3 reasons not to 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 a couple of Lauder more than a few Revlon Colorstay and maybe, just maybe even a Nars But even IF all 25 lipstick stubs are the same brand and same color and IF you were able to mix and melt them you couldn’t make a new lipstick unless you had a special mold to shape your melted lip goop into a new stick form. For that untidy little job you need a two piece metal mold. (Hmmm, maybe someone should sell a special lipstick saver mold…) Of course, you could always pour it into an old lipgloss pot if you don’t mind applying it with a brush or your finger.

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.