Health & beauty

8 Weird-but-Cool Uses for Your Beauty Products

Who needs a tool kit when you've got a makeup bag? Your beauty products can fix almost any household problem

July 24, 2012 | by Sarah Carrillo | 34 COMMENTS

The other day my co-worker's chair was squeaking to the point of annoying everyone in the office. It was begging for some WD-40. But since our office is long on beauty products and short on tools, we didn't have any.

To the rescue: Senior Associate Editor Cinya Burton and her stash of Saffron James Monoi Oil. It silenced the squeak, restored our collective sanity, and even left the chair smelling deliciously like vanilla (we'd like to see WD-40 do that!).

Admittedly, this probably wasn't the best use for a $40 organic coconut and vanilla bean body oil, but in a pinch it certainly worked. Which got us asking around about what other beauty products we could use to solve our various household problems.

Click here to see 8 weird-but-cool uses for your beauty products.

Not surprisingly, we aren't the only ones resorting to beauty products in home-improvement emergencies. But what did surprise us are all the creative ways makeup artists, hairstylists, and other beauty junkies use their favorite products for quick fixes.

Buh-bye, Home Depot and hello Sephora!

SEE NEXT PAGE: Fix car dents with your blow dryer

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Good ideas - my favorite is using a blow dryer to remove dents. Guess I never heard of that. Good to know.

by BeverlyJean Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 05:59PM Report as inappropriate

This is impressive! Hair spray definitely removes ink stains. I'm going to try the others. Thank you.

by GigiSD Monday, April 22, 2013 at 06:46PM Report as inappropriate

Pretty neat!

by 92jess11 Monday, April 22, 2013 at 06:43PM Report as inappropriate

impressive i'm going to be using these tips!

by rayshaviolet Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 04:32PM Report as inappropriate

How informative! Most of these, I had no idea about. While I won't be using my pricey makeup brushes to dust my keyboard, it is nice to know that I can remove stains with hairspray and prevent rust by using clear nail polish.

by HeathRene Friday, March 1, 2013 at 02:21PM Report as inappropriate

In a pinch I've used Vaseline on creaky doors, doesn't last forever but when you have a newborn and no wd it'll save the day! Very interesting about the blowing out a dent haha! I've used toothpaste to clean a bunch of things, just stear clear of anything too harsh!

by morgan_ledford Friday, December 28, 2012 at 08:10AM Report as inappropriate

Nice information

by EricaF123 Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 06:39AM Report as inappropriate

I am going to ty hairsprey tonight.

by lilas Tuesday, December 25, 2012 at 08:28PM Report as inappropriate

I use olive oil and vaseline for a makeup remover, and i put vaseline on my eyelashes every night, it helpes keep them strong and grow( :

by aishak55 Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 11:33AM Report as inappropriate

that is some cool trick.. especially the car dent. TQ

by hazr_rayn_hashim Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 07:42PM Report as inappropriate

I do the baby oil/olive oil/vaseline to keep my bags and shoes in shiny , good condition.. Never thought of it for furniture.

by asifsys23 Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 07:30PM Report as inappropriate

Love the hairspray idea & baby oil tip! Eyeliner makes a great pen, and a black flair pen make a great emergency eyeliner! I've done it several times, with great results. As good as a MAC liquid liner!

by robyne00 Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 03:01PM Report as inappropriate

WOW!!!! Who knew...I have all these things at home already. I'm definitely going to try some of these ideas. I already use vaseline or baby oil for my boots and bags. But nice to know more uses!!!

by jbynum Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 02:37PM Report as inappropriate

about time u give us information that we can use

by Raynelle Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 01:51PM Report as inappropriate

Thanks for the tips!

by Only1KimmieD Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 09:34AM Report as inappropriate

I *love* this! Quirky, offbeat uses of everyday products are great (not to mention, often useful and equally amusing :) That being said, I offer you "WEIRD-BUT-COOL USE" No. 9: dab a little lip balm on the laces of your shoes that perpetually keep coming undone. As a runner, this helps HUGELY. Just coat the portion of the lace that loops to tie & presto... you're off and running (not tripping)!

by krislalor Friday, October 12, 2012 at 02:54AM Report as inappropriate

very interesting! i have never tried any of these cool tips!

by Chris213 Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 06:23PM Report as inappropriate

these tips were awesome

by jenni84 Friday, September 7, 2012 at 10:44AM Report as inappropriate

I see that I'm not the only person with that "shaving can rust ring". Thanks for an easy solution!

by alictasia Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 04:35PM Report as inappropriate

i wanna try the hairspray one!!

by LeSucre Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 12:48AM Report as inappropriate

Interesting tips!

by dawnrager Monday, July 30, 2012 at 10:22AM Report as inappropriate

Nice tips!

by tallredamanda Monday, July 30, 2012 at 05:30AM Report as inappropriate

so many useful tips!! what a fantastic article!!

by sportimonki13 Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 03:02PM Report as inappropriate

Cool ideas. I've used the toothpaste trick before--it works. Now for that coffee table . . . ;-)

by LiLiMurr Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 07:49AM Report as inappropriate

I'm the type to go out and buy tools and supplies to always have a fix-it-resolution on hand, but I'm loving these ideas on finding other non-beauty purposes for your beauty products! :)

by BeautyByKrystal Friday, July 27, 2012 at 09:45PM Report as inappropriate

Wow! Who would have thought to use a hair dryer to repair a dent in the car!?!? I've used the hairspray on stains before and it works very well. I don't think you HAVE to blot the stain after spraying it... I never have, but possibly it will work better. I have some silver jewelry that needs polishing so I am going to try the toothpaste idea. Toothpaste and a soft bristle brush works really well as a ring cleaner (as in diamonds or gemstones). It's a very cost effective alternative to dropping your diamond ring off to the jeweler and waiting for it to be cleaned. Great ideas!

by flirtygirl214 Friday, July 27, 2012 at 02:51PM Report as inappropriate

Good article, has some great ideas!

by lanigaga Friday, July 27, 2012 at 10:13AM Report as inappropriate

Love it! Definitely want to try the baby oil one & eye shadow brush to clean my keyboard. I also like to use my old makeup brushes as touch up brushes when I paint around my house. They are small enough to get into the little crevices that you miss on a textured wall.

by Feline44mom Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 03:53PM Report as inappropriate

Cool uses indeed.

by cheechy Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 07:19AM Report as inappropriate

Love the Colgate for silver and the Baby oil for your wood table. Interesting article.

by Ydabney Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 07:09AM Report as inappropriate

The oil sounds like it would work well. You can also use a bar of soap to unzip a "stuck" zipper.

by RoleModel Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 10:59PM Report as inappropriate

Interesting article with some cool info!

by yestfl Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 09:45PM Report as inappropriate

very interesting

by jaye_tyler Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 08:09PM Report as inappropriate

nice

by Nicole2814 Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 05:39PM Report as inappropriate

I doubt I'm going to give a try removing stains with hairspray. Sorry, but I like my clothes too much to want to take that chance.

by volta Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 05:20PM Report as inappropriate

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