Alright folks, let me tell you about this little project I tackled recently. It’s called “gone but not forgotten cosmetics.” Basically, it’s about figuring out what to do with old makeup – you know, the stuff that’s been sitting in the drawer for ages, the eyeshadow palettes you never use, the lipsticks that are way past their prime.
So, where did I even start? Well, first things first, I pulled out EVERYTHING. I mean, I emptied every drawer, every makeup bag, every little nook and cranny where I stash my beauty products. It was honestly kind of horrifying to see it all laid out. There was just SO MUCH STUFF. I definitely had a “how did I even accumulate all this?” moment.
Then came the fun part – sorting. I started by dividing everything into categories: eyeshadows, lip products, foundations, mascaras, etc. After that, I went through each category and evaluated each item. The big questions were: Is it expired? Do I even like it? Have I used it in the last year? Is the packaging broken? Any of those questions getting a “yes” meant it was probably time to say goodbye.
I was super strict with myself. Anything that looked or smelled weird went straight into the trash. I know some people try to sanitize old makeup, but honestly, it’s not worth the risk of getting a skin infection. Better safe than sorry, right?
Next up was figuring out what to do with the stuff that wasn’t totally garbage. Some items were perfectly good, just not my style anymore. For those, I researched local charities and women’s shelters to see if they accepted makeup donations. Turns out, many do, but they have strict rules about what they can take (usually unopened or gently used items). So I separated everything that met the criteria and bagged it up for donation.
Then there were the items that I kind of liked, but weren’t quite right. Maybe a lipstick color was a little too bright, or a foundation shade was slightly off. For those, I decided to get a little creative. I experimented with mixing colors, blending different textures, and generally just playing around to see if I could make them work. It was actually a lot of fun, and I ended up discovering some new combinations that I really liked!
Finally, there was the actual disposal process. I didn’t want to just toss everything in the trash, so I looked into more sustainable options. I discovered that some companies have recycling programs for makeup packaging, so I collected all the empty containers and shipped them off. For the rest, I made sure to dispose of them properly according to local regulations.
The Results
So, after all that, what did I end up with? Well, a much cleaner and more organized makeup collection, for starters! I also learned a lot about what I actually like and use, which will hopefully help me make better purchasing decisions in the future. And I felt good knowing that I was able to donate some items to people who could use them, and recycle the rest responsibly.
- A clutter-free makeup space.
- Renewed appreciation for my favorite products.
- Guilt-free goodbye to the items I no longer need.
Honestly, the whole process was way more satisfying than I expected. It felt good to declutter, to be resourceful, and to give back. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your own makeup collection, I highly recommend giving it a try!
