How to Get Rid of Sticky Rubber Coating on Makeup Packaging

dejmakeup Ekim 03, 2022

A PSA.

Whoa! Has it really been ~~decades~~ years since I last posted a DIY/How To type of post?? Well, to be fair, all you need to know about a beauty DIY is a simple engine search away so me not updating isn’t really a huge loss. But hey, what I’m about to share is something of utmost importance. This is life-saving; product-wise, at least.

I’ve always loved NARS cosmetics. I love their products, their campaigns, and most of all, their product packaging. Their packaging is sleek, simple, and straight to the point. And you know what I like most? That matte black rubber coating they have on all their product cases. Their single shadows, their lippies, the caps of their nail polishes; that black rubber coating is everywhere and I’m here for it. Anything matte is just really good, you know? Plus it’s a nice break from the standard shiny hard plastic packaging almost all brands use.

There’s something I found out bout that rubber bit, though. As it ages and gets exposed more to humidity, light, and pretty much life, the rubber bit melts and turns to a sticky as a fly paper mess that no one, absolutely no one, wants in their life. Imagine my face when I reached for my NARS nail polish only to find my fingers sticking to that awfully sticky cap. It was gross, disturbing, and heartbreaking all at the same time.

I know I just can't throw away a perfectly good product just because its casing is a hot mess. So I did a little research on how to save them, tested some DIYs, and I eventually discovered the ones that best worked for me. So. If you are having the same problem with your NARS, Smashbox, BECCA, Real Techniques, etc. products, here are two ways you can save them.

THE TEMPORARY FIX

If you want a quick way to get rid of that stick or you're a bit skeptical to go the hardcore way, all you need is silica powder. Now bear in mind, you have to use SILICA, and not talc, so obviously, you gotta stop reaching for the baby powder. Most powder makeup products include silica more than talc so this shouldn't be an issue to find. Just make sure you use something that's translucent to at least untinted so that it won't alter the color of your packaging. The last thing you want is a nude color on a black cap, right? If you don't have a silica based makeup product, you can always use body powder. My powder deo (yes, as in deodorant) is silica based so I used that.

This way is straightforward: all you need to do is apply a thin layer of powder on to the sticky part then rub the powder with a lil pressure until the powder's all gone. The powder acts as a barrier that covers the sticky bits and this makes the packaging close to matte again. As this isn't a permanent solution, you'd have to apply powder every now and then, just to make sure the sticky bits are masked and at bay.

Appearance wise, this will make your product look a little lighter in color, specially if the packaging is color black, or any dark color, really. But hey, at least it ain't sticky anymore!

THE PERMANENT SOLUTION

Say the quick way isn't working anymore; what do you do? You end it once and for all. Time to say goodbye to the rubber coating forever.

Time to bust out the rubbing alcohol and cotton pads. That's all you need. Load up a cotton pad with alcohol (70% or higher) then slowly rub the sticky rubber off the product. A little pressure is needed to really get rid of it. A few rubs later, you'll end up with a naked, rubber-free product.

This method will make your product's packaging look basic and plastic-y and all but at least you won't have to worry or stress about the rubber coating ever again. Yes, it won't look special and unique anymore but you still get to use the actual product which is more important, right? So yeah. There's a permanent fix for you.

Oh, a little caution with this method. Be careful using this on parts where there are writings like the brand or product name. If you rub too hard, there a 90% chance you remove the print, like so: