All items · Health & beauty
Used or opened cosmetics and toiletries
Also covers: makeup, half-used perfume, opened shampoo, skincare
Can you donate used or opened cosmetics and toiletries to a UK charity shop? No.
Why shops may refuse it
Hygiene rules — only new, sealed products can be sold.
What to do instead
Unopened toiletries are welcome at most shops, and hygiene banks take sealed donations for people in need.
Charity by charity
39 mentions- Can't accept
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Can't accept
Accepted only if sealed with ingredients listed.
Their wording
“unless sealed with ingredients listed”
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Can't accept
New, unused cosmetics, aftershaves and perfumes ARE accepted if sealed in original packaging.
Their wording
“We can accept new, unused cosmetics, aftershaves and perfumes if they remain sealed in their original packaging.”
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Can't accept
New and sealed cosmetics/scents are accepted.
Their wording
“Cosmetics and scents unless new and sealed”
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Can't accept
Sealed/new items can be sold.
Their wording
“Used make up, nail varnish, creams, perfumes”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Used cosmetics, candles, or personal goods (razors, etc.)”
- Can't accept
- Can't accept
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Used make-up”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Used cosmetics”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Open cosmetics”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“used cosmetics and toiletries”
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Can't accept
Unwanted gift items like unopened toiletries are separately listed as accepted.
Their wording
“Partially used toiletries”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Opened cosmetics”
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Can't accept
Elsewhere on the same page the donation FAQ says 'unopened toiletries' are among items they accept, consistent with this rule.
Their wording
“Cosmetics and scents which have been opened (sealed and brand new items can be accepted)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Open toiletries/cosmetics”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Opened/used cosmetics and scents”
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Can't accept
Nightingale House Hospice category-wide rule
Stated as a whole item type they don't accept.
Their wording
“Health & personal care items”
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Can't accept
Accepted only if new, unused, and sealed in original packaging.
Their wording
“Cosmetics and scents (hygiene reasons and undesirability). We can accept new, unused cosmetics, aftershaves and perfumes if they remain sealed in their original packaging.”
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Can't accept
Refusal is stated specifically for cosmetics that are not sealed and new.
Their wording
“cosmetics unless sealed and new”
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Can't accept
Accepted only if sealed and in-date.
Their wording
“cosmetics (unless sealed and in-date)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“used cosmetics”
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Can't accept
Only accepted sealed/unused with ingredients listed.
Their wording
“cosmetics (unless sealed with ingredients listed)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“opened cosmetics and toiletries”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Used or expired toiletries”
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Can't accept
Accepted only if brand new, sealed in original packaging and in-date; used or opened cosmetics are refused.
Their wording
“However, please ensure that all cosmetics are in a saleable condition. ✅ Brand new, sealed and in packaging ✅ In-date - clearly within the expiration date Please do not donate cosmetics that are: ❌ Used or opened - products that have been partially used”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Personal items: Used underwear, piercing jewellery, used cosmetics or toiletries, and prescription eyewear.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Opened cosmetics”
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Can't accept
Accepted only if new and sealed in original packaging.
Their wording
“Toiletries, cosmetics, and scents (unless new and sealed in their original packaging)”
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Can't accept
Toiletries specifically; no 'used/opened' qualifier is stated for this particular line — the source appears to refuse toiletries generally, which is a superset of (and therefore still supports) 'used or opened' toiletries.
Their wording
“Prescription glasses, toiletries, cleaning agents or solvents”
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Can't accept
Only accepted unopened and in date.
Their wording
“Including perfume, makeup, bubble bath, moisturiser and more. *Please note these must be UNOPENED and in date.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Open toiletries/cosmetics”
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Can't accept
Hair dye and nail varnish are refused even when sealed; other cosmetics and toiletries are refused once used or opened.
Their wording
“cosmetics and toiletries; including hair dye and nail varnish (even if unsealed)”
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Can't accept
Only unused/unopened toiletries are accepted, so used or opened cosmetics and toiletries are not accepted.
Their wording
“we can only accept good quality, saleable items, such as clothes, shoes, accessories, unused toiletries and small items of homeware.”
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Can't accept
Unopened, in-date beauty products and gift sets are separately listed as accepted.
Their wording
“Opened or used cosmetics”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Unsealed cosmetics and toiletries”
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Can't accept
Only unused/unopened cosmetics, aftershave and perfumes are accepted.
Their wording
“Cosmetics, aftershave, perfumes (unless unused).”
-
Can't accept
Identical rule applies to Make Up: 'For hygiene reasons, we cannot accept any used or open make-up.' Sealed/unused toiletries and make-up ARE accepted per the 'Only donate if new' section.
Their wording
“For hygiene reasons, we cannot accept any used or opened toiletries. Please recycle these responsibly or use them till they are empty and recycle through John Lewis' Beauty Cycle.”
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Can't accept
Only unused toiletries and make-up are accepted.
Their wording
“Unused toiletries and make-up”
Not mentioned in 114 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Accord Hospice
- Acorns Children's Hospice
- Age UK
- Ardgowan Hospice
- Ayrshire Hospice
- Barnardo's
- Barnsley Hospice
- Blythe House Hospice
- Bolton Hospice
- Butterwick Hospice
- Children's Hospice South West
- Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)
- Cornwall Hospice Care
- Cransley Hospice Trust
- Crisis
- Demelza Hospice Care for Children
- Derian House Children's Hospice
- Dogs Trust
- Douglas Macmillan Hospice
- Dr Kershaw's Hospice
- East Lancashire Hospice
- Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria's Children's Hospice
- Emmaus
- FARA Charity Shops
- Farleigh Hospice
- Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity
- Garden House Hospice Care
- Great Oaks Hospice
- Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice
- Helen & Douglas House
- Hope House & Ty Gobaith Children's Hospices
- Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland
- Hospice in the Weald
- Hospice Isle of Man
- Hospice of the Good Shepherd
- Hospice of the Valleys
- Julia's House
- Katharine House Hospice (Stafford)
- Katharine House Hospice, Banbury
- Keech Hospice Care
- Lewis-Manning Hospice Care
- Lindsey Lodge Hospice
- LOROS Hospice
- Marie Curie
- Martin House Children's Hospice
- Moya Cole Hospice
- Naomi House & Jack's Place
- North Devon Hospice
- North London Hospice
- Nottinghamshire Hospice
- Octavia Foundation
- Overgate Hospice
- Oxfam
- PDSA
- Pendleside Hospice
- Phyllis Tuckwell
- Pilgrims Hospices
- Primrose Hospice
- Princess Alice Hospice
- Prospect Hospice
- Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People
- Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care
- Rotherham Hospice
- Royal Trinity Hospice (London)
- Saint Francis Hospice
- Samaritans
- Scope
- Sense Scotland
- Severn Hospice
- Southern Hospice Group
- St Andrew's Hospice (Lanarkshire)
- St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
- St Catherine's Hospice (Lancashire)
- St Christopher's Hospice
- St Clare Hospice
- St Columba's Hospice
- St Cuthbert's Hospice
- St David's Hospice Care
- St Giles Hospice
- St Helena Hospice
- St John's Hospice (Lancaster, Morecambe, Kendal & Garstang)
- St John's Hospice (London)
- St Luke's Cheshire Hospice
- St Luke's Hospice (Harrow & Brent)
- St Luke's Hospice Basildon & Thurrock
- St Luke's Hospice Plymouth
- St Margaret's Hospice Care (Somerset)
- St Michael's Hospice (North Hampshire)
- St Nicholas Hospice Care
- St Peter & St James Hospice
- St Raphael's Hospice
- St Richard's Hospice
- St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- St Vincent's Hospice
- St Wilfrid's Hospice
- Strathcarron Hospice
- Thames Hospice
- The Children's Trust
- The Kirkwood
- The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice
- The Prince of Wales Hospice
- The Shakespeare Hospice
- Traid
- Treetops Hospice Trust
- Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
- Wakefield Hospice
- Weldmar Hospicecare
- Willen Hospice
- Willow Burn Hospice
- Willow Wood Hospice
- Willowbrook Hospice
- Wirral Hospice St John's
- Woodgreen Pets Charity
- YMCA (England & Wales)