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.

Do you have Olio in your area? It’s great for giving away unwanted stuff that can’t be sold or given away through the usual channels.

It specifically says used cosmetics can be given away on Olio if within date.

My neighbour put a lot of shampoo and conditioner on her front wall with please take it all went

Another vote for Olio. I gave away lots of hairspray from the back of the drawer recently. Very satisfyingly a person with a mohican came to pick it up

Love this!

Omg that is satisfying.

The universe made sense for one brief moment.

I had a massive clear out of makeup over Christmas. Mascaras I just didn’t like, foundations ditto, old eyeshadow palettes, numerous lipsticks, nail varnishes. I just put them in the bin. It didn’t occur to me to do anything else as all had been opened.

@Beachtastic I saw this on another thread yesterday.

https://anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk/donate-rehome-toiletries-pefumes/

Worth looking at.

https://www.beautybanks.org.uk/donate

The unused/unopened products can be donated to beautybanks, like a food bank for toiletries.

Throw them away. It’s unhygienic to give away used makeup so nowhere will take them. Also most of them will be expired if older than 12-24 months

Oh wow, that's amazing! I entered my address assuming there would be no collection in this area, but I'm wrong - it's booked for Friday. They also collect unwanted perfumes (up to 50% empty), which is brilliant because that is my other area of reckless waste.

Plus it will benefit Advance!

Thanks so much for the suggestion.

I was going to say olio or the equivalent. I’ve also given away partially used toiletries, which some people might think is grim, I’d rather that than it gets thrown away.

Yes, I feel it's a shame if someone else might enjoy them.

Unused/unopened - charity shops will take them (well, our local one does).

Used/opened - Boots Recycling (you get a £5 voucher for every 5 items recycled, so can make a bit of money back).

Part-finished perfumes you can sell on eBay - very popular.

If it's used, Superdrug have bins in their stores for make up recycling. If new, women's refuge.

I wish people were more aware that refuges do not accept used cosmetics.

Make-up certainly isn’t too frivolous - but if you’d had to flee from your home and go into temporary accommodation, other people’s smeared and unhygienic cast offs aren’t going to help you feel better about life.

A refuge is not a dustbin.