Of Residuals

 Yes, we all love cosmetics products. They help us smell and feel good, boost our confidence, and make us feel like we can conquer the world!

But, what about after using them? Do we simply throw away the containers?

Lots of cosmetic containers come in single-use plastics. This means we can only use them once before disposing of them somewhere.

What can we do about the residuals?

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Here are 3 simple ways:

1) REUSE

Since millions of plastics are being thrown away every day, we might as well use them again. Plastics take a very long time to decompose. So, instead of waiting, let's make something useful out of them!

For makeup containers: 

i) Keep medications in old lipstick containers

ii) Turn perfume cases into vases

iii) Store brushes in moisturizer bottles

iv) Store accessories (hair tie, pins, jewelry, etc) in bb cushion containers

Here are more ideas for crafting your makeup plastics.

Check out these links for great ways to reuse your other plastics.

2) RECYCLE

When we send our plastics to the recycling center, they will sort out the plastics into categories based on their types. There are 2 ways to recycle plastics:

i) Mechanical recycling - where plastics are soaked with water, washed, turned into powders and then melted. Afterward, they are reshaped into other useful products for people to enjoy.

ii) Chemical recycling - where plastics are broken down into monomers.  By combining and converting them into polymers, new plastics can be made from these molecules.

So, before throwing them into the bin, make sure to check their types and sort them accordingly. This will make the recycling process easier for those in the recycling centers!

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On another note, did you know that makeup brands nowadays offer their customers recycling programs? A recycling program is like an incentive for you to upcycle your beauty products. For exchanging a certain amount of plastics with you, they'll reward you with money and even lets you claim gifts! Brands that offer these treats are Innisfree, L'occitane, Kiehl's, The Body Shop, M.A.C., and many others! If you want more information, do check out this page.

3) REDUCE

This is by far, the most effective way to help plastics problems in our country. What's there to reuse or recycle if you don't have it in the first place?

How do we reduce the number of plastics in our cabinet?

i) Go Package-Free

ii) Look for Glass 

iii) Use Bio-Degradable products

iv) Look for refillable products

v) Opt for Zero-Waste living

vi) Use sustainable containers (like bamboo, wood, paper etc)

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There you go, please pick whichever method suits you the most. Undeniably, all of us use cosmetics products every day. It is certainly impossible to ask everyone to just stop using them, right? But we do have alternative ways to help reduce the use of plastics in our daily life. One step is all it takes to start opting for a greener Earth. Just remember, every little effort counts!