Mac Pro Palettes discussion

[mosha010]

Quote:Originally Posted by butterflyeyes

Am I the only one that actually enjoys depotting? Lol. I get a little sad when I run out of things to depot

I get a perverse satisfaction out of doing it. I think I may have a smidge of Pyromania because I use the candle method. (In my best Beavis voice: Fire, fire, fire heheheheheheheheheheheh)

Omg you're like my pyro soul sister hahah I love depotting for the same reason I feel like a mad scientist. And then figuring out how to organize them on my palettes... I reorganize almost every season depending on colors i dig at the moment ... And don't even get me started on the label maker!!!! Makeup-dork!!!!

 

[martiangurll]

Am I the only one that actually enjoys depotting? Lol. I get a little sad when I run out of things to depot I get a perverse satisfaction out of doing it. I think I may have a smidge of Pyromania because I use the candle method. (In my best Beavis voice: Fire, fire, fire heheheheheheheheheheheh)

Omg you're like my pyro soul sister hahah I love depotting for the same reason I feel like a mad scientist. And then figuring out how to organize them on my palettes... I reorganize almost every season depending on colors i dig at the moment ... And don't even get me started on the label maker!!!! Makeup-dork!!!!

Pyros unite!!!

I just got some new palettes so I am gonna have a depot and rearrange all my palettes party tonight with just lil ole me. Hubs can watch, but he gets nervous around my pyro activities. I may wait til he's gone so I don't have to keep reassuring him that the smell of burning plastic isn't THAT toxic to the environment, won't set off the fire detectors, and I won't burn the place down, etc.!

 

[mosha010]

Hahaha nice ! I did that the other day and was working w blushes and see which colors I needed which I had. But the part with the fire is the funnest

 

[butterflyeyes]

How long do you pop them in the microwave for? I'm afraid of melting the plastic lol!

I do it for 30 secs the 1st time. 25 the second time. Some mattes may need a 3rd time of about 20-25 secs. No issues with the plastic melting (on the MAC palettes at least). Just keep doing it in increments and you should be fine. At first I was using a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment to melt the lipsticks in the palette because I was worried about using the microwave. It works but it takes too long and it won't get the lipsticks as smooth.

 

[macnc50diva]

I do it for 30 secs the 1st time. 25 the second time. Some mattes may need a 3rd time of about 20-25 secs. No issues with the plastic melting (on the MAC palettes at least). Just keep doing it in increments and you should be fine. At first I was using a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment to melt the lipsticks in the palette because I was worried about using the microwave. It works but it takes too long and it won't get the lipsticks as smooth.

Your palettes look great but I have one thing to add: newbies should start at only 10-13 seconds at a time until the lipsticks melt. I'm only adding this because microwave wattages vary so much. I've warped so many 24 cream inserts by overheating them both too high and/or too many times. The amount of product and time wasted starting over and over is crazy. I can only imagine the damage 30 seconds in my microwave would have done since I was losing them at less than 20 seconds. (Done twice with a one minute resting period between the melting) Also, don't lose your mind when ruby woo, riri woo, heaux, talk that talk, riri boy and a few other retro mattes don't melt. It's not you.

 

[erine1881]

Your palettes look great but I have one thing to add: newbies should start at only 10-13 seconds at a time until the lipsticks melt. I'm only adding this because microwave wattages vary so much. I've warped so many 24 cream inserts by overheating them both too high and/or too many times. The amount of product and time wasted starting over and over is crazy. I can only imagine the damage 30 seconds in my microwave would have done since I was losing them at less than 20 seconds. (Done twice with a one minute resting period between the melting) Also, don't lose your mind when ruby woo, riri woo, heaux, talk that talk, riri boy and a few other retro mattes don't melt. It's not you.

So true! I have to do mine at 50% power for like 20 secs, let it set, then do it again. And russian red is the only matte that hasn't fully melted, and never will. :nope:

 

[butterflyeyes]

Your palettes look great but I have one thing to add: newbies should start at only 10-13 seconds at a time until the lipsticks melt. I'm only adding this because microwave wattages vary so much. I've warped so many 24 cream inserts by overheating them both too high and/or too many times. The amount of product and time wasted starting over and over is crazy. I can only imagine the damage 30 seconds in my microwave would have done since I was losing them at less than 20 seconds. (Done twice with a one minute resting period between the melting) Also, don't lose your mind when ruby woo, riri woo, heaux, talk that talk, riri boy and a few other retro mattes don't melt. It's not you.

So true! I have to do mine at 50% power for like 20 secs, let it set, then do it again. And russian red is the only matte that hasn't fully melted, and never will. :nope:

I guess I should have thought to point out that you need to consider your microwaves wattage. I use mine on low (hence the 30 second intervals). What has helped with the mattes and retro mattes I've melted so far has been to really smash them up until they are pretty creamy before I melt them....otherwise they are a pain in the butt to melt. I learned that from some trial and error though. I couldn't get All Fired Up to melt smooth at all or RiRi Boy but the others I went back and did came out ok.

The previous palette I posted after melting in the microwave (before they were melted with a hair dryer)

Orange & Coral palette

3rd from the top is the All Fired Up that refuses to melt smooth. RiRi Boy is directly below it.

Latest matte palette I started working on.

 

[macnc50diva]

I guess I should have thought to point out that you need to consider your microwaves wattage. I use mine on low (hence the 30 second intervals). What has helped with the mattes and retro mattes I've melted so far has been to really smash them up until they are pretty creamy before I melt them....otherwise they are a pain in the butt to melt. I learned that from some trial and error though. I couldn't get All Fired Up to melt smooth at all or RiRi Boy but the others I went back and did came out ok.

The previous palette I posted after melting in the microwave (before they were melted with a hair dryer)

Orange & Coral palette

3rd from the top is the All Fired Up that refuses to melt smooth. RiRi Boy is directly below it.

Latest matte palette I started working on.

Ooohhhhh...I love a pretty palette. I'll try to smooth those retro mattes next time too. Thanks for the tip. This was my last creation:

it was a pain but fun. I still warped it but not hardly as bad as the ones I tossed.

 

[butterflyeyes]

Ooohhhhh...I love a pretty palette. I'll try to smooth those retro mattes next time too. Thanks for the tip. This was my last creation:

it was a pain but fun. I still warped it but not hardly as bad as the ones I tossed.

Yeah with those smaller wells you probably need to do less seconds because the plastic might be thinner than the 12 wells I'm using. I prefer the 12's because I can get all of the lipstick out from down in the tube and put it in the well. I think most of ya'll use the 24 well.

 

[erine1881]

Yeah with those smaller wells you probably need to do less seconds because the plastic might be thinner than the 12 wells I'm using. I prefer the 12's because I can get all of the lipstick out from down in the tube and put it in the well. I think most of ya'll use the 24 well.

I use the 24s cuz i just depot lipsticks for my kit, not for personal use. I don't need a full tube of lipstick in my kit, and with the 24s i can get 1/2 a tube in each well. Then i just refill on the ones that i run thru the most of. Plus i have 2 separate kits, so i can maximize the use i get with one tube by splitting it between the 2 kits with the 24s. Besides, for personal use, i can't stand lip palettes. I HAVE to have a tube! I need to be able to have a tube to take with me to touch up with.

 

[butterflyeyes]

I use the 24s cuz i just depot lipsticks for my kit, not for personal use. I don't need a full tube of lipstick in my kit, and with the 24s i can get 1/2 a tube in each well. Then i just refill on the ones that i run thru the most of. Plus i have 2 separate kits, so i can maximize the use i get with one tube by splitting it between the 2 kits with the 24s. Besides, for personal use, i can't stand lip palettes. I HAVE to have a tube! I need to be able to have a tube to take with me to touch up with.

I hate palettes for personal use too lol. I just prefer to empty the whole tube in one well although I know that means more palettes since there are less wells per palette. Palettes aren't very practical for personal use since they are a bit to bulky to carry around for touch ups. I'd rather have a tube with me for that (which is why I always buy my lipsticks in 2's at min...one for kit and one for personal. I always get crazy looks for that but I don't mix business with pleasure. It becomes a problem IMO).

 

[martiangurll]

I do it for 30 secs the 1st time. 25 the second time. Some mattes may need a 3rd time of about 20-25 secs. No issues with the plastic melting (on the MAC palettes at least). Just keep doing it in increments and you should be fine. At first I was using a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment to melt the lipsticks in the palette because I was worried about using the microwave. It works but it takes too long and it won't get the lipsticks as smooth.

Your palettes look great but I have one thing to add: newbies should start at only 10-13 seconds at a time until the lipsticks melt. I'm only adding this because microwave wattages vary so much. I've warped so many 24 cream inserts by overheating them both too high and/or too many times. The amount of product and time wasted starting over and over is crazy. I can only imagine the damage 30 seconds in my microwave would have done since I was losing them at less than 20 seconds. (Done twice with a one minute resting period between the melting) Also, don't lose your mind when ruby woo, riri woo, heaux, talk that talk, riri boy and a few other retro mattes don't melt. It's not you.

I solved that with TTT. Transferred to a metal spoon and held it over a candle until it melted then transferred it to my container. (Used an eyeshadow pan that was empty, as I have ELF palettes with MAC melts (previously depotted lippies I had swapped with another forumite previously). Microwave doesn't allow for direct visualization until you can actually see the product liquify. Maybe there was a smidge that did not liquify completely, but for the most part I was able to liquify it and get it to fit the shape of my container.

HTH

 

[pemily]

I'm going to try and post a pic of my mufe palette with yabby pans... is anyone interested?


this would involve me getting off the couch taking pics etc LOL

 

[bluelitzer]

Thanks for all the tips. Im interested in depotting lipsticks that didn't work out for me and I can't return anymore (sweet and sour - aao, beauty - glamour daze, angel - perm, ablaze - fashion set, betty bright - a/g etc) and then B2M them after. I've also already purchased tin pans and put them in eyeshadow empties and I have 12 to exchange for this weekend.

 

[martiangurll]

I've also already purchased tin pans and put them in eyeshadow empties and I have 12 to exchange for this weekend.

ooh ooh, can you hook me up with a link on a good place to purchase those??? I have a LOT of empties on the e/s pots just waiting for tins so I can B2M....

 

[butterflyeyes]

ooh ooh, can you hook me up with a link on a good place to purchase those???  I have a LOT of empties on the e/s pots just waiting for tins so I can B2M....

I must be lucky...I always b2m my empty es pots without the tins without a problem.

 

[macnc50diva]

I must be lucky...I always b2m my empty es pots without the tins without a problem.

Same here, they've even said "wow your depots are super clean! Which way do you do it?". But here's a great enraging story about b2ming: (warning: it's LONG) The only time I've had an issue with b2ming was at baking beauties time-I wanted to b2m for lavender whip and my friend did too. We call and find the only 3 in town! We said can we back to Mac for these? Heard yes. Ok will you hold them? She said no but if you get here right when we open they should be here. Yay! Woo hoo! So we go. The girl we spoke to is there. She's ringing it up and needs the managers approval. The manager asks her how many are left? She said this is all. So the Mac manager comes over and tells us that we couldn't b2m for them not because they're le, but because they only received 3. YEAH RIGHT! We immediately asked for the cosmetics manager. As time moved on and they continue to try to make an argument with us, artists are clocking in and rolling their eyes at us, and we could overhear every artist that came in talking about us like we weren't there-saying how they need to give up, we only have 3, and did you tell them it's up to the manager? One even had the nerve to come over like if she told us the same thing super nasty, we would cower away or believe her or who knows? We politely told her we were waiting for the cosmetics manager, period. It started to become obvious as we were listening to the artists complain, that this manager was holding the lipsticks for the artists! We finally were fed up with hearing no and listening to policy bullish which we knew better about when they just started ignoring us and serving other customers. WE stood there for 2 hours before the cosmetics manager we asked for finally came! This whole time we weren't even rude! We figured kill them with kindness right? So the Nordstrom cosmetics manager comes over and asks are we buying anything? I said b2m doesn't require a purchase, but I can buy the third one if it's going to get us our lavender whips and away from this rude experience. So she pulls the Mac manager aside and comes back and tells us she's going to go to her office and call her higher ups. We're like-you're going to call and not let us hear their answer or speak with them directly? How do we even know you're calling anyone with the amount of games being played here? Know what? We will call also since you refuse to call and let us speak to anyone or at least hear them. We WILL get what we came for. So standing there, we finally had to call both MAC and nordstrom corporate offices after the nordstrom cosmetics manager said they couldn't let us speak to them, and get them explain to THEIR managers that MAC policies state there is no special packaging at all so if we wanted to b2m we could and shouldn't receive a further problem about it. As soon as we hung up, I noticed their counter phone ring-the nordstrom beauty manager stepped to the side to speak with them where we couldn't hear so we know what that was about. She was likely lying on us or to save herself. It was SO hard to not go OFFFF! So to make matters worse, we had the ok, now some smart mouthed nosy artist who was pissed comes over and says her customer wants a lavender whip. The manager we were dealing with said no they're getting them all as she's on the register. That artist had the nerve to look through our b2m's and comes and throws the shadows on the glass. "YOU CANT BACK TO MAC DEPOTTED THINGS" she yelled at us. Rather than curse her out like we wanted to, we decided to just ignore her like the rest of them. We were smiling like oh ok-they work everywhere else no problem but we can call corporate back and ask them???? The manager on the register turned around and said quickly no don't worry about it, BUT it is up to the managers discretion. SERIOUSLY! Geeeeee thanks for the favor you %*#*!

 

[bluelitzer]

ooh ooh, can you hook me up with a link on a good place to purchase those??? I have a LOT of empties on the e/s pots just waiting for tins so I can B2M....

I credit @erine1881 for this. She posted it in another forum a while ago: http://www.tkbtrading.com. I got it in 2 days, they don't have a queue for orders right now I am guessing.

Eyeshadows are 26 mm, blushes 44 mm.

EDIT: SORRY it's http://www.tkbtrading.com. Misspelled it.

 

[bluelitzer]

I am thoroughly addicted to Mac products but knowing how the stores/counters have treated some of my friends that have worked for them and how they've treated me as a customer at times, I'm really over the COMPANY. I just wish I could get over the products, but it's a work in progress and I'm surely doing it.

Wow I'm sorry you had this experience. This is why I've only bought MAC stuff at a physical store twice in my life. My gigantic stash has been almost exclusively online purchases from both maccosmetics.com and Nordstrom.com. Bought from bloomingdale's once (I'd rather not because shipping is $10) but that was only because they were the only ones that had MAC Jaunty eyeshadow left two months after I decided I can't live without it and it was sold out everywhere.

 

[erine1881]

I credit @erine1881  for this. She posted it in another forum a while ago: http://www.tkbtrading.com. I got it in 2 days, they don't have a queue for orders right now I am guessing.

 Eyeshadows are 26 mm, blushes 44 mm. EDIT: SORRY it's http://www.tkbtrading.com. Misspelled it.

Yup yup! They've got the best deal on empty pans out there!