Makeup Withdrawal

Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

A Trick to Extend the Life of Creams/Gels

Thursday, March 7, 2013

You know what is the worst? The dreaded day when you open the little glass pot of your MAC Fluidline or other cream/gel product housed in a little container, to find that it has dried out and no longer usable. That's probably the main reason I stopped buy that sort of product because I was always frustrated that I would never get to finish even half of it! I've post about reviving gel liners before, but today I want to talk about a preventative measure.

Next time you're at Target, Walmart etc, stop in the hardware section. Head over to plumbing supplies and pick up some thread seal tape. It's very cheap (this two pack was under $1) and will do wonders for extending the life of your product!

You'll need to cut off about 6-8 inches, depending on the size of your jar. You want to be able to wind the tape around the thread of the container at least three times, possibly more if you feel like you want an even more snug seal. Don't wind it too tight, you'll see that if you do the motion of screwing on the lid will 'cut' the tape. This tape creates a more airtight seal for you product when you screw the lid on, which helps extend its life.

There you have it! A pot that is now protecting from well, air. I came across this tip quite a few years back on MUA, I can't remember who suggested it, but I'd love to give them credit! It has really helped me prolong quite a few products that come in jars. Hope you find this tip useful!

Reviving Gel Liner- What not to do!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

What does Bobbi Brown, Napoleon Perdis and MAC all have in common? They all have a gel liner that seems to dry out in the pot. After a few months of use, I always find that my gel liners harden a little in the pot. Actually, have you ever seen a gel liner tester at a store that wasn't rock hard and shriveled? Now, I hate waste and would really like to be able to use every drop of a product (I paid for it and I want it!), so I set about looking around the internet for a way to revive my liners. Some people said that they used oils, glycerin and Visine, among other things. Oils didn't work for me- neither did glycerin even though I all I added was one small drop and mixed thoroughly with a toothpick. Once I added oil to the gel liner, it didn't dry at all- and completely ruined the finish. Glycerin is a little better, the new mixture felt smooth but because glycerin is so potent, one drop really effected the formula. It just didn't dry well and lost it's staying power.
Eye drops are ideal! Think about it- because it's formulated for the eyes, it stands that it won't cause irritation, right? Least that was my line of thinking. I used my Visine for contact wearers, and just added one large drop but didn't stir. Instead, I waited ten minutes or so and just let that drop soak into the surface of the hardened gel. It revived it completely to the consistency I wanted, so I added a couple more drops to the surface. Hooray for salvaging makeup!