I am hopeless at keeping my New Year resolutions, but one that I have managed to stick to is recycling and re-purposing. Once I started thinking “green”, my outlook towards my trash totally changed. Every bottle, jar and container became an item with endless possibilities.
Beautiful Box:
I am a sucker for beautiful packaging. Packaging alone can convince me to buy or walk away. I keep all my favourite shoe and gift boxes to store hair accessories and sanitary towels, which I always buy in rand-saving bulks.
Classy Glass:
Glass is the easiest material to recycle or re-purpose. Candle containers, coffee and mayonnaise jars can be re-used as a classy new home for your makeup brushes, lip, eye and brow pencils. Small containers are precious space savers that can be cleaned and refilled with Vaseline, hand lotion and hair products. Re-use glass bottles as water bottles. They are healthier than plastic.
Fantastic Tins:
Mint and tampon tins are absolutely priceless. Refill them or simply toss in some thread, buttons, needle and a safety pin to make your own travel sewing kit. For the ladies with long relaxed hair or dreadlocks, mint tins can be used to store hair pins and hair elastic bands for a quick hairstyle change on the run.
Savvy Straps:
For years, most black women have been using old stocking to cover their hair before going to sleep. So, take this trend of using something considered an under to outer wear. Remove the detachable straps from your old bras and use them as funky adjustable headbands. Embellish the boring black, nude and white ones with flowers and butterfly motifs for a touch of summer. Add a sparkling brooch for a glam feel.
Simple Samples:
Collect and refill small re-sealable freebies containers. They are the makings of a compact travel toiletry bag. Alternatively, buy and reuse a skin care travel kit. The product sizes will be more or less the same as those of the freebies in containers.
Take a crack on trash. Recycle and share your tricks with your fellow Beauty Bulletinians.
Article by: Ncomeka Mpofu