The Savvy Life

How much makeup do you have floating around in your bathroom? How much of it do you actually use? Here are just a few ideas to get the most out of the money you spent on the makeup you no longer want.

Poker Party
Invite all of your girlfriends over for a game of poker.  Instead of using cash or chips, use makeup.  You can assign different brands or different types of cosmetics separate values to use in betting. 

* Please don't swap mascara or anything else that is used close to the eye.  Also, have plenty of tissue on hand so you can wipe lipsticks and pencils down for a fresh application.

Makeup Swap
Clothing Swaps are all the rage.  Why not host a Makeup Swap.  Take your gently used makeup and swap it with your friends over wine and hors d'oeuvres. 

Makeup Swap Online
MakeupAlley.com is a beauty community featuring articles, interviews, product reviews and a page dedicated to swapping makeup.  

eBay?
When my husband and I announced that we were getting married in Las Vegas, two of our friends bought their plane tickets and two nights’ stay at the MGM Grande Hotel with money they made by selling their slightly used Stila makeup on eBay!  Where can your makeup take you?

Recycle

Makeup Brushes

• Don't throw out those old makeup brushes.  Budget Savvy's photo editor, Janna Scott, uses her old brushes to clean out her coffee bean grinder (after cleaning them thoroughly of course) and to spread glue on the back of photos to make greeting cards.
• Use old makeup brushes to dust very small areas like your computer keyboard, remote control or window frames.

Nail Polish

• Use different colored nail polish to mark the keys on your key ring.
• Dab clear polish on the end of your shoe strings to keep them from fraying.

Get Free Makeup!
Take advantage of MAC Cosmetic's "Back to MAC" program.  Bring in 6 empty MAC Makeup Containers and receive a free lipstick.

Do you have more ideas for getting the most out of your makeup?  We would love to hear them.  Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your ideas.