Let’s face it, we’ve put a lot of care into our skincare regimens. Between our multi-step faves and those in-between sample products we get, our collections can grow in no time. So what should we do with them? How do we declutter? Thankfully, there are a few options to help us reset and take up greener, more sustainable habits.

Don’t Just Toss Them!

Some of your favorite skincare and beauty brands want your empties back! Some companies may offer discounts, refills, new products, and rewards once you return empties. It’s definitely worth a shot to check a location near you and head over with your box of empties.
Be sure to find out full details for each brand’s trading, recycling, and replacement policies on their website or social media handles.

Here’s a shortlist of some brands to help start you out: Innisfree, Nature Republic, MAC, bareMinerals, Burt’s Bees, Herbal Essences, Josie Maran, Garnier, Kiehl’s, Colgate, Lush, L’Occitane, Tom’s, Origins, Zoya, EOS, Schmidt’s, Aveda and Everyday Minerals. You can also bring along those products which may not have worked well with your skin.

Yes… Recycle.

While most skincare and cosmetic packaging is made out of recyclable material, recycling old skincare and cosmetics is not as simple as dropping it into your recycling bin. It needs to be cleaned out – and that’s the tricky part. Why? Because quite a few products contain ingredients that can contaminate the environment.

Not only are some ingredients not good for your skin, but they actually can pollute our soil and waterways. If possible, be sure to clean out any remaining product for your expired favorites. Take the appropriate steps to handle and care for these products just as you would for your face. Use the necessary cleansers and wipes to clean out packaging before tossing into the recycling.

Give Them A New Home

So you’ve just about put aside some products that you’re not quite in love with anymore and you don’t know what to do with it. Give the gift of smooth supple skin to a friend or someone else! You can certainly pass on your passion for great skin.

Donate lightly used product as well as samples and testers that don’t quite do it for you anymore, but may help someone else on their skincare and selfcare journey. Check-in with local women’s shelters as well as nonprofits and organizations which support women at risk and ask if your products can be of any help.

All cleaned up… Now what?

Ultimately, clearing out old products is essential to making space for new finds and experiences. Let’s be mindful by making more eco-friendly, non-toxic purchases with brands that provide a more conscious choice for sustainable ingredients and packaging. As we transition into Spring, let’s remember that we can also put away what we don’t need right now, to use a little later. Everything isn’t always “out with the old, and in with the new” – Right?