Would You Buy Used Makeup Online? Here’s What You Need to Know! ????
When I heard there are websites dedicated to selling used makeup, I'm not going to lie, I was instantly grossed out. Used makeup? From a stranger? Who would buy that?!
It is so important to keep your personal makeup and brushes clean, so how could selling (or buying) used makeup be legal, let alone hygienic? I decided to do a little digging to see what the world of makeup-buying and trading is all about.
(Photo Credit: Pop Paul-Catalin via Shutterstock)
After playing around on a few different sites, I quickly realized that the rules of selling makeup are pretty similar to selling clothes at a Crossroads or Buffalo Exchange. The makeup has to be a name brand, in good condition and has to have more than 50% of the product remaining.
(Photo Credit: Alliance via Shutterstock)
Still not convinced? Here's a thought: Have you ever gotten your makeup done before by a professional at a department store counter, through an app like Priv, or from a professional makeup artist? I have. And it never crossed my mind that the "used" makeup in their kit was gross or dirty. Sure, they clean their brushes, but they stick the brush that has touched your skin (and many other peoples' skin) back into the blush while doing your makeup. Which leaves them with…gently used makeup. Right?
(Photo Credit: Svetography via Shutterstock)
So how is this process any different? All of a sudden the concept scared me a little less. In fact, it sounds practical, especially for trying out a crazy color or a high-ticket item. Below is a site-by-site breakdown of what you can expect if you do decide to enter the world of beauty product resale.
Glambot
Glambot is a website that allows you to buy and sell new and used makeup. I instantly went to the selling requirements and here's what's listed as musts for the products:
1. New and pre-owned makeup products and makeup tools (i.e. brushes and palettes)
2. Must be authentic and have exterior packaging intact and not worn
3. Non-expired and have 50% or more of the product remaining
4. Free from containments (i.e. dirt, mold, pet hair)
5. 20 or more full-size items
6. The following must be unused: false lashes and any product with a submerged, reusable applicator (ie mascara, liquid liner, liquid lipstick)
7. Glambot does NOT accept: lip glosses, nail polish, or fragrances.
Wait, 20 full size items? You read that right. In order to create a sell package that Glambot will buy from you and sell on site, you must send 20+ full size makeup products. Who has that many full-size products they want to get rid from their collection? On the earnings tab, it says you can pocket anywhere from $15 to $260.
This got me thinking. Not many people have 20+ products they want to sell for a small price after shelling out the money to buy it in the first place, which leads me to believe that Glambot might cater to influencers, like beauty and style bloggers, who receive tons of product. This idea puts my mind at ease slightly, but I'm still not sold on buying used items.
Perusing the site, it feels just like shopping on a Sephora or ULTA, because the pictures are not of the actual product you will be receiving. Instead, Glambot shows a new image of the product.
But here is the kicker: What you receive is not the product that was sent in from a seller. What Glambot does is, they sanitize it and repackage it in a cute container, and sell it at a discount.
From the buyer POV, the website is easy to use, there are tons of options, and the prices are reasonable. But again, showing a brand spanking new picture of a palette that could potentially be 50% used is rather misleading, don't you think?
Pros: Great selection, international appeal and products, good prices and Glambot buys from you and takes care of the selling.
Cons: Misleading photos, high-selling minimum of products and repackaged goods.
e|Divv
Not to play favorites, but I instantly connected with e|Divv. Their mantra is "swap your beauty," and on the homepage, I was greeted by a statement that's totally relatable to me.
(via edivv.com)
This concept makes much more sense to me. I have a stock pile of random things I've gotten through my years as a subscription box member, and I doubt I'm alone. For this service, you create your own beauty shop, filled with all of the items that you want to swap. Then, you pursue other people's shops and send and receive trade requests. Think of this as a virtual beauty swap meet.
June Sephora Play Box! #sephoraplay #sephora #sephorahaul #sephorahaul #beauty #subbox
A photo posted by eDivv.com (@edivvofficial) on
There is also a selling and buying portion of the site, and they make it really user friendly. If you're a seller, you can even purchase a shipping label through e|Divv to send to your buyer–genius! You also get a rating, so I'm assuming a bad sale will hurt your score.
My only critique is that e|Divv doesn't have a set of guidelines (that I could find) to follow when it comes to selling product. It's also hard to see whether or not the product needs to be new in order to sell or swap it. Also, I'm on the waiting list to be a seller, so I'm not even sure they are currently accepting new users.
Pros: Swapping, user friendly and self-curated beauty shops
Cons: Selling guidelines are hard to find (or nonexistent), seller has to buy shipping label and there's a smaller product selection
Muabs
Muabs, which stands for Makeup Addict Blog Sales, is an online marketplace where you can buy drugstore and department store makeup. You keep 90% of the sales, and they are backed by PayPal guarantee, which means you will get your money back if you don't receive your purchase.
While the site itself doesn't have as many glossy photos as Glambot, I like that the seller uploads actual photos of the product being sold. Everything about this site feels very eBay to me, in a good way. I like the emphasis on buyer protection, and the upfront, no frills photos.
Set up your own store, receive payments , track all of your sales now from the new MUABS
— MUABS (@muablogsales) July 23, 2014
Pros: Photos uploaded by seller, Paypal guarantee on all purchases, range of products from drugstore to department store.
Cons: Smaller product selection, feels less sophisticated
(Photo Credit: Romariolen via Shutterstock)
After spending a solid amount of time on these sites, I've decided that used makeup just isn't for me, but either way, hopefully you feel well-informed about these services and can now make an educated decision on your own!
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