Alright, prepare to be disgusted. I have a problem. I LOVE BEAUTY PRODUCTS!
This has been going on for years. I'll try anything- from department to drug store. Whenever I get a magazine I flip right to the beauty section and get to the "other stuff" later. Combine my obsession with a brief stint in the retail world a couple years ago and that equals a major organization disaster.
I wish I could be a chic French woman that has about three products in her medicine cabinet. Unfortunately, the only French stereotype I inherited is cutting sense of humor. If Greeks hoard lotions then I guess we know where I got it.
Determined to battle the clutter, I assembled everything from my various storage spots. Yikes. I made cuts ruthlessly, with little regard to how recently I bought it, or how much money I wasted. If I honestly wasn't going to use it in the next year it was OUT.
It actually wasn't as painful or hard as I thought it was going to be. Feeling the weight of the shopping bags of "rejects" and knowing that it was leaving my closets and my life was a breath of fresh air. Plus, it's so nice to have everything organized together on ONE closet shelf now!
I still have more stuff than most people think is normal but I'm pretty proud of my progress. I think I'll be more vicious my next round of cuts. Besides, you didn't expect me to go cold turkey, did you?
I want to be very clear that the products I rejected will be recycled responsibly!
- Vanity Glamour in the East Village of Des Moines focuses on eco-friendly makeup, and even offers a small discount if you bring something to recycle!
- MAC has a rewards program that offers a free lipstick for every 6 of your recycled MAC products.
- Origins will accept any makeup brand for recycling- in return you get some great samples.
- Aveda has a program dedicated to the recycling of plastic caps since they are a special kind of plastic. 25 caps of any kind will earn samples.
- Kiehls offers a recycling punch card for their products! Three products can be redeemed for a lip balm, five for a travel sized product and ten punches can be turned in for a full sized product $25 or less!
Pictures encouraged.