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As the old adage goes, one "man's" trash is another man's treasure.
However, in late capitalism America, where everything's made up and the points don't matter, the scope and value of the treasure you find in the trash is pretty vast.
Take, for example, the makeup and beauty products that TikToker @bysham found in the garbage of her neighbor, an "influencer."
The haul included top of the line brands such as L'Occitane and Anastasia Beverly Hills in the discarded bag, worth over $1,000.
@bysham it was $1350 w/ 8.25% tax 😌 #skincare #makeup #dumpsterdiving #fyp #nyc
Some of the more expensive products included a Kiehl's holiday advent calendar, a Bad Habit 4 piece skincare box, an Infiniti Pro 3-in-1 dryer, among endless individual pieces of unopened and unused product.
When @bysham calculated the total amount of untouched product in the box, it totaled just over $1300.
@bysham/TikTok
@bysham/TikTok
@bysham/TikTok
@bysham/TikTok
This particular TikTok raised questions in the community over whether beauty companies actually practiced the sustainability they preached, or if giving free products to influencers and promoters was wasteful.
PR Gifts are a very large part of influencer culture, being the number one source of revenue for both the influencers and the products using the person to advertise. However, what becomes of the PR gift after the post is made to promote it is anybody's guess.
@bysham/TikTok
@bysham/TikTok
@bysham/TikTok
@bysham/TikTok
In fact, this is not the first time sustainability as it relates to influencers has been raised as a major concern.
In a 2020 essay, Lauren Da Silva noted influencer culture was a "sustainability disaster."
"The average American now generates 82 pounds of textile waste each year," she said:
"With 80% of purchasing decisions recommended by Influencers in 2019 alone. This highlights Influencers powerful impact on the growth of fast fashion and its effect on the planet."
"It appears that with fast fashion’s cheap alternatives and Influencer marketing, society has come to know clothing as disposable."
This also applies to cosmetics.
@bysham/TikTok
@bysham/TikTok
@bysham/TikTok
@bysham/TikTok
In this case, it appears that these cosmetics and beauty products will be going to great use before reaching the end of their life--all thanks to a chance encounter of one person's garbage.