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7 Magnificent Ways to Use Up Every Last Bit of Your Products

12 February, 2018 - 10:24pm by - First Lady | 26 Comments
Article by BR Tabatha

Waste not, want not.  Isn't that how the adage goes?  Now I don't want to bleat on in a #firstworldproblems manner, but as a member of the Beauty Crew I go through a lot of products.  And by go through I mean, try and move on.  

Seriously, I haven't finished a shampoo or moisturiser, nail polish, or, well, anything, before I'm being asked what I think of the next.  In the words of our Head Pixie, Kellie, I am a product tart.

Well in 2018 that is going to change.  Well not the product tart bit, but the half empty bottles, sitting unused part.  I've been doing some research and asking our resident moderator and frugral Franny, Elaine what I can do with product leftovers so they don't go to waste.

Here's 7 magnificent ideas.

  1. Fill your 'empty' conditioner bottle with clean, warm water and shake.  Pour it into a spray bottle and what do you get? Homemade detangling spray!
  2. Don't throw away 'almost' empty shampoos, conditioners, body washes.  Decant in to travel containers for trips away from home.
  3. If you've got a shampoo that doesn't work for your hair, use it to wash your delicates, woolens and handwash items.
  4. Bring an old nail polish back to life with a few drops of acetone nail polish remover.
  5. If you've got a conditioner that doesn't work for your hair, use it in place of shaving cream, for a smooth shave and even smoother legs.
  6. Mix the last little bit of your lipstick with a little 8 Hour Cream or a clear lip balm for the perfect lip tint.
  7. Use the last of your favourite fragrance to make a solid perfume.  Melt some coconut oil and add the fragrance. Stir and pour in to an old lip balm pot.  Pop in the fridge to solidify.  Voila!

Are you a leftover-user-upper?  What tips do you have to share? 

Comments

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13th February, 2018

Great tips, thanks!

13th February, 2018

That solid fragrance idea is such a good one! My other tip is adding eye drops to mascara, when they start to dry out, pop a couple of drops in and it will bring it back to life!

13th February, 2018

Ha ha ha omg BR Tabitha - you pretty much described me when you said "I go through a lot of products. And by go through I mean, try and move on." I am the same, but I get bored easily and something else always catches my eye even when I'm enjoying a product I'm using. I just have to try the next thing and there is no such thing as waiting oops. I definitely do number 5, conditioner makes the best shaving cream ever. I like the one about using empty conditioner bottles and using as detangler. Definitely will have to try that on myself and also my little girl.

13th February, 2018

never thought of using shampoo in my laundry wash - I guess you'd want it to be as natural as possible and not the cheapy shampoos (or purple shampoo haha!).. I like to add a little of my favourite perfume to my body lotion, that way I'm not always having to use my perfume and my body lotion is a nice scent. I hate wasting foundation that's in tubes so I cut the ends off and scrape it into a lip balm container

13th February, 2018

Who throws away 'almost' empty products anyway? That's so wasteful and your not getting your money's worth. That's like throwing money away. I did know about the tip 4 thought that's helpful.

13th February, 2018

Great tips thank you. I love the detangler idea.

13th February, 2018

I often us shampoo as a body wash if I am starting to get a build up of shampoos. I like the idea of acetone in nailpolish as I have 2 I was going to throw away.

13th February, 2018

I am definitely trying all of these! So cool!!

13th February, 2018

This year I vowed to use up all of my ‘nah’ draw. It’s sucking my will to live - I am getting serious withdrawals from not purchasing any beauty products, but on the plus side I have saved over $300 on shampoo, conditioner, face wash, highlighter, mascara etc. In a few weeks time I’ll have used up all my part products, and will have plenty of space on my dresser and stash drawer to fill it up again with lovely new potions!

12th February, 2018

Left over cream highlighter mixed with moisturiser (or my fav MAC Strobe cream) leaves you with a lovely glow. I prefer to use it on my arms and legs because I'm extra.

12th February, 2018

Ummm yep, the main issue is that the shampoo is half full when the conditioner runs out so I have a lot of shampoo sitting around. I'm trying really hard to empty everything I have before I try something new, but it's taken ages and is getting a little boring quite frankly :(

Julieal
13th February, 2018

I use as body wash when I get too much shampoo.

JessB
13th February, 2018

I have the same problem!

Kimrose
13th February, 2018

I get bored with products like shampoo and conditioner! I bought 700ml bottles and OMG! it takes ages to use up.

MareeB
13th February, 2018

Me too. Maybe they should come in smaller sizes!

Imoshen
13th February, 2018

I do :(. I like to buy something to try, then I find out I'm allergic to it and I'm sure the people in my family get a little tired of me passing on my "hand-me-downs". I have tried to be really good lately!

tabucutie
13th February, 2018

Allergic I understand, I didn't think about that. I thought the context of the article was "it's almost empty so I may as well throw it away". My sister and close family friend love my hand me downs. It's of use and not being wasted. Its a win!

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