Makeup is a staple in every woman's routine. These proven tips for storing, restoring, and using cosmetics will help you avoid tossing out broken lipsticks or dried mascara, while making your products last longer for maximum value.
Whether you own budget-friendly or luxury makeup, proper storage is key to longevity.
Saving space: Prevent bottles from toppling in drawers by using cardboard box lids with cut-out circles sized to fit. Place vials in the holes for stability. For tiny bottles, repurpose empty cotton swab boxes or egg cartons.
Stuck caps: For glass bottles, drizzle vegetable oil around the cap, warm near a heat source, and gently tap until it loosens.
Brushes: Keep makeup brushes soft by washing them occasionally with hair conditioner.
Pencils: Chill eye and eyebrow pencils in the fridge before sharpening for easier results.
Cooling cosmetics: Store facial toners and moisturizers in the fridge during hot weather.
With multiple bottles at home, improper storage leads to drying. Refrigerate nail polish to keep it soft longer, even for seldom-used shades.
Avoid adding nail polish remover to thicken dried polish—it compromises quality. Instead, for hardened polish, submerge the bottle in warm water until it softens, repeating as needed.
Lipstick is a must-have, often stashed at home and in purses. To extract the last bits from a near-empty tube, use a brush.
Rinse empty tubes with hot water and repurpose for hairpins or small items.
For broken lipstick, hold pieces over a flame to melt slightly, then press together to reform.
Add a few drops of water to a nearly empty mascara tube with a pipette. Stir with the brush to revive it.
Test scents with sample bottles or free online samples before committing to full sizes—drugstores often carry sample packs too.
Store perfume in a cool, dark place to prevent spoilage from light and heat. Oily skin holds scents better; apply Vaseline first if yours is dry.
For perfumed lingerie, cut chamois leather into pieces, spritz with perfume, and tuck into drawers—it retains fragrance longer than cotton.
Repurpose unwanted perfume: Spritz a cloth and wipe over an incandescent bulb. Heat evaporates it slowly, scenting rooms like bathrooms beautifully.
This reliable trick, still used by my daughter, works for all powder makeup. You'll need:
Crumble into fine powder, return to its compact, add drops of alcohol, and cover with film. Press firmly. Let alcohol evaporate, remove film, and dry overnight. It's like new.
Share your favorite makeup storage, restoration, or usage tips in the comments below!
