topic Re: donating makeup in Beauty

donating makeup

LJV — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 14:16:43 GMT

I'm to a point where I need to weed out my makeup stash. I have so many items that I've purchased, tried a couple of times then abandoned them to the dead makeup wasteland. I hate to throw the stuff away as most of it is practically new. Any suggestions where I might be able to donate my gently used makeup?

Thanks!!!

Re: donating makeup

Susan25 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 14:29:11 GMT

http://blog.reneerouleau.com/how-to-donate-your-gently-used-beauty-products/

This is an article about what products are safe to donate. Any womens shelters for homeless, (or as mentioned in the article). shelter for victims of domestic violence would be a good idea.

Re: donating makeup

sandy53 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 14:44:52 GMT

I haven't donated makeup, but I have sold some at a garage sale. It sold very fast. I was surprised! I was kind of hesitant to do it, but I figured that people could make their own decision on whether to buy "used" items.

Re: donating makeup

Trix — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:37:35 GMT

Unfortunately, organizations, shelters etc. are not supposed to accept any makeup or toiletry item which has been opened -- even if you have not at all or only barely used the product. Some shelters may bend the rule a little with items such as lotions and bath washes which you don't actually touch. However, I've never known one to accept used makeup, and if it's been opened, it's considered to be used.

As long as we're talking about donating cosmetics and toiletries I'd like to ask ladies who really don't need their GWP products to consider donating those items.

Re: donating makeup

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:58:14 GMT

I donate my GWP items all the time if I'm not going to use them. I donate them to a women's shelter.

However, there is no place around me that will take anything that has been used, even gently used. The first time I took a few GWP items to the shelter they were skeptical because some of the items don't come sealed and you can't tell if they've been used or not.

Re: donating makeup

Cookie2025 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 16:05:02 GMT

I Volunteer for an organization that supplies lunches and groceries and financial help to the Homeless and Families and WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OPENED COSMETICS of any kind - EVER. Ask yourself - would you accept cosmetics that have been used by someone else - we have clients that have asked if an item has been used.

Thanks to all of the Ladies who donate their GWP - it is a Real Gift to the recipients. The smiles say it all !

Re: donating makeup

RespectLife — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 16:18:44 GMT

I have donated MANY boxes of cosmetics and personal care items to a women's shelter.

Some were brand new...some were opened but never used, some items barely used. They have never rejected a single box I have sent. Now maybe they weed through what I send...but they have never mentioned to me not to send the items.

They always send me a donation receipt with a lovely thank you letter which is always personalized to what I have sent. I have also sent them boxes of handbags and toys for the children living there. The only thing they asked me not to send was clothes.

Google Sierra House in East Orange, NJ if you are interested in donating items.

Re: donating makeup

GinaV24 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 16:25:29 GMT

thanks for this thread, I had wondered about where to donate makeup that hasn't been used. I had heard about women's shelters taking it but wasn't sure how to go about it and this thread is a help for that.

I've hated the idea of just tossing it - I do that with old makeup but this is new and unused.

Re: donating makeup

151949 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:02:59 GMT

I have some old, close girlfriends who we will trade around products - for instance if I get a lipstick in my Walmart sample box that's not a good color for me - I may offer it to one of my friends. Since we are all close friends we don't mind each others germs on something. I would certainly not ever consider a strangers used cosmetics.

Re: donating makeup

Mrsq2022 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:17:22 GMT

On 2/17/2015 susan25 said:
http://blog.reneerouleau.com/how-to-donate-your-gently-used-beauty-products/

This is an article about what products are safe to donate. Any womens shelters for homeless, (or as mentioned in the article). shelter for victims of domestic violence would be a good idea.

this is helpful. Even if your local shelter wnt take it, this one in Texas will and she explains how to sterilize certain items, and which items they won't take (anything in jars, used mascara or wand-lipsticks or glosses.).

Re: donating makeup

wagirl — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:24:23 GMT

Nope--sorry--but I would never, ever buy or use opened make up or other personal items!!!! And why would I pass them on when I'm sure all that gets dumped. Seriously---would you take and use make up from a stranger???? Try to re purpose some of it. There's got to be a website for that. Otherwise, trash it.

Re: donating makeup

lindelou — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:31:06 GMT

Maybe someone you personally know will accept and appreciate them!

Re: donating makeup

lolakimono — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:37:16 GMT

Someone here once mentioned donating to the theater departments- schools or community theater. I don't have any firsthand knowledge or experience with this, but you could look into it.

Re: donating makeup

chrystaltree — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:52:32 GMT

No one charity, organization, school etc would ever accept used makeup or makeup that has been opened. No shelter would ever "bend the rules" on something like that. It's a matter of hygiene and public safety. Not to mention common sense. A woman might be homeless but that doesn't mean she wants a case of herpes zoster or pink eye. Fine a friend or relative who wants it or just toss it. Charitable organizations are not dumping grounds for stuff we don't want.

Re: donating makeup

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 18:04:39 GMT

On 2/17/2015 chrystaltree said:
No one charity, organization, school etc would ever accept used makeup or makeup that has been opened. No shelter would ever "bend the rules" on something like that. It's a matter of hygiene and public safety. Not to mention common sense. A woman might be homeless but that doesn't mean she wants a case of herpes zoster or pink eye. Fine a friend or relative who wants it or just toss it. Charitable organizations are not dumping grounds for stuff we don't want.

At least, they shouldn't. You may not have pink-eye or anything else, but that doesn't mean no one else has it and that's why this kind of thing is "no exceptions, ever." They don't know and they shouldn't put anyone else at risk. Throw your old cosmetics away.

If you feel that's wasteful, remember that the next time you buy something you aren't sure about or don't need. That's what I think about when I throw something away and it helps me out the next time I'm about to make an impulsive purchase. I'd be better off saving that money or giving that money to charity than buying one my eye shadow I'll wear once and never again.

Re: donating makeup

CatsyCline — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 18:16:35 GMT

would YOU use a store tester to try make-up? No? of course not! why would you think women in shelters want your opened, USED makeup? and how do you possibly walk in and donate to battered women's shelters!!! they are in out of the way areas and hidden away and not easy to find for one important reason - so the men who beat them up cannot find them!!

Re: donating makeup

HappyDaze — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 18:57:23 GMT

On 2/17/2015 Pie1993 said:
I Volunteer for an organization that supplies lunches and groceries and financial help to the Homeless and Families and WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OPENED COSMETICS of any kind - EVER. Ask yourself - would you accept cosmetics that have been used by someone else - we have clients that have asked if an item has been used.

Thanks to all of the Ladies who donate their GWP - it is a Real Gift to the recipients. The smiles say it all !

I am glad to hear this because I try to collect as many samples, etc of anything and everything I can get to give to my women's shelter. It is nice to hear that they enjoy them! Although lately my local shelter is saying they no longer accept sample sized products, which I don't know why??? I am now looking at donating them to the ladies in the military as there are groups that collect samples, etc for them.

Re: donating makeup

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:01:27 GMT

On 2/17/2015 ashleigh dupray said:
would YOU use a store tester to try make-up? No? of course not! why would you think women in shelters want your opened, USED makeup? and how do you possibly walk in and donate to battered women's shelters!!! they are in out of the way areas and hidden away and not easy to find for one important reason - so the men who beat them up cannot find them!!

You'd be surprised how many people think nothing of using those samples in Sephora! Skeeves me out. People also buy used cosmetics at garage sales all the time.

And no you cannot walk into a Women's Shelter but it's easy enough to find a way to get things to them.

Re: donating makeup

suzyQ3 — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:03:24 GMT

On 2/17/2015 ashleigh dupray said:
would YOU use a store tester to try make-up? No? of course not! why would you think women in shelters want your opened, USED makeup? and how do you possibly walk in and donate to battered women's shelters!!! they are in out of the way areas and hidden away and not easy to find for one important reason - so the men who beat them up cannot find them!!

I'm going to admit that I do. But I always make sure that either the salesperson or I (or both) sterilize it with alcohol first. I've noticed that department stores seem to be much more conscientious about their methods of sterilization. A couple times recently, clerks have applied foundation for me. They went through what seemed to be a mandatory process that began with hand sanitizer and brush cleaning.

Am I wise to do this? That's a matter of opinion, but I'm just being honest.

ETA: But I would never think to donate used cosmetics. I will give it to my daughter or a friend, though, if they want it, after wiping it with alcohol.

Re: donating makeup

HappyDaze — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:04:17 GMT

On 2/17/2015 LipstickDiva said:
On 2/17/2015 ashleigh dupray said:
would YOU use a store tester to try make-up? No? of course not! why would you think women in shelters want your opened, USED makeup? and how do you possibly walk in and donate to battered women's shelters!!! they are in out of the way areas and hidden away and not easy to find for one important reason - so the men who beat them up cannot find them!!

You'd be surprised how many people think nothing of using those samples in Sephora! Skeeves me out. People also buy used cosmetics at garage sales all the time.

And no you cannot walk into a Women's Shelter but it's easy enough to find a way to get things to them.

Yeah, I see women ALL THE TIME putting all full faces of makeup in Sephora and many, especially the younger ones, are not sanitizing the items. Scary!