Look for items in packaging that can be opened easily, such as a cleanser in a wide pot where the product can be fully scooped out, or a tube that can be cut open with scissors.
Buy a roller key to squeeze the last drop out of toothpaste and hand-cream tubes.
Store like a pro
Think of your beauty products like fresh fruit and veg. To keep them in optimum condition, they need to be stored correctly. A hot and steamy bathroom is asking for problems such as mould. Instead, you want somewhere that is dry, dark and well ventilated. The dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite suggests looking at your bathroom at different times of the day. Note where the sun hits it and if the room temperature changes when the shower is running. If a bathroom rather than a bedroom is the only option, a mirrored cabinet or a vanity case is better than an open shelf.
Niacinamide serums and retinoids are items you’ll spend the most on, so it’s worth paying extra attention to them. Ascorbic acid, AKA vitamin C, is also highly sensitive. When exposed to light or air, it can turn into dehydroascorbic acid, which results in a less-effective product.
Most brands use dark packing to minimise this risk, but to be extra safe pop them in a cupboard. Although retinol isn’t as sensitive, it still needs to be kept in a dark, cool place. When buying, look for those that come with a dropper or pump, which reduces the amount of air that can get in. Always replace and tighten the lid after use too.
Chill out
Dr Granite says most things with active ingredients can be stored in the fridge. It’s not a must, but it is a bonus. “It’s a bit of a faff going from bathroom to kitchen to fetch them, but if you’re worried about steam a fridge will ensure your products will last as long as possible,” she explains. Pop eye gels, sheet masks and jade rollers in there too for an extra cooling effect.
Anything oil-based needs to be kept at room temperature. Just like a salad dressing, if it gets too cold the oil will separate and the consistency will change. The same goes for clay-based products.
Mini cool boxes in pastel colourways have become a staple on Instagram and TikTok. But as most UK bathrooms don’t come with a plug socket (plus who wants another energy-sucking device?), try squeezing your beauty stash in among your condiments instead.
Speaking of condiments, a lazy Susan is ideal for making sure products aren’t left gathering dust at the back of a cupboard. Spinning spice racks and cutlery trays that divide your makeup into different categories will guarantee you remember to use what you already have.
Best before dates
Storing products correctly will only make them last so long. Some will feature a period after opening symbol (a number, followed by an M and an open jar) on the packaging. So, a “12M” with an open jar symbol means you should throw the product out 12 months after you have opened it.
As a general rule, once opened, cleansers last 12 months, serums with vitamin C last three to six months, and mascara lasts three months. If the product smells funky or the texture changes, it’s best to toss it away. Always wash your hands before use or apply with a spatula, and avoid sharing products with others.
Sense of proportion
Avoid wasting products by using the correct amount. Dr Granite suggests a pea-sized blob for actives and eye creams. When applying cleansers and moisturisers to your face, use a £1 coin-sized amount, while SPF should measure the length of two fingers – the index and middle – or a blob the size of a £2 coin.
Smart application
Stop squandering products by rubbing them between your fingers and palms first. Instead, where possible apply them directly on to your face. Cleansers can be dotted on then worked in; for oils and serums, tilt your head to the side then hover the dropper above.
When using a sheet mask on your face, scrape out the remaining product inside the pouch and apply it to your neck and chest. Avoid using a cotton pad to apply items like toner – you’ll end up using more as the pad soaks it up. Instead, attach a cosmetic spray pump (available from Etsy) which you can trim to size.
Let one product dry before applying the next, but there’s no need to rinse your hands in-between.
Ditch the brushes
The beauty writer and makeup artist Madeleine Spencer recommends using your fingers, rather than a brush or sponge, to apply foundation. “Remember that you don’t need to cover your whole face – start in the centre around your nose, and work your way out.”
Mix your foundation
George Driver, a beauty editor at Elle UK, likes to mix a couple of drops of foundation with her moisturiser or serum in the morning. “This stretches out how long the amount in the bottle lasts, but it’s also great if you have a full coverage foundation that you no longer like. Mixing it with a moisturiser thins it out and will give you a much more modern, dewy finish.”
Dupes
Dupes is short for duplicates: TikTok is awash with cheaper alternatives to designer beauty products. M&S’s Warmth eau de parfum (£9.50) continues to sell out regularly thanks to a viral video that claims it is akin to Le Labo’s Santal 33 (£157), while Maybelline’s Lead the Way crayon (£9.99) is said to give a similar result to Charlotte Tilbury’s pillow talk lipstick (£27).
Lather up
For anyone who is trying to cut down on plastic, using a bar of soap rather than a plastic liquid dispenser is an easy swap. Those small slivers that are left as a bar comes to an end are annoying, but there’s plenty you can use them for …
Create a customised soap bar
Dry out the slivers, then use a cheese grater to create thin flakes. Pop these in a bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds, then stir and repeat until you have a soft mixture. Add any essential oils or fresh herbs you like, then place into a muffin or ice cube tray (depending on the size you want) and leave to set.
Secret scents
Alternatively, place the soap ends into a sisal pouch and use to exfoliate in the shower, or hang in a wardrobe or even a car for a fragrant touch.
Groom your brows
Dampen an old toothbrush or spoolie with a face mist, work the bristles into the old soap bar, then brush through your eyebrows. Soap contains a fat known as glycerine that coats the surface of the hairs to keep them in place.
Make do and mend
Use a micro spatula to ease out the end bits of a lipstick bullet. “Remember that you can use lipstick as a blush or eyeshadow too, and you can mix it with liquid highlighter or concealer to change the colour or finish,” says Spencer.
Most concealer and lip gloss tubes have a little ring that wipes off excess product. This can be pulled off with tweezers to make it easier to swipe more from the bottom of the tube.
For shattered powder palettes, use a spatula to mix in a tiny amount of water, or rub alcohol into the powder. Then use something smooth like the back of a spoon to push the powder back together. Leave to dry and voilà: it’s as good as new.
“If you’ve got dregs of eyeshadow hanging around in the corners of the pan, take a brush, spritz it with a setting spray (or water), and twist it in the remaining powder to create an eyeliner,” suggests Spencer.
Powdered eyeshadows and blushers can also be mixed with coconut oil or petroleum jelly to make a tinted lip balm. For dried-up mascara, pop the vessel with the wand inside into a mug of boiling water and leave to sit for five minutes. This will melt any remaining product. When using, twist rather than pump the wand to avoid introducing more air.
Rev up your recycling
Both Boots and John Lewis reward customers for recycling everything from travel miniatures to eyeliner pencils. Even better, try buying from brands that offer refills, which often works out cheaper too.
Perfect your perfume
Rubbing perfume causes friction, which heats up the skin and will alter the scent. Just spray and let the liquid sink in.
TikTokers swear by dabbing a little Vaseline on pulse points first, then spritzing; many claim this delays the drying out process that causes the scent to fade.
