Beauty and cosmetic packaging poses a challenge when it comes to recycling. It is complex by nature, and is typically made out of a denser, harder type of plastic that can be difficult to recycle, with multiple materials often used in the one product.

Bathroom drawers around the world are straining under the weight of half-used lipsticks, barely touched eyeshadow palettes and dried-up mascaras that are usually months (if not years) past their expiry date. These products, once finally discarded by their owners, have typically ended up in landfill — adding to the already enormous strain on the environment. The good news is you can now recycle your used beauty, hair and skincare products, and it won't cost you a cent.

The other day, I was clearing out out-of-date and half-finished products from my two groaning beauty cabinets to clear a way for incoming, and wondering how on earth I was going to bribe the garbos to take it. Then I heard about TerraCycle. This company has joined with L'Oreal Australia to create a free recycling solution for all used beauty products, called the Beauty Products Recycling Program.