Essence eyeshadow pans cracked after first drop — how can I avoid that?

It's usually because the pressed powder is too brittle, the binding agents aren't strong enough, or there's too much empty space in the compact, which lets the pan move when it hits something.

When it's cold, powders shrink a little and create tiny cracks. When it's hot, binders get soft, which makes it easier for things to break when they hit something.

Sources in the makeup industry say that shipping or moving palettes in thin plastic cases without padding greatly increases the chance of damage.

To keep that from happening, keep palettes closed tightly and keep shadows in a padded makeup bag. Also, keep temperatures from going too high or too low.

If you can, use isopropyl alcohol to fix cracked shadows: break the pieces into small powder, add a few drops of alcohol to hold them together, press them together with a flat tool, and let them dry fully.