Nowadays, an important part of being “green” is finding new and creative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as you can to avoid having more litter wind up on the street or in a landfill. This green consciousness can apply just as easily to beauty matters as it can to recycling old newspapers or aluminum cans. One thing that can be reused in a different way is your old mascara wand. Below are five surprising way to make use of that handy wand, even once your old mascara has been used up.
Eyebrow Brush
Once you have cleansed and sanitized your old wand with rubbing alcohol, apply your favorite brow gel (or a small amount of Vaseline) and use it to gently brush your eyebrows before heading out for the day. Even if you opt not to use a gel and simply want a good brushing, this procedure will keep them looking neat but natural and the old mascara wand is a perfect way to achieve this. Another trick is to fill in your brows with a dark powder or eyeshadow then brush them for a softer, less edgy look.
Lip Exfoliant
Most women who want to exfoliate their lips for a soft, plump look will use a small toothbrush or apply a lip scrub with their fingers, but a sanitized old mascara wand also more than fills the bills here and some women find it even more effective than a brush. Apply the old wand with your favorite lip scrub, a dab of Vaseline or even a DIY mix of olive oil and sugar brush back and forth gently but vigorously across the lips before wiping dry. This will remove dry, chapped skin and give your lips a luscious look.
Flyway Tamer
Flyway hair can ruin the look of a sleek ponytail or other pinned-up hairstyles. One very effective way to deal with this problem is to apply a tiny bit of petroleum jelly to the old mascara wand and use it as a brush to keep them in place. This is an especially effective trick for turning frizzy hair sleek and gorgeous, especially because its small size will work with the wispiest of flyways. An alternative to the petroleum jelly is a small amount of hair spray, but either way you will be pleased with the effect.
Cuticle Remover
Removing cuticles just got a whole lot easier! Apply a small amount of olive oil or your favorite cuticle cream to your cuticles and let them set there to soften them. Then, using your mascara wind, buff the base of the nails gently to keep them looking smooth and healthy.
Eyelash Conditioner
For an extra-luxurious treatment that will leave your lashes naturally conditioned, apply a small amount of almond oil (rich in nourishing Vitamin E), and use it as a nighttime application to your lashes once your makeup has been removed. Rinse this off the next day then apply your eye makeup as you would normally. Lashes will feel fuller, thicker and longer with this treatment.
So it is possible to go green beauitifully. Just keep these five tips in mind before start to throw that old mascara wind out with the trash!
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