DIY- How to Revive Dried up Cream Eyeshadow/ Maybelline Color Tattoo

How many of us have cream eye shadows that we love, only for them to dry up and become unusable after a few months. This Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze is one of my favourite, everyday, go-to easy eye looks.  But, after a while it just dried up so I couldn't even use it.

I refused to throw it out with so much product left- what a waste that would be! Then, I came across a YouTube video by MrsTheDoll where she showed how to revive a dried up Color Tattoo. Full credit goes to her for this idea!

Never mind microwaving your Color Tattoos (as many have recommended), that just cooks your product and in the end leaves it even drier that what you started with.

Here is a simple method, that makes a lot of sense. I've tried it and I'm here to share it with Y'all because it works!

What you will need:

-Glycerin
-Stir stick (a stiff toothpick or something skinny but strong to stir with)
-Your dried up shadow

Glycerin is an inexpensive product. The 4oz bottle pictured above is under $5 on iHerb.com and you can find glycerin at most drugstores or health food stores. Glycerin is a moisturizer and a powerful hydrator, and if you look at the labels on your moisturizing products (skincare etc.) glycerin is probably in most of them.

Getting started: Just Add one small drop of glycerin (I happen to have vegetable glycerin) to your dried up eye shadow pot. Find something to stir it with, something small like pictured above. A stiff, wooden toothpick may do the job. Stir well. 

It wont look pretty at this point but you can smooth it all out after. I haven't yet, but it's probably better to press it down to prevent air getting in more and drying it out again. I'll be pressing mine tomorrow, I just couldn't wait to share this with you.

I let mine sit, lid on tight as always and stored face down until the next day. Here it is a few days later, revived and like new again. It actually feels even better than when it was new, in my opinion. It's a little more hydrating for my crinkly lids. 

I am so glad I found a solution for my dried up cream shadows. If it dries up again, I'll just add another drop of glycerin. Now I'm thinking this would probably work for other dried up cream products as well.

Let me know if you try this and how it worked for you.

ps. Come on over and check out a bunch of fabulous beauty blogs or even add your own at Fabulous and Fun Life!

Amy

XX

Maybelline Color Tattoo Bad to the Bronze Dupe for Less Than $3.50!? #Dupe #Swatches #Review

I just love finding a good dupe, especially if it's going to save me some money! I hope you enjoy this one! I think it's a good one so I can't believe I haven't heard about it yet. 

I was doing some grocery shopping the other day and couldn't resist perusing the makeup section, as usual. I came across some eye crayons by NYC that looked new to me. They're called the NYC CityProof 24 HR Waterproof Eyeshadow.  So, they claim to be 24 hour wear just like Maybelline's color tattoo. Although, I don't know anyone who wears eyeshadow for 24 hours straight and I'm not sure about the waterproof claim, but for only $3.47 I couldn't resist picking one up.

NYC CityPROOF 24HR Waterproof Eyshadow in Brooklyn Mocha (605)

Two of a kind:

NYC CityProof Eyeshadow in Brooklyn Mocha/ Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

As soon as I got home I had to swatch my new NYC eye crayon. I notice immediately that it looked familiar and thought it looked like Maybelline's Bad to the Bronze so I decided to compare them.

Top: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze

Bottom: NYC CityProof 24 HR Waterproof Eyeshadow in Brooklyn Mocha

Left: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze

Right: NYC Brooklyn Mocha

As you can see from the swatches, they are pretty much identical. I swatched them side by side and even when I turn my hand the colours stay pretty much identical.

Trying other lighting:

Left: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze

Right: NYC Brooklyn Mocha

Top: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze

Bottom: NYC Brooklyn Mocha

More lighting (odd lighting but shows how similar no matter what lighting):

Top: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze

Bottom: NYC Brooklyn Mocha

Nighttime:

Left: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze (Here you can see it's a tad warmer in it's undertone)

Right: NYC Brooklyn Mocha

With flash:

Left: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze

Right: NYC Brooklyn Mocha

Top: Maybelline

Bottom: NYC

Packaging and application: They obviously having different types of packaging and application methods. I find that they both apply very easily, it would just be a matter of preference. I for one, don't really like putting my fingers in products that will go on my eyes, but some may find more control using their finger. Although, both application methods were easy. The NYC crayon applies very smoothly with no tugging. To get the pigmentation that I wanted I did swipe the NYC crayon across my lid a few times. I also like that the lid on the NYC crayon snaps on, you can hear the snap, so you know it shouldn't dry out quickly. That's some good attention to detail for such an inexpensive product.  They NYC crayon also twists up, so no worrying about having to sharpen it.

24HR claims: I don't know about 24HR wear since I've never worn a shadow for 24 hours (at least not on purpose). I had trouble getting both off of my hand, it took a lot of scrubbing, a little more scrubbing with the Maybelline. The Maybelline definitely lasted longer on my lids when I wore them as a stand alone eye shadow.

The differences: Although they look pretty much identical in swatches and upon first application, you really see the differences after wearing them for a few hours. The Maybelline Color Tattoo stood the test of time much better. After a few hours the NYC shadow was creasing and wearing off, leaving mostly glitter behind. But, for the price the NYC is still pretty and would make a good eye shadow base. But, if you want a stand alone shadow, the Color Tattoo fairs much better.

Have you found any affordable dupes lately?

Come on over to Fabulous and Fun Life for a great linkup party!

Note to self: In the future, do swatches on your inner arm, not your vein-y hand!

Amy