Second hand cosmetics – is it worth buying used makeup?

Blogger Iina Moukola, 33, bought its first used product about 10 years ago. It was the iconic summer fragrance of the fashion house Escada Tropical Punchwhich Moukola was completely in love with.

– Someone sold a perfume once sprayed on eBay. I was wondering if it was really stupid to buy used. However, I wonder if the product is bad, then at least I’ve tried to find my favorite, he says.

The perfume bottle lasted for a couple of years when used at Mouko without saving. Over the years, he fell in love with several other scents of Escada and hoarded them from what he got his hands on. Fashionable summer fragrances are only available for a limited time each year.

– The first beauty products I bought as a second hand were the ones that had been discontinued.

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Moukola has written MouMoublog since 2008. During her blogging career, she has received numerous free cosmetics from various brands. If any of the beauty products Moukola receives do not fit her own skin or hair, she will usually pass the product on to a friend or family member. Today, he collaborates with his own favorite brands and gets certain products through his work.

– About 80 percent of the cosmetics I use come free of charge from the mailbox, but the rest I buy second-hand. I want to try several products to find the one that works best for me, so I may well buy a product that someone has tested once or twice.

While free test products are plentiful, Moukola wants more. Most of all, she has bought second-hand perfumes and various beauty products such as gua sha combs and face rollers.

– They are quite valuable when bought new. I have a bleeding blood. I have saved hundreds of euros by buying used products instead of new ones.

When used, Moukola would not buy mascara, eyeliners or lip products – that is, cosmetics used in the vicinity of mucous membranes. If the product is washable and in a pump bottle, such as a facial cleanser or shampoo, Moukola could dare to buy one.

– My mother is a cosmetologist by her first profession. From an early age, he emphasized to me that mascara should not be borrowed from anyone, Moukola recalls.

Moukola has only had good luck with second-hand purchases. Once again, he bought the summer fragrance of his favorite Escada and rejoiced at the affordable price of the product. However, a miniature-sized travel package came in the mail.

– It was my own stupidity! I didn’t look at the size of the bottle, I just stared at the picture.

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Eyeshadows and fragrances are attractive even when used

In addition to blogging, Moukola works as a country and communications director for a second-hand application in Zada, which also sells cosmetics. Unlike many other applications, the products have return protection. Therefore, if the product does not match the description, it can be returned.

– Even myself would be annoyed to buy a product of even a few euros if it were not in order, Moukola emphasizes.

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According to Moukola, eyeshadow palettes and perfumes in particular go to hot stones even when used. Semi-used hair products and hair extensions are also popular second hand purchases.

– If you crave a € 70 eyeshadow palette and get the same for € 20 without a single shade, why not?

Various Facebook flea markets are also Moukola’s favorites for buying used cosmetics. He always recommends checking the product seller’s profile and reviews. Moukola is also on Facebook Nordic Style & Beauty member of the group where he was found for the interview.

Is it worth buying cosmetics from a flea market?

The sale of cosmetics at flea markets is not prohibited. Expert of the Cosmetics and Hygiene Industry Association Eeva-Mari Karine recalls, however, that buying second-hand cosmetics is at your own risk. When a product is purchased from an individual, for example, its side effects cannot be complained about to the responsible company.

When buying cosmetics from a flea market, Karine urges the seller to ask a couple of fundamental questions.

– Where and when was the product purchased? Has it been opened or when? An opened cosmetic product is often not worth buying. In addition, if, for example, the shelf life of an unopened product has expired, it should not be purchased, he emphasizes.

According to Karine, especially opened products are a hygiene risk. You should also pay attention to what the product looks and smells like.

– Suspicious appearance or odor may be a sign of a contaminated product. However, pollution or aging cannot be detected organoleptically.

Even if the product is not spoiled, improper storage conditions can also affect the performance of the product.

– For example, the effectiveness of sunscreen may be reduced. Sunscreens should not be purchased from a flea market, even if unopened, if their storage method and shelf life are not known. If a product containing an aerosol is stored hot, it can be dangerous, Karine reminds.

Karine also does not recommend the purchase of opened skin and body creams in an open jar.

– Fragrances, aerosols and pump bottles are safer from a hygiene point of view than products that can be touched by hand. Sure, the scent can flicker, but that doesn’t stop you from using it if you like the scent yourself.

It is always a good idea to use your own cosmetic packaging empty, after which the packaging can usually be sorted for recycling. Ending up products is also more environmentally friendly than throwing them away.

– By using the products to the end, the consumer can save money. If you can’t use a product yourself and the product is not out of date and the product is suitable for recycling, you should even give it to a friend or use it in a family circle, Karine advises.

Stock photos: Unsplash

The story is the latest, the original was released in January 2021.