Stay Pressed™ Instructions
So you’ve got a broken shadow — or you have an urge to repan a perfectly-fine shadow. To learn how to get out of your shattered situation, read the instructions below.
How to Press Shimmers
Break up the powder.
Use a spatula or other tool to break up the shimmer powder. Unlike with mattes, shimmers do not have to be finely ground.
Add a few drops of alcohol and mix the powder.
Add 1-2 drops of rubbing alcohol to create a smooth consistency. Mix and smooth the powder.
Attach the base to the handle.
Locate the appropriate base and screw it onto the handle. Refer to the Brand Compatibility Chart if you are unsure which base will work with your pan.
Press the unit firmly into the pan.
Place a thin tissue over the pan and press the unit firmly into the pan.
Since the powder will be creamy due to the alcohol, we recommend using a tissue to keep excess shimmer from sticking to the base. If you do not want to use a tissue, you will need to clean the base before moving on to the next shadow–but this should be easy to do!
Tap the back of the pan and take in the beauty of your beautiful, freshly pressed pan.
Tap the back of the pan to make sure the powder will stay inside. Now, isn’t that a beautiful pan?
How to Press Mattes
Remove the powder from the pan.
Finely grind the powder.
Grind the powder, making sure to break up any chunks. For the best results, use a mortar and pestle.
Pour about half of the powder into the pan.
Be careful not to pour too much of the powder into the pan. If you pour too much powder, the pressed powder may not be firm enough to stay in the pan.
Smooth the powder in the pan.
Spread the powder throughout to pan to create an even layer.
Attach the base to the handle and press the unit firmly into the pan.
Locate the appropriate base and screw it onto the handle. Refer to the Brand Compatibility Chart if you are unsure which base will work with your pan.
Pour the rest of the shadow into the pan.
Depending on how much powder is used for each layer, you may not be able to fit the remaining amount of powder into the pan. If so, you may be able to make three layers.
Smooth and press again.
Spread the new layer of powder evenly across the pan.
Marvel at the beauty of your newly pressed pan.
Don’t forget to do the tap test! Tap the back of the pan to make sure the powder is pressed firmly enough. If powder falls out of the pan, you will have to press the powder again, but with more force.
Additional Resources
Gina (@facesbygina) has a helpful, in-depth video tutorial for repressing matte shadows without alcohol. We highly recommend watching her video for more information on the dry pressing method. Follow her on Instagram to join the Repan Revolution.