What to do with unwanted beauty gifts

The moment you open a gift set or break a seal, most options disappear: stores won't take it back and other people can't safely use it. If you're not sure you'll use it, leave it in its wrapping until you decide.

Many gifts come with a gift receipt, and stores often run extended return periods after the holidays. An exchange lets you pick a shade or scent you'll wear, and the person who gave it never needs to know.

A sealed, in-date product is a perfectly good gift for someone it suits. Check the expiry date, remove any personal notes, and don't regift within the same circle of friends.

Some shelters and community organizations welcome new, sealed toiletries and gift sets, especially around the holidays. Call first to check what they accept.

On SwapMyBeauty, a free community in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, you list sealed gifts for free and swap them for products other members don't use, without buying or selling. Gift sets can be swapped whole, and a MultiSwap can connect two or three members when no two want each other's products directly.

Keep a short beauty wish list (shades, skin type, favorite scents) and share it before birthdays and holidays. It saves money for the people who love you and space in your drawer.