I’m not a minimalist. I learned a long time ago with perfume that I don’t have to use up a perfume to get another. In fact it spoils a perfume for me, if I feel I have to use it, when it’s not what I’m in the mood for.

I don’t know about you, but I have product that I could use up. If I feel overwhelmed with stuff, it’s time to clear it out. So I’m starting to.

I am an equal opportunity customer, when it comes to cosmetics. I don’t care if it’s expensive or inexpensive — if it works. And I’ve learned that I don’t have to use a product up to the end in order to try another product. Sometimes I just like having the option of variety. I use different forms of creams or lotions or even foundation, depending on the weather or the season.

And why, if I really like something, do I sometimes treat it like family silver? Who am I saving it for, if I don’t use it? I should treat myself good and use it every day!

What to do, what to do…
Here’s some ideas:
Throw it out!
You know you can do this, even if I can’t!
Take a deep breath and toss it.

Give it away. Then it’s no longer a burden to you.
Let someone else think about it.
Share it with someone who would appreciate it or needs it.
Gift it to a friend. Let them use it up!

Trade it with a stranger
There are site-specific websites that help you trade perfumes — or cosmetics — and other, like Craigslist, that would help you sell or trade the tile off your roof or the bikes in your garage.

Return or exchange it
If it doesn’t work, don’t feel badly about returning it to the store you bought it from. Do it early, rather than later. Companies don’t know you don’t like it, if you keep it.

Layer it with other product
I have Chanel No 5 in Douceur Satinee pour le corps…a lovely spray oil. I never used it for a variety of reasons: I rarely wear No 5, and while this is a lovely way to wear it, because there is no alcohol, so it is like wearing parfum (I do recommend this product), it would conflict with the perfume I really wanted to wear, and I prefer lotions.

So about a year ago, I started to mix it with lotion. I picked lotions that would pick up a note in No 5 or be changed by the No 5. As an added plus, I’ve used up one lotion, a fairly strong vanilla from Bath and Body Works that I never liked the scent of, and I’m working on another: Iris of Tuscany which I found at TJ Maxx a long time ago. It was very inexpensive at TJM, and if I could find it again, and if I didn’t have plenty of other lotions, I would buy it again. It’s made in Italy and quite lovely.

I take about a quarter size of lotion and spritz about 6-7 small sprays of oil into it in my hand, and I use it on my legs. It cuts the amount of No 5, gives me a lotion feel, and is far enough away from my face and dissipates soon enough, that I use it every day.

But it’s like the proverbial pot of oil in the Bible, it never runs out! But at least I’m using it!

Use it on your neck
Facial lotions or creams that are either too rich or not rich enough for your face.
Sunscreen you don’t like on your face. I’m almost to the bottom of one.
Mineral foundations that don’t quite match your face.

If you don’t like it on your neck or face, use it on your body
Elbows, knees, feet can use creams too rich for your face.

Mineral foundations
Use for eyeshadow as a neutral base for other colors.
Combine shades to make a new color that might work better.
If all else fails: use them on your neck or body.
They cover a birthmark nicely and help heal other problems.

Vow to use it up Reach for it first
I have an eye cream that I like; I just didn’t reach for it often. The last time I used it up, I didn’t think I would replace it, but then I did. So it sat there staring me in the face, making me feel badly.

I put it where I would use it as part of a 5 minute pick-me-up. When I woke and removed eye makeup that had smudged (even if I had removed it the night before), I would put a dab of this eye cream on, until I got around to doing my whole face. For my regular makeup, I’d layer on another eye cream. If I just needed a pick-me-up throughout the day, I’d put on a dab of the one I was trying to use up.

I’m happy to report, I used the last drop, today.

Use up lip or eye pencils
Draw on the tip of your index finger.
For blush: Add a small drop of moisturizer, mix with your other index finger and apply.
For eye shadow: Add a small drop of moisturizer or eye cream, apply as above.

All those little sample baggies of shadows or highlighters
Ones you don’t wear as often or as well
Make your own mix by combining.
Turn eye shadows into highlighters. Turn highlighters into shadow.
Turn blush into eye shadow or eye shadow into blush.
Mineral foundation samples or full size a little dark
Combine them or use them alone as bronzers.
Mineral foundation samples or full size a little light
Combine them or use them alone as highlighters.
Ones you love
Replenish them from full size.
Put your faves into your travel bag so you don’t have to think when you pack.

Eyeshadows
Turn eye shadows into highlighters.
Use them for blush.
Use them for brow color.

What’s the last thing you used up, and how did you accomplish it?

What do you do to use up product?
Send me your ideas, and I’ll post them or you can be a guest writer.

Karin

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Categories:

Chanel, Cosmetics, Equal opportunity customer, Eye cream, Layering, Perfumes, Pick-me-up, Using up product