3 Reasons To Not Recycle Lipsticks
Sandie’s sticky question: Has anyone tried making a new lipstick out of the end bits of old ones? There is always quite a lot left inside the case and I have about 25 almost empty lipsticks that I keep meaning to do something with. Just not sure how to go about it!
Sarah Bellum Says:
Sandie, that’s a very interesting question! I kicked it around with the other Beauty Brains and we think trying to fix those sticks is probably a waste of time. Here are three reasons why:
1. Color calamity
Unless you have 25 tubes of the same color, you’re going to mix shades which might end up looking like baby poop.
2. Spoiled stick
Lipstick formulas are a mixed up waxes, oils and pigments. Since not all lipsticks use the same ingredients, when you mix different products from different brands you might end up with a lipstick that’s too soft, too hard, doesn’t spread right, or just plain falls apart.
3. Messy molding
If you’re like me you’ve got a couple of tubes of Clinique
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Maybe I’m too lazy for DIY cosmetics, but it doesn’t really make sense to salvage old lipsticks. But if you do decide to give it a try, write back and let us know how it turns out.
What do you think. Have you ever tried reworking lipstics? Or better yet, would you buy a special tool that let you redo your unused chunks of lipstick? Or, is it just not worth the hassle? Leave a comment and get lippy with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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rebecca Says:
I have tried to recycle old lipsticks and not only is it easy, the color came out terrific.
I had about 12 almost empty lipsticks of different colors, ranging from matt browns to neon pink. After picking off all the lipstick from the tube with a flat end toothpick, I microwaved it for a minute and quickly poured it into 3-4 empty lipgloss pot3. The resulting color was beautiful! unless you use a yellow or a green lipstick, the result would not be a baby poop color mix. But with the browns, red and pink pigments in my leftover lipsticks, the resulting color mix I got was a very beautiful glossy red with pin/rust undertones. I put it on using a lipbrush and it is just fabulous.
rebecca Says:
I have tried to recycle old lipsticks and not only is it easy, the color came out terrific.
I had about 12 almost empty lipsticks of different colors, ranging from matt browns to neon pink. After picking off all the lipstick from the tube with a flat end toothpick, I microwaved it for a minute and quickly poured it into 3-4 empty lipgloss pot3. The resulting color was beautiful! unless you use a yellow or a green lipstick, the result would not be a baby poop color mix. But with the browns, red and pink pigments in my leftover lipsticks, the resulting color mix I got was a very beautiful glossy red with pink/rust undertones. I put it on using a lipbrush and it is just fabulous.
robin Says:
i think there is nothing wrong with using old lipstick. i tried using my lipstick with lemon juice and it give a good gloss plus the taste is very pleasant.
Lorree Says:
All you have to do is use a lip brush to apply the stuff at the bottom of the tube.
Ann Says:
I’ve melted old lipsticks together on several occasions and always got a great result. It is a great way to use up colors that are too orange-y or too pink, too light etc. Hopefully , you don’t have too many of them though… Anyway, I just melted over the stove, (i like the idea of the microwave even better, thanks)and poured into small containers, like lipgloss or cosmetic sample containers, eye creme containers etc. It does make up into a lot of containers if you have a stash of old lipsticks…It is a great way to recycle.
kage Says:
here is an easy tutorial for doing it: http://www.extra-muffins.com/hair/viewtopic.php?t=12930&highlight=lip
(great for those of us with out microwaves)
i’ve done it a few times and found it to be fun and easy. i’ve never had anything come out bad.
Judith Schmieman Says:
I used to recycle my old lipsticks by using an emptied multiple-lipstick holder (the kind that is in a compact form and holds maybe 10 to 12 different lipsticks or eye-shadows). I cleaned it out using rubbing alcohol. Then I used a very small container to place the gouged-out lipstick or lipsticks and put it into the microwave for just a few seconds. It comes out melted beautifully and all you have to do is pour the contents into one of the molds in your compact container. It takes time and tiny instruments that you need to clean assiduously, but I enjoyed it and had a container of many different colors that I could keep with me in my purse for touchups.
MizLiz1 Says:
A couple of years ago I found a little compact at the Sephora store that was made just for the purpose of using up the lipstick ends. It has a mirror and place for a little lipstick brush. I still use it, especially for those expensive lipsticks. There is as much as 1/3 of the length of the lipstick hidden from use in the tube.
I use a small artist pallet knife that I had around to pull the lipstick out of the end, then just wipe it into the compartment and smooth it out.
Using the empty eye shadow compact is a great idea, too.
msmerlin Says:
It sounds like to me the BB “advice” was solely about selling more product; I saw no genuine reasons there to not mix your own colors. Some of the best colors I’ve come up with, both in lipstick and nail polish, are the ones I’ve mixed together myself. A lot of times the shades being sold aren’t quite right but adding my own tints makes them perfect. In addition, I’m doing the environment a favor by not tossing one third of my lipstick in favor of excessive buying. Why do you suppose the colors (fads) change every season, the “must-have” colors change, according to the “fashion authorities”? Puhleeze, ladies, let’s go with a classic look like Audrey H. or Jackie K. rather than the fashion blunder of the moment mostly suited to the Britney S’s of the world.
MizLiz1 Says:
Msmerlin, I agree with a lot of the things you say. Most of the packaging can be recycled but if you had tossed a tube of something like Lancome, you would be throwing away $8 worth of product.
I am annoyed by the color changes, also. I like the peach/pink/orange ranges and cannot always find what looks good with my complexion.
Jessica Says:
I strongly think that Animal Testing is wrong. If we wouldnt put our own Human Race in those kinds of situations, why do it to the Animal Population? The only case that Animal Testing MAY be right, is if the Animal is aready very hurt, or sick and whatever they may be doing, would help the animal in any way. But, if they have to hurt the animal in ANY way, it is Very wrong.
cupcake sarah Says:
I say if you’re at the point where you are scraping out the lipstick from the bottom of the tube, then it’s time for a new lipstick! It’s great to be thrifty and all, but it’s so much more fun to use it as an excuse to try a new color or brand.
MizLiz1 Says:
Jessica, was that meant for this subject or for another message string?
Cupcake, it sounds like someone else pays for your cosmetics. Those of us who pay for our own need to bring a balance between thrift and fun. Besides, we may like the color or brand we are taking out of the bottom of the tube, and it may not be available any more.
Candice Says:
Another argument against recycling lipstick is that it does eventually go bad. By the time you end up with enough stubs to do anything useful with, unless you go through your lipstick super fast, they should probably be thrown away, anyway. Personally, I have enough shades that I use that no one tube has ever gotten to the point where I needed to dig it out before it’s smell or texture changed and I tossed it.
Carole Simcox Says:
Being a mu artist,that is exactly what you should do. Use a stub of the lipstick put each stub in a separate compartment in a plastic palette like the ones MAC has for the lipmix palette or a Japonesque palette and stick it in the microwave and there you go. You can keep them separate, mix them together, whatever you like. Instant lipstick palette. Just give it the smell check every so often to make sure it hasn’t gone rancid, if so scrape that one out and put another fresher one in. That’s what we use.
Alex Says:
What i’m doing ist that i mix some carmex,and a little bit of vaseline with a hideous pink almost unwereable lipgloss i got, and now i have a soft pink, glittery protective lipbalm!
Jessica Says:
I like to use a plastic pillcase in the microwave. That way I can use several different mixes to make a palette. Add a dab of chapstick and it’s extra moisturizing, but only microwave it for five or ten seconds at a time.
Jessica Says:
Being an avid reader, I’m actually quite surprised by this Beauty Brains article. I don’t find any of those reasons GOOD reasons not to ‘recycle’ lipsticks.
Messy molding? Scooping it out and putting it into a lip palette is not messy at all. Even for those who wish to melt them in a palette, it is hardly a messy job.
Color Calamity? You only get baby poop colored lipsticks when you mix say a deep brown with a pink and a red or something. Again, a silly reason not to experiment with mixing lippies.
the Spoiled Stick argument is more legit IMO, but unless the formulas are completely different (say a sheer moisturizing stick mixed with a stay-on matte) there isn’t much of a problem. And if hygiene is the big issue, do this when you get your NEW lipsticks instead of the old ones. To makeup artists and makeup enthusiasts down to the every day person, this is a common, safe, and most of all FUN practice!
@cupcakesarah: it depends on your perspective. To some and those who can afford it, buying a new lippie can be fun, but for others, getting crafty is even more fun, and all while saving $ and purse space by using palettes at the same time. Instead of only carrying one stick, I can have 8 in a small compact at my leisure. And custom colors! To each their own.
TO ROBIN: Says:
This is for the poster ROBIN who said she mixed her lipstick with lemon juice- PLEASE DON’T! It can spoil become contaminated and you might get really sick. It is better to melt it in the microwave or blend with other oils not acids like lemon juice. YUUUCK!
Right Brain Says:
Jessica: I tend to agree with you. I think Sarah B was a bit flippant in her objections to reworking lipsticks. I’m guessing she was trying to make this feel newsy, but it wasn’t one of our best efforts. But hey, at least she found a topic that prompted a lot of conversation from our community.
Thanks for your comment!
DatingSOS.com Says:
We think that the amount of time spent on trying to remelt lipstick and force it to become a pretty tubular stick again should rather be spend smootching the lipstick off your lips…
in all seriousness though: why not work on something more lucrative or productive the hour you may spend plying chemist? Then you can go out and buy a new lipstick… and what’s better than a fresh new stick to enjoy?
The Beauty Brains » Blog Archive » Most Expensive Cosmetics Quiz Answers Says:
[...] and 199 diamonds. On the plus side, the container is re-fillable so you are actually encourage to recycle this lipstick. 27% of you thought this was fake but you might have been tripped up by the fact that it was [...]
viannee Says:
i like recycling lipsticks. if lipbrushes are too fussy for you, try melting it into empty lipbalm/chapstick tubes. the container may not look as pretty but at least you get the most out of your lippies, especially if they are expensive.