Clean up the Act - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

I have this image from ages back, my mom had 2 or 3 lipsticks and a foundation - of course, Lakme - that was her makeup. And the Lakme loose powder. My dad had taken an empty toothpaste cover/carton and punched holes in it so she could stand these in them. I don't know if either Ma or Pa even remember this, but to this day, it always brings a smile to me when I think of it. Guess that was my first lesson in the 3Rs - reduce, reuse, and recycle.

I had planned on Operation Clean-up today, and partly with memories of my mom's old toothpaste cover stand and some posts on internet, I decided to use up all the empty covers I had been saving up with this vague idea.

Reduce:

• Hmmm..This is not working very well for me, but I am going to be more careful about what I buy. Read more reviews and don't just buy because it looks cute.

You can give away makeup you don't use or hold a blog sale - if the product hasn't expired or is not too
shabbily used.

• I always carry big bags - no small bags for me. Yet, I never would say no to the bags at the cosmetic counters. I suppose a Chanel lipstick seemed incomplete without the bag! I have stopped taking bags now. Just put product in my bag, and err..make sure the bill is safe with me. If I don't get a bag home, I don't have to worry about throwing it away. Of course, if it's a gift for someone, I would still get the bag - it just looks cuter that way :-)

Reuse: I used the empty covers of my moisturizer/toner to store my lipsticks in. That just ensures everything stays in place. And my empty Q-tips container too :-)

Recycle:  My most succesful recyling so far has not been makeup related though - it's this supercute money plant growing happily in an old plastic bottle :D