Beauty with Purpose: Your Unused Makeup Can Change Lives

Your guide to donating makeup and personal care items to women who need them most

Hello, Gorgeous!

Today is Memorial Day, a national and bank holiday. Many of you are out there sunning and funning. Some are simply home enjoying time off. And then there are those of us who use time off to declutter or try to arrange our sometimes overwhelming lives.

People frequently ask me what I do with all the products I receive. I try to test everything out before deciding if I’ll review, feature or write about it. I then pass along products that don’t work for me to friends and family. As to the rest — I donate nearly everything. I start with local organizations and also send to shelters and organizations serving women in the military.

Here’s a thought. In honor of those who have served valiantly — or might still be serving — why not donate your unused makeup, skincare, and body care to women in the military or a local shelter?

Project Beauty Share

What they do:

Project Beauty Share provides personal hygiene, cosmetics and beauty products to non-profit organizations who serve women and families overcoming abuse, addiction, homelessness and poverty to help restore hope and dignity in their lives. They serve as a pass-through agency supporting partner organizations in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Find out more at Project Beauty Share.

What they accept:

Skincare: Moisturizers, serums, cleansers, eye creams, exfoliators, primers, sunscreens, face masks (products must be at least ¾ full; products in tubs or pots must be new/unopened)

Body Care: Deodorant (must be new), razors (must be new), body lotions, shower gels, bar soap (must be new), body sprays, perfumes, sunscreens, bronzing lotion

Makeup: Makeup brushes (must be new or clean), lip products/lip liners (must be new), mascara (must be new), eyeliners (must be new), pressed eye shadows (can be barely used), pressed blush/bronzer/highlighters (can be barely used), foundations (must be new), concealers (must be new), squeeze tube or airless pump foundations (can be barely used), face primer (barely used).

Accessories: Jewelry, sample packets, hotel travel size items (must be new), makeup bags (must be new), nail products (must be new), misc. face tools like tweezers, pencil sharpeners, eyelash curlers (must be new).

What they DON'T accept:

Any item with a wand that has been used or swatched, such as mascara, lip gloss, liquid lip color, liquid eyeliner, foundations and concealers. Loose powders in containers that are without seal, such as mineral powder foundations, blush, eye shadows and highlighters.

How to Donate:

Drop off or mail donations to: 2718 E Sprague Ave, Spokane WA 99202. Warehouse hours are M-Th 9am-2pm. You are responsible for shipping costs.

Find out more at Projectbeautyshare.

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Operation Gratitude

What they do:

Operation Gratitude's mission is to honor the service of military and first responders by creating opportunities to express gratitude. They deliver care packages to deployed troops, military children, recruit graduates, veterans, and first responders.

What they accept for care packages:

Personal Care Items: Skincare kits, travel-sized hygiene items for first responders, black socks

Energy & Health: 5-Hour ENERGY, coffee, Emergen-C (highly requested by deployed troops and first responders working long hours). I’m not sure how I feel about this one, so I don’t take on things like this!

Snacks & Treats: Girl Scout cookies, Power Crunch protein bars, M&Ms, snack foods.

Entertainment: Comic strips and comic books, puzzle books, reading materials, playing cards, fidget spinners, Hasbro 'Duel Decks' and other games

Comfort Items: Beanie Babies (hundreds of thousands donated over the years), handmade knitted, crocheted or quilted items with thank you notes.

Communication: Letter writing kits with stationery, blank cards, pens and mechanical pencils.

Important guidelines:

All collected items must be new and sealed in original packaging and shipped as separate components. They cannot accept pre-assembled care packages. You are responsible for shipping costs.

How to donate:

You can organize collection drives in your community or donate individual items. Complete their online donor form and ship items to their headquarters. They also offer discounted shipping through Give Back Box for $20 for boxes up to 50 pounds. Find out more at Operation Gratitude.

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Soldiers' Angels

What they do:

Soldiers' Angels provides aid, comfort, and resources to military, veterans, and their families. They have a Women of Valor Team specifically focused on supporting female caregivers and military women, and provide morale-boosting care packages to combat deployed service members.

What they accept:

Go Camo Care Package Collection: They collect top-requested care package items throughout the year for deployed service members

Special Collections: Girl Scout cookies (they have special campaigns to send donated cookies to service members and veterans), Halloween candy through their Treats for Troops program.

Candy Guidelines: Individually wrapped candy is preferred, but they accept unopened small bags of loose candy such as candy corn and jelly beans. NO homemade or handmade candy.

How to donate:

Fill out an Intent to Donate form, then ship items to: Soldiers' Angels Go Camo, 2895 NE Loop 410, Suite 107, San Antonio, Texas 78218. You are responsible for all shipping costs.

Special programs:

They run seasonal collection campaigns like "Treats for Troops" for Halloween candy and have partnerships with local businesses to serve as collection sites Treats for Troops Halloween Candy Collection - Soldiers' Angels.

Important Note: All three organizations emphasize that products should not be expired or near expiration dates, and most require you to cover shipping costs when mailing donations.

If you aren’t up for donating products at this time, but want to participate in some way, consider helping to cover costs of shipping donations (I send out A LOT!). You can donate via the national 501(c)3 nonprofit I co-founded the RWR Network. You can make a tax-free donation via Paypal here.

What do you do with your unused beauty products? Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss!

And if you’ve served or are still serving*, thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

* Did you know I’m a first responder? It’s true! I’m a certified chaplain first responder with FEMA credentials and completed studies in Psychological First Aid (PFA) from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.