13 Ways To Repurpose Skincare Products

Smarter use, zero waste.

If you have skincare products you no longer need or want because they don’t work for your face, you might want to give them another chance. Whether it’s a lotion or a serum, there are simple ways you can repurpose your skincare products.

We all love splurging on skincare products. But things don’t always work out the way we want them to. Maybe you went ahead and bought a fancy moisturizer, but it turned out to be comedogenic for your skin.

Maybe you bought a face serum and it turned out to be irritating for your skin. Whatever it is, those skin care products can still be used and repurposed. After all, skincare isn’t cheap!

So before you go ahead and toss your products out, keep reading to find out what to do with skincare products you no longer use or want.

How To Repurpose Skincare Products

1. Use Moisturizers as Body Lotions

If you don’t like your current moisturizer, cream, or lotion because it doesn’t work for your skin type or it’s pilling, use it as a body lotion. If you’re someone who doesn’t normally use a body lotion, this is your chance to amp up your body care too. After you’re out of the shower, use your moisturizer on damp skin for smooth skin all over.

2. Use Moisturizers as Hand Creams

Another way to repurpose your moisturizers is by using them as hand creams. This is great, especially during colder months when you constantly run out of hand creams because cold weather requires multiple applications of hand cream.

3. Use Face Cleansers as Hand Soap

You can repurpose your face cleansers and face washes by using them as hand washes. Most hand cleansers contain skin-drying soap. But face cleansers are usually way gentler, allowing you to use them to wash and care for your hands at the same time.

4. Use Face Cleansers as Body Cleanser

You can use your face cleansers on your body. Repurpose them as body washes and keep them in the shower. This is also a great way to use up your cleansers.

5. Use Face Cleansers as a Tool Cleanser

Take out all your makeup brushes and sponges and your beauty tools like face rollers and get to cleaning. Using your face cleanser as a beauty tool cleanser is a great way to repurpose your cleansers and a great excuse to sanitize your tools.

6. Use Cleansing Oils & Balms on Your Body

Cleansing oils and balms melt away makeup. These oil-based products are incredibly nourishing for the skin. Using them on your body will amp up your body care routine significantly. Get a nice scoop of your balm and spread it all over your legs, and arms. Rinse it off and wash your body with a regular cleanser. You’ll see that your skin feels incredibly soft and smooth after showering.

7. Use Toners and Essences on Your Body

Essences and face toners hydrate and nourish your skin. They’re weightless on the skin so you can comfortably use them on your body simply to hydrate.

8. Use Toners and Essences as Face Masks

I like to use toners and essences as face masks. This is my favorite method to quickly use up the products I don’t want to pile. Pour some toner/essence into a bowl. Take a compressed sheet mask and put it in the bowl too. Once the sheet swells up, put it on your face. This makes an incredibly replenishing face mask to boost hydration, plump skin, and make it glow.

9. Use Toners as Face Mists

Most toners can be repurposed as face mists. Pour your toner into an empty spray bottle. And use it as a refreshing mist throughout the day. This is also great in summer when the skin is extra thirsty and when you’re out and about.

10. Use Face Serums as Body Serums

I don’t know if you’re aware, but body serums are much more expensive than face serums. But they’re great for addressing issues like body acne, hyperpigmentation, and flaky skin. So use your face serums as body serums after showering. And follow up with a lotion.

11. Use Face Serums as Spot Treatments

You can use your face serum as a spot treatment to apply only on problem areas, such as a pimple, instead of the whole face. This is especially helpful for retinol serums as they can be irritating to the skin. Instead of using your retinol serum on your face, repurpose it as a spot treatment for blemishes and even for wrinkles.

12. Use Face Oils For Your Nails

Face oils are rich in fatty acids. They moisturize, prevent dryness, and keep the skin soft. Because of that, you can use them to strengthen your nails too.

13. Use Face Oils For Dry Areas

You can always use face oils on your lips like lip balm to prevent and repair chapped lips. You can also use your face oil to spot-treat dry areas on your body like your elbows.

So this is how to repurpose your skincare products. Whether you’re looking for ways to use up products or alternative ways to make use of them, these are great methods to try. After all, skincare is not cheap and you should milk your skincare products for all their worth.