“Where is that new lipstick I just bought? It would be perfect with this outfit!” Look in your cosmetic bag, or maybe the bottom of your purse, or the jumble of products in your makeup drawer. Finding the exact makeup items we want, when we need them, can be a daily frustration. But fortunately, this common problem is easy to solve!
Step 1: Take inventory and declutter your makeup collection.
When you’re done with this step, you’ll be free of ‘makeup clutter’. Keeping only the items you actually want and use will make your beauty routine much simpler. And it’s the necessary first step in getting your makeup organized.
Gather all the makeup you own
You’re going to start by gathering every cosmetic you own. Get all the makeup you have out from wherever it currently lives and put it in front of you. Empty drawers, cosmetic bags, purses, medicine cabinets, etc.
Throw away what you don't want or need
Don’t hesitate to *ruthlessly* weed out your collection. Get rid of any items that are:
- Broken
- Out of style
- Unflattering
- Unused or not likely to be
- Expired
How to know when your makeup is expired
Telltale signs that your makeup should no longer be used:
- Change in smell
- Change in color
- Change in texture
- Separation
- Drying out
- Not applying easily
Shelf life, used in combination with the telltale signs above, lets you know when to replace a product. First, look for the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol that is on most beauty products. This will give you a specific expiration date from the manufacturer.
If the official PAO is not available, below are some general guidelines.
- Mascara (3 months)
- Liquid Eyeliner (4-6 months)
- Eyeliner Pencil (2 years)
- Liquid and Cream Foundations (1 year)
- Concealer (1 year)
- Face Powder and Powder Blush (2 years)
- Cream Eye Shadow (6 months)
- Powder Eye Shadow (2 years)
- Lip Liner (2 years)
- Lipstick (2 years)
- Lip Gloss (1 year)
- Brow Pencil (2 years)
- Nail Polish (2 years)
The Beauty Keeper app will help you keep up with makeup expiration dates. Receive an automatic reminder on your iPhone when a product you own is about to expire.
Step 2: Sort your makeup based on how you use it.
By now, all the excess products have been removed from your collection. And what’s left is only what you really use and love. Next, think about how you normally use your makeup. This will help organize it in a way that makes the most sense for your beauty routine.
Ideas for sorting your makeup
Here are a few examples of ways you could sort and organize:
- By category, such as Everyday vs. Special Occasion.
- By type, such as all mascaras together, all lipsticks together, etc.
- By palette, with all items that coordinate for a certain look or color theme grouped together.
Makeup organizing tips
- Keep the items you use most often easily accessible.
- Keep duplicates together but separate from currently used items.
- You don’t have to spend a lot of money on custom organizers. DIY options are easy, inexpensive, almost limitless, and can be beautiful.
Step 3: Select a makeup organizer.
Your goal is to be able to see everything at a glance and only hold on to the items you use. Whether you do-it-yourself with items on hand, or purchase organizers, you can create the perfect fit for your products.
Floor Space
Step 4: Now that you're organized, here's how to keep track.
Pen and Paper
If you’re a makeup minimalist, you may want to keep a simple written list of the items you use. Even if your needs are not complicated, it will help you to remember what you liked, what you didn’t, and why. Plus, it’s easy to see at a glance when your products are expiring and will need to be replaced.
Download our Free Printable Makeup Inventory Tracker.
Spreadsheet
If your collection is a little larger, a spreadsheet may be the perfect solution. Easy to access and update, and hold lots of information. A good basic template will get you started and you can change it as you go to meet your needs.
App
Although not specific to makeup, Sortly is a great way to organize any collection, including your cosmetics.
Available for: iOS + Android