10 Tricks to make your beauty products last longer

10 Cool tricks to make your beauty products last longer

MF editorial team

08 Jun 2017

updated the 12 June 2017 à 14:49

1/10
Keep it upside down
When you can’t possibly squeeze out any more product, let gravity do its job by propping your bottle upside down when you are not using it. When you need it, the product will be right at the product's applicator or opening, waiting for you. Don’t do this with pump products though, as pumps collect the products from the bottom of the container.
2/10
Use mascara? Stop pumping
Before we proceed: this is a public service announcement to stop pumping your mascara. With each pump, you are introducing air into the product, which dries it out and introduces yucky bacteria you do not want near your eyes.
3/10
Open it up
How about performing surgery by opening it up? For screw-top foundation bottles, it is easy to open and pour the remnants into a separate container: air-tight pill boxes or travel jars with lids are recommended. Otherwise, disinfect a knife and get cutting, and then remove the excess with a metal spatula. Quite a bit of product can be stuck along the sides, so do check before throwing your babies away!
4/10
Double trouble
But before that happens, consider mixing your foundation with a tinted moisturiser. Sure, the coverage might not be as high, but it’d make your product go a longer way, while still providing just enough for your skin. Or try silicone makeup sponges like Silisponge to keep product waste at a minimum.
5/10
Saved by saline
Drop about five drops of saline solution into your dried out makeup products like mascara, before capping it and rolling it about. Or, consider using Vitamin E oil or coconut oil to keep your products nice and refreshed. Breathing new life into your makeup has never been simpler!
6/10
Cool it down
Keep your products away from the sun! It’s a bit hard, admittedly, considering the temperature of Southeast Asia. Remove them from the bathroom where it can get too hot and humid, and place them in a cool and dry location. Consider keeping your products in the fridge too, especially creams, sunscreen and lipsticks!
7/10
Warm it up
For products like lipglosses and nail polishes that are still in its prime but have run out a bit too quickly, place the container in a cup of warm water. There has been reviews about using microwaves, but we’d recommend sticking with the warm water trick for now.
8/10
Make it a smashing success
They may be a shattered mess on the ground, but it’s no reason to throw it away. Spray rubbing alcohol onto your pigment (till it is soaked) and then press it to pack the powder back into your compact. Alternatively, mix the pigments up to form new products. Use petroleum jelly and you have a new lip product ready to go or consider mixing it with a clear topcoat to make coloured nail polish. And they are all in your favourite shade, to boot. Score!
9/10
Keep it clump-free
Cream eyeshadows have a tendency to clump and dry up uglily. So, instead of leaving them be or throwing them away in frustration, consider mixing in warm oil (coconut or Argan oil are recommended) with the dried eyeshadows and watch magic happen. It makes sense, of course, seeing as these oils are usually the base when creating your own homemade eyeshadows.
10/10
Keep it clean
Instead of blowing on your brushes to get rid of the excess, tap it gently on your hands instead. By blowing, you are introducing germs that shortens its shelf life. Once a week, clean out your brushes well with baby shampoo or a specialised brush cleaning shampoo.

Just because your makeup product is almost finished doesn’t mean it’s time to purchase a new one. Well, not yet at least!

Makeup products are the ultimate guilty pleasure. Whether you are a fan of the Kylie Jenner lip kits or are eagerly awaiting the latest Urban Decay Naked palette, we all know and love that little rush you get when you walk into a Sephora store, with those bright lights and rows of products just calling your name. But, here’s the ugly truth: makeup can be expensive. While you might not have the $62,000 Guerlain lipstick, your little purchases do add up. So it’s understandable that one of the worst feelings in the world is when you’ve just bought your makeup (yes, a month ago counts as just) and you’re finding yourself excessively shaking the bottle in the hope that just a little bit more product would come out.

Of course, if they’re past their shelf life, it’s definitely time to throw them out. Otherwise, we’ve got your back. Armed with the tips in the slideshow above, you’ll never have to sigh in disappointment as yet another $65 foundation disappears from your hand way too quickly.

Lee Hui Bing

Photos: Getty Images

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