Makeup Organiser for Drawers — How to Organise Your Makeup
Do you want to learn how to organise your makeup? This can be a fun and enlightening project like organising, saving you time in the mornings and money in the long run.
Let’s dive in!
Declutter your makeup
For starters, know what you have; this means pile all the makeup you own on a towel on the floor or bed.
This can do two things:
Bring tears to your eyes of how much money you have spent on makeup in the past (it is okay; we are moving on as an organised person from here onwards.
Make you realise why your makeup doesn’t work; you might miss a handful of key items that prevent you from completing your look.
Irrespective of the decluttering stage, we let go of makeup we don’t use and like. Or cosmetics that just don't suit you. The same goes for trends that have come and gone; not many people wear blue eyeliner these days.
Doing a quick Google search shows that Australia has a beauty product recycling program; among others, Priceline and Maybelline are participants. This means when you get rid of makeup, you can dispose of it in a more sustainable and environmentally sound way.
If you live outside Australia, let me know if there is a great makeup recycling program near you.
Clean
Sometimes I highlight cleaning, the step between decluttering and organising. In this case, you want to clean your shelf, drawer, tray or anything you store your makeup in. You literally want to start with a clean slate.
This is also a great time to take stock:
What do you have that works?
Which brands do you like?
How many lipsticks, lotions, potions, brushes, and liners do you need and want?
Get professional help
This can be pretty fun; you can book a makeup session at your local department store (see the brands you like). Ideally, you have a function to attend later that day, so you can utilise this session.
What I have done in the past is taken all my makeup products with me. Note: as with clothes, I am leaning towards minimalism with makeup – don’t do this if you still have a handbag worth of stuff.
I would book a session beforehand to get the makeup done and discuss with the makeup artist which products I should buy to enhance or complete my makeup kit. Normally, people are eager to help, and you can get products worth the value of your makeup session.
See how this works? You only buy what you need; you get a free makeup tutorial and a full face for free, essentially prior to an engagement. On top of it, this will help you organise your makeup.
Final step in how to organise my makeup
You are now left with items that you like, look and feel good.
At this stage, have a think about:
What you need daily or only occasionally
What needs to stand up or can easily lie down
How you can group things together that make sense to you
Normally I argue against round containers. For makeup, having some items like brushes, pencils or lipsticks in stands or round glasses can look great.
I would also have a specified makeup sharpener at hand. The last thing you want to do is run around the house looking for a sharpener for your lip liner in the morning.
Another thing that might work is see-through stands with drawers for items you might not use as much. Or a combination of stands with some drawers.
Like this article?
Organising Room by Room takes the same room-by-room approach to your whole home.
How to organise my makeup in summary
Makeup is a form of art; as an artist, only you will know how and where to place your products.
You:
are now someone who knows how to organise their makeup.
Only keep items you like and use, through discussing your makeup needs with a professional and maintaining your organised system.
will see that these efforts pay dividends now and in the future, both in the time you save in the morning and the money you save on items you don’t need.
Below is a short video of how I got organised with my makeup (it’s a while ago when The Body Shop still sold makeup). Enjoy. Any questions, please get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Start by decluttering — tip everything out onto a towel so you can see what you actually own. Toss expired or unused products, then group what's left by type (eyes, lips, face) using a drawer organiser or small containers so everything has a clear spot.
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In Australia, programs through Priceline and Maybelline let you recycle old makeup responsibly instead of throwing it in general waste. Check your local area for similar recycling options if you're elsewhere.
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For most storage, rectangular containers use space more efficiently. But for items like brushes, pencils, or lipsticks, a round stand or glass can actually look better and work just as well — it's one case where shape can flex based on what you're storing.
