How can I dispose of unused makeup?

[Beachtastic]

I've reached an age where makeup no longer has the desired effect. Nowadays, I'm more likely to end up looking like Heath Ledger's Joker than Cameron Diaz in The Mask, so I rarely bother. However, my youthful vanity refuses to give up without a fight, so now and then I succumb to the marketing and order some powder or crayon or gel that promises the results I crave. Which it doesn't.

I think I'm gradually learning not to waste my money, but...!!!!!!! WHAT do I do with the unused beauty products sitting at the back of the bathroom drawers? I hate to think they are going straight to landfill when someone else might make better use of them, but I have no idea who to ask. And maybe there's all sorts of stuff about H&S/infection control/whatever that means you can't pass on this sort of thing.

Any suggestions? I'm nowhere near a city, by the way.

Maybe donate to your local women's shelter or food bank?

Unless It’s in a pump dispenser or similar, I don’t think anyone is going to want used mascara, lipstick, blush etc. Even if you apply things like blush/eyeshadow with a brush, you’ll carry bacteria etc from your skin onto the brush and product. I’d bin it.

If it’s unused, I can’t imagine a food bank would want it. They will be interested in shampoo, soap, razors etc.

I sent an email to the local(-ish!) shelter, but had no reply. That was back in November. I couldn't help wondering if they thought I was incredibly shallow offering makeup when people have more pressing needs... 😔

Food bank? Would that work? Wouldn't it be a bit Marie Antoinette, "Let them eat eye shadow"?!?

I've wondered about offering them free on Facebook marketplace, but past experience of that makes me reluctant to let lunatics know where I live.

If old/empty and can’t donate check out the boots recycling scheme, it’s a great way to collect Boots points and recycle at the same time if you’re going to spend £10 or more anyway in boots. There are some T&Cs to the scheme and not sure if you’re near a Boots.

https://www.boots.com/boots-recycling-scheme?srsltid=AfmBOoqHxhRGQamWiO1cdQ007XG81hQEJLGWSbEeYpo50gTNkzGjq7Zc

Family and friends. If they’re used then they won’t be accepted by any charities. You could try selling on Vinted or putting it on Facebook marketplace, but might be more hassle than it’s worth.

Also, there is usually a 12 month shelf life on cosmetics. It will say on the bottle how many months to expiry once opened.

I was going to suggest the Boots recycle scheme.

They're barely touched, though. For example, No. 7 "Stay Perfect" foundation in a pump dispenser, from which I extracted about 10 molecules before realising it just made me look like a clown 🤡

Thank you! This looks promising, except that nothing is empty. These are all pretty much brand new and untouched, apart from me opening them and trying them on once then realising it's another unmitigated disaster.

Long story, but I don't really have any family or friends! (That's not as bad as it sounds, or maybe it is 🫢)

I don't want to sell anything, just want to give it away rather than be wasteful.

Unfortunately, opened cosmetics are undesirable due to hygiene reasons

Superdrug and Boots do have recycling bins

Only unopened items, still with their safety/hygiene seals intact would be any good

It's still been opened and used, even if only once. Just bin it and get on with your life.

Yes, OK! I thought that might be the case, just feel a bit wicked and stupid about pointlessly adding to landfill. I thought I'd check on here first in case anyone had any bright ideas!

I have given away unopened cosmetics on the Olio app, tend to go very quickly. Some items like just used once nail polishes, body lotions and hand creams also get snapped up.

Yep like pp I second olio, all sorts gets given a good home on there.

Boots recycling scheme commit to recycle items so they won’t end up in landfill!

If using the boots recycling scheme and the products are full, you could always empty them if possible/ as best you can, so the packaging then gets recycled and you can built up boots points along the way.

Are you sure it's not just your technique? Maybe watch a few videos on application or book in a session at a makeup counter, though I appreciate you are not near a city so this may be impossible.

I know what you mean about looking like the joker --- I do too if i rush things. Patience might be what you need.

Try Olio, or freecycle schemes in your area

Facebook market place. List as free for a job lot.

ive also sold lots on Vinted and Depop before. Half about unopened but some I list as eyeshadow has been swatched but otherwise unused. Usually sells

Hygiene Bank, set up in Sevenoaks in c.2018 and now national.

I once gave away lots of free make up. A lady picked it up for her teen daughter who was over the moon with it.

I have similar problem... only not my make up, my adult daughter's. Big basketful of barely used items she forgot about years ago.

No germs would have survived this long.

I have loads of unused make-up. Bought new stuff, which I think will suit older-me better (I hope!) so I really need to offload it…

Agree with other posters - Olio!

download and you’ll see, you post as a group lot of items with a few photos, you can put in description some have been used etc, and as you are giving away you don’t even have to meet the people just leave outside when they are due to arrive. I imagine you’ll get interest very quickly.

I’m about to make a similar posting, a mixture of beauty things some used some brand new, like some of the bits I got from my beauty advent calendar I don’t even understand what they are!

Olio sounds promising, thank you so much everyone! 🤗