One of the most confusing parts of being a conscious consumer is figuring out what to do with the packaging of your new makeup products, and if they can be recycled.
But listen up! Your makeup may actually be able to be recycled.
Can you recycle makeup packaging?
Yes. You can recycle makeup packaging. The fact is that most makeup manufacturers use standard plastic packaging, so you should be able to recycle pretty much anything you buy.
It’s a good idea to give the used packaging a quick rinse with water and dry it out thoroughly before tossing it in your recycling bin, but this isn’t absolutely essential.
The only exception is mascara, which often comes in tubes made from fiber-reinforced plastic rather than the standard plastic tube. This means that it cannot be recycled, so you’ll have to throw these tubes in the trash.
If you aren’t sure if the packaging for your makeup is recyclable, check with your local recycling program or search online for more information.
How do you recycle makeup packaging?
So, you’ve decided to start recycling your makeup packaging. Good for you! Recycling makeup packaging can be a great way to reduce the amount of trash you’re generating. But how do you go about it?
What steps do you need to take?
Step 1: Collect your old makeup containers.
Step 2: Clean up the containers and remove any excess glue, paper, or labels.
Step 3: Sort out your containers. You can separate them by type (compacts, jars, tubes) if you want to make different types of crafts with them.
Step 4: Organize your containers into sets of similar sizes and shapes so they’ll be easy to group together when you start making crafts with them.
Step 5: Determine what to do with the leftover materials (paper, glue, etc). Recycle or reuse as much as possible and put any leftovers in a trash bag for disposal.
Step 6: Decide which projects you want to make with your containers. Think about what supplies you already have on hand that will fit well into those projects. For example, if you have a lot of ribbons on hand but only a few beads, try making a craft that uses both ribbons and beads for the main elements.
Step 7: Gather your materials for the project and get ready to start crafting!
Should you throw away old makeup?
Tossing out old makeup is a personal call. Some people, including celebrity makeup artist Bobbi Brown, recommend replacing all your cosmetics every year with fresh ones, while others say it’s unnecessary.
You can also look for signs of spoilage — if foundation starts to smell or break down over time, for example. And if you’re trying out a new product, it might be worth a test run before you toss it at the end of the month.
If you’re not sure about whether a cosmetic has gone bad or could cause problems, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. There’s no big rush — these products aren’t going to suddenly make you ill just because they’ve been sitting in your makeup bag for a couple of months longer than you intended!
How do you dispose of old makeup?
Disposing of your old makeup has never been so much easier with these easy tips!
1. Do some research first.
If your cosmetics have been recalled, contact the manufacturer to find out whether they’re safe to use anymore.
2. Check with the experts.
Get advice from a makeup artist or a toxicologist about what products are best for disposing of.
3. Keep it clean.
Dispose of anything that’s expired or is beyond its use-by date and be sure to wash off any residue before you throw it away.
4. Recycle wisely.
Products made from recyclable materials should be recycled instead of thrown away, while those that can’t be recycled should be disposed of in the trash as well as possible (for example, by wrapping them in plastic bags).
5. Know how to clean up a spill on the go.
In case you accidentally end up with some makeup on your clothes or hands when dumping out your cosmetic bag, have a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you for cleanup on the fly.
6. Donate
If you have only a few pieces of old makeup, donating them to a friend or family member might be the best option. If they are not interested in your old products, try selling them at makeup swaps.
7. Be cautious of what you throw away
Before throwing your cosmetics into the trash, it is better if you can melt them down or grind them down to their basic ingredients so that they are not able to be used by others.
8. Recycle
There are many waste management companies that will take your old cosmetic products and turn them into new ones. There are also online resources available for recycling your old cosmetics and minimizing the number of chemicals that go into the environment.
9. Sell it
You may also choose to sell your old cosmetics on eBay or Craigslist. Not only do these sites offer good starting prices for old makeup, but they also provide a way for you to make some money on items that would have otherwise just been thrown out.
Can you recycle makeup palettes?
Yes, you can recycle makeup palettes. You might just need to take a few extra steps to do it safely.
Tossing your used or expired cosmetics in a landfill is a bad idea because they can leak into the groundwater and cause harm to animals and people. And that’s not even the worst-case scenario! The Food and Drug Administration has reported cases of contact dermatitis and infections from the use of contaminated cosmetics.
Tossing your unused makeup is also wasteful because it defeats the purpose of buying high-quality products in the first place. Not to mention it’s a little disheartening if you’ve spent money on something only to throw it away before you’ve had a chance to use it.
So what’s the solution? Recycle. Find out where your local recycling center accepts old cosmetics, then get rid of them safely. (Some states have regulations that require specific types of packaging or labeling for certain products, so make sure you check before you drop off.)
But how do you know which brands are safe to recycle? Luckily there are lots of online lists that will help you figure out what your options are depending on where you live
Can you recycle mascara tubes?
Most mascara tubes are made of plastic, which can be recycled. If you have a curbside recycling program, check to see if your local community recycles plastic. If not, ask your local government if they have a drop-off location for such items. If not, see if your local makeup store or beauty supply shop will accept them as donations.
If you don’t have a curbside recycling program and don’t have access to a drop-off location, here’s what you can do:
- Remove the product from the tube and dispose of it.
- Wash out the tube and let it dry completely.
- Recycle the tube itself.
- Next, remove any mascara left in the tube by soaking it in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap for 5 minutes.
- Rinse it out and let it dry overnight. Then you can use it again, or discard it by throwing both the tube and the mascara away.
- You should never flush mascara down the drain because it may clog your pipes. And never add water to mascara after you’ve opened it — that’s a big no-no when it comes to cosmetics.
Can you recycle The Ordinary bottles?
If you have been wondering whether your old The Ordinary bottles can be recycled, then the answer is: yes!
They’ve got the following arrangements in place:
– In the UK, please take your bottle to any Boots store. They will accept them for free and dispose of them properly.
– In the US and Canada, please take your bottles to any Sephora store. They will accept them for free and dispose of them properly.
– Elsewhere in the world, please contact info@deciem.com for assistance.
Can lipstick tubes be recycled?
Yes, they can. However, some may be more easily recyclable than others.
Tubes that are made of plastic and those that have a little gather around the butt of the tube can easily be recycled. The gather is used to allow the consumer to wipe excess product off the top of the tube before applying it on their lips.
The only problem with this product is that if you were to try and recycle it, you would have to cut through this gather in order to separate the lid from the bottom part of the lipstick tube.
The easiest way around this is to discard the entire tube or take it back to where you purchased it from and ask for a new one. The rest of the lipstick tubes can also be recycled. This includes metal, glass, and plastic tubes.
Next time you are done with your lipstick use a pencil eraser or your finger and get all of the excesses off of it. Then when you are ready put it in your blue bin for recycling.
Lipstick itself can also be recycled. Just simply wash off any residue from your old lipstick and place it in with your other non-recyclable trash for disposal.
Can you recycle Olay products?
Yes, you can recycle Olay products. It is important to note that Olay does not require you to recycle their products, but they do make it possible for you to do so.
In fact, if you have any of the following products, you should throw them away in your regular trash. These products are not recyclable: Crystal Clean, ProX Deep Cleansing System, Regenerist Cleanser and Serum, Regenerist Hydrating Cleanser and Serum and Total Effects Face Moisturizer.
Tossing Olay bottles into the trash can isn’t an issue though because there are still plenty of ways to dispose of these products properly.
Here are some ideas:
1) Call your local recycling center to see if they can accept the product for recycling.
2) Clean out the bottles and use them as containers in the bathroom or kitchen.
3) Return them to the grocery store where you purchased them originally. Some stores may be able to provide empty bottles in exchange for used ones.
4) Take advantage of this Olay recycling program (this may be a U.S.-only program).
Final thoughts
Unfortunately, some beauty companies don’t take their packaging materials back like they should.
If you’re wondering if there are recycling options for your makeup packaging, check with the manufacturer first before putting them in the garbage.
