Pressing SN eyeshadows

[egerandi]

Holy! That's crazy, Laurie! 9!?!? And yeah, wings are a cool invention, but I don't use pads any more. Good luck... have you had the birds and bees talk yet?

And yeah, I heard about the overkill we do with trying to kill bacteria and just making them stronger or forcing them to come up with a new strain that we don't have antidote against yet... I stopped using commercial handsoaps a while back. I make my own either with Dr Bonners or soapnut liquid, some glycerin, aloe and filtered water and some EO for scent. If I really want to, I can put some tea tree oil for some antibacterial protection, but I'm not sweating it much. I barely get sick, even when my boyfriend is. I never broke out or had eye issues from dirty brushes, but yeah, I still should make an effort to keep stuff clean that touches my face. Thanks ladies for the inspiration

[Xarata]

I pressed this palette before the big move and it was a life saver for a few weeks. I used coastal scents EZ-press medium and one of their palettes. I used a quarter and a sturdy papertowel to press things down and each pan has a 5g jar worth of powder in it. I pressed Vanilla (top left), Quartzite (Top Right), Bittersweet (Bottom Right), and sassy blush (bottom left). The blush did intensify some and all the shadows seem a bit more on the velvet side but everything is very useable. I did not "cook" mine, just let them dry overnight.

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[Anne]

Thank you all, all this really helps!

It's great to hear different stories, and it shows that everyone has their own way of doing things, but we all make it work for ourselves, that's great!

I pressed this palette before the big move and it was a life saver for a few weeks.

Xarata, that's exactly what I want, something quick & easy to use!
Your palette looks great, 3 eyeshadows + blush in one palette, how convenient!

[Xarata]

Xarata, that's exactly what I want, something quick & easy to use!
Your palette looks great, 3 eyeshadows + blush in one palette, how convenient!

yep! I actually like loose shadows but when I go on vacation, it's so many little jars and, even though they don't take up very much space, I HATE digging for the right one. With a little palette, I have a go-to eye and my fav. blush on hand. And since it's pressed, I can even use my fingers instead of a brush if i want/need to!

[elianne]

Tried pressing Cuddle and Cosy last night during essay breaks with rubbing alcohol and a bit of Fruit of the Earth aloe vera gel. Results were much better than plain alcohol and alcohol + glycerin as it held firm, i could still pick up the pigment with a brush and the colour didn't change. Yipee! Just need to experiment with the sparkly shades now.

For the mixing medium, I filled about half of the dropper bottle for SN skin serum samples with rubbing alcohol and a drop of aloe vera gel.

Not a very pretty job (or palette) but still fine, i guess.

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[egerandi]

Ah, good idea! I have a bunch more to press, and the less stuff I put in the pigment, the better. What's the procedure, how wet do you get your powder and how to do you bake it? I have my method down with the usual mixing medium, just wanted to make sure I do it correctly with yours.

[elianne]

I went against the crumbly norm and mixed the minerals + medium to a chocolate cake mix texture. Can't say what the drops to minerals ratio was.

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Found it easier to deal with although drying time was longer. No baking as I am prone to forget that I have stuff in the oven and the palette is plastic. I just left it by the window for about 30-40 mins before pressing then let it dry overnight.

I have a feeling that you would need a bit more aloe vera gel for the shimmery minerals though. They are harder to bind together. Will probably experiment some time next week (or the week after) and report on that then.

Update us on how your experimenting goes, egerandi!

[egerandi]

Will do! Looking at the texture, I think I know what I have to do. I did that before, but that was due to overmixing, and the shadows dried into a bit of a creamy finish. It's good for the darker ones that I pretty much only use for liner, but that wasn't what I was going for. I guess my mixing medium has the stuff that gives the glossy creamy finish if not dried properly.

Thanks again!

[ladycattat]

Andrea, I think that a couple companies at IMATS will have empty palettes all ready for you to buy and fill up!!! Can hardly wait, I've already told DH, that barring an emergency, I will be busy with the SN girls that day!
Laurie

[elianne]

Got all itchy fingered and experimented with pressing shimmery eyeshadows last night. It worked!

I did have to put a bit more aloe vera gel -- think ratio of alcohol to aloe vera gel was 3:1 -- and I used too much aloe vera on my first try by mistake. I couldn't pick up Scallop Pink with a brush until I scraped off the top layer. 0_0 Good thing it isn't a favourite. Bittersweet and Superstar came out beautifully though and held together even after I dropped, rolled them off the table and did the hokey pokey with them.

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I need to get more palettes and pans now. *sigh* Damn you, e.l.f. for leaving Australia.