Spring clean your beauty routine – how to reuse and recycle products

Research from The Body Shop has revealed 26 per cent of us ditch skincare products when they find something new and more exciting – leading to over £1billion in wastage across the UK. So how do we reduce this? Here’s how to spring-clean your beauty routine without consigning piles of products to the bin.

USE IT UP

Think outside the box when it comes to finishing off languishing products.

Facial scrub… to body exfoliator

“Facial scrubs are excellent for exfoliating skin on the upper arms that is prone to keratosis pilaris (a harmless condition that causes small bumps on the skin),” says Victoria Harrison, microbiologist at Dr Organic.

Face or body oil… to bath oil

“Run the bottle under the bath tap to make use of the last few drops for a soothing, hydrating bath,” says Victoria.

Mild shampoo… to dog shampoo

“Mix with water to get the last remnants from a bottle. This will still produce a gentle lather when massaged into your pet’s fur,” says Victoria.

Get the last drop

Finish any tube with UpCircle Tube Squeezer Key, £3.99.

KNOW YOUR USE-BY DATES

Using something out of date can cause irritation. If you know when a product goes off, you’ll be more likely to use it up.

“Look for a small symbol in the shape of an opened pot,” says Steve Brownett-Gale, personal care packaging expert at Lifestyle Packaging. “Inside will be a number followed by an M (months) or Y (years) – this will tell you how long the product is safe to use after opening.”

Acne products: two to three months

Mascara: two to three months

Natural shampoo bars: three to 12 months

Liquid foundation: six to 12 months

Sunscreen: one to three years

Perfume: three to five years

DONATE 

Donating toiletries and beauty products has never been easier. As a rule, donations should be new, unused and in date.

Look for the foodbank/donation box in your local supermarket.

The Hygiene Bank collects personal care and household cleaning essentials.

Beauty Banks has donation points in Superdrug stores and supplies self-care and hygiene products to foodbanks, domestic abuse charities, homeless shelters, NHS trusts and schools.

RECYCLE CORRECTLY

Know where to put your packaging, says recycling expert Emily Bell. Make sure to clean everything first – put the product into the bin rather than wash it down the sink.

Glass jars… can go into your recycling bin.

Hair tools… if working can often be taken to your local charity shop.

Palettes and wands… find your nearest Garnier recycling point here.

Cotton pads… Put them in your food waste bin if they are 100 per cent cotton.

Plastic bottles… recycle at home, remove lids. Pumps can’t be recycled, but lids can.

Do your research. Recycling company TerraCycle has partnered with brands including The Body Shop and Kiehl’s to accept old beauty containers and recycle them on your behalf. Mac, H&M and Lush accept packaging, and often offer a discount in return.

Wrap has for more information on what can be recycled and where.

MAKE IT A MULTITASKER

A surefire way to streamline your beauty routine is by choosing products with multiple uses.

Nars The Multiple in Orgasm, £31.50, is a cream to powder colour pigment stick that can be used just about anywhere, from cheeks to chest.

Hershesons Almost Everything Creme, £12, tames, texturises, conditions, defines and adds shine to hair.

Tarte Clay Play Face Shaping Palette, £43, features eye shadows, blush, highlighter and bronzer – a whole make-up look in one palette.

Trilogy Everything Balm, £12.95, can be used as a hand cream, lip balm general moisturiser.

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick Colour, £22.10, has a highly blendable pigment, meaning it can be used as a liner and shadow in one.

Briogeo Aloe & Oat Milk Ultra Soothing 3-in-1 Cleansing Bar, £22, can be used to wash the hair, face and body due to its gentle formulation.

*Follow Hannah on Instagram @hannahrbritt