We’ve all been there: your new face cream is a sticky mess, your liquid blush is a patchy shade of pink you haven’t worn since your grade eight graduation, and your highlighter is a chunky glitter bomb. Maybe you deny it: Pink is great for spring! This highlighter probably only looks like this in my bathroom lighting. Maybe you start to bargain: If this face cream works for me, I won’t need to buy a new one for another two months. Slowly, you come to accept: This product just doesn’t work for me.
The return period for Sephora has lapsed and Shoppers Drug Mart doesn’t have much of a return policy. What now?
Here are four ways to adapt and re-purpose a product that doesn’t work for you:
Use face cream as body cream.
Did that new face cream that promised to be “rich and hydrating” actually feel more “thick and sticky” on your face? Good news: the same heavy texture that might feel suffocating on your face may feel dense and soothing on the harder, drier skin of your body (especially on spots like knees and elbows that may be prone to cracking). Did the “non-irritating” moisturizer leave your face itchy, tight and red? Take caution (contact allergies are real and not to be trifled with!), but the tougher skin of your elbows and feet may be less sensitive.
Use sunscreen as an SPF hand cream.
Physical sunscreens with mineral filters like zinc oxide may be protective, but they can also be chalky and tricky to work with, leaving an unfortunate white cast that can make your face look ashy. Your hands can reap the benefits of sun protection without the worries of an ashy appearance: using sunscreen as an SPF hand cream is a great way to repurpose a product and give some attention to an often-neglected part of your body when it comes to establishing a sun-care routine.
Use liquid blush as a lip colour.
The intense pigmentation of Rare Beauty’s liquid blushes has earned Selena Gomez’s cosmetics line viral social media popularity and the devotion of countless customers. Even with the blendable formula, however, the sharp pop of colour can be difficult to manage for beginners; thankfully, the souffle-like texture works well as a soft matte lip colour too. When applied with the fingertips or a small, fluffy brush, a liquid blush on the lips can give a beautiful “blotted” effect—a dreamy, diffused wash of colour like the Glossier Gen G lipsticks. Applying a liquid blush straight from the doe foot applicator gives a more intense colour. (If you’re not a fan of a soft matte finish, you can always top it with a lip oil, gloss or balm!)
Another tip: if you’re determined to work with liquid blush as a blush, you can sheer out pigmented formulas by mixing them with a moisturizer or applying them on the back of your hand instead of directly to your face. You can also salvage an over-application by dusting some powder over your blush.
Use highlighter as an eye shadow.
Trends don’t have to define your preferences, but if you were shocked to find a highlighter giving you more of a “2016 glazed donut” opaque, metallic finish than the luminous sheen you were hoping for, you can always repurpose highlighter as an eyeshadow. The same sparkle that may seem too intense on your cheeks could look gorgeous as an eyeshadow in the inner corner or on the centre of your lid. Bonus: if a highlighter is too dark or too warm-toned for my skin in the winter when I’m missing my tan, I love to use it lightly as an eyeshadow to bring some warmth to my eyes.
BONUS: Organize a swap with friends!
The expression “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is an old one, but it still holds some truth. Different products suit different hair types, skin types, and complexions. For example, the same leave-in conditioner which may just “sit” on my stubbornly straight, low-porosity hair may be a hydrating dream that absorbs seamlessly into my friend’s curly, high-porosity hair. The same coral blush that washes out your friend could be just the right flush of colour to brighten up your face. Sanitize your products then swap to your heart’s content!