5/6/13

Since 2009, more than 500,000 empty cosmetics bottles and tubes have been returned to Kiehl's skincare stores to be recycled. When you return an empty full-sized Kiehl's bottle to any of its stores, you'll receive a stamp. Get three stamps, and you'll get a free lip balm. Earn five stamps, and you'll get a free travel-size product. Earn 10 stamps, and you can pick any full-size product (worth up to $25) as your eco-reward. Other cosmetics companies like Origins and MAC have recycling programs -- proving products that help you look beautiful can also help keep our planet stay beautiful.

5/5/13

Reselling unwanted items on eBay is a simple and easy way to find a home for things you no longer need. But it can also be hard to determine ahead of time if what you’re listing is going to sell. One way to lessen the risk is to look at eBay's “What’s Hot” list of items for sale. The online auction site lists what items are “Super Hot,” “Very Hot” and “Hot” in terms of averages in what sells. The "Hotter" the items you list, the better your chances of making some money.

5/4/13

If you’re replacing your nonstick Teflon cookware for safer alternatives -- Teflon chemicals like PFOA and PTFE have been found in the blood of newborns and polar bears -- think about repurposing the pricey plants first. If you have Teflon-coated pans, it might be worth the investment to have them sandblasted. Local furniture businesses can use gentle walnut shell abrasives to sandblast the Teflon right off, leaving you with professional-grade stainless steel cookware. It costs about $100 to do a whole set, and it’s fairly fast and clean.