How to revive dried-out cream eyeshadows

Cream eyeshadows are our go-to when we want a dewy wash of colour, or a strong and grabby base for powder shadows.
Although perfect for long-lasting wear on the eye, with their tendency to dry down quickly, they can have the opposite effect when sitting in their pot.
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image credit: @cyndlekomarovski
Here are our top tips to ensure your cream shadows stay exactly as they should... CREAMY.
1. Try a little heat
Sometimes all your cream eyeshadow needs is a little de-frosting. Try warming up the product with heat from your hairdryer.
Hold it pointing at the cream shadow for 30 seconds to one minute, then give the product a stir with a cotton bud.
2. Add some witch hazel
Witch hazel is often recommended to revive cream eyeshadow, as it's skin safe and soothing for puffy eyes (win-win).
Mix some through your shadow using a small, clean utensil, (i.e. a small knife or cotton bud) then smooth the mixture back over so it's flat and compact.
If you’d like to see a video tutorial, check one out here.
bh recommends: Oil Garden Witch Hazel Toner
3. Mix in a facial spray
If you a love a face mist for hydrating your skin, you'll also love the fact they can bring some life back to your cream shadows.
Simply spray as much as it takes to loosen the consistency, then give it a mix.
bh recommends: Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist and Kosmea Hydrating Rosewater Mist
4. Give it a (super quick) microwave hit
Place your eyeshadow pot into the microwave for no more than 10 second intervals at a time until the formula is soft.
Mix, and press down, making sure to get rid of any air bubbles and allowing it to completely cool down before applying to the eyes.
For those looking for a cream shadow, bh loves: Revlon ColorStay™ Crème Eye Shadow, Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick
Main image credit: @gigihadid
Have any of your cream products dried out? Do you have any tips on how to bring them back to life?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
Review them now to earn points that you can swap for free beauty products in RewardsRoom.
60 Member Comments
If a cream eyeshadow is so badly dried out that I can’t use it, I honestly consider whether perhaps it should be binned........
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I use powder eyeshadows bur thanks for the tips for those who use cream eyeshadow
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I would of thought that the hair dryer would of made it worse.
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I discard cream eyeshadows due to their short expiry date for hygiene reasons, so they never have a chance of drying out.
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I just tried this and WOW!!
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oh wow I used to just use a tiny drop of facial oil
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I just trashed mine a couple of days ago. Should have known better.
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The microwave tip is a surprising one!
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I owuld get a make up artist to help me with this one.
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I've heard the microwave trick, but I haven't needed to try it out myself yet.
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The microwave idea and the witch hazel is brilliant i would never of thought of doing that! Thankyou for the tips
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Will be trying some of these.
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Good tips,need to try !
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These are some really good tips. I've found a silicone based primer or oil really help revive my cream eye shadows too,
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I don't really use cream eye-shadows, but this is a great sustainable tip.
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I haven't used a creme eye shadow for a long time, not so good on aged creepy eyes these days even as a base. Light powder shadow works better for me. Good tips though.
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I don't use cream eye shadows, but great tips here.
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I will need to try one of these once covid is over as I am not using my makeup under lock down and the cream eye shadows will dry out before use.
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Heat is a good temporary fix. I would like to try the witch hazel option and see if that works.
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Sometimes having them dry out is a good indication that its time to replace them.
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Never like cream eye shadows. Tried many years ago and they ran and didn't stay on nicely
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Great tips, I never get through my makeup products because you only need a tiny amount
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Applying with a wet/damp eyeshadow brush is great too
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Some great tips to try out before binning my old cream eye shadows.
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