Three Ways to Recycle a Damaged Lipstick

To recover a damaged lipstick, or reinvent one you no longer like, you can resort to some simple homemade fixing techniques.

If you have damaged lipstick – either because it was dropped or because it melted due to excessive heat – don’t throw it away.

Sometimes, we’re so in love with our lipsticks because of their particular color and texture that we don’t want to change them. Not only that, but you must also take into account that the cost of good quality makeup is very high. It’s a pity when one of them breaks when there’s still so much of it to use.

Below, we’ll give you three solutions to recycle a damaged lipstick.

Recycle a Damaged Lipstick

Before showing you the ways in which you can recycle damaged lipstick, we’ll give you a couple of tips to keep in mind so that they don’t spoil to begin with. Sometimes you can’t avoid accidents, but other times the damage is due to carelessness or maintenance ignorance.

To prevent lipstick accidents keep the following in mind:

• Don’t extend the entire stick out of the tube to apply it, half an inch is more than enough.
• Be careful not to smash it when replacing the lid.
• Avoid leaving it in places that are too hot or placing it directly under the sun. Most are made of wax and they’ll melt.
• Avoid dropping it as much as you can.

That said, let’s take a look at some ways to recycle a damaged lipstick.

1. Two-part split

This method is great for those times when the lipsticks are split into two pieces. However, it may be complicated if one of the parts is too small. It’s very simple but it requires patience.

The heat will melt the ends of the stick pieces so that both pieces are fused together and integrate as soon as they cool down.

What will you need?

• 1 candle
• Broken lipstick
• Small wooden stick
• Fridge

Instructions

• First, light the candle.
• Next, turn the lipstick mechanism until all of it is exposed.
• Run both matching ends of the broken stick over the flame, but be careful not to burn them. When the ends melt just a little bit, remove them from the flame.
• Join both parts exerting just enough pressure until the connection is stable.
• Then, smooth the edges with the help of a wooden stick so it will be a single stick again.
• Finally, put it in the fridge for at least an hour so it solidifies.

2. Lipstick damaged by heat

If you forgot your makeup bag in the car on a hot day, or near a stove, or in the sun, it’s very likely that the lipsticks you had in it melted. The wax base in them cannot withstand high temperatures.

There is, however, a way to recover and use them until they’re completely gone without losing their color and texture.

What will you need?

• 1 candle
• A metal spoon
• Paper napkins
• Small container
• Fridge
• Clip

Instructions

• Firstly, protect your work surface with the paper napkin, as part of the stick could fall off when melted.
• Secondly, light the candle.
• Next, place the melted lipstick on the spoon and bring above the flame until it completely liquefies and there are no lumps left.
• Then pour the contents of the spoon into the small container.
• With the clip, remove the remaining lipstick from the bottom of the container and place it on the spoon to be melted and repeat the previous process.
• Cover the container.
• Finally, place it in the fridge for at least an hour.

3. Recycle your old lipstick and turn it into lip gloss

If you have broken lipstick or old ones that are no longer to your liking, don’t throw them away. With this simple method, you can turn it into lip gloss.

What will you need?

• 1 pot
• A metal container that’ll fit loosely inside the pot
• Water
• 1 tbsp of beeswax
• A potato peeler
• 2 tbsp petroleum jelly
• Small, clean container
• Lipstick

Instructions

• Fill the pot halfway.
• Bring it to a boil and then lower the flame.
• With a peeler, grate the beeswax and place it in the smaller container.
• Add the petroleum jelly and mix it to a homogeneous texture.
• Then, add part of the lipstick. (The amount will depend on the tone you wish to achieve.)
• Stir the mix until everything melts.
• Finally, place it in the small container and let it cool down.

With these three tips, you’ll never waste your damaged lipstick again, because you’ll be able to recover it. Give it a try!