7 Brilliant Ways to Repurpose Old Lipsticks (DIY Beauty Hacks!)

Got a collection of lipsticks gathering dust? Shades that didn’t quite suit, or tubes with just a precious bit left? Don’t let them go to waste! Your old lipsticks are packed with vibrant pigment and versatile texture, ready to be transformed into new, exciting things. Repurposing is a fantastic way to get creative, reduce waste, and give forgotten items a new lease of life.

Let’s explore seven clever ways to repurpose your unloved lipsticks right at home!

1. Create a Luscious Tinted Lip Balm

Give your lips a dose of colour and hydration by turning old lipsticks into nourishing tinted balms. This is a simple yet effective way to use up those last remnants and create a product perfect for everyday wear.

Why it Works: Lipstick’s pigment and waxy nature combine beautifully with hydrating bases to form a coloured balm.

How to Make Your Tinted Balm:

Gather: Lipstick pieces, a nourishing base (petroleum jelly, coconut oil, shea butter, or a mix of beeswax and oil), small clean containers (tins, small jars), spoon/spatula, double boiler setup or microwave.
Combine: Scrape out lipstick and place in a heat-safe bowl with your chosen base. Start with a ratio of about 1 part lipstick to 3-4 parts base, adjusting for desired colour intensity.
Melt: Gently heat using a double boiler or microwave in short bursts (5-10 seconds), stirring until fully melted and combined.
Pour & Cool: Carefully pour the mixture into clean containers. Let cool completely at room temperature until solid.
Finish: Cap and label your new tinted lip balms.

2. Design Your Own Custom Lipstick Palette

Declutter your makeup bag and maximise product usage by consolidating multiple lipsticks into a single, convenient palette. This is perfect for using up near-empty tubes or curating your favourite shades in one place.

Why it Works: Lipsticks melt easily and solidify back into a usable form, making them ideal for depotting into a palette.

Steps to Create Your Palette:

Gather: Lipsticks (remnants or full), a clean palette with wells (old eyeshadow palette or empty palette), spoon/spatula/craft knife, double boiler setup or microwave.
Extract: Carefully scrape out lipstick from tubes, keeping colours separate if desired.
Melt: Place lipstick portions in a heat-safe bowl or microwaveable container. Melt gently until liquid, stirring if combining colours.
Fill: Carefully pour or spoon the melted lipstick into the palette wells.
Cool & Set: Allow to cool completely at room temperature.
Enjoy: Your custom palette is ready for use with a lip brush.

3. Craft a Creamy, Blendable Blush

Transform those lipstick shades that didn’t suit your lips into beautiful cream blushes for a natural, dewy flush on your cheeks. Pinks, corals, and soft berry tones work wonderfully for this.

Why it Works: Lipstick’s creamy texture and pigments are similar to many cream blush formulas, providing easy blendability on the skin.

How to Repurpose as Blush:

Gather: Lipstick(s), a clean small container (old balm tin, small jar), spoon/spatula, petroleum jelly or solid oil (optional for consistency), double boiler setup or microwave.
Combine: Scrape lipstick into a heat-safe bowl. Add petroleum jelly or oil if desired (start with 1 part lipstick to 2-3 parts base).
Melt & Mix: Heat gently, stirring until melted and smoothly combined.
Pour & Cool: Pour into your container and let cool completely to solidify.
Use: Apply to the apples of your cheeks by warming a small amount on your fingers first, then tapping and blending.

4. Experiment with Cream Eyeshadow Looks

For a modern, glossy or diffused eye look, creamy lipstick textures can sometimes be repurposed as eyeshadow. Muted, earthy, or sheer shimmery shades often work best.

Important Note: Always exercise caution. Not all lipstick ingredients are approved for the eye area. Use with care and discontinue if any irritation occurs. Stick to simple formulas if possible.

Applying as Cream Eyeshadow:

Select: Choose a suitable lipstick shade (bronze, mauves, sheer colours). Avoid glitter or intense pigments initially.
Warm: Gently warm a tiny amount of lipstick on the back of your hand.
Apply & Blend: Using a finger or synthetic brush, pat the warmed product onto your eyelid. Blend the edges for a seamless finish. Using an eyeshadow primer underneath can help minimise creasing.

5. Achieve Dimensional Lips: Liner and Two-Tone Effects

Give your lip look depth and definition by using slightly lighter or darker lipsticks as a makeshift lip liner or to create a trendy two-tone effect.

Methods for Lip Definition:

As Liner: If the lipstick is firm enough, gently sharpen the tip with a cosmetic sharpener. Carefully outline your lips before applying your main lipstick shade.
Two-Tone/Gradient: Apply a lighter shade to the centre of your lips or a darker shade to the outer corners for dimension. Blend where the shades meet.

Effect	Technique
Fuller Look	Apply a lighter shade to the centre after main colour.
Defined Edge	Use a slightly darker shade to outline or contour.
Gradient Lip	Apply darker to outer, lighter to centre, then blend.

6. Become a Colour Chemist: Mix Unique Shades

Unlock endless colour possibilities by mixing remnants or portions of different lipsticks to create entirely new custom shades perfectly suited to you.

Why it’s Exciting: You can blend specific undertones, adjust intensity, and design colours that aren’t available anywhere else.

How to Mix Custom Shades:

Gather: Lipsticks to mix, heat-safe bowl/container, stirring tool, clean final container (small pot or palette well).
Combine & Melt: Scrape lipstick into the bowl. Melt gently and stir thoroughly until colours are completely blended.
Test: Dab a small amount on your hand to check the colour. Adjust by adding more of one shade as needed.
Pour & Set: Pour the custom mix into your final container. Let cool and solidify.

7. Get Crafty Beyond Beauty

Lipstick’s pigments and waxy consistency can even find a home in non-beauty related craft projects.

Creative Craft Applications (Use with Caution):

Tinted Wax Seals: Add a tiny amount of melted lipstick to clear wax for custom-coloured wax seals.
Colouring Waxes: A small amount can potentially be used to add colour to homemade crayons or candles. Always research ingredient safety for your specific project.
Art Medium: Use small amounts in mixed media art for unique textures and colours, applying like a wax crayon.

Important: When using lipstick in crafts, especially those involving skin contact (like homemade soaps, though this is risky), thoroughly research the specific ingredients in your lipstick and ensure they are safe and suitable for that purpose. Patch testing is always recommended.

From giving your cheeks a glow to crafting custom colours and even dabbling in art, your old lipsticks are packed with potential. So, before you say goodbye to those tubes, consider these creative ways to repurpose them and add a touch of handmade magic to your life!