over the powder. When you release your finger, the seal will break and the alcohol will spill out of the straw.

If you're fixing the whole powder, you'll need one or two caps full of alcohol depending on the amount of powder. Just pour the alcohol all over the powder and mix until you have a creamy consistency.

3. Smooth it Out

Next, take something smooth and flat like a spatula or butter knife to even out your powder-cream.

4. Absorb Excess Alcohol

To further smooth out the surface of your powder and absorb any excess alcohol, place a clean tissue over your powder and gently press or rub your finger over it.

5. Let it Dry

Then, all you have left to do is wait. If you just performed a patch-job like this, your powder should be dry enough to use in a few hours. If you had to repair your whole powder, let it dry overnight. Just remember to leave the compact open while the powder dries.

And yes, you can totally treat yourself with the money you saved from having to replace your compact.

Images: Miki Hayes