If your beauty cabinet, counter, or drawers look a bit chaotic, you’re not alone, and you’re in the right place.
With the average adult using up to twelve skincare products a day (not including hair care and makeup), things can clutter up fast, especially if you share space with more than one person.[1]
For help, we tapped professional organizer, Amanda Nelson of Harmonious Havens Organizing in Asheville, North Carolina, who shared three tips on how to organize your beauty cabinet and keep it organized, without feeling overwhelmed.
How to Organize Cosmetics, Skincare, and Beauty Tools: 3 Tips
Since everyone has a different beauty routine and approach, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for organizing your beauty cabinet.
For example, some people enjoy using a lot of beauty products while others prefer a more streamlined approach.
Nelson also stresses that not everyone likes to organize in the same way: “Some people like to or need to see things on their countertops—or they forget about them, while others prefer things neatly stowed away, but accessible.”
We’ve organized these tips with this in mind, providing solutions for the minimalist clutter-free crusader to the visually-oriented, more-is-better beauty-product-officiando, and everyone in between.
Tip 1: Simplify Before You Organize
Most people will admit to having more makeup, skincare, and beauty care products and tools than they actually need.
This often comes from trying new things, only to feel bad about throwing them away if they don’t work out.
Or, finally finding a product or product line that works so well you forget about your old favorites.
We’ve all been there, no judgements!
Nelson recommends reviewing your products every six months, discarding those that are old, expired, or nearly used up, and donating any unopened items or partially used products that are still good.
“Most people don’t realize there are charities, ministries, and non-profits, like homeless shelters or domestic abuse shelters, that will gladly take partly used skincare, haircare, or cosmetics and donate them to people in need. And this can help you feel better about not throwing away good products, while helping someone else.”
Going through your products every six months can also increase awareness about what you actually need and will use, and help curb impulse purchases.
A win-win-win.
Related reading: How to Transition To A Natural Skincare Routine in 30 Days
Tip 2: For Those Who Like to Keep Products Visible
If you’re the type of person who likes to see your products, Nelson recommends keeping only your daily products visible and accessible, while storing your special occasion products.
“This makes things less overwhelming and easier to keep clean and organized.”
For countertop storage, Nelson recommended tiered and/or sectioned lazy susans. “These are really nice and allow you to see your things, so you won’t forget about them and can stay more organized.”
Other countertop options include sectioned baskets with or without a lid, countertop makeup organizers, or clear sectioned storage totes.
If your countertop isn’t an option, other accessible places for everyday makeup, skin, and haircare include:
- A bathroom cabinet
- Bathroom drawers with divided organizers
- Under the sink, using under-the-cabinet organizers
(We’ll discuss more about the best organizers in the next section.)
Special occasion products should still be accessible, but not visible, and can be placed in bins, baskets, clear makeup totes, or even shower caddies and stored under the sink, on a shelf, or in a linen closet.
Note: Most skincare products and cosmetics will last longer if stored away from heat and light, so keep this in mind when choosing where to store your beauty products.
Tip 3: For Those Who Like to Keep Everything Stashed
If you want or need a clutter-free surface, Nelson recommends making a small investment in drawer, cabinet, or under-the-sink organizers, which can also be used to store special occasion items.
“For under cabinets, I love using pull-out under the cabinet drawer organizers that you can pull out with clear containers inside them—the type often used under kitchen sinks. That way, you have nice little sections for each category (eye makeup, foundation, lotions, cleansers, etc).”
Nelson says you can also get small 6X4 acrylic sectioned pieces to go inside your organizer, which are great for small tools like makeup brushes, Q-tips, and sponges.
“If you have drawers in your bathroom vanity, drawer dividers are the way to go. You can find nice bamboo ones with sections you can insert, and some are expandable, so they fit any size drawers, allowing you to store all your products and tools.”
For medicine cabinets, invest in small, narrow storage containers for organizing smaller products like eyeliner, mascara, concealer, brushes, Q-tips, tweezers, etc., and consider grouping your products by the time of day you use them.
For example, keep your morning cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and foundation on one shelf or section, and your nighttime products, including cleanser, serums, eye gel, night cream, and blemish treatments, on another shelf or section.
How to Keep Your Beauty Cabinet Organized, Easy as 1-2-3-4
Getting your beauty space organized is a huge accomplishment, but keeping it organized is another skill.
Fortunately, if you’ve organized based on your needs and how you operate (as recommended in the first step), you should find it easier to keep up with.
Nelson recommends these four additional tips:
- Make it a habit to put things away after using them
- Do a quick check of your space after your nighttime routine to ensure everything is put away
- Clean your makeup space weekly
- Keep up with purging every six months
Easy as 1-2-3-4.
Looking for Ways to Simplify Your Clean Beauty Routine?
If you’re at step one of simplifying your clean beauty routine, Desert Essence can help.
We’ve been offering clean, effective, affordable, and minimalistic natural beauty products for skin, body, hair, and oral care since 1971.
Some of our most popular skincare products by category include:
Facial Cleansers:
- Thoroughly Clean Tea Tree Oil Facewash
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- Moisturizing Ceramide Cleanser
Moisturizers:
Specialty Skincare:
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Shop all Desert Essence Skincare, Oral Care, Hair Care, and Body Care.
References Mentioned in This Article:
- “Survey finds use of personal care products up since 2004 – what that means for your health”. Environmental Working Group.