What do I do with all these free Clinique bags?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Some men–heck, some women–may be scratching their heads. Clinique is a brand of make-up sold at department stores; around here, at Macy’s and Robinson’s-May. Every few months, a promotion is run–spend $X and get a free gift…this time around, some lipstick, moisturizer (I must have a dozen mini bottles of it!), powder, mascara, face scrub, cologne, make-up remover, and the colorful little bag it all comes in. Plus, since I spent over $XX, I got their BIG bag that matches the little one.

I must have…geez…6-10 minibags, and 4-5 large bags. As I only buy make-up when there’s a promotion, I have a huge collection of free thingys, as I’m sure several other Doperchicks do.

My question is, what on Earth do I do with them? Is selling them at a garage sale about my only option??

What do YOU do with them?

2

I give them away. I never use 'em. Oh, I lied. I got a really cool huge beach bag that I used all summer for shopping at the farmer’s market in downtown Minnebapuhmolis.

3

Check with your local women’s shelter. The makeup might be a benefit for women looking for work.

Alternatively, there are organizations that help women with appropriate career-type clothing; they might be able to use it.

Robin

4

And, of course, the link.

They do accept unused cosmetics.

Robin

5

I’ve seen quite a few people sell GWPs on eBay. Some of them seem to do quite well, even if they’ve been used.

6

I would donate the bags to the Salvation Army or a women’s shelter. Even if another woman couldn’t use them, they might make cute purses for a little girl or something. The makeup (if I wasn’t going to use it myself) I’d give away or donate. I know everyone always likes to give me these little bags and purses, some with makeup or body lotions in them, some not. I’ve always wondered what to do with them myself. I usually ended up throwing them in my mom’s garage sale.

7

Thanks for the ideas. :slight_smile: A few points of clarification,…these are just the bags, not the makeup within. Although, I dunno, I do have about 10 of those damn moisturizers…could part with them.

I was thinking about that as purses…I could donate them to a shelter, or maybe raffle them off to girls in my classroom. I teach in a very low income area. One example–one student is one of 9 in a family, all living in the same apartment, and total family income is less than $20,000 a year (how the hell do they make it? and she’s such a great kid–clean, responsible, bright…). Should I give them to an organization, or find ways to “sell” them (with classroom money) as Xmas gifts to my students for their mothers/aunts/grandmothers?

You’ve got my wheels turning…keep it coming! :slight_smile:

8

perhaps you could give them as “good work” presents to your students. if there is a claire or an afterthoughts store near you, you could pick up nice accesories at good prices to put in them. perhaps a dollar store, so boys could be included. i’m thinking they are clear bags that might be okay for boys.

then again there is the white elephant exchange.

9

How big are the bags? The bigger ones? I’m thinking of huge canvas bags-could you use them for grocery shopping?

10

You can use some of the smaller pouches to hold your own makeup and kleenex and stuff in your purse.

I made occasional dropoffs at Goodwill, and old but excellent-condition Clinique bags were usually part of the load.