Q: Are makeup pencil sharpeners different from ordinary ones?
A: Yes. Cosmetic pencils are softer than graphite, so the blade angle is shallower to shave the wood cleanly instead of dragging and crumbling the product.
Q: How do you sharpen a makeup pencil without breaking it?
A: Chill the pencil in the fridge for ten minutes first if it is very soft, then turn the pencil rather than the sharpener and use slow, even turns.
Q: How do you clean a makeup pencil sharpener?
A: Empty the case, then wipe the blade and chamber with a cotton bud and a little surgical spirit. Product left in the chamber is what causes ragged points.