Most of us wear makeup to present our best face to the world. However, keeping it all organized and easy to find can be quite a task. Here are 8 helpful tips to tame the cosmetic clutter.
1. Start By Getting Rid Of Old Makeup
The best way to store your makeup is to start by throwing away what you don’t use. Throw away anything you haven’t used in the last six months. If it hasn’t touched your face in that time, it’s not likely to do so in the future. Next, throw out anything thing that’s out-lived the recommended usage time even if it’s something you’ve used recently. This varies by type but mascara should be binned at 3 months. Water-based concealers and foundations should be thrown out at 12 months, while oil-based ones can last up to 18. Eye shadows and pencils will generally be good for 2 years. Lipsticks, blushes, and powders will also last about 2 years. However, throw away anything that has developed an odor or changed consistency no matter how old it is. With any new cosmetics, write the date on the outside the first time you open it so you can track its age.
2. Keep Daily Use Items In A Small, Portable Container
For ease of use, it makes sense to keep your everyday makeup in one compact container. Put them in a small pouch or purse to allow you to find them quickly in the morning rush or let you pack with no hassle. Anything you use on your face every day should go in this container. Keep the container small enough to carry but large enough that getting your items into and out of it isn’t a hassle.
3. Separate Items By Type In Several Containers
Separate these items you don’t use daily by type. Keep your eye shadows with eye shadows, your lipsticks with lipsticks, and so on. This will allow you to find the specific thing you are looking for quickly without having to play hide and seek through multiple drawers. Purchase plastic containers or just use left-over shoe boxes to store groups of items. Clear containers are wonderful for ease of use but labels on opaque boxes are a must.
4. Group Items By Color
Keep your eye shadows, lipsticks, and pencils grouped by color. This can work even if you don’t feel you have enough items to justify separate containers for each type of makeup. Having like shades with their corresponding shades will streamline your selection process and allow you to easily tell if you have any gaps in your color palette. Not only will it be visually pleasing to group colors together, it can cut down on the time you spend hunting for that one perfect shade.
5. Keep Brushes By Themselves
For brushes, don’t let them get squashed into the bottom of drawers or covered with detritus in the bottom of your bag. Keep them in a separate container where they will stay clean and dry. Keeping them out of the crush of other product will also help them maintain their shape and last longer. Toothbrush holders can be perfect as repurposed brush holders.
6. Keep Everything Clean And Dry
Brushes should be washed with mild soap and warm water every 2 to 3 months. Dry them fully before putting them away as damp brushes can harbor mildew and other unpleasant organisms. Eye and lip pencils should be sharpened before each use. Keeping your cosmetics clean and dry will lengthen their life by keeping out harmful bacteria.
7. Store Cosmetics In Light-Tight Boxes
Sunlight can break down pigments and oils in your cosmetics. If you aren’t able to keep them in light-tight boxes, keep them out of direct sunlight, preferably in a room that stays dark most of the time. Never store your makeup on a window sill or any other brightly lit area.
8. Don’t Keep Makeup In The Bathroom
The constant humidity and temperature variation can lead to bacterial growth and changes in color and consistency. To keep cosmetics at their best, store them somewhere else, like a vanity table in a bedroom. Even the fridge will do in a pinch.
Usually involved in all things blog, James spends some time researching things like HP toner and Samsung toner for his site.
