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This is the kit I initially started out with having watched Petrilude's video on depotting with heat (only the greaseproof paper is missing from this picture). This kit works very well for depotting MAC eyeshadows and I will write a separate post about that should anyone be interested, BUT...this kit definitely doesn't work well on RBR containers. If you want to find out what happens when you try to depot an RBR eyeshadow using straighteners, take a look at the image below.
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| Do NOT try this at home folks! |
If only I'd had spotted Drivol without the Frivol's comment about RBR depotting before I put pan to GHD, I might still have an intact Solstice Halcyon. The crucial difference between the MAC and RBR containers is that the base of MAC eyeshadows separates into two parts, so you only have a thin layer of plastic between the heat source and the base of the pan. Heating the RBR container with my straighteners didn't soften the glue sufficiently to allow me to lever the pan out, hence the breakage.
I had much more success using the following candle + poke method. I can't deny that this method isn't as elegant as using straighteners and the smell is infinitely less pleasant.
For this you will need:
- A candle
- A flat knife
- An old pencil
- Self adhesive magnetic discs if you are using a palette without a magnetised base*
- Surgical Spirit
STEP 1: Heat the base of the container to remove the label. Watch for a bubble forming under the label.
STEP 2: Once a bubble forms the glue should be sufficiently tacky for you to slide a knife underneath and remove the label in one piece. Put the label somewhere safe, sticky side up. It will remain sticky enough for you to apply to either the pan or the magnet.
STEP 3: Hold the container over the flame again, holding onto the lid to prevent burning your fingers. This time you are looking to melt the plastic so make sure you do this in a well ventilated room. The plastic will begin to bubble as it melts.
STEP 4: Once the plastic has softened sufficiently (this takes a bit of practice to gauge), press the pencil into the softened plastic and push the pan out from the back. I found it best to angle the pan downwards over a towel to avoid damage. Sometimes the pan will pop out completely at this point and sometimes it pushes it out enough for you to lever it the rest of the way with a knife.
STEP 5: Once the pan is cool enough to touch, clean up the base using a cotton pad soaked with surgical spirit.
STEP 6: Apply the self adhesive magnet (if using) to the base of the pan, followed by the eyeshadow label that you peeled off earlier.
I used this method to depot a blusher as well as my RBR eyeshadows. I found with the blusher that the glue loosened sufficiently for me to use a knife to lever it out. However, my personal recommendation is 'when in doubt, poke it out'!
Here are the finished eyeshadows in my Unii palette. As you can see, only Solstice Halcyon suffered any damage during the process. The empty eyeshadow pots don't look as mangled as you might expect either as the plastic re-sets as it cools.
* I mentioned that you may or may not need to apply magnets to the base of the pans. I have an old style Unii palette and I need to apply magnets to the pans to make them stick to the palette. It wasn't until I started shopping around for a new custom palette that I realised both the new style Unii palette and the Z palettes have a magnetic base which metals pans stick to directly. If you are using one of these new style palettes you do not need to apply magnetic discs, instead you apply the label to the base of the pan and stick directly into the palette.
I really hope this post is instructional, although I suspect many of you will be horrified by what I have done! If you do have any questions, feel free to ask.
