How to: De-pot MAC eyeshadows

This is the easiest way I've come across to de-pot eyeshadows. No fancy tools, just things you can find around your house! And they don't necessarily have to be MAC eyeshadows either, it can be anything with similar packaging.

Here's what you will need: the eyeshadow (obviously. lol), a candle, tweezers, scissors (or you can you a knife but that's more dangerous), something to poke through a small hole (I used a chopstick), something you can put hot metal on (I just used the lid of the candle), and lastly a palette to put the eyeshadow in (I used a MAC pro-palette [$10 at MAC store + $2 for insert])

The example I used shows the eyeshadows going into a MAC pro palette in which you don't need separate magnets but if you're putting them into a Z- palette or something like that you will need magnets as well!

You're going to start off using your scissors and with one side of the scissors you're going to wedge it just above where that prominent line is in the middle.

Put pressure pushing in while twisting it back and forth and you should see the top layer of the black plastic start to come loose.

It will pop out like this! (Some come out more easily than others)

Congrats! You're half way done :)

I forgot to mention that you need a lighter but I'm sure you already figured that out when I mentioned that you needed a candle but I don't know I'm just trying to be thorough. Haha. But also, if you use a candle with multiple wicks like I did, make sure to only light one because you do have to put your hand relatively close to the candle and you don't want to burn yourself.

Using your tweezers, hold the eyeshadow above the flame a couple of inches. Do this for about 30 seconds or so (it varies) so check back every so often because you don't want to over-burn the plastic.

Once the plastic forms a little hole like this, it's done! Sometimes the hole doesn't always form but when the plastic is indented, it's usually ready.

Then use your poking tool to push through the plastic to get the little metal pan out. Make sure to do this over something that can handle heat and make sure not to touch the metal pan for a minute or two because it will be veryyyy hot. 

Then you're basically done! WHOO HOO! :)

Pop the shadow into your palette and you're good to go!

You can also put the plastic you took out back into their original packaging and return it to MAC for their "back to MAC" program. You can exchange 6 empty products for 1 brand new lipstick or lip gloss. Check with your location to make sure that they will except the eyeshadow packages without the metal pan as not all locations do.

I hope you found this somewhat helpful! It's kind of hard to explain via blog so feel free to ask questions! Hope you're all having an amazing weekend :)

Thanks for putting up with me <3

-Ashley

My very first photo shoot!

So on Friday I did makeup for a photo shoot for the first time! It was my first truly professional job. It was extremely scary but I had so much fun and the designer seemed to approve of my work. This was not for any big fashion company or anything but it was just so cool to be a part of something like that. It was for a clothing line's online store called Jazzmin (check out the website for photos from the shoot coming soon) The designer is a friend of my mom's and has seen my work before but it was still such a surprise when she asked me as she usually hires a professional makeup artist and I feel like I am far from professional. She made my hobby seem like an actually attainable profession and I will always be grateful for that. Auntie Janis, if you ever read this, thank you so much for always encouraging me and supporting me and for trusting me enough to give me this opportunity. It honestly solidified the fact that this is definitely what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Enough of the mushy stuff, here are some photos from the shoot! :)

Okay so here are some close-ups of the model's makeup. Her name is Shelby LeDuff and she's such a sweet girl. I didn't get any before pictures (because I was nervous and wasn't thinking fully) but she looks great without makeup also :)

Products used:

-Hourglass Immaculate foundation

-MAC pro-longwear concealer in nc30 (for under the eyes)

-Rimmel Stay Matte powder

-MAC blush in Harmony (contour)

-MAC blush in Ripe for Love

-Benefit High Beam highlighter

-Benefit brow powder in Medium

-NARS eyeshadow primer

-Maybelline Color tattoo in Bad to the Bronze (all over the lid up to the crease)

-MAC eyeshadows in Patina (all over the lid) and Phloof (inner corner highlight)

-Lorac pro-palette eyeshadows in Taupe and Sable (blended into the crease) and Cream (highlight under the brow)

-MAC pencil eyeliner in Coffee (lower lash line)

-Maybelline gel eyeliner in Blackest Black (upper lash line)

-Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

-Loreal lipstick in Fairest Nude

-Benefit lipgloss in On the A List

Sorry for not taking more photos at different angles up close! I promise I'm going to get better at this :)

Some sneak peeks from the shoot! ;)

Not going to lie, the food was a great perk of the job! Delicious food from California Chicken Cafe! :)

And I will leave you with some photos of me touching up Shelby's makeup on-set. It was such a fun day and it went by so quickly! I feel so lucky to have gotten this opportunity and to think that this is just the beginning absolutely amazes me. 

Thanks for putting up with me <3

-Ashley