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GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

post #1 of 44
6/4/05 at 3:12pm
Thread Starter 
What is de-potting/de-panning?
De-potting (also known as de-panning) is the removal of the small metal pan containing the color in a pressed powder product.

What can be de-potted?
Eye shadows, blushes, bronzers, and any other pressed powder product can be de-potted.

Why do people de-pot?
Many people de-pot their eye shadows, blushes, and other similarly sized products in order to contain all of their products in palettes. MAC makes three types of palettes at this time, 4 pan eye shadow, 15 pan eye shadow, and six pan blush. MAC in the past made an 8 pan large eye shadow, when the company still produced eye shadows in both a large and small size.

De-potting also allows people to have 'empties' which can be used in MACs recycling program, Back2MAC.

What brands of eye shadow fit into MAC palettes?
  • Urban Decay
  • Trucco
  • Prescriptives (not all)
  • Trade Secrets
  • I Nuovi
  • Paula's Choice
  • Lise Watier
  • Clinique Touch Base
  • Revlon Streetwear Creams
  • MMU
  • Origins
  • Jordana
  • Red Earth
  • Annabelle
  • Estee Lauder
  • Savvy
  • Marcelle (old style)
  • Wild and Crazy
  • Garden Botanika (old style)
  • Fetish
  • Jane
  • Milani
  • Wet and Wild
  • Ardell brow powders
  • Prestige (old style)
  • LORAC
  • Elizabeth Arden
  • The Body Shop
  • Bath and Body Works
  • Bonne Bell
  • Faces
Where can I learn how to de-pot, with images?
There are many tutorials to be found online. Some good ones are:
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post #2 of 44
5/9/07 at 11:09pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

ok. i've been successful at depotting two eyeshadows, but my pots are now warped. will they still be ok for b2m?
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post #3 of 44
5/9/07 at 11:22pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

should be ok!
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post #4 of 44
6/30/07 at 4:08pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Quote:
Originally Posted by martygreene View Post
I cannot find this tutorial. Has it been moved? I did find a text description on how to use a heat gun to melt lipstick.

These are the errors I am receiving when trying to access the above link: The requested URL /viewtopic.php was not found on this server.Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
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post #5 of 44
7/18/07 at 7:05am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Thanks a lot for the links! The freezing method sounds great, I'm scared of melting the pots I was wondering if the freezing or heating doesn't damage the (texture) of the e/s?
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post #6 of 44
8/12/07 at 2:28am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

i was wondering if you guys knew how to remove the eyeshadow from one container to another (which are two different sizes). if you don't understand me, i wanna use an eyeshadow as a blush.
any suggestions are appreciated!
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post #7 of 44
1/28/08 at 2:50am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

I want to depot my blushes, but I'm wondering, is it possible or is any method better to make it so that I can keep one of them empty pots to stick my depotted blush back into for when I travel?

I depot and keep my eyeshadows in a 15 pan palette, but when I go away I'll sometimes just take 4 eyeshadows in a quad (or 8 shadows in 2 quads), so I'm wondering is there any way I could do it so I have a transportable case for a depotted blush? I'm afraid to take the whole palette n case something happens - cracks etc.
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post #8 of 44
2/21/08 at 10:38am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

i was looking for a method of depotting my blot powder and putting it into the fafi ipp container. does anyoneknow how to?
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post #9 of 44
3/12/08 at 6:04pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

There's a fantastic tutorial on depotting without heat or freezing here - YouTube - Depotting MAC w/o heat. I tried it and it was dead easy!

He has two more for other types of MAC shadows -
Depotting an NYX Trio - YouTube - Depot your NYX Trio
Depotting an NYX single - YouTube - Depotting NYX Single (square)

He has lots of other tutorials on various things to do with all MAC makeup and adds stuff often. Great fun to watch too!
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post #10 of 44
3/26/08 at 1:01pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mien View Post
Thanks a lot for the links! The freezing method sounds great, I'm scared of melting the pots I was wondering if the freezing or heating doesn't damage the (texture) of the e/s?
Mien - Did freezing the e/s change its texture at all? TIA
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post #11 of 44
3/26/08 at 3:32pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

amber_j, if you use EnKore's method of depotting in my link above, you won't damage the texture of the shadow (unless you accidentally break it) as it doesn't use either heat or freezing to depot.
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post #12 of 44
3/27/08 at 8:11am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Depanning a pre-made quad - MAC Cosmetics Resource - depanning MAC eyeshadow quads
Depotting using a controlled heat source (iron) - MAC Cosmetics Resource - depotting MAC eyeshadows without flames
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post #13 of 44
3/27/08 at 9:44pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

I've just tried the freezing method, having dented one of my pans using EnKore's method which, good as it is, does mean completely ruining the plastic pan container.

The freezing method is GREAT! No damage to any part at all and the shadow pan almost falls out by itself. I only needed to put the very tip of a knife inbetween the pan rim and the container, only at the top, wiggle it very very gently once or twice, then you hear a slight "crack" noise which is the hardened glue coming away, and out comes the shadow. The texture seems to be just the same as before, but give it an hour or two to return to room temperature.
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post #14 of 44
3/28/08 at 12:00am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Just thought I'd warn you -

The freezing method works a treat with those fakes shadows with pans with the ridged circle as the glue is only in the ridge. I just tried it with my genuine shadow to see if perhaps a brand new real MAC shadow had that ridge, and no way could I get the pan out, it seemed stuck solid to the base! I didn't want to dare force it either. I think I'll have to try EnKore's method again with the genuine one.
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post #15 of 44
4/25/08 at 4:59pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

I wanted to use Enkore's method, but I don't trust myself jabbing a sharp knife into a tiny crevice... I use the heating method and even though the smell of plastic is horrible and probably toxic, it does the job just fine.
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post #16 of 44
5/17/08 at 5:41pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Were you still able to use it for the B2M thing?
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post #17 of 44
5/27/08 at 10:36am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

I use dustbunnies77(youtube) way of doing it. With the Hair Iron. Minimal Smell and so far I haven't warped or damaged any of my shadows. Fun and easy!
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post #18 of 44
5/27/08 at 10:38am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Quote:
Originally Posted by ri0tdorque View Post
Were you still able to use it for the B2M thing?
Yesterday I went to a MAC freestanding store and asked if the accepted the pots without the pans. This was her answer :
'' I can't really answer that. *Pause*. If we dont realize it then we accept it. If we realize it, we dont.''
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post #19 of 44
5/27/08 at 10:49am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jello89 View Post
Yesterday I went to a MAC freestanding store and asked if the accepted the pots without the pans. This was her answer :
'' I can't really answer that. *Pause*. If we dont realize it then we accept it. If we realize it, we dont.''

do mac accept empty containers? like without the little plastic pan in the middle?
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post #20 of 44
5/28/08 at 3:31am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Quote:
Originally Posted by macmistress View Post
do mac accept empty containers? like without the little plastic pan in the middle?
It really depends. I've seen a few MAC employees who post here saying that their counter/location will not. However, I returned some to a freestanding store over the weekend with no problem. I'd call around to be sure, if I were you. The reality is that many places barely even check the B2M empties.
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post #21 of 44
5/28/08 at 3:41am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jello89 View Post
Yesterday I went to a MAC freestanding store and asked if the accepted the pots without the pans. This was her answer :
'' I can't really answer that. *Pause*. If we dont realize it then we accept it. If we realize it, we dont.''
hahaha I love that answer!
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post #22 of 44
5/30/08 at 1:08am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

I find this stupid Im so eager to depot. They should just take the damn thingsss!!! I understand that they want us to use up the products before giving us a free one butttt....
If I had time and money to waste. Id buy 5 dollar e/s at the pharmacy that fit in the mac and id remove the shitty eyeshadow inside and just stick the pan in! LOL. But that would be wasteful
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post #23 of 44
5/30/08 at 1:13am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

quick question!

you know the actual plastic that holds the pan? if that is burnt but u still have containers left about 25..can we still return em?
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post #24 of 44
5/30/08 at 4:41pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Quote:
Originally Posted by macmistress View Post
quick question!

you know the actual plastic that holds the pan? if that is burnt but u still have containers left about 25..can we still return em?

I would assume that you mean the little part that cradles the pan, and not the entire pot ( the cover, and bottom). If so, that's fine.
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post #25 of 44
5/30/08 at 5:23pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jello89 View Post
Yesterday I went to a MAC freestanding store and asked if the accepted the pots without the pans. This was her answer :
'' I can't really answer that. *Pause*. If we dont realize it then we accept it. If we realize it, we dont.''
That's interesting. I went to a MAC store in the mall and asked a sales person about it. I told her that I had depotted all of my shadows and would they still take them if they were melty and whatnot. She said yes for sure so I guess it depends on who you get.

On a side note I've found that using a fondu fork thing works well for holding them over a candle I did all of mine that way and it didnt take very long at all (I had over 20)
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post #26 of 44
5/30/08 at 6:55pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

before i worked at the counter that i do, i used to depot using the oven. i would leave the lid open, and stick the entire thing in the oven (before i found much simpler a faster methods) and would take them in all melted into little heaps! i was so embarrassed, but they took em. even tho i work there now, we still take em if custies bring em in like that.
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post #27 of 44
5/30/08 at 7:17pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Can't you just buy the pans without shadow in them, stick them in there and go?!!
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post #28 of 44
5/31/08 at 2:22am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Quote:
Originally Posted by Obreathemykiss View Post
Can't you just buy the pans without shadow in them, stick them in there and go?!!
Ha Ha, I take some with me, just in case the pots w/o a pan are a prob, but I haven't had to pop some in there, yet.
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post #29 of 44
6/14/08 at 10:54am

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

Hello.
I am wondering if there is any dupe of pallets that Mac blushes will fit in.
Sorry for my bad English.
Tanks a lot
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post #30 of 44
2/20/09 at 6:50pm

Re: GENERAL FAQ: De-potting/De-panning

CoastalScents.com has palettes that fit MAC blush and shadows.

Depotting; I cut and pop the front like EnKore but I broke shadows- Pushing metal in there can bend the pan. I started using this flat green plastic toothpick thing, the ones with dental floss on the other end? The plastic can't bend a metal pan but it'll still make a space and you hear the glue pulling apart. Works for me.
Everybody finds a different method...
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