If you wear makeup more than likely you’ve bought something you realized was awful after you got home and tried it on.
What do you do with that makeup?
If you’re like me you give it to your sister, or mom, or your friends, or you keep it until one day you realize “Wow, I’ve had this lipstick for 5 years, and I’ve never worn it.” Then you toss it out.
That old lipstick - which may or may not smell rancid if you actually open it up to see what color it is, really isn’t doing anyone any good rattling around in the bottom of your makeup case.
However - what if you could give it to someone who could use it?
Not only would it be out of your way, but you’d also have room for more makeup.
If you haven’t ever opened the makeup you have a few more choices - you can donate it to a local thrift store, or check with your local women’s shelter, or Dress for Success.
Some of your local theatres, children’s charities or groups might even be interested. I know when I was about 13 we had a local woman come in and show us how to do our makeup, and it was a ton of fun.
Some of the above mentioned organizations might accept opened or used makeup and toiletries, but you’ll have to ask.
If you don’t want to have to leave your house to give your unwanted makeup away, you can always try your local Freecycle group, or even Craigslist.
I was surprised when I saw an ad on our local freecycle group offering a variety of used name brand makeup and nail polishes, and I was even more surprised when the original poster wrote back to the group (you’re supposed to email the group when an offered item has been taken) and said she had a list of 14 interested people!
So what do you do with your unwanted makeup?
Toss it, return it if it’s the wrong color, swap it, give it away, or just put it in your makeup case and forget about it?
While we’re at it, how often do you clean out your makeup case?
I’ll toss anything that’s starting to look funny, or smell bad when I go to use it, but I do have a neverending assortment of eyeshadows on hand at all times.
October 5th, 2007 - 7:20 am
I don’t know how I feel about freecycled makeup. It sounds sort of gross to me.
I don’t think I’ve ever taken back makeup, even if it didn’t work for me.
Usually I’ll give it away, or toss it.
October 6th, 2007 - 11:21 am
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October 6th, 2007 - 2:10 pm
I am the first to return a product if it is the wrong shade or don’t like the way it looks.
I agree with Smurfette thought, as much as it sounds like a nice thing to freecycle, the thought does ick me a bit. Nail polish is probably a safe bet, and maybe anything that doesn’t have direct contact with your face or hands, like a cosmetic that comes out in a squeezable tube, like my foundation.
I usually toss any makeup that is over a year old, or that for some reason haven’t used in a long time. After the Oprah show on bacteria growing in old cosmetics, I became a little more paranoid about it.
October 7th, 2007 - 2:12 am
hi! first time reader here. usually, i’d prefer to swap or sell unwanted makeup as it can get abit costly to keep giving good and usable makeup away.
October 7th, 2007 - 3:24 am
[…] Mystical Beauty’s Musings asks what do you do with unwanted makeup? […]
October 7th, 2007 - 1:14 pm
I give mine to family members or close friends if it’s opened. Or I save it for Halloween.
If it’s body lotion, shampoo, or something received as a present that I don’t like or won’t use, I usually post it on Makeup Alley as a Swap item and try to find a good home for it.
Oh, and I thoroughly clean out my makeup cases twice a year, toss anything I don’t need/want, make a giveaway pile, scrub out the case, repot any loose shadows etc. Feels good to be organized!
Cheers,
Bionic
October 8th, 2007 - 7:27 am
Thanks for your responses.
I do agree that it is kind of gross, I’m not big on used makeup, but I know that a lot of people don’t mind.
The lady who was offering the makeup did say that she tried to scrape off the top layer of the eyeshadows, and lipsticks.
Jen - I need to start returning makeup that doesn’t work for me.
As Daphne said, it can get expensive to give it away or throw it away.
Bionic Beauty saving it for Halloween is a good idea too.
I’m impressed with you repotting your loose shadows twice a year.
Do you mind sharing your technique with us?
October 12th, 2007 - 10:53 pm
[…] Mytical Beauty’s Musings: What do you do with unwanted makeup? […]
October 17th, 2007 - 10:01 pm
If the makeup is unopened I would say give it to a charity.
If it’s opened def throw it out!
Overtime bad makeup can get bacteria and it’s not worth anyone getting sick!
As far as the makeup case question, I would get rid of the case.
You can get cheap makeup cases at a local dollar store.
If I were you, throw it all out and get really good makeup.
I find certain cheaply made makeups go bad quite quickly
I love Dior Mascara and Lipstick Queens lipsticks and Prescriptives Eye Shadows
If you spend a few extra bucks on some good stuff it won’t go bad as quickly.
I’ve been there. I used to keep makeup bags and lipsticks for years and then I read an article somewhere about bacteria that forms.
Google it.
Hope this helps!
Jen
October 19th, 2007 - 9:59 am
Thanks Jen, it’s definitely not worth getting a bacterial infection to save some money on makeup.
October 25th, 2007 - 9:26 am
Hey Dollface just posted about seeing used mascara for sale on ebay.
I think that takes the cake.
There is no way I’d use used mascara.
Even the testers at the store creep me out.
Gross!
November 14th, 2008 - 11:29 am
[…] had a discussion over a year ago about What do you do with unwanted makeup and came up with some pretty good ideas, including donating it to a women’s shelter, giving […]