As someone who owns entirely too many beauty products, I always find myself with left overs of things I either liked but didn't love enough to use them up, or things I didn't like but couldn't return. There are also the things I liked but forgot about because I got another thing just like it that I liked slightly better and by the time I remembered the first thing, it was too late to use it or I forgot it again [it's a never ending cycle.]
Because of my constant surplus of stuff and my guilt about throwing things away because I'm broke, I find myself having to come up with creative ways to use up products. Some of these, I've discovered on my own, but most, I've collected from various magazines and blogs.
Conditioner= Shaving Cream
I've never [not once in my life] used up an entire bottle of conditioner on my hair. There are just too many other ones to try for me to patiently wait until the bottle runs out. Instead, when I'm done using a conditioner, I use it as a shaving cream. It moisturizes just as well, if not better than a regular shaving cream, and it makes my legs smell super nice.
Shampoo= Soap
Though shampoo tends to be something I do usually finish, sometimes I just don't like the way a particular one works with my hair. Instead of tossing it out, I just use it as hand soap. Also, because the majority of shampoos have some conditioners in them, it won't dry out your hands the way a regular soap can.
Lipstick= Cream Blush
Every girl knows this, it's almost too obvious. Clearly, it can only be done with certain shades of lipstick [I don't think you want purple blush.]
Concealer= Eye Shadow Primer
I've read some makeup artists say that concealer won't work as a primer, but in my experience, it works just fine. And,
Paula Begoun says it can be done, so it
has to be true!
Baby Shampoo= Brush Cleaner
I don't actually buy baby shampoo to use on myself [as I'm no longer a baby :P] but I buy it specifically to clean my brushes because it's cheaper. Since the formula is milder than other shampoos and soaps, it's great to clean your brushes without ruining them and making them harsh.
Clear Nail Polish=Preserve Costume Jewelry
This is something else I don't actually use to begin with [because clear polish is so boring it makes me cry,] but i buy it for it's alternative use. Simply paint over the rhinestones on costume jewelry and it will hold them in place longer. Also, a clear coat on the inside of a ring will keep it from turning your finger green.
Mascara= Tame & Color Brows
This actually only works if you have dark hair like me, otherwise you'll end up with blonde hair and black eyebrows [which would only look good if paired with that purple lipstick as a blush.] When a mascara dries out and can't be used anymore, I run the wand lightly over my brows to give them a little color and tame them. The keyword here is LIGHTLY.
Eye Shadow/Pigments= Liner, Blush, Highlighter, Gloss
Eye shadows and more specifically loose pigments can be used for almost anything provided they're the right colors.
A light shadow can be used as a highlighter on the brow bone and cheek area.
A dark or bright shadow can be used as a liner when you want a more subtle look and not the harsh lines that traditional liners tend to leave.
Any shade that looks natural can be used a blush.
Mix a little bit of clear gloss with a loose pigment to create a shimmery lip shade.
What do you do with your old products?
