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Don’t waste your lipsticks, always check what’s in the tube


Ever reached for your favorite lipstick, given it a final twist, and despaired as nothing more emerged? That feeling of hitting rock bottom, of knowing your beloved shade is utterly gone, is a common one for beauty enthusiasts. We sigh, perhaps shed a tiny tear for our departing companion, and then dutifully toss the seemingly empty tube into the bin. But what if I told you that ‘empty’ tube might be holding a significant secret? What if there was still a substantial amount of product hiding, just waiting to be discovered?

A recent revelation on Reddit has sent shockwaves through the beauty community, illuminating a simple yet game-changing hack that promises to save you money, reduce waste, and extend the life of your cherished lipsticks. It’s a trick so straightforward, you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it sooner – and why beauty brands aren't more transparent about it.

The Shocking Truth: More Product Than You Think

The Reddit user, like many of us, believed her high-end lipstick (a luxurious €50 Chanel, no less) had finally reached its end. It wouldn't wind up, forcing her to resort to a lipstick brush to scrape out the last vestiges of color. Frustrated but determined to extract every last bit, she grabbed a mini spatula and decided to push the product from the bottom of the tube. What she uncovered was nothing short of astonishing: a substantial amount of lipstick, seemingly enough for dozens more applications, was stubbornly clinging to the bottom, hidden from view.

Imagine that. A €50 investment, deemed 'finished' by its packaging, still held significant value. Her immediate reaction, a relatable mix of delight at her discovery and "raging" at the thought of all the other expensive lipsticks she had binned over the years, perfectly encapsulates the sentiment. This isn't just about a few extra swipes; it’s about reclaiming a substantial portion of a premium product that most of us unknowingly throw away.

The Simple Solution: Decant and Conquer

The beauty of this 'hack' lies in its utter simplicity and affordability. Once the user realized the extent of the hidden product, her next step was ingenious: she ordered a lipstick palette from Amazon for a mere €7. With the palette in hand, she carefully decanted the remaining lipstick from its original tube. This involved pushing the hidden product up with the spatula and transferring it into the new palette. The result? A compact, accessible pot of her favorite Chanel shade, ready for many more uses with a lipstick brush.

This process offers several benefits:

  • Maximizes Product Life: You genuinely get every last gram of product you paid for.
  • Cost-Effective: A €7 palette extends a €50 lipstick, a no-brainer for budget-conscious beauty lovers.
  • Hygiene: While some prefer direct application, using a dedicated brush from a palette can sometimes feel more hygienic than digging into a tube's inner workings.
  • Customization: Lipstick palettes are fantastic for mixing shades, allowing you to create custom colors from your existing collection.

Why Do Brands "Waste" So Much Product?

The Reddit post naturally raises questions about why brands, especially high-end ones like Chanel, design their packaging in a way that seemingly encourages product waste. While we can only speculate, a few theories emerge:

  • Packaging Aesthetics & Mechanism: Lipstick tubes are designed for ease of use, twist-up mechanisms, and a certain look. The internal workings might necessitate a reservoir at the bottom for stability or to house the winding mechanism, making it difficult to access the very last bit without disassembly.
  • Perceived Value & Freshness: Brands might want consumers to feel like they're getting a fresh, new product with each purchase, rather than scraping the bottom of an old one.
  • Encouraging Repurchase: Cynically, one could argue that designing products to appear "empty" prematurely subtly encourages consumers to buy a replacement sooner.

Regardless of the underlying reasons, the takeaway for consumers is clear: don't take the 'empty' appearance at face value. This simple hack empowers you to reclaim your investment and challenge the cycle of premature product disposal.

Applying This Mindset to Your Entire Beauty Routine

The principle discovered with lipstick isn't confined to lip products alone. Think about all the other beauty items you use:

  • Foundation & Concealer Tubes: Many pump-dispensed foundations and concealers leave a significant amount of product clinging to the sides and bottom. Cutting open plastic tubes of lotion or foundation can often reveal a surprising amount left.
  • Squeeze Tubes: Hand creams, cleansers, or even some mascaras in squeeze tubes often have more inside than you can easily squeeze out.
  • Pump Bottles: For thicker liquids, remove the pump mechanism and use a spatula or a long-handled spoon to scrape the bottom and sides.

This Reddit thread serves as a powerful reminder to approach our beauty consumption with a more mindful and resourceful attitude. It's not just about saving money, although that's a significant benefit, especially when dealing with premium products. It's also about reducing waste, minimizing our environmental footprint, and becoming savvier consumers.

Don't Waste, Decant!

So, the next time your favorite lipstick refuses to twist up, or your foundation pump starts sputtering, pause before you toss. Grab a mini spatula, a small container, or even just a pair of scissors, and investigate. You might be pleasantly surprised by how much more product you can extract. This simple act of decanting transforms seemingly empty containers into renewed sources of your beloved beauty essentials.

Have you tried this hack before? What other beauty product secrets have you uncovered to get every last drop? Share your tips in the comments below!

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