Adventures in Depotting!
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that I’m a huge makeup whore. I have a somewhat ridiculous amount of eyeshadows though I console myself by knowing that some out there have even more. >_> Whatever makes me feel better, right? Now, because I have so many shadows, I’ve gotten sick of how much space they take up with their little plastic containers. Enter the wonder that is depotting. To depot is to use any means necessary to divorce your shadows, and their accompanying pans, from their plastic ball and chain. Depending on the manufacturer of a particular shadow, you can use one of several methods (heat or alcohol) to make this happen. It is messy and time consuming, involving knives, magnets and adhesive. But the pay off is being able to fit a large amount of shadows into a much smaller space in your train-case/vanity…that you can then free up for items such as lipstick/gloss. Yes. *ahem* It also doesn’t hurt that MAC containers are part of the “Back2MAC” program i.e. for every 6 empty containers returned to a free-standing MAC store, a brand new lipglass, lipstick, or eyeshadow can be obtained, free o’ charge*! So, not only are you helping your wallet AND your habit (let’s be honest), you’re also helping the environment as MAC gleefully recycles those bad boys!
As of right now, I’m not aware of any other companies who practice this but, if you know different, hook a sista up! ‘Til then, look at all the pretty colors!
- 38 so far and still so many more to go… O_O MAC, Prestige, Milani, L’oreal, NYX, and Stars Makeup Haven.
- Even if you chose one of the heat methods, high percentage alcohol is always a must!
There are an abundance of depotting related videos on YouTube and my favorite maker of makeup palettes (http://uniicosmetics.com) even link some of these vids on their website and print instructions on their product packaging. I was so intimidated when I first started but now I’m addicted. Nothing is safe from being depotted. Not shadows, not blushes, not concealers…nothing. I can’t recommend it enough!
*Back2MAC – The containers they accept are concealers, foundations, lipglasses, lipsticks, and eyeshadows. Forgive me if I’ve left any out. Basically, if you buy a MAC product that says “Back2MAC” on the inner packaging, you’re good to go. If you return any combo of 6 to a free-standing, you can grab a shadow, lipglass, or lipstick but NOT a Viva Glam lippie, limited edition shadow or Pro pan. If you do your exchange at a MAC COUNTER, you’re only eligible for a lippie. Boo.
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