Use up every last bit: how to utilise every last bit

Natalie Hemengül

4/11/2025

Translation: machine translated

Pictures: Natalie Hemengül

You squeeze, you squeeze. Is anything still coming out? No. Then try these five tips before you dispose of your beauty products for good.

The fact that this is coming from me now seems inauthentic, even to me. Anyone who knows me in private might even roll their eyes, because: Half-empty jars and tubes usually give me the go-ahead for a new round of shopping. But I'm really trying to change my consumer behaviour at the moment. This includes making a firm commitment to using up every last drop of cosmetics I buy before replacing them. Provided it doesn't pose a risk to my eyes and skin.

Do you share my mission? With the help of these tricks, you can get a lot out of a supposedly empty pack.

1. remove the stopper

Lip glosses, concealers, blushes - liquid formulas often come in cylindrical plastic packaging with an applicator that can be unscrewed. To prevent too much product from sticking to the applicator when it is pulled out, there is a stopper at the top of the opening. This is a kind of plastic stopper that wipes the excess from the applicator. When the product runs out, the stopper is more of a curse than a blessing. It prevents you from scraping out even the last corner «» .

So get rid of it. You have to look very closely to find it. It helps if you clean the winch thoroughly first. Then run the long side of a knife under the stopper lip and lever out the stopper from all sides. Then pull it out with pliers. Patience and lots and lots of caution are required here.

2. sponge over it? Better not!

You know those round, cushiony sponge applicators that have become so popular recently? They sit on blush, highlighter and concealer tubes, for example, and are supposed to spread the liquid formulas evenly over your face with a dabbing motion. But dispensing with them is a horror, because I never know how much product is already in the sponge (and comes into contact with air). Over time, so much make-up collects in the little knob that the cap and the surrounding area get dirty. As a result, I'm constantly doing damage limitation with a cosmetic tissue. On top of that, it's a catch basin for germs and bacteria. Conclusion: a wasteful yuck!

That's why I've started to simply remove these fluffy tips. And don't worry, air still doesn't get into the tube. Most products are equipped with a mechanism that allows you to seal the product airtight with a simple twisting motion «» . Incidentally, I simply use my fingers or a brush to apply the product.

3. create a «Frankenstein monster»

Have you ever used a wide-fanned brush in an almost empty powder pan? Then you know: There's not much left on the hairs. The reason for this is that there is usually only a fine ring of powder left that runs along the edge of the pan. To distribute the powder evenly over the entire surface of the metal pan again, you need to press it again.

Scrape the product into a small bowl with a knife and crush the chunks into a fine powder. Then add a few drops of isopropanol alcohol from the pharmacy (it will evaporate by itself later), mix everything together and pour the mixture back into the tin or pan. Then place kitchen paper on top and press everything into shape with a flat, round object.

You can also jazz up other powders in this way: Is your blush too matte? Crumble it up, scrape in some of your highlighter, mix and press again. Now you have a shimmering version. Or you can mix different colours and, and, and.

4.

4. Dilute your nail polish

Is your favourite polish really thick and viscous and doesn't want to dry? Then add a few drops of nail polish thinner. It thins out the formula without affecting the polish itself. In an emergency, a little nail polish remover will also do the trick. But then please use it without acetone. Shake well and you're done!

5. snap, snap

If you've ever cut open an empty «» tube, you'll know that there's still so much inside that you can use the contents a few more times. Only now everything comes into contact with air ... really stupid! But you probably have an empty travel-size jar lying around somewhere, don't you? Scrape everything into the container with a freshly sanitised butter knife and the problem is solved.

Do you have any other tips? Share them with the Community!

Natalie Hemengül

Senior Editor

Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions. more

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