Donating surplus toiletries / cosmetics...?

[Perplexing]

I have just had a de-clutter and have lots of surplus toiletries - shower gels / perfumes / body lotions etc etc - and it seems a shame and so wasteful just to throw them away. Does anyone know of places which would accept them - womens' refuges etc? They are mostly new and unused and I have just been hoarding / stockpiling and will never be able to use them all.

Some of them could go in the Xmas shoe box appeal things like soap and toothpaste.

Maybe a local charity shop?

If you have a hospital close by you could donate them to the league of friends who would either raffle them or make sure they get put to good use.

Charity shops can't take cosmetics (unless they're in completely sealed containers, ie could not have been opened?) but homeless shelters and women's refuges usually will.

Give and Make Up take these type of things for women escaping domestic violence. Their rule is if you would pass it on to a friend then they'll take it e.g. something you've used but didn't like. They are struggling for storage though according to their website.

Also I've donated baby clothes and outgrown nappies to a local women's refuge before. I rang them and asked what they could use and then dropped stuff off.

I wonder if food banks will start accepting toiletries at some point as it's an expensive business keeping a family clean. There are lots of local food banks these days, I would ring your local one and ask.

Thanks for suggestions.

Marianna - the food bank idea is a great one, I know of a local one so will call and ask - after all, it's all stuff which could be part of the 'supermarket' shop nowadays. Give and Makeup was the company I had heard of but couldn't remember the name!

if they are unopened fine, but if they are opened grit your teeth and throw it away yourself. I used to work in a refuge and we used to get a massive amount of used and new toilitries over xmas. We'd have to sort through it and it is a bit demoralizing to think that women would want have used, out of date and/or dusty products. We threw all the used stuff away per company

Oh no PoshBird I would never donate anything I wouldn't be happy to receive myself! All the dusty out of date stuff has already been thrown. It's just the in-date / new / 'tiny bit used but still good' stuff I am left scratching my head over.

Oh that's great! I think it's just worth saying given how much used/dirty stuff we'd get a times.