Here’s how to fix a broken eye shadow in 45 seconds or less

We've all lived been there: you're living your life, getting your eye makeup game on point, when suddenly…

Smash. You drop the palette, and you break your favorite eye shadow.

But don't worry: Your options aren't limited to dealing with dusty broken makeup, or repurchasing. I'm going to show you how to fix ANY broken eye shadow palette in under a minute — and everything you need is probably already in your bathroom.

First: the victim.

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This is Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye Con No 7 Palette in The Lover ($71, Sephora), which I genuinely love, and cracked when I knocked it off my sink. I am not above buying expensive stuff, but I do not want to RE-buy it just because I'm clumsy.

Here's what you need to repair it.

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Rubbing alcohol, an eye dropper, a coin that's about the same size as the shadow pan, and a piece of cloth OR a paper towel (not pictured, because I'm fairly sure you know what those look like).

First, crush up the broken eye shadow *even more* with a spoon.

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This may hurt your heart — it hurt mine — but do it anyway.

Next, add a few drops of the rubbing alcohol to the pan.

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You don't want to add so much that it liquifies completely, but you need the entire thing to be damp. If you add too much, don't worry — it dries.

Wrap your coin in the paper towel or cloth...

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...and press it firmly into the pan.

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THIRTY SECONDS LATER...

Remove the coin... and voila!

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Feel free to go back and re-press the shadow to get it really even, if that's your thing (it's definitely MY thing).

Clean up any shadow mess with a cotton swab and some additional rubbing alcohol...

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...And your shadow is as good as new!

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Not only does it look gorgeous, there is NO reduction in eye shadow quality.

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Alle / Revelist

There was some debate on Facebook about whether or not this method will "ruin" the product via drying it out. After testing this on multiple types of eye shadow (matte, shimmer, satin, and glitter), highlighter, pressed powder (both tinted and translucent), and blush (shimmer, matte, bronzer), I can categorically tell you that it does not. The alcohol dries out within five minutes, and all you're left with is unbroken product. The pigmentation and consistency is exactly the same as it was before breaking; the alcohol makes NO long-term difference.

I can imagine you'd suffer some consistency issues if you tried this on cream- or oil-based products, so maybe don't do that.

Want to watch me do this in video form? Of course you do!

Enjoy my summer-white manicure, everyone.

Now tell me: How many products do you need to fix this weekend? What's the most heartbreaking shadow breakage situation you've ever lived through?

I once dropped a stack of Naked palettes (because that's my life) and shattered every single shadow. I actually cried. But anyway, tell me everything in the comments or on Facebook!