I'm sure it's happened to most of us - fact of the matter is, powder based products do smash - but that doesn't have to mean the end for them - they can be saved very simply... save them!
So, first you take your broken up powder...
...and tip it into a small bowl. I used the pointy end of an orange stick to scrape out all the bits that were still stuck in the pan. Use the end of a brush to break it up into a fine powder.
Then tip in a small amount of Surgical Spirit and mix it up using an orange stick, or spoon to form a paste. It's best to add a little bit of Surgical Spirit, seeing if more is needed, then adding more if necessary. It doesn't matter too much if you go overboard with it - it will just take longer to set.
Use a spoon to put it back into the empty pan, then leave it for a couple of hours somewhere where it won't be disturbed.
You can use a paper towel to press down and help shape it after a couple of hours - then leave overnight to set completely.
And there you have it - as good as new! This technique would also work to get your pigments into set powders. Happy setting!
