Please help make-up illiterate person - with photo

[LagartijaNick]

Erm...How does this work? I have a lovely eye shadow crayon, but once the tip has gone, how do I get more out of it? I tried twisting the bit at the back, lipstick-like, no joy. I'm ashamed to say I tried sharpening it, kohl-style, no joy.
Disclaimer: I'm a person of average intelligence, I can do lots of more or less useful things like unblocking drains and toilets, programming a VCR, I have a degree. This is the second device of this kind that I CAN NOT use. Thank you.

[Cliffdiver]

Have you tried pushing the bottom up?

[AppleSetsSail]

I had a chunky thing from Sephora that looked exactly like yours (although it was a lip thing). I couldn't sharpen it either, and I figured out after I'd been digging lipstick out with a stick that if you turned the base around, the lipstick grew.

[LagartijaNick]

The base won't budge. I feel like a the missing link between ape and human, trying to make myself a tool. Ugh, me want eye shadow, ugh.

[Tate15]

Rimmel scandaleyes. You twist the bottom up. I have a taupe coloured one and mine doesn't twist up either!

It's stuck fast as yours seems to be as well! I got mine in Poundstretcher. If it were Boots ID take it back and get a new one or my money back.

[StylishDuck]

I had an eyeliner that I couldn't work out once. In the end I tried the sharpener and once I got through the tough plastic coating it sharpened perfectly. Not sure if that's the right way to do it, but it worked!

[LagartijaNick]

It's Boots but I've been using it for a while. There is a nine minute (!) video on YouTube about it. Nine minutes! How does Hilary Clinton ever get ready for work if she has to spend nine minutes sharpening her eye shadow crayon! Other links say it needs a pencil sharpener, but it won't fit into one, even the large part of a double pencil sharpener. Where do I get an oversized pencil sharpener? In the clown shop?

[barleysugar]

I sharpen my Rimmel one, but I have an ancient electric blue Avon sharpener from about 1989, which is double sized.

[desperatehousewife2]

Sorry can't help you but this did make me laugh: I feel like a the missing link between ape and human, trying to make myself a tool. Ugh, me want eye shadow, ugh.

[MadameJosephine]

I had this problem too. A regular pencil sharpener didn't work, even the larger hole of a double one wasn't quite big enough. I went into boots to ask and they sold me a specific sharpener meant for make up pencils, apparently the sizes are slightly different

[TheImprobableGirl]

You're gonna have to go old school OP and whittle it

[Greengardenpixie]

I would go back with it and ask. I too have had a similar problem in the past and ended up binning the thing. I figured that that was it finished!!!

[burnishedsilver]

Perhaps a bit of WD40 would get the end twisting.

[LagartijaNick]

Right. I've taken a Stanley knif and whittled it away. It does now fit into the sharpener. But the actual inside bit (what would be the lead in a pencil) is too wide and crumbles. I give up and will get a special sharpener next time I'm in Boots. Or Superdrug. Excuse me while I go and wash my bad girl bronze hands.

[LagartijaNick]

Knife...

[LagartijaNick]

...knife...

[LagartijaNick]

Argh

[FuckOffJeffrey]

Have you tried soaking the base in warm water for a while ? (propped up in a mug of water so you don't get the make up bit wet). It should help get the twisty bit at the bottom to twist again.

[LagartijaNick]

Like it did last summer... I've come to think it's not meant to twist. The sharpening works really well, just need the properly sized sharpener.

[OttiliaVonBCup]

I had buy a special sharpener for a Charlotte Tilbury stick because it would not fit in any other one.

A happy bunny I was not.

[hugoagogo]

I have the exact same one, mine doesn't turn either.

It should say on these things how they work; I had the same trouble with this concealer pencil.

[Wombatinabathhat]

I've no advice OP but I've enjoyed your witty posting style. Thank you

[LagartijaNick]

Thank you for all your advice, and thank you, Wombat, that made my day, because I was trying to be witty. Have a good weekend everyone and good luck with your eye make-up.

[burnishedsilver]

After a little research it seems the bottom isn't meant to turn. You are supposed to sharpen it with a bigger and stronger than normal sharpener, which Rimmel don't make (idiots). Apparently the bourgious sharpener will do the trick. The review section on Boots website is full of peoplel saying its a great product but they have to buy a new one every few weeks when the nib wears down.

[ZacharyQuack]

These are just giant pencils aren't they. You're supposed to sharpen them and you can buy special sharpeners for them.

Rimmel aren't taking the mickey out of women . Lots of brands sell pencils like this: L'Oreal, Nars, Bobbi Brown, Urban Decay.....