EVELYSS / Guides / Beauty

How to Fix a Broken Lipstick (Snapped Bullet, Melted Tube, No Flame Needed)

“A snapped red lipstick feels like a small tragedy and is almost always fixable. Don't reach for matches in a panic. A hot butter knife, a steady hand and half an hour in the freezer will get you back to the good part of your evening.”Her take

How do you fix a lipstick that snapped in half?

A clean break in the middle of the bullet is the easiest repair, because the two surfaces still fit together. Work on a clean paper towel, wash your hands, and keep the lower half in the tube so you can use it to steady the repair.

Lipstick formulas typically melt somewhere around 140°F to 170°F, which is hotter than most home tap water, so use water from a kettle. A hot metal knife is a much gentler option than an open flame, which can scorch the lipstick or burn your fingers.

• Stand a clean butter knife in a mug of just-boiled water for about a minute, holding it only by the handle, then dry it completely.
• Touch the flat of the warm blade to the broken end of the top piece for a second or two, until it looks glossy.
• Do the same to the piece in the tube. If it cools, rewarm the knife.
• Press the pieces together gently and hold them straight for 10 to 20 seconds.
• Smooth the seam with a clean cotton swab or a clean fingertip.
• Stand the tube upright in the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes, or in the fridge for about 30, uncapped so the cap doesn't stick to the bullet.

What if the lipstick broke at the base?

When the bullet breaks right at the metal cup, there's very little surface left to reattach it to. The reliable fix is to twist the stub all the way up, flatten it with a cotton swab so the top is level, warm your knife, and soften the stub until it looks glossy, then press the broken piece straight onto it. Chill it as above and don't twist it fully up afterward, since the joint will always be the weakest point.

If it won't hold, or if the broken piece keeps sliding, stop fighting it. The formula is still perfectly usable, and moving it to a small tin is often the better long-term solution.

How do you move a broken lipstick into a small tin?

A small tin or empty clean palette turns a damaged lipstick into a handy, travel-friendly pot. Clean the container with soap and water, dry it thoroughly, then wipe it with rubbing alcohol and allow it to air dry. Scrape the broken lipstick from the tube with a clean spatula, and break it into small pieces.

Put the pieces in a small heat-safe glass dish and melt them by setting that dish in a shallow bowl of just-boiled water, taking care not to let any water get into the dish. Stir with a clean spatula until smooth, and refresh the hot water if it cools first. Lift the dish out with a towel, pour into your tin, tap it gently to release air bubbles, and let it cool at room temperature before chilling it in the fridge for about 20 minutes. Apply with a clean lip brush so you aren't dipping fingers into the pot each time.

How do you fix a melted lipstick?

Heat is the usual culprit, often from a parked car or a sunny windowsill. If the lipstick has softened but kept its shape, stand it upright in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour, and don't use it until firm. If the bullet has slumped into a blob, move it to a tin using the method above, since the shape can't really be recovered inside the tube.

Lipstick that has separated into oily beads can sometimes be remixed during the melting step. If it smells rancid, changes texture or looks grainy after it cools, it's time to replace it. A broken lipstick that has gone off is not worth saving, however much you loved the shade.

How can you stop lipstick breaking again?

Most breaks are avoidable. Twist the bullet up only about a quarter inch when applying, and retract it fully before you replace the cap, since pressing a cap down over an extended bullet is an easy way to snap it.

Keep lipstick away from car dashboards and sunny spots, and store it upright when you can. Use a light hand, because heavy pressure at an angle can break an older, softer bullet. In your bag, tuck it in a small zipped pouch so it isn't knocked around with keys. After a repair, treat that lipstick gently, because the joint stays weaker than the rest of the bullet.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Warm the knife, not the room: soften both ends, press, smooth and chill. If the break is at the base or the tube is finished, give it a new home in a tin.

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