The new MAC Quad style is not extremely friendly. The packaging is nicer and more sturdy than the previous MAC Quads but that means it is harder to depot the eyeshadows for use in your 15 pan palette. Usually you can use a flat iron to heat the back of the pan, but you can't do that with these quads. Also the plastic can't be released from the front, it must be released from the back. So here I'm going to give you a step by step plan for depotting the new style of quads MAC is using.
Materials needed: A pairing knife (or another sharp, skinny point knife), a lighter, paper towels, and a quad.
Time: 10 minutes or less
1. Start with laying your quad flat on a smooth surface. I am using the Palace Pedigreed quad.
2. Flip the quad over to the back. The bottom where the writing of the included shadows are is where you will want to use your knife to separate the front from the back.
3. Working from the bottom, insert your knife into the groove that connects the top to the bottom. Wiggle the knife around a little bit until you hear a snapping sound. This is normal.
4. Work around to the sides until the entire top and bottom separate.
5. When you separate the two, you will notice that near the bottom are slats where the top connects in, and the top part will have some grooves. Keeping these in tact will make it so the quad is reusable.
6. Use your lighter on the bottom of the eyeshadow pan to heat the plastic. Heat the plastic for about 30 seconds, or until you can see the plastic bubble.
7. Take your knife and carefully push the eyeshadow through onto a paper towel. Don't touch the eyeshadow as it will be very hot!
8. Before the plastic cools, push the plastic back down into the pan so it is somewhat flattened. This will also allow you to reuse the quad.
9. Continue doing this until all of the eyeshadows have been released.
10. Snap the bottom of the quad back onto the top. As long as heat hasn't contacted the tongue and groove snaps of the quad, it will easily snap back into place.
11. Label your eyeshadows and place magnets on the bottom so you can put them into your 15 pan palette.
12. Now you should be able to take them out and carry them with you. The quad can also be used for travel.
(From Right to left, top to bottom: Courtly, Seedy Pearl, Russian Blue, Naked Lunch, Honestly, Palace Pedigreed, Quite Spoiled, Mulch, Star Violet)
Note that I tried using the tried and true method of the flat iron. It is impossible due to the edge of the quad being deeper than previous quads. You will end up completely destroying the quad and won't be able to reuse it. You can see in the pictures where I tried the flat iron. This quad is usable, but I will be using my Shadowy Lady quad for my travel bag because it ended up being released a lot neater.
