makeup

DIY EYE SHADOW PALETTE

POST + PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NADINE, GRAPHIC DESIGN BY EUNICE CHUN

I’ve declared this year to be the year of streamlining and organizing! Life is complicated enough on its own so let’s simplify the things we can control! Starting with your makeup. Our drawers are overflowing with so many compacts from the years that we can barely shut them. So do what we makeup artists do and de-pot your favorite shadows and transport them into one case! And why not host a depotting party with your friends while you’re at it?! It’s super fun and you can swap shades that you have duplicates of… Here’s how: 

TOOLS:

• Palette/Case: I used Z Palette’s Customizable Palette Dome because I love its design and it comes with both circle and rectangular adhesive magnets. I also really love the Unii Palette because they come in the prettiest colors!
• Spatula/Knife: Try Cinema Secrets Stainless Steel Spatula or carefully use a dull knife. Tweezers also work.
• Your Favorite Palettes: I de-potted NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Kuala Lumpur, Aerin Style Palette, Dior 5 Couleurs Couture Palettes in Extase Pinks and Stylish Move as well as Lime Crime’s Alchemy, Aquataenia and D’Antoinette Palettes.
• Alcohol: Keep it handy in case you accidentally crush any of the shadow and need to put it back together again (revisit my DIY Makeup Fixer Upper Tutorial if needed). You can also use it to take off any glue on the back of each pot if needed.
• Permanent Fine-Tip Marker: I used a Sharpie to write the brand and shade name on the back of each pan so I’ll know what they are when it’s time to refill.
• Adhesive Magnets: Most pans are magnetic but occasionally you’ll find that some aren’t and in those cases, just stick one on the back. I used the packet that came with the Z Palette but you can also find some at your local craft store and glue them onto each pot.

STEPS:

1. Some of the pans will flip right out without heating up, so always test it first with the spatula. If not, try this method. Once the flat iron is fully heated up, carefully place the compact directly top of the bottom plate to heat up the glue. Hold it there for 30-60 seconds. If you don’t have a flat iron, you can place the compact on a wax-lined cookie sheet and put it in the oven (200-350 degress depending on your elevation) until the glue has melted and the packaging surrounding the products melts away from the shadow pan.
2. Lift the shadow out with the spatula/knife/tweezers and let it cool. If it doesn’t lift easily, repeat step 1.
3. Once cooled down,  place the pan wherever you’d like it to go. I try to “eye” the placement of all the pans first then place them one by one.