How to Fix Broken Beauty Products

Broken Perfume Pump

Cause: The pump tops of many fragrance bottles have crimped collars to prevent leaks. If these are misassembled, the perfume won't make it to the nozzle. Other possible culprits? A faulty pump spring or a pump that is poorly attached to the dip tube (that strawlike thing). "The dip tube can also come loose in the bottle," says Doug Virtue, president and CEO of Virtue Development Company, which creates packages for fragrances, skin-care products, and other cosmetics. "Unfortunately, there's no way to reattach it."

Cure: "Return it to the store where you bought it," says senior director of packaging development for Revlon Ray Garofano. Before buying, ask what the return policy is on faulty packaging.

Preventive tip: Try a spritz before you buy (though that's no guarantee your purchase won't break later).