Save Your Lipstick! DIY Lipstick Palette

Have you ever had a lipstick break? Or maybe it wore down to the holster? I have this super easy solution, and I’ve done it myself, actually. You can save your lipsticks by creating your very own lipstick palette. All it will cost you is a dollar. One dollar!

I love lipstick. I use a lot of it. Not ashamed of my lipstick collection at all, lol. I do, however, have two small children that love to either eat, break it, or smear it in odd places. Not kidding… I got tired of throwing away my lipsticks when I loved the colors so I came up with an interesting idea. I don’t know if anyone else has done it before so I can’t claim it as an original idea. But it was at least original to me.

WHAT YOU NEED:

An eyeshadow palette- for mine, I used an nyx palette I didn’t like, but you can get an eyeshadow palette at The Dollar Tree for $1.00

The offending lipstick(s)

An orange stick or q-tip

One popsicle stick for each lipstick you’re salvaging

A cup or a dish

Baby wipes or paper towels

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP #1: Take the eyeshadow palette and begin emptying the pots using the orange stick or q-tip. Then use the wipes or paper towels (with soap and water) and clean the pots. Dry. If your palette is plastic, simply run it under water with soap and dry.

STEP #2: Using a q-tip or orange stick, scoop out your lipstick onto/into the cup or dish you chose to use. Smash it up until it becomes creamy, and I promise you it will become creamy.

STEP #3: Use a popsicle stick to carefully scoop out/ slide off the lipstick into the specific pot. If you make a mess around the rim, use a q-tip to clean it up.

STEP #4: Use the same popsicle stick to carefully push the lipstick into the pot, working out any air bubbles. Slide the same stick across the top to even it out. And you’re done!

It’s messy, but easy. It’s a great money saver if you’re not ready to drop more money just to rebuy your favorite lipstick when it breaks. The lipstick will remain creamy but will not slide as long as you don’t let the palette get hot. All you’ll need to use your lipstick is your finger or whatever make-up applicator you regularly use for palette type lipsticks. Feel free to follow my blog, share if you tried the tutorial and liked it, and follow me on Twitter at @flumpymonkey .

DIY Fix Your Scratched Paint

Got kids or pets? Got scratches on your walls that you don’t have money to buy paint for? I do, and my kids ding my walls all the time. And use crayon, and marker, and paint… you name it. Don’t waste your money buying magic erasers! If your walls aren’t properly sealed, most cleaners and magic erasers will jack up the paint on your walls!

This is a trick I learned from my mother. It’s saved me hundreds of dollars on paint and cleaning supplies, and it really DOES work! I’ve used it on sealed walls too. On sealed and glossy walls, be very careful because it will dull paint just a little. This trick is excellent for corners, painted banisters, unsealed, non-glossy walls, and even hand painted furniture. Do not try this on sealed wallpaper. Do not use this on heavy gauges without applying spackle. The first part of this trick can be used on virtually any surface. Always make sure to test an inconspicuous area first!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

100% Rubbing Alcohol

A cake pan or any kind of bowl

A paintbrush, washcloth, or even a circular face scrub brush with a long handle

STEP #1: Pour some alcohol in whatever bowl or container you are using.

STEP #2: Dip whatever brush or cloth you are using into the alcohol

STEP #3: If using it to clean a wall, TEST an inconspicuous spot first! That is to make sure you know whether it will lift too much of the paint. If you know it won’t then continue.

Part #1 CLEANING: If you are simply cleaning a spot your cleaners haven’t been able to remove, gently press the alcohol into the mark and lift. If you’re only cleaning I do recommend only using a soft cloth. Keep patting the wet cloth against the mark until it’s gone. You can also gently wipe. If you scrub, you will lift the paint. Which brings me to part 2.

Part #2 TOUCH UP: If you are repairing a mark, scratch, or chipped spot, use a brush. Starting from an area above the offending spot, gently swipe down in short strokes. After 2-3 swipes, move to an area to the left or right of the offending area and swipe in short strokes toward it. Eventually shift to the bottom. The alcohol lifts the paint and transfers it to the brush. All you are doing is extracting paint from surrounding areas and transferring it to the spot that either has none or needs to be covered.

And you’re done! Let it sit and dry like you would if it were new paint.

Like I’ve said, I’ve used this trick for years, and so has my mom. It a wonderful money saver if you don’t have paint. As always be yourself because that in itself is beautiful. Feel free to follow me on Twitter for more inspiration and ideas! @flumpymonkey

DIY How to: Fix Broken Eyeshadow

Happy Greetings! DON’T THROW BROKEN EYESHADOW AWAY!!! This is a brief walkthrough on how to easily fix broken eyeshadow. I’m a total butterfingers so I drop things often and my makeup is no exception. No matter how gentle I am. Accidents happen, right?

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

A very small cup, glass dish, etc… basically anything small and cup-like

A thin popsicle stick, orange stick, or you can even use a spoon- for stirring and crushing

A regular popsicle stick- for transferring 

A bottle of 100% rubbing alcohol

The offending eyeshadow, lol

A penny or wide, flat, popsicle stick- for flattening

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP #1: Use the orange stick or popsicle stick to remove the eyeshadow from its base and shift it to the cup.

STEP #2: Use your same stirring instrument to pulverize the shadow so that no chunks remain.

STEP #3: This part is a little tricky so be patient. Only pouring a little at a time, as in only a few drops at a time. Begin stirring after each time you pour. Stop adding alcohol once you have a really thick paste. Make sure it is consistent with no obvious chunks.

STEP #4: Use the popsicle stick and start scooping the paste back into its own palette or pot. If you did it right, it should fit almost exactly in its pot.

STEP #5: Depending on the size of eyeshadow pot you’re fixing, you should have chosen an appropriately sized flattening item. You’re going to very gently press the mixture securely into its pot until the top is even and no air bubbles remain.

Let it sit overnight so the alcohol has a chance to evaporate. In the morning you’ll have a brand new looking eyeshadow. I learned this about 4 years ago and it really does work. On most shadows, anyway. I tried on a shimmery NARS shadow for a friend and it would not mix so it is a trial and error process. I cannot remember where I found the tutorial, but I do know you can find it on YouTube. All you’d have to do is type in “how to fix broken eyeshadow”. There are lots of tutorials out there. As always be yourself because that in itself is beautiful.