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29 August 2011

More about Packaging


Usually when I reach the end of a product I check to make sure the tube or bottle is absolutely empty before chucking it away. If I’m uncertain about what’s left I go on a money saving kick by cutting the ends off tubes to remove every centimetre of cream. Today was one of those days. I’d struggled to get the last of the skin enhancer out of the tube, squeezing and rolling the end up in the time honoured way, but absolutely no more would come out. So it was off with its head tail and in with a spatula.

You would not believe the amount that remained. The tube was about a quarter full. Clinging to the sides was roughly two month’s supply of cream, if not more. It filled a Clarins jar (I save jars like they’re going out of fashion) and considering I only use a dab of cream a day I reckon I won’t need to use another tube until nigh on Christmas. I had bought a replacement thinking the product was running out and now I find it was an unnecessary purchase. Of course it won’t be wasted, I will eventually get through the large residue.

Some tubes are easy to empty, even the plastic un-rollable ones will roll given enough pressure but this one wouldn’t budge. Jars could be used in all cases but that would put the price up and anyway aren’t we supposed to be utilising environmentally friendly containers? It wouldn’t surprised me to learn that manufacturers deliberately use tubes that won’t empty out properly as a way of making a fast profit. At our expense! Of course, I could be wrong.

If any ladies or gentlemen out there want to get the most out of their products … any products, household as well as cosmetic … try cutting the tubes in half. You might be in for a surprise.

10 comments:

  1. you know this makes sense...dont know why i never thought of this....

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  2. Hi Valerie,

    I do believe you! Squeezing sometimes only serves to.. hurt our fingers.
    I will see what I can squeeze the next time out of my skin products.

    The companies want us all to reconsume over and over!

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  3. "Usually when I reach the end of a product I check to make sure the tube or bottle is absolutely empty before chucking it away. If I’m uncertain about what’s left I go on a money saving kick by cutting the ends off tubes to remove every centimetre of cream."

    HA! OMG, Valerie, I DO THE SAME THING!!!

    I kid you not.

    I even do it with my toothpaste tube because I use a very expensive whitening toothpaste so I want to be sure to get it all.

    And hey, glad to see you're using Clarins. I LOVE their skin care products. One of the best in the industry!

    I can't believe how much product you scooped out of that tube!

    You GO, girl!

    Have a great day, dear lady!

    X

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  4. Brian, try it ... you might be able to save a fortune.

    Barb, don't forget to cut the tubes in half to scoop out the residue.

    Ron, I guess we think alike. 'Waste not, want not' was how I was brought up. Clarins is my usual skincare product but I do sometimes change to Elizabeth Arden, Guerlain, Lancombe, or Dior. Right now I'm using Jimmy Choo perfume. Oooooh!

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  5. I do exactly the same thing Valerie! :)

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  6. Pearl, I had a feeling you and I were alike when it comes to thrift matters.

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  7. I have a shed full of empty tins, jars and small boxes that
    I can not part with.

    word verification listed today ration... How apropos

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  8. I do the exact same thing and have for years. I usually cut off the bottom of the tube, and like you, there's a ton of it clinging to the sides, and in the very bottom, which lasts me a long time. The manufacturers have it all figured out how to keep us buying more products when it's not even necessary. I us a small spatula and scrape out every drop and put it in a little jar.

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  9. Makes a lot of sense Valerie. I appreciate any tips :)

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