How to repurpose your beauty packaging
The nine lives of beauty packaging.
Words: Anna Lowe
I’m sure that we all get the same pang of guilt whenever you finish off the last drop of a beauty product and have to throw away the packaging, especially when you are most likely going to re-purchase it again. However, no one should really be throwing away their beauty packaging, almost all beauty packaging materials are recyclable, and in many cases you can repurpose the packaging to give it a new life. Reusing your beauty packaging means you get the utmost value out of your products while reducing waste. A skin-win! Here are a few ways to up-cycle beauty packaging into some new decor, storage or perfect travel sized minis:
Often beauty products come in a luxe, quality cardboard box. Instead of recycling it, why not use the underside to write cards and notes for friends or family?
If your candle has burned out and you’re left with the glass jar it came in, turn it into the most aesthetic storage. Store some make-up brushes, reusable makeup pads or knick knacks in your old candle jar. The storage possibilities are infinite. You could also make a candle and reuse the glass for the purpose it was made. P.S – This works for any glass/ceramic cylindrical packaging.
Finished all your perfume? Remove the nozzle, add some flowers to turn it into a cute mini vase. In my opinion, glass looks pretty cool just by itself too- take the empty bottle and place it on a windowsill or near light for a reflective effect. This would also work with foundation bottles or skincare bottles.
Do you ever struggle to find hair ties or bobby pins when you need one? Just keep them in your old lipstick tubes! Just remove the lipstick and clean out the tube first. They’re super easy to carry around and you can put them anywhere. Never lose your hair pins again!
Don’t throw out your mascara. It can become the best on-the-go spooly to tame stray brows or fix your lashes. Remember to give it a good wash first.
It’s a sad moment when you’ve hit pan left on your favourite compact but you can turn it into… a compact companion! Just give it a clean and you’ve got the most adorable mirror for last minute touch ups when you’re out and about. If it doesn’t have a mirror, it can still be used. Depending on the size, it could hold some hair pins, safety pins or even earrings.
This one is my personal favourite. If your products are in tubes or plastics, cut it open to make it flat and turn it into a makeshift mixing palette. This could be used to mix paints or foundation!
Save those smaller containers and jars for travel. Perfect for storing foundation, concealer and even shampoo and conditioner. They take up less space and you can use them instead of having to buy travel sized products.
Lastly, save any bigger containers/jars for general storage. If you don’t need the storage, maybe someone else might. Why not consider donating it!
