How much does your entire makeup stash cost? Have you ever tried computing the cost of each item, including your tools? Over at the Project Vanity Facebook group, we once had a community challenge to find out just how much beauty lovers spent just to create their daily looks. More than a few members were surprised by how much their FOTDs were actually worth, so it becomes easier to understand why it hurts so much when we misplace kikay kits or accidentally break foundation bottles!

Our beauty loot is precious not just because of the money we spend on them, but also because they represent the hours of checking reviews and careful curation that we put into creating them. The last thing we'd want is to let anything go to waste! But did you know that you might actually be guilty of not using your collection properly? Here are four all-too-common “sayang” scenarios, and what you should do to curb these wasteful habits.

Bad Habit #1: Using more product than you actually need

“A whole pump of foundation should cover it… I’m priming everything… Let’s pack on that powder!” And then you end up with a lot of excess product that you try to pile on at the expense of a decent FOTD.

Tipid Tip: Half pump increments of foundation and concealer will get you there slowly but surely. If you’re leaving too much product exposed to air as you’re waiting for each layer to set on your skin, the rest just ends up drying out anyway. For primer, a pea-sized amount is a safe bet to properly mattify your T-zone or add radiance to your temples and cheekbones. And as for powder formulas, you obviously don’t need to swipe at the pan so hard only to tap the excess off, unless you’re baking.

Bad Habit #2: Accidental spills and broken bottles

If it’s ever happened to you, you’d know that the sight of a broken bottle of foundation or concealer is enough to practically cause the physical sensation of pain. That’s closely followed by an accidental spill from a container with poor packaging design. One example is the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation that we love for its ability to keep us looking flawless for hours, but we're not so crazy about that screwcap lid!

Tipid Tip: Consider decanting your liquid formulas into acrylic pump bottles that will survive even the klutziest of hands. Stores like Miniso or Beabi offer various travel-size containers to get the job done. In the case of the ELDW Foundation, consider buying the separately sold pump, since you've already invested in the luxury foundie anyway.

Bad Habit #3: Not scraping the stuff at the bottom

So your hand is aching from trying to pump out the remaining product from the bottle, but nothing’s coming out. And once you've reached the end of your lipstick’s “swipe-able” portion, you’re left going at the nub with a lip brush. Frustrating, noh?

Tipid Tip: After finding out just how much leftover lipstick is still in the bullet, we’ve wised up and so should you! Grab a pill box and a stainless steel makeup spatula. Carefully separate the lipstick from the tube and pop onto the pill box. It’ll be much easier to get to with your lip brush. Open those bottles with precious product stuck at the bottom and scrape the remaining contents out with a makeup spatula. And don’t be afraid to cut your nearly-finished tube open!

Bad Habit #4: The product goes bad before you've hit the bottom

Have too many foundations open at the same time? Own a gazillion lipsticks but only regularly use a few? Been saving your favorite beauty product for special occasions-use only? It might expire before you've had the satisfaction of hitting pan and making simot!

Tipid Tip: Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and each type of makeup has a general shelf life. Bear this in mind whenever you're tempted to hoard! You can try to extend its shelf life by being as hygienic as possible with your usage. Reduce bullet lipstick contamination by carefully wiping your mouth to remove saliva and food remnants before post-meal retouches. For liquid makeup with doe foot applicators, get a palette (regularly washed and sanitized, of course) that you can dispense stuff onto instead of dabbing the applicator directly. You can also buy disposable wand applicators like the ones that makeup artists use in their kits so you never double dip into liquid products.

Finally, remember that makeup is best enjoyed when you actually use it! Don't save using it for special occasions only. The right time is whenever you feel like it, even if you're just stuck at home. If putting on makeup improves your mood and helps you feel more confident, then it’s a small price to pay for your self-care.

Do you have other makeup tipid tips? Share them with us in the comments below!