The Cosmetic Graveyard Bathroom Challenge

Decluttering

May 20

Clear bathroom clutter and cut plastic from your life with this simple, effective four-step sustainable bathroom cosmetic graveyard challenge. If you have unused or partially used products lurking in your bathroom drawers and cabinets, then this challenge is for you. In addition to reducing cosmetic chaos, this challenge will show you how to rebuild a healthier, more sustainable routine with eco-friendly products and patterns.

Step 1: Sort it

Begin the challenge by sorting through your bathroom products and making three piles:

Pile 1: Usable + Like. This is for products you use, like, and plan to use/finish up completely.
Pile 2: Usable + Don’t Like. In this pile, you’ll place products that are usable but you don’t like. (Think lotions you found too greasy, once-used shampoos that gave you a bad hair day, or cosmetics with scents you weren’t into.)
Pile 3: Not Usable. This pile will have expired products, anything broken (such as old hair straighteners), or items that can’t be shared with someone else (hello, opened mascara).

Step 2: Use it Up!

Place the contents from you “Usable & Like” pile back into your bathroom drawers and cabinets. Organize them by product type (keeping all of your toothpastes together, moisturizers together, etc.). Spend the next few weeks or months using up what you have. Be sure to use all of one type of product before buying any replacements. For example, if you have two bottles of body lotion, use both before committing to buy any more. Only once you have used up all of your “enter product type here” (ex. lotion, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, shampoo, etc.) should you restock your bathroom with a replacement.

While it may be tempting to toss out any products that come in plastic (so you can begin replacing them with plastic-free alternatives), doing so would NOT be sustainable. The most eco-friendly option is to use what you already own. So before you even think about purchasing any new eco-products, use up what’s in your bathroom so you can sustainably phase out your plastic or single-use toiletries.

Step 3: Rid Responsibly

Tossing perfectly good products is not sustainable on so many levels, so next up, we’re going to find your “Usable + Don’t Like” products a new home where they will be used and loved. (Note: You can do this step in tandem with step two.)

Finding products a new home can be simple and uncomplicated. Here are a few tried-and-tested ways to make it happen: (And P.S. do what works for you!)

Build a “Friends Box”. Put all of your “Usable + Don’t Like” products in a shoe box. Bring it out when friends stop by to ask them if they’d like to take anything. You can also leave it on your front porch for delivery people or passersby to peruse. (Whatever you do, don’t leave it out on the curb and forget about it, only for it to become trash.)

Give on Buy Nothing. If you don’t know about Buy Nothing, this is your sign to jump in. Buy Nothing is a free marketplace where you can give away unwanted items with ease. Just snap a pic and most of the time, your items are picked up by someone who wants them within a day or two. There are two ways to access Buy Nothing— 1. through Facebook, or 2. through the Buy Nothing app. I use the app because I’m not on Facebook, but FYI—there is more activity through the Facebook interface so if you’re choosing between the two, you’ll likely have better luck through FB.
Share with a Shelter. Unopened travel-sized toiletries can be donated to your local homeless or women’s shelter.

For your “Not Usable” products, it’s important to skip the landfill, when possible. Here are two ways to properly dispose of your unusable items:

Cosmetic Recycling. If it’s too old to be given away or would be unsafe to share (I’m talking about you, partially used eyeliner), then it’s best to dispose of it. Unfortunately, most curbside recycling programs do not recycle cosmetic packaging such as shampoo caps, cream tubes, or eye shadow palettes. To keep them out of the landfill, head to Nordstrom to drop containers in their BEAUTYCYCLE collection bins. Be sure to check their website for the types of packaging they accept.
Bathroom Electronic Recycling. For bathroom electronics such as hair straighteners and curling irons, stop by Best Buy to drop off broken appliances in their free electronic recycling bins. A note that they do not accept electronic razors or beard trimmers. For a full list of products they recycle in-store, click here.

Step 4: Make it Sustainable

Buy Less + Maintain. The first part of maintaining an eco-bathroom routine is to buy less, and buy only what you will use and need. So now that you have paired down your bathroom to products you use and love, you can stick to this eco-friendly practice of only buying what you’ll use. Going forward, if you try a product and don’t like it, continue the habit of finding it a new home (ASAP) so it doesn’t create unnecessary clutter or waste.

Buy Sustainable Products. The second part of building a sustainable bathroom is to buy eco-friendly products. So if you’re ready to swap everything over to plastic-free or reusable alternatives, here are some simple ways to take your Cosmetic Graveyard Challenge to the next eco-level:

Purchase eco-friendly products. As you use up old products, look to replace them with plastic-free or reusable ones. Everyone will have their own preferences but here are some of my favorites.
Set up a subscription. Once you find plastic-free products you love, set up a subscription to keep them coming. This will help you avoid buying them in plastic should you run out and need a replacement in a pinch.
Keep a small backstock. If purchasing locally, keep a supply reserve of two or three of each of the products you love and know you will continue to use on repeat. This will mean less runs across town to pick up your must-have items the moment you run out. And again, it will reduce the chances of you needing to buy an unsustainable replacement in a bind.

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