‘I thought stuff like this went to Marshalls’: Mississippi Ulta worker shows what they do with unsold product. Then he demonstrates with Wyn Skin Tint
The way beauty companies handle unsold inventory has become one of those things customers are only learning about because workers keep filming it.
Over the past year, Ulta employees have posted videos showing returned makeup being destroyed, often because of contamination concerns.
Once a product has been opened, tested, or tampered with, stores usually can’t resell it.
But according to one Mississippi Ulta worker, contamination isn’t the only reason perfectly packaged makeup ends up getting trashed.
In a recent TikTok that’s now pulled in more than 116,900 views, creator Camdeion (@realcamdeion) showed what happens when a product simply doesn’t sell. The product in question: Wyn Beauty Skin Tint, the complexion line backed by Serena Williams.
‘We Told Y’all to Come and Get It’
In the video, Camdeion sits on the floor next to a co-worker named Bella. In front of them are two boxes. One holds unopened Wyn Beauty Skin Tint still in its original packaging.
The other is filled with empty containers that have already been poured out.
“So this is what we do when y’all don’t buy the products,” Camdeion says. “We have to damage it out.”
He gestures between the two boxes as he explains the process.
“Y’all do not come here and buy this Wyn Beauty,” he says. “Because, like, it’s still here. Why is it still here?”
Camdeion explains that the product had already been marked down and put on sale, but even that didn’t help.
“So me and Bella, we’re gonna basically skin this out,” he says. “Because, like, girl, y’all not coming to buy Serena Williams stuff.”
As Bella pours the skin tint into the discard box, Camdeion keeps talking through it.
“And it’s on sale to the first of the year, honey,” he says. “And this is a skin tint. That’s what it’s giving.”
He adds that while some people said the formula was good, he had heard complaints about oxidation.
“I’ve heard that it oxidizes really bad,” he says. “So, um, no thank you.”
For a lot of viewers, the most shocking part wasn’t the review. It was the fact that unopened makeup was being destroyed instead of being sent somewhere else.
What Do Shoppers Actually Think of Wyn Beauty Skin Tint?
The product never reached full viral status, but it did find an audience. On Reddit, shoppers who tried Wyn Beauty Skin Tint had mixed but detailed opinions, especially around oxidation.
One person wrote that they loved the formula but noticed a clear shade shift. “It’s really pretty. I bought the concealer and tint yesterday,” they shared. “Tint oxidizes quite a bit, like two shades deeper.”
They added that choosing a lighter shade helped offset the issue, and they didn’t mind the oxidation because they liked how the product wore.
Another shopper echoed that experience. “Love the finish. Love the buildable coverage. It totally oxidized on me though.”
Others said oxidation wasn’t an issue for them at all. “I have extremely dry skin and it works beautifully on me,” one person wrote. “No oxidation on me.”
So while the product wasn’t universally disliked, it also didn’t catch on in a way that kept it from ending up in Ulta’s damage bin.
@realcamdeion I told y’all to come and buy some of this @WYN BEAUTY it’s literally 75% off ? #workvlog #ultaemployee #wynbeauty ♬ original sound – Camdeion | Beauty Enthusiast
Why Unsold Makeup Doesn’t End Up at Discount Stores
A lot of viewers had the same reaction: Shouldn’t unopened makeup like this end up at places like Marshalls or TJ Maxx?
In reality, many brands—especially those positioned as luxury or prestige—avoid that route on purpose. According to industry explanations from retailers like Darveys, dumping unsold inventory into off-price stores can hurt a brand’s image. Luxury and prestige brands rely on scarcity and exclusivity. If products start popping up everywhere at steep discounts, that perception falls apart fast.
There’s also the issue of gray markets. Once products leave official channels, they can end up resold through unauthorized sellers. That creates problems for brands trying to control pricing, distribution, and authenticity.
Counterfeiting plays a role too. The global fake goods market is massive, and makeup is no exception. If unsold items circulate too freely, it becomes easier for counterfeiters to study packaging and formulas, making it harder for customers to tell real from fake.
All of that makes destroying unsold product, as wasteful as it looks, a calculated decision for many companies.
Commenters Had Thoughts
In the comments, viewers didn’t hold back.
“I wish Ulta and Sephora had a donation program,” one person wrote. “They could give stuff like this to local women’s shelters.”
Others shared their own experience with the product. “I bought it on the clearance and still returned it,” one commenter said.
Another added, “Ulta marked that way down. I got it and it wasn’t bad but a little drying. You need good skin prep.”
Some focused less on the formula and more on marketing. “I’m sad,” one person wrote. “She had decent products but she never advertised it.”
And a few comments turned more personal. “Even if the product was good, Serena and her makeup choices have always been questionable to me,” one viewer said. “Therefore I’ve never been interested.”
The Mary Sue has reached out to Ulta to ask about the handling of unsold inventory shown in the video. We’ve also contacted Camdeion via email for additional comment.
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