We all have those makeup bits and bobs lurking at the bottom of our drawers, don’t we? That eyeshadow palette with only one shade ever used, the lipstick that’s a little too bold for everyday, or the mascara that’s seen better days. It feels wasteful to just toss them, but what else can you do? If you’re a craft enthusiast like me, you’ll be thrilled to know that your old makeup can find a fabulous new life in your creative projects!
I remember staring at a nearly-full pot of bright blue cream eyeshadow a while back. I’d bought it on a whim for a themed party and never touched it again. The guilt of letting it sit there unused was real! That’s when I started exploring ways to give my forgotten makeup a second chance, and let me tell you, the possibilities are truly inspiring. It’s amazing how a little bit of colour or shimmer can transform everyday craft supplies into something special.
Ready to raid your makeup bag for hidden treasures? Let’s dive into 15 creative ways to reuse your makeup and add some sparkle to your crafting!
How to Reuse Eyeshadow in Crafts
Eyeshadow is arguably one of the most versatile makeup products for repurposing. Those beautiful pigments can be used in so many ways beyond your eyelids.
- Make Custom Nail Polish with Eyeshadow: This is one of my absolute favourites!
- Gather your old powder eyeshadows (broken ones work perfectly!).
- Finely crush the eyeshadow into a powder. You can use the back of a spoon or a mortar and pestle.
- Mix a small amount of the crushed pigment into a bottle of clear nail polish.
- Shake well, and voila! You have a brand new, custom nail polish shade. It’s a fantastic way to create unique colours you can’t find in stores. I’ve made some gorgeous shimmery topcoats this way!
- Use Eyeshadow to Colour Paint: Add a touch of shimmer or a unique hue to your paints.
- Mix crushed powder eyeshadow directly into acrylic paint for a pearlescent finish.
- Combine with clear glue or a paint medium for a wash of colour and sparkle on various surfaces.
- Create Tinted Lip Balm or Gloss with Eyeshadow: Give a clear lip balm or gloss a hint of colour.
- Carefully scrape a small amount of cream or powder eyeshadow onto a clean surface.
- Mix it thoroughly with a clear lip balm or petroleum jelly.
- Store in a small, clean container (like a contact lens case) for a tinted lip product.
Crafting with Old Lipstick
Leftover lipstick can also be transformed into colourful and useful crafting supplies.
- Make Tinted Lip Balm or Gloss with Lipstick: Similar to eyeshadow, lipstick can create tinted lip products, often with a richer colour payoff.
- Scoop out the remaining lipstick from the tube.
- Gently melt it down (a microwave for a few seconds in a heat-safe container works, or a double boiler).
- Mix with petroleum jelly or a clear lip gloss base.
- Pour into a small pot or container.
- Repurpose Lipstick as Cream Blush: Repurpose creamy lipsticks into a multi-use colour stick for cheeks or even eyes (be sure the lipstick is eye-safe!).
- Meltdown the lipstick as described above.
- Pour into a small stick container or a pot.
- Use Lipstick to Colour Soap or Candles: If you’re a soap or candle maker, a tiny bit of lipstick can add a lovely tint.
- Use a very small amount, as makeup pigments can be quite concentrated.
- Ensure the lipstick is safe for use in your specific soap or candle making process. Always do a small test batch first.
Creative Uses for Old Mascara Wands
Don’t toss that mascara wand once the mascara is finished! These little brushes are surprisingly handy for various tasks.
- Reuse Mascara Wands as Eyebrow Brushes: A clean mascara wand is perfect for brushing and shaping eyebrows.
- Use Mascara Wands for Cleaning: The small bristles are great for cleaning tight spots.
- Use them to clean around faucets or in intricate jewellery.
- They can even get into the nooks and crannies of air vents.
- Craft with Mascara Wands: Kids can use cleaned mascara wands for painting or creating textured effects.
Repurposing Old Eyeliners
Even dried-out eyeliners can have a second act in your craft room.
- Revive a Dry Pencil Eyeliner for Crafting: If your pencil eyeliner is a bit dry, a quick trick can bring it back to life for crafting.
- Carefully hold the tip of the pencil in a flame for just a second or two.
- Let it cool for about 10-15 seconds. The heat will soften the tip, making it usable for drawing or colouring on certain materials. Use extreme caution with this method and ensure proper ventilation.
- Use Liquid Eyeliner as Crafting Ink: Coloured liquid eyeliners can be used as fine-tip applicators for drawing or adding details to projects.
Crafting with Bronzer and Blush
Those blush and bronzer compacts can offer more than just a healthy glow to your cheeks.
- Make Tinted Moisturizer or Lotion with Bronzer: Add a touch of bronzer to your body lotion for a subtle, all-over glow.
- Scrape a small amount of powder bronzer into your hand.
- Mix thoroughly with your body lotion before applying.
- Powder blush can be mixed into a clear facial primer or moisturizer for a subtle tint.
- Use Blush or Bronzer to Colour Bath Bombs or Soaps: Finely crushed blush or bronzer can add natural-looking colour to homemade bath bombs or soaps.
Other Makeup Items to Repurpose
Beyond the usual suspects, other makeup products can also be repurposed.
- Creative Uses for Old Perfume: Those last few drops of perfume can still be enjoyed.
- Place open or nearly empty perfume bottles in drawers to subtly scent linens.
- Add a few drops to unscented body lotion for a custom fragrance.
- Crafting with Highlighter: Shimmery highlighters are fantastic for adding sparkle to crafts.
- Mix powder highlighter into clear glue or mod podge for a shimmery finish on paper or other surfaces.
- A tiny amount can be added to clear nail polish for a highlighting topcoat.
- Use Lip Liner as Colouring Pencils: Like eyeliner, lip liners can be used for drawing or adding fine lines to certain craft projects.
Reuse Makeup Containers for Craft Storage
Once you’ve used up the makeup inside, the containers themselves can be incredibly useful for organizing your crafting supplies.
| Container Type | Potential Craft Use |
| Small Eyeshadow Pots | Storing glitter, small beads, or sequins |
| Lipstick Tubes (Cleaned) | Storing needles, pins, or tiny hardware |
| Compacts | Holding small embellishments, buttons, or findings |
| Mascara Tubes (Cleaned) | Storing small amounts of paint or glue for detail work |
Repurposing makeup and its packaging is not only a great way to reduce waste but also a fun challenge that can spark new creative ideas. I’ve found that looking at everyday items with a “what else can this be?” mindset really opens up a world of possibilities. It’s about seeing potential where you might have only seen trash before.
So, before you declutter your makeup bag with the bin in mind, take a moment to consider how those forgotten cosmetics could become your next crafting secret weapon. You might be surprised at the beautiful and useful things you can create! Happy crafting and repurposing!
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