Monday 12 September 2011

Refilling vintage powder compacts

It all started with the pure need for some more powdered foundation and I never thought it would end up in refilling one of my vintage compacts. In York there's a discount beauty shop called Zest [you'll find it mid way between Superdrug and Boots] where they tend to sell lesser known products or discounted lines. I'd eyed up the Max Factor Creme Puff foundation  for a mere £3.99 and thought bargain!
This Max Factor Creme Puff works out to the the perfect size for refilling and replacing powder in your vintage compacts. It even helps that the foundation pan, with a little digging out [with a little help with something sharp and pointy - mind your fingers!] is very easy to part from the plastic casing. Now you just need to find a vintage powder compact ...

Your best working with a post 1950 circular vintage powder compact - they are not only more regular in size in comparison to foundations that are available on the market today, but it means you can reuse compacts that are more readily available and are therefore cheaper to get hold of and you won't be risking using an older more rarer compact. The compact I chose to use is one i've apparently never mentioned on my blog before. I found it with a Melissa compact in a local compact shop priced at £5. Branded wise it's unmarked with only a "made in England" stamped around the mirrored rim, but the cover emalling was in perfect condition. I only had one other compact that this Max Factor powder would have fitted - one of my first that I rescued from my gran, it would have been a sweet idea to have brought new life and re used it, but I didn't want to risk the foundation damaging the already old Stratton compact.

After removing the foundation pan from your new foundation just pop it into your compact, there's no need to stick or glue it in place especially if your compact as a circular holder in place, any adhesive may even ruin the bottom of the compact.

Finally just click the holder back into place and your all ready to reuse your compact! A really helpful website/blog is The Powder Compact Dairies which has headed up a guide of other suitable modern foundations which you can use if your tempted. Aside from the Creme Puff by Max Factor, your looking for pans with a 67mm diameter, this includes Rimmel Stay Matte and Estee Lauder Lucidity. If you have a smaller pan (say the 59mm diameter) then have a look into using foundations by Boots 17, MAC, Benefit, Lancome and Bourjois.

What do you think? Have you ever given new life to a vintage beauty piece? Would you be tempted too?

20 comments:

  1. What great idea! Love it!

    http://sweetharvestmoon.blogspot.com

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  2. Ive been doing the same with some of my fave compats, i was told a while ago about the max factor one fitting - its been a dream to use my compacts on outings :o) Scarlett x

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  3. I don't use compacts, but after reading this post, I totally wish I did. That is a darling little container!
    ♥ laura

    the blog of worldly delights

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  4. Great idea, looks so beautiful in the vintage compact xx

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  5. Scarlet - it does feel a lot more substantial using the foundation out of a metal, rather then a plastic container. Far more pretty too!

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  6. Those compacts remind me of 50's glamor, very oh lala and pretty =)

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  7. That such a good idea! The vintage compact is gorgeous it's great it gets another lease of life.

    E :)

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  8. Very true E, as much as i love having all my compacts out on display its a great joy to be able to give some use to one x

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  9. Fab idea, love it in the pretty compact.

    Sadie x

    www.brandnewbutterflywings.com

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  10. Brilliant idea! I've sold all but one of mine. I don't use powder myself but fabulous for a present. x

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  11. i love vintage compacts! i only use them for mirrors though... this seems like it would work really well :)

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  12. This is such a good idea, I would never even have thought of doing this! Will have to keep a look out for cute compacts when I'm charity shopping!

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  13. It's definitely worth giving it a try if you come across one Gillian x

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  14. That compact is beautiful, I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled for one, would love to have one and be able to put my regular powder in! x

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  15. Yeah it beats my normal No17 powder plastic case I will admit Caroline!

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  16. Super duper cute, vintage really is the best!

    Liz
    http://aspirationsofglam.blogspot.com/
    xxx

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  17. Totally inspired! Going to see what i can do about doing this myself!! Cos a vintage compact is faaarrr more glam then a plasticky shop bought one ay!:D
    Thanks for the inspiration!
    Rachel :D

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  18. i didn't know that there are sites about refelling your vintage powder compacts, sweet, i'll check it out.
    although i like the modern simplicity of the black MAC box, the lower part which holds the foundation is ugly, with silver industrial looking metal surrounding it, now the gold surroundings you put it in give a vibe of what true women are all about.
    and love the delicate and so beautiful vintage powder u found. i consider doing what u did

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  19. at first it seemed quirky collection vintage powders but now it seems so beautiful. unique . that i totally consider doing it

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  20. I own several Strattons and I refill them with COLLECTION 2000 Bronzing Powder or Blusher I also use MAX FACTOR Bronzing Powder which brings them bang uptodate! I keep them in my makeup baf together with my lovely facebrush!

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