A few days ago, my elder sister accidentally got a peek inside my skincare and makeup drawers and asked me if I would actually be able to consume all these products before they get expired. I looked at my huge collection and immediately answered in ‘Yes’ clearly knowing that I had lied.
I mean, who exactly can consume 3 containers of lip balm, 5 bottles of lotion, 3 jars of night cream and 2 tubes of eye cream all within a year? Unless of course they’re Hulk.
Makeup and skincare is the kind of clutter that I can’t help causing. As someone who is totally obsessed with skincare, I am always quick to buy products as soon as they get launched or are recommended by the instagram influencers. I buy them with high hopes with most of them failing to meet my expectations.
Are you wondering what I do with all the skincare and makeup products that I didn’t end up using more than once? The answer is simple. I let them sit in my drawer until they get expired. Well, this used to be the case until recently when I realized that I had no space left in my drawer to store more products.
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Decluttering makeup is one of the last things I think about but I finally managed to do it last week. Needless to say, it was a tough job because makeup and skincare are just too pricey to be thrown away. But holding on to unused makeup and skincare can be more problematic given the amount of space they end up occupying.
Decluttering my makeup was one of the hardest decluttering projects I’ve taken up, but I haven’t felt more liberated. I still sometimes buy products on a whim but not as much as I did before. I now have a comparatively small drawer to keep my skincare and makeup but that is all I need.
If you haven’t decluttered your makeup and beauty products for a while, now maybe the right time to do it. It’s painful for sure but I promise that you’ll be happy once you’ve done it. Here are a few makeup decluttering tips that can help you in the process:
1. Empty out all your makeup and beauty products in one place
For anything to be decluttered effectively, it needs to be brought together in one place. The same goes for your makeup too. Start by looking into the drawers, cupboards and cabinets and grab every makeup or skincare product you might own. Don’t forget the hair products & accessories, makeup brushes, beauty blenders or anything that goes with your skincare.
While the idea of gathering all your makeup products might seem a bit overwhelming, it will help you gain an understanding of what all products you own including the ones that are used daily, the ones that have been neglected for a long time and the ones you didn’t remember you had.
2. Get rid of the expired products first
Now that you have gathered all your products in one place, start picking them up and check for the expiry dates. As it’s your skin we’re talking about, you shouldn’t hold onto any makeup or skincare product past its prime.
While evaluating the individual products, you’ll be able to notice the empties and the ones that smell a bit off or are damaged. These are the products that you won’t be needing in future, so immediately toss them in a trash bag.
3. Pull out anything you haven’t used in the last 6 months
Makeup is something that you often end up buying on a whim or on a friend’s suggestion only to discover later that it wasn’t as likeable. Or there may be a product that didn’t suit your skin and you had to stop using it. If you’re unable to identify products that you don’t like or need, try looking for the ones that you haven’t used in the last 6 months. If you haven’t used a makeup product in last 6 months, you are unlikely to use it in the next 6 months too.
Put all these products together in a box to figure out what you can do with them. While the unused items can be donated or gifted away, the used ones should be trashed immediately as they can’t be given away.
4. Clean your makeup brushes and tools
Did you know that cleaning your makeup brushes, combs and sponges is extremely important to prevent them from causing bacterial infection to your skin?
I know that it isn’t easy to clean your makeup tools after every use, but make sure that you make them go through a sterilizing session every once in a while.
Clean your comb every week and wipe the surface of your hair styling tools with a clean cloth every few months.
5. Sort through the remaining makeup products
Now that you’ve gotten rid of the unused and expired products, it’s time to sort through the rest of the makeup. But before that, if there are any products you don’t intend to use in the near future, discard them and keep the rest.
Now separate the products based on how often you use them. The body care essentials should be kept in the bathroom while the makeup products can be kept on top of your vanity. Skincare products that are used on a daily basis should be kept in a drawer or a cabinet that is convenient to reach.
I own a couple of lipsticks that I keep in the refrigerator when the weather gets hot. A very expensive lipstick of mine melted away last summer because I didn’t care to keep it refrigerated and I certainly don’t want to go through that pain again.
6. Store your makeup properly
It’s as important to store your makeup as is to declutter it. Makeup products can cause bacterial infections if left opened for a long period of time or aren’t stored in a particular temperature.
I recently bought this amazing countertop makeup organizer that helps me keep all my products organized and contained. I use a separate basket for my most used products like lip balm, moisturizer, night cream, skincare actives and body care essentials.
Now that you know the exact steps to declutter your makeup and beauty products, it’s time to challenge yourself by getting rid of every makeup and skincare product that isn’t making you feel good. It might seem heart-breaking to declutter them but I can assure you that you won’t regret it later.