It’s extremely rare that I do to the point where I can’t really think of standout items where I have. Sometimes with press kits or boxes, I’ll keep interesting ones out for a few months, and then swap them out for newer pieces (breaking down and recycling the old ones).
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
Confession: I keep and store most e/s palettes, bronzer, h/l, blush and lipsticks (so basically all my colour products) in their original boxes. Pat McGrath, the packaging is part of the joy so little chance of me ditching..
Over time, I shed the boxes, particularly if I am not using the product frequently.. or when they go from my vanity drawer, high rotation into Ikea Alex, low rotation. Packaging in some cases gives me better product identification and I think I also view it as an extra layer of protection. When I travel, I take product in their boxes.
Yes, I do, but for functional purposes rather than aesthetics. I keep the packaging for recycling (Back to MAC and Terracycle shipments for Paula’s Choice) or storage while the product is in use.
No, I’ve never kept packaging. Once it is used up it goes to recycling if possible or gets thrown out. I don’t like to keep clutter around.
No, that’s just more clutter! But I have a really nice box from Chanel that I use to store the products I own that came with little velvet bags, such as Chanel and Dior blushes. I also kept a couple of perfume gift set boxes that I store other stuff in.
I keep all of my eyeshadow palettes in their carton for storage and cleanliness, especially when it comes to palettes like ABH with that soft, velvety finish that I would like to keep clean and pristine. It also helps for oddly shaped (out of the norm lol) palettes like Jeffree Star’s Alien palette.
I do, unfortunately. Usually it’s just when an item is in special LE packaging, but I also save all my PMG packaging, too. Before I move in March, I’ve got to toss a lot of the LE packaging, though.
I hate clutter, but I love Pat McGrath’s packaging so I’ve kept all of it, including lipstick boxes.
I found a nice, small place to keep them. I never intend to part with those. They’re just as beautiful as the products.
The rest goes into recycling.
Only Pat McGrath’s, even the lipsticks. Everything else, the packaging is tossed and I have displays and acrylic organizers for it all.
Yes, always. The primary reason is that I use them in storage of my makeup products. As I have mentioned several time on the blog, I take the outside packaging, cut it in half and then put the product back into it and then I tape or glue the half packaging to the one in front of it and that keeps my products upright and I can see what I have and where it is at. If for some reason, I don’t need the packaging for this storage method, then I use the packaging in my mixed media, scrapbooking and other art projects. They often have very nice outside packaging with colourful imaging and the cardboard is stronger than regular copy paper so it makes a nice base for my art work or to hold other things in place.
That’s a really good use, keeping the packaging for art purposes. 😀 I’ve done that with the boxes from some fancy loose-leaf teas; there was one recently I had which was printed with a marble pattern and gold foil, it was very well suited to a collage project.
I don’t keep any, except for Mac and Lush that are waiting to be brought back for a bonus product.
If we’re talking boxes: Very rarely. I keep the Pat McGrath eye palette packaging, because it’s so beautiful. I keep the packaging from a few collectibles.
Most of it gets recycled, though. I don’t have room to keep it, and I don’t like to keep products in their packaging. I think it makes them a PITA to use if I have to keep taking things out of boxes.
If we’re talking compacts, etc.: Sometimes, if it’s really good, and I can refill it with something, or it looks good displayed on it’s own. I keep the occasional cute fragrance bottle, as well.
No, unless it’s for a functional reason. For example, until I got a Melt Cosmetics pro palette, I kept a few of the stack boxes in case I wanted to travel with some, but I tossed them immediately after receiving the palette. I personally just don’t have the time to remove products from boxes every time I use them, especially if I pull a product, then change my mind. In fact, as of a few weeks ago, I’ve even started tossing those plastic “protective” inserts because they just get in the way, and I have to throw them away if they fall on the floor anyway, so I just started taking the preemptive step.
I do keep some products, particularly backups, in their boxes, but that’s mainly to be sure I don’t use before I have to.
Pretty much only if it’s useable. If it isn’t overly bulky then I’ll keep boxes for storing the item that came in it sometimes, just as an added layer of protection. And sometimes I’ll keep pretty, empty perfume bottles for display for a short time before I get bored and dispose of them. The only thing I can see myself keeping long term is the box that the sugarpill x little twin star collection came in. I currently use it to store some stuff.
No, I never keep the packaging at all.
I only keep my Pat McGrath packaging because of the black packaging and other clear box basic palette packaging in my makeup storage.
I DO hord the packaging in a big box for everything else just in case/when I pass the products on…. I like to give the original box and the products away… That NEEDS to change. 😉
Not unless there’s a functional reason to keep it.
One exception: the heavy black and white Chanel boxes they use when they ship multiple products from their website. I re-purpose those for general storage like extra-fragile holiday ornaments (first in the fabric pouches and then in the box), heirlooms, photos etc. They stack nicely in my closet, are really sturdy and I can write the contents on the outside of the simple white box.