Money-Saving Fixes to Make Makeup Last Longer

Experts dish out tips and advice on how to get the most from makeup favorites

YONKERS, NY — There’s no reason to send a broken lipstick or cracked eye shadow into the garbage.  To help prolong the life of pricey beauty products and repair those that have broken, ShopSmart, from Consumer Reports, pulled together expert tips and advice on how to keep cosmetics, hair tools and makeup applicators from meeting an untimely end.

“Think twice about tossing broken or worn down beauty products!” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart.  “In many cases, there are simple tricks that professional makeup artists swear by.”

Money-Saving Beauty Fixes

Below are five examples of the common makeup mishaps and solutions featured in the March 2014 issue of ShopSmart:

BEAUTY 911: Broken lipstick.
PRO REPAIR: Take a lighter and run it quickly (and carefully) over the surface of the bottom piece, where the break happened. Put the lipstick back onto the other half and seal the parts together. Then put it in the refrigerator for a full day, which should complete the fix. 

BEAUTY 911: Cracked shadows & compacts.
PRO REPAIR: Leave the powder in its pan and spritz with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Then, press the powder back into its original shape gently with a finger. To make eye shadow last longer, always use a brush (not a finger) to apply.

BEAUTY 911: Tossing out false eyelashes after one use.
PRO REPAIR: Remove false strip lashes and soak them in a dish of warm water and a small amount of soap for 10 to 15 minutes, which should remove the excess glue. Let the eyelashes dry and use a clean mascara wand to separate the lashes.

BEAUTY 911: Nail polish is getting too thick.
PRO REPAIR: Pour a small amount of nail-polish remover in the bottle and roll it between both palms. This will break up the product and give a thinner coat.

BEAUTY 911: Hair spray nozzle clog.
PRO REPAIR: Remove the top of the aerosol hair spray and run it through warm water, using a thumb to remove any buildup from the sprayer. Let it soak in warm water for about a half-hour, then remove it and rinse under cool running water. Dry the top thoroughly and replace.

For more information about ShopSmart’s money-saving makeup fixes, as well as money-saving multitaskers, pick up the March 2014 issue on newsstands now. 

About Consumer Reports:
Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website, and other publications. Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.

About ShopSmart magazine:
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon the publication’s celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. ShopSmart features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. It’s ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.