When I was spring cleaning over the weekend, I found loads of product boxes – all empty. It made me wonder why I ever kept them in the first place. Was it due to some misplaced sense of order or pure laziness or just that packrat instinct that had me keeping product boxes or even products in their original boxes “just in case it comes in handy one day“.
So to declutter and just simply to allow everything to fit where it should, I got rid of the empty boxes and took products out of their boxes. Truly, I have no idea why I keep those boxes, some of which are made of pretty sturdy material. Or why I keep some products in their boxes still even after years of use 😛
I also realized that many product boxes are too small to be reused for anything else. Pity really. I don’t mind buying products that do not come in boxes. Its all part of that environmental drive no? 🙂 But I’m aware that products do have to come packaged in boxes for ease of transport – prevents them from moving around too much and smashing up. Perhaps there can be a way to prevent that and still reduce the use of packaging?
Tell me – do you keep product boxes too? Do you have a reason for it? I don’t so I tossed them all out! Ah it felt good to declutter 😀
Paris B
Update: I can’t reply to every single one but I had fun reading all your responses and to know I’m not alone in this 😀 Keep it coming!
I always keep the boxes then throw them away while clearing. hahaha. It’s like I will think I need them at first, but in the end I don’t need them.
Sadly I too keep the boxes, but I did find that I used pretty much all of them (at least for the powder products) when I moved house. It’s so much easier to pack away boxes than a bunch of compact-shaped containers and I like the little extra protection. That being said, I do throw away the ones for lipglosses/lipsticks since I’m not too afraid of them breaking for the next time I move!
I recycle the product boxes. The only box I keep are shoe boxes, those are really great for storage.
I throw out boxes right away which I think is not so good for me bec. when I need the box (like when I sell the item) it’s gone. This is more for makeup though so I’m trying to keep them in their boxes. For skincare, I throw them out right away coz I surely won’t be needing that as I try to finish up all my skincare items.
Good to know I’m not alone! I definitely keep mine most of the time…though I threw out a whole bunch when I moved recently. The pretty ones with LE designs I keep (like MAC Fafi) because they’re just special 🙂
Others I’ll keep because I may do a review (and need the ingredient list). Or sometimes I just keep the product in the box all the time so that the product doesn’t get scratched in my bag (had a couple of MAC lipstick cases get scratched up in my purse thats why)…I’m trying to be more minimalist now though so hopefully I’ll be able to change my ways this year 🙂
Also remembered one more thing – I can’t seem to enjoy a product as much if I throw out the box immediately… the thrill of having a new product to play with isn’t as much when it is boxless 😀
n i tot i’m the only one who keep all those boxes haha…. i guess after paying so much for a product, i feel obligated to keep em…. at least for a while 😀
happens to me too! hahha, makes me wonder why do I keep them… I dunno, sometimes feels like the boxes are just too pretty? I end up keeping all of them in a storage bag now. lol
I do keep the boxes too, some though. For skincare, I throw the boxes away, but for makeup, I keep them. Just because it is easier to organize when they are in the boxes. =)
usually I prefer to keep cosmetic/beauty product boxes cuz some of em is really pretty, and me at times use it as a gift box (easier to wrap e box than some gift in awkward shape)
Oh my…i am not alone then, glad to know that..i kept all sort of boxes for many reasons lol. Well, partly some of them looks classy and the size of it varies and mostly those I keep are unique. I even used one of the box (w magnetic clasp) and made my own DIY makeup pallete. For makeup products, mostly are not usable but because I need the exp date/mfg date (they mentioned sometimes). Skincare boxes are not that pretty but their sizes come handy. For eg, i used the rectangular boxes (the length is appropriate) to store my pencil eyeliner and eye brushes. Square boxes used to store my lipsticks/lipglosses, on standing position. I get bigger boxes to become my small cabinet (discard off the top and keep the box on leaning down position) and it can store bulky products again! Because all my makeup are store in my closet, it gets all my things pretty organized..And remember those A4 paper carton blueish colour? Those are in my keepsake too haha…I wrap them up w nice pretty wrapping paper and stored my seldom used apparels. Same goes w my sturdy shoe boxes, wrap them up nicely and they become my storage for my socks and inner garments. Pretty mooncake boxes are kept too, i cant figure out what for now, but I think ang pao paper is going to fill them up soon. Overall, u will find all boxes in my closet and my room!
lol… I do too!! I mean I thought I would have a use for it… Last time I used to sell products online so I use those boxes to pack em… but now I stopped selling stuff and my cupboard is stuffed till i dunno what with empty boxes… hehe… I feel that it’s a bit wasted to just toss them out… the old bottles too!! I have at least 6 or 7 cans of empty avene spray in my cupboard… dunno how to recycle them… lol… my empty clinique toner bottles… anyone knows whether they actually accept the bottles back? I would mind returning it to them eventhough there are no special benefits… =)
don’t throw yr boxes, recycle them~~
Haha! Yes, I do!! I did some cleaning last week and threw away heaps of them. I even have MAC boxes from 2006! *speechless*
yeah so true I am also having them! Need to throw away or it getting more dusty
🙂 I am not alone. yeah! i keep most of the boxes, especially from the prestige brands. it makes me feel better to see them in the original packaging and certain compact cases do not get scratched (e.g. Lancome and Dior eyeshadow and Dior blusher)
u can reuse the bigger square boxes for instance, Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin E enriched Face Base. The box is white, shiny and pretty logo. Use it to store paper clips, loose change, pins etc. & put on your office desktop. Also, these boxes n packaging are usually good quality and clean inside.
No. Except those products which I use a spatula. The spatula has to be kept somewhere right? So it goes in the box with the product.
Yeah, i’m so guilty of keeping these boxes… and i feel even guiltier when i throw them out. I usually tell myself that i might need to refer to the ingredients/how it would improve the skin (for skin care products). Sometimes, i used them to store my other products, like the mascaras, eye liners, sachets of samples, or just random things. Other boxes made out of really good material/with attractive textures/colors, i use them for artwork… but, i seldom have the time for artwork anymore :s. Now they are just stashed in my cupboard and they are taking up alot of space…
I can’t bring myself to throw out the boxes that I hoard because when the day comes that I need it, I’ll start beating myself up. I have about 4 paperbags and a drawer full of empty boxes… no wonder I keep running out of space to keep my things :-/
Hahhaa.. i had such habit previously too. But now i only keep those products that i am using it for 1st time..
OMG! I can relate! I keep a lot of beauty product boxes… I find them so pretty that I never want to throw them away….