How much of your makeup is going to waste?featured

I’ll be honest. I’m not that bothered about makeup. On a typical day I’ll wear foundation and a bit of blush. When I’m going on a night out, I’ll throw mascara into the mix and perhaps some nail polish. And yet, despite a general lack of interest in the stuff, I’ve accumulated far more than I need over the years. I have a large box in my room full of cosmetics that I’m unlikely to ever use. And I’m sure I’m not the only one.

If you’re not reading my blog for the very first time, you’re probably already aware that I’m on a thrifty money saving mission in an attempt to save up for a deposit on my own place while also reducing the amount of clutter at my parents’ house.

Over the past few weeks I’ve gathered all my toiletries together in one big box and I’m doing what I can to work my way through them. Yesterday, I realised I should probably do this with make up too. But there’s a problem. Make up goes out of date, and if you use it long past its ‘use by’ date you risk damaging your skin and even your eyesight. (Not all cosmetics have a use by date on the packaging, but this doesn’t mean that it’s healthy to use it for a long period of time)

Don’t get me wrong, I know no one’s skin is going to fall off if they use two-year-old foundation. But at the same time, even if you’re Zoella or Tanya Burr and get all your make up for free, how much of it actually gets used more than once? Sooner or later you’re going to realise that you don’t need all that stuff and probably chuck it in the bin. What a waste.

I know only too well how easily make up goes to waste. When I was studying art at University I decided to ditch paint for a year and use discarded make up to create portraits instead. I put up a poster in a university corridor asking people to give me their old and unwanted cosmetics and not only was I overwhelmed with donations within a matter of days, I was also horrified at how much we let the stuff go to waste!

I’ve decided that it’s too late to salvage the makeup that I already own. We’re encouraged to discard mascara and eyeliner after four months, eye shadow after 12 months and lip liner and bronzer after two years. Considering I can’t remember buying most of the makeup I own, I’m probably best chucking everything that’s not in my handbag away for the sake of my skin. Despite being 24, I still suffer from acne and so I hope my face will thank me for this at some point soon.

Although I feel incredibly wasteful and frustrated that I can’t use it all up, I like the idea of starting afresh and only buying what I need and only replacing things that have run out. I can’t bring myself to throw the makeup away completely and so I’ve put it all in a plastic bag in the garage. I like the idea of spending a weekend using it up by creating a few mini makeup paintings like I did in the old days. I’ll probably never get round to this, and when I come to move out I’ll probably just throw it all away, but it’s something to consider when I have a bit more time.

Do you have a large collection of makeup that you don’t even use? Or are you careful to only buy what you need and throw your cosmetics away before they expire? Let me know in the comments below. I’d especially love to hear from you if you have a thrifty way or reusing your cosmetics or their packaging for something else!