The Unexpected Beauty Product You Can Find at Starbucks

By Renee Jacques  

image

(Photo: Instagram)

You’re probably expecting another article extolling the virtues of caffeine. And yes, caffeine can work wonders for thinning hair and may even help prevent skin cancer. But the coffee at Starbucks isn’t what we’re talking about here. No, we’re talking about the napkins.

Turns out they work great as blotting papers. In fact, they’re so good at absorbing oil that they have their own listing on Makeup Alley with 127 (mostly positive) reviews.

Related: The Prettiest Date-Night Makeup Looks 

Leave it to us to seek out a professional to make sure it’s safe for you guys to start patting your face with free napkins. Ni’Kita Wilson, a cosmetic chemist, sees no problem with swapping out your Bioré pads. “Any absorbent fiber can soak up oil, so there is no reason why Starbucks napkins wouldn’t work in the same manner,” says Wilson. “I’m not sure what fibers Starbucks napkins are made from, but if it’s good enough to wipe your mouth with, then it’s OK to blot oil.”

Related: The Most Embarrassing ‘90s Beauty Trends

Beauty blogger Daneen Baird of Spoiled Pretty has long been a fan. She discovered the power of Starbucks napkins after collecting them to clean up the inevitable messes her kids would make. “Now I prefer them to actual oil-blotting papers because they’re durable, they soak up oil really well without removing or disturbing makeup, and they’re free,” says Baird. (She has even branched out, collecting brown, unbleached napkins made from recycled material anyplace she can find them, which means Chipotle and Panera Bread are part of the club, too.)

More from Allure:

The Most Flattering Haircuts for Women in Their 40s

10 Best Dry Shampoos Under $20

10 Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger

35 Hairstyles to Try in 2015

image