By serahsiew October 7, 2026 6:01 AM
A Thousand Roses: Giving Expired Cosmetics a Second Life
Cosmobeauté Malaysia & beautyexpo 2026 · Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) · 29 September – 1 October 2026
A Thousand Roses is a curated art booth brought to life in collaboration with Cosmobeauté Malaysia & beautyexpo, organised by Informa Markets Malaysia in partnership with HummingDe Consultancy, at the KL Convention Centre.
It started with one question
How can I give expired cosmetics a second life?
Lipsticks and eyeshadows often sit in drawers long past their date. They can no longer go on skin, but the colour inside them is still there — still beautiful. Yet most of it simply ends up in the bin.
That question became A Thousand Roses. 🌹
Painting roses with lipstick and eyeshadow
Every rose began white, handcrafted from paper. Each one was then brought to life using expired cosmetics as pigment — lipsticks, eyeshadows, whatever colour the makeup still held.
The palette chose itself. No two products share quite the same shade, so no two roses are alike. Every blush of pink or shimmer on those petals was once headed for the bin.
Turning beauty waste into art
Instead of going to waste, these cosmetics found a new purpose. Showing the work at Malaysia’s biggest beauty trade show meant it sat right in front of the industry that makes these products — a gentle reminder that beauty can have a life beyond its expiry date.
Every rose gives back
A Thousand Roses is also a CSR initiative with a social purpose. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, a Petaling Jaya–based non-profit that has supported people with disabilities in Malaysia since 1993 — turning each rose into a small contribution towards a meaningful cause. As a thank-you, VIP guests and everyone who purchased a rose received handmade Nyonya pineapple tarts sponsored by Yin’s Nyonya Bites.
With gratitude
To Sandra Lye and the team — thank you for all your support and help throughout the event. Truly appreciated! ❤️
To Joshua Lim, a recognised Malaysian producer and filmmaker — a special thanks for beautifully capturing the project through his photography.
To Joy Chin founder of SENA HOME — thank you for sponsoring the furniture and decorations. Really appreciate your support!
To Jyoanne Yin of Yin’s Nyonya Bites — thank you for sponsoring the handmade Nyonya pineapple tarts for our VIP guests and rose supporters.
A Thousand Roses — where beauty gets a second life, while giving back to the community.
A few questions about A Thousand Roses
What is A Thousand Roses? An art booth curated by Serah Siew, featuring handcrafted white paper roses, each coloured with expired cosmetics instead of paint.
Can expired makeup really be used to make art? Yes. Once makeup expires it shouldn’t go on skin, but its pigments still colour paper beautifully.
Where was it shown? At Cosmobeauté Malaysia & beautyexpo 2026, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), 29 September – 1 October 2026.
Who does it support? Part of the proceeds go to the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled.
Who made the pineapple tarts at A Thousand Roses?
The handmade Nyonya pineapple tarts for VIP guests were sponsored by Yin’s Nyonya Bites, known for their award-winning Peranakan pineapple tarts consistently ranked among the top in Malaysia.
Who photographed A Thousand Roses?
Photography was by Joshua Lim, one of Malaysia’s leading independent film producers and photographers with over 15 years of professional production experience.
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