Beyond Beauty: How To Organize Your Cosmetics

It’s the ugly secret of so many beauty-lovers. Piles of must-have cosmetics shoved into drawers, strewn all over your bathroom counter and packed away in what should be travel-only makeup bags. Keeping your cosmetics organized may seem like a daunting task, especially if your bathroom is limited on space. But knowing what to throw away, what to keep and what to invest in can make a world of difference. Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for keeping a cosmetic drawer as beautiful as the makeup in it.

Lucite Love

I am a sucker for anything Lucite—lamps, trays, and even cosmetic organizers. Check out TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or simply Google Lucite cosmetic organizers. You can attractively display your makeup on your counter while still keeping everything organized in one easy-to-find spot. If you have excess makeup that won’t fit into your desired Lucite organizer, use a Lucite drawer tray (I found mine at Target) to keep all the extras orderly and organized.

To Toss or To Keep

Whether you went on a cosmetic buying binge, switched brands, or simply got sick of a product after a few uses, the last thing you want is a bathroom full of half-used lotions and potions. Just like you would clean out your wardrobe every six months, regularly cleaning out your cosmetics is key to staying organized. Throw away your mascaras after three to six months, pencil eye liner and lipstick after one to two years, powder foundation up to four years, and toss liquid foundation every six to eight months. As a general rule, if any of your products look or smell funny, throw them away immediately. Bad makeup (namely eye makeup) can cause infections and an unwanted trip to the doctor—there’s never anything pretty about a doctor’s visit. 

Polish Display

Unlike makeup, I like to get a little more creative with how I display my nail polishes. Instead of tucking them away in a drawer or medicine cabinet, incorporate them with your jewelry display. Clean white Essie bottles add a fun and effortless touch of color to your jewelry display. If you have too many to fit on your dresser or vanity, place your least-used polishes in a glass apothecary jar for an equally pretty and organized display.

Use and Re-use

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative to your brush display, look no further than your decorative candles. Once they’ve been burned to the bottom, place the candle in the freezer for a few hours. Remove the candle, and the bulk of the wax should pop out. Wash the candle, and place your brushes in your candle-turned-brush holder. It’s not only a pretty way to display your brushes, but it also makes those not-so-cheap candles last forever.