Pressing Eye Shadow With Powder-Pressing Power Tools

Now that you've been introduced to the the joys of visiting the hardware store for powder-pressing power tools, let's see how the first batch of pressed eyeshadow turned out using them.

Four Hands are Better than Two 

For the initial test run of this equipment, I was accompanied by a lovely family member. It normally takes me about 2 hours to produce 4 pans of color. Pictured above is the result of 2 hours of work: 3 times as much product! (plus an extra, loose-powder shimmer-blush pot)

Here are a few snaps of our powder-pressing party.

Birdseye view of some of the pigments and equipment. It's helpful to have several small bowls at the ready so it is possible to sift from one to the next while mixing colors. Sifting is preferrable if you use glimmery or shimmery pigments and want to ensure their continued shimmery quality. With matt colors, everything can be whizzed together in a coffee grinder.

Tip: Buy a dedicated coffee grinder for mixing powders. Ground coffee remnants and eyeshadow do not mix well.

The colors have been mixed with base powder and the first layer is being transferred to the first pan.

The pan is built up gradually – a thin layer at a time. A quick press was made with the pressing tool for each layer. Knowing I had my super duper vice at the ready, I didn't use near the pressure (or time) I normally do during this phase.

Tip: A piece of 'wax' (baking) paper between the pan and pressing tool helps distribute the powder evenly.

The final layer is added.

Here's the Wolfcraft vice (or Wolfy – as it has affectionately been named), ready for the final pressing. Resting on the base is the pan and pressing tool. The little 'slice of yellow' sandwiched between the pressing tool and wax paper is a silicone pressing pad.

Because this was the first time using the vice, we experimented with several different pressing methods: including silicone pad, without silicone pad, 2 minute press period, 5 minute press period, 10 second press period, one quick hard press, etc etc.

A closeup of Wolfy, effortlessly pressing eyeshadow (sans silicone pad) as I pause for a sip of coffee with not a sore thumb, finger, or wrist in sight.

The first pan is ready. This photo doesn't do the silvery color justice. You'll just have to trust me when I say it looked awesome. Check out how deep the indentation is in the piece of wax paper. I've never had this much pressing power before. The crucial drop test revealed that all was well and truly pressed to perfection. The first pan took a total of 5 minutes to build and press. Amazed much?!

Press Party

Before we knew it, we had this collection of colors ready to be spot-glued into the awaiting containers. Zoweee that was fun – and fast!!

Maybe Too Fast

The next day, I discovered some of the shadows started to loosen and even spilled into the other pans during use. They needed re-pressing and ended up looking a little 'mixed', but were still functional.

I know what you're thinking: 'Lise is a diligent note-taker. She could just check her notes on the different pressing methods that she had taken the day before. In a second she's going to tell us exactly which pressing methods worked and which ones didn't.'

And you would be right (normally). Except, well, don't ask me if I took notes, OK?

OK, I didn't take notes.

All Play and No Work

Looking back, I realize my enthusiasm about suddenly having Wolfy-power is totally at fault. I lost all perspective, forgetting several drop tests and even forgetting to check the (crucial) amount of added binding agent to the powders. I spent far too much time sipping coffee, chatting, and giggling up a storm with my lovely family member. We were just too busy having a blast mixing colors and shooting out pressed eyeshadows right and left.

Obviously, I need to spend some concentrated (non-giggling) time getting to know Wolfy's capabilities (while taking notes). However, I fully expect it will be seriously enjoyable. I promise to update when Wolfy and I have done a few more rounds.

Visit this post for more info on the pressing tools.

What tools do you use for pressing eyeshadow? Can yours pass the drop test?