Skin Care Tips: New Skin Care Packaging

Wringing the Last Drop Out of Pump Dispensers

Plusses and Minuses of the New Airtight Pump Dispensers

When I was selling Avon, I had clients complain about the new airtight packaging that more and more skin care products are coming in. Yes, they complained!

I think the new packaging is terrific for preserving product effectiveness. It provides UV protection, as well as maintains proper pH and stability).

Not only are these containers airtight to maintain ingredient effectiveness, but also the vacuum pump system of dispensing the product means there is very little product wasted.

But there is some.

As I advised in my Cosmetic Tips article, "Don't Throw it Away!" Those fancy containers can be opened or taken apart to extract every last drop of the precious (often costly) contents.

Most of the tops screw right off, while others can be popped off. Some are tougher to disassemble.

The complaints I got about Avon were in reference to the Anew Ultimate Elixirs which come in really lovely pump containers.

Truthfully, there is only two or three days worth of product left in these beauties when the pump will not dispense any more, but if your mother taught you, "Waste not, want not" like mine did, here's what to do.

Carefully use a screwdriver to break off the pump tab.

You'll find a typical pump bottle capped by a pump tube (just like a can of bug or hair spray) inside the fancy black or gold metallic outer sleeve.

Slip the pump bottle out and throw the sleeve away.

[ Sorry, I can't think of another use for these. Hopefully the plastic is recyclable. Avon, have you calculated your carbon footprint lately?]

You should be able to see how much, if any, product is still in the transparent plastic pump bottle. Follow the steps in the article mentioned above to get at those precious droplets.

Your mother would be proud.