Amanda has found that when a lipstick tube appears to be useless because the lipstick has be used all the way down to the tube, this is when one would throw out the lipstick. Instead of doing this she suggests in taking a makeup spatula or the back of a makeup brush to scoop lipstick out of the tube. After doing this she has found that there is usually another half inch or so of lipstick in there! (Oh happy day!) You can put this lipstick in a small container and use a lip brush for application. A tip on storing the extra lipstick; make sure the container has a lid or a way to seal it from air because the lipstick will dry out.