From treasure to trash & back again

Whenever I clean out my closet, dresser, or old bags, I always come across 5 or 6 empty makeup containers and sometimes full ones that I forgot I purchased OOPS. I do my best to recycle what I can, but they too often find themselves in the trash. What's more upsetting is that it's only when you're dropping that Sephora labelled black container into last night's spaghetti that you realize you spent $20 on a quarter-sized amount of coloured powder for your eyes.

I've been big into cosmetic recycling programs lately. Well, big into trying to find some at least.
With everyone freaking out about global warming and vowing to "go green", you'd think that more health and beauty companies would instate in-company recycling programs. But most don't, unfortunately. Perhaps it's because the world is ending in less than a year and they figure there's just not much of a point anymore. PS anyone who believes in the 2012 shenanigans is an uneducated moron

Back in 2009, Origins kicked off its recycling program by installing recycling stations at all of its counters, where customers can drop off ANY brand's containers and walk away with a free sample of an Origins product. Good for them for taking in any cosmetic brands' empty bottles and tubes, but a tiny sample isn't much of a reward for driving all the way to one of their stores to drop off a bottle.

MAC doesn't care how dirty or gross the empty cases are. Bring them back anyways!

The best one I've come across thus far is still Back To MAC. MAC Cosmetics allows its customers to bring back any 6 empty product containers (think eyeshadow case, foundation bottle, lipgloss) and walk away with a lip stick/gloss/glass of their choice. You can even mail the empties in, so you don't actually have to even leave the house! This offer's available from just about any MAC counter. But, if you want a really good return on your investment, take it to a stand-alone MAC store. There, you can select a free eye shadow OR lip stick (you have to come right out and ask for the eye shadow, but they'll give it to you). Personally, I always go with the eye shadow. It's something that I know I'll use regularly, is worth $16, and besides - I often lose my lipsticks and glosses within a week of buying them so it's just not a good idea to choose the lip stick. And yes, at first I felt like a dirty little hobo trekking into the store with my ziploc bag full of empty bottles....but I got over it and so will you.

If you're a fan of LUSH, they have a pretty decent recycling program as well. It's a little more specific in that you can only bring back empty "black pots" (they're what moisturizers, body scrubs, face masks, etc. come in) but if you bring back 5, you'll get a free face mask pot. These things last 2-4 masks and are worth about $7. Not as great as MAC's program, but definitely worthwhile.

Like I said, more cosmetic companies need to look into implementing something similar to these guys. If not for the sake of the planet, do it for the sake of mine (and every other makeup junkie's) bank account.

Yours Truly,