Tip of the Day #4 - Trade, Don't Toss

If you shop online often, it's probably happened at some point or another: you've gone through the trouble of placing your order and waiting for it to arrive, only to find out it wasn't what you had hoped for. (This can happen with offline shopping too, of course.) Maybe that shadow wasn't as pigmented as you thought, or that lipstick is way too dark for you. Or, "When will I ever get the chance to wear this?"

Whatever the reason, every woman at some time will end up with a product they aren't happy with. What's a girl to do? Get a refund (if possible) and ship it back? Let it decay at the bottom of your makeup pile? Worst of all, just toss it out?

A new approach, swapping makeup, has been gaining popularity lately. It may sound a little gross, but trading cosmetics is actually an excellent way to get exactly what you want while ridding yourself of something you don't. And in many cases, products are unopened or barely touched, if at all. You list what you're willing to swap, and search for a product you want; either you or another person will make an offer, and when you both come to an agreement, you can exchange by mail. How cool is that?

There are two great places I know of to swap makeup online: MakeupAlley and MakeupTalk.

MakeupAlley is a large community that is well-known for trading. There are several great features, such as a feedback system, wish lists, searching by member, brand, or category, and places to keep track of transactions. If you have doubts about the integrity of a swapper, you can check their ratings and feedback, and items are usually listed with descriptions, conditions, and/or photos. You're guaranteed to find exactly what you're looking for, and at the same time, help someone else as well. Also check out the forums, reviews, and other places. :)

MakeupTalk is very similar to MakeupAlley, only more forum-based. It also has its own swap center, and with the corresponding boards on the forum, communication is made easy. The features are similar, with wish lists, notepads, searches, and personal records. This is also a fantastic site for reviews, and the huge community leaves the forums busy 24/7. You can also find tutorials and special privileges when you become a member - so if you want to get to know people before swapping, this is the best place to do it!

I hope that was useful to some of you, and that the next time you get stuck with a product you don't like, you'll consider giving trading a try!