Week #26 Organized Home Challenge
Cosmetics & Makeup Organization

This week's challenge is cosmetics and makeup organization, to get yourself looking good without having to search for everything you need constantly.

Once you've completed this challenge the goal is that your morning and/or evening beauty routine will be shortened because you'll have less clutter to deal with, and can spend more time applying your makeup and other beauty products, rather than searching for them.

This is mainly a continuation of the bathroom organization challenge, giving you another week to work through the stuff that is normally stored in this room, plus it provides guidelines and ideas specifically related to decluttering and organizing a wide variety of beauty products.

This week we will deal with organizing personal care products of many varieties, including not only makeup, but also lotions, cleansers, toiletries, nail products, and makeup applicators.

Step 1: Declutter Excess Makeup & Cosmetics

The first step of this challenge, as it is for every single challenge, is to declutter.

When it comes to makeup and other cosmetics it seems there are typically two types of people. One, those who have a ton of products, and the other is someone who is a minimalist in this category.

Congraulations minimalists, here's your moment to shine. It won't take you as long, but still do this step. You might be surprised if you don't use makeup often how much of it is past its expiration date, so this step is important for everyone.

Obviously, the more stuff you've got the longer it will take to declutter, but as far as organizing goes, getting rid of old, expired, or unloved products is the single most effective step of the whole challenge.

I could suggest to you every single cool storage solution invented so far, but if you've got too much, it won't do you any good. Getting rid of stuff will.

Prime items to declutter include those which are used up, that you don't like anymore, or that you have lots of duplicates of.

If items are unopened and not expired, go ahead and donate them. Otherwise, although I hate to just trash stuff, it is more sanitary to throw away opened products that you're decluttering.

Consider Expiration Dates & Shelf Life When Decluttering As Well

When it comes to makeup and cosmetics, decluttering is also about your personal health and safety. That's because these products do have a shelf life once opened, and tossing too old items keeps you from getting sick.

In fact, some of those expiration dates and shelf lives are surprisingly short, especially for eye makeup (such as mascara). To help you I've written an article explaining why this topic is so important (see the link above), plus created a free printable cheat sheet (see to your right) that you can use to make sure you throw things out and replace with new products as needed.

In addition, for even more information about decluttering, check out my article on how to get rid of makeup, toiletries and personal care products clutter here.

Step 2: Organize Your Products Based On Use

Once you've decluttered you need to organize what you've got left. There are two types of uses that you need to consider when organizing these toiletries and cosmetics.

First, consider what items you use everyday, versus which are only occasional use products.

Second, if you're organizing not only for yourself, but for your whole family, you need to consider what products are used only by one family member, versus shared products that several members of the family use.

Please note for sanitary reasons I don't suggest sharing makeup, but obviously many people can share a tube of toothpaste or everyone may want to use the same bottle of shampoo, for example.

Clear Off Your Bathroom Counter & Sink Area

Many people keep all or most of their toiletries and makeup on their bathroom counter and sink area, and things get knocked around and there is hardly any room. This is not the way to organize everything.

Instead, I urge you to clear off your bathroom sink area. Just having this space clear (or mostly clear) will allow you to go about your daily beauty routine in a more peaceful organized way.

Your goal should be to have as few things sitting out at all times in this space as possible. Some prefer nothing out, but if you do want to have some daily use items sitting there, at least keep them in a basket or otherwise corralled together so they don't spread out taking too much counter space.

I'll be suggesting several organizing and storage solutions below so you can choose the one that's right for you.

Everyday Use Makeup & Toiletries Organization

As I stated above, the first way to separate the beauty products you've got left, to get them organized, is to consider what you use daily versus just occasionally.

Whenever you're organizing anything it is important to make the daily use items much more accessible and easy to find than the more occasionally used items.

Most of the time there is just a smaller amount of daily use items. These are the only things I would suggest leaving on your counters at all, and even then you may want to consider placing them in a zippered makeup bag or in an easy access drawer.

The goal when organizing these products is to be able to find these things, and these things only, easily every day when you're getting ready. Don't keep them with your occasional use items because then the convenience factor is gone.

Instead, give them a special place all their own, and make whatever container you use to store them easy to load and unload since you'll be doing it daily.

Place More Occasionally Used Items In Less Convenient Locations

If you've got a lot of storage space in your bathroom (or wherever you get yourself ready each day) then great, you can then designate another spot for your occasional use items in that same area.

For many of us though, this is not a luxury we have. Instead then, consider other locations to store more occasionally used items. Remember you are not required to keep all toiletries and cosmetics in your bathroom, but instead you can keep them other places as well.

For example, if you apply makeup in the bathroom, but have only a limited amount of space for it, make sure you keep your daily makeup within arms reach of your mirror and counter in the bathroom, if possible, and put your occasional use makeup, for nights out, in a different container which you might store in your bedroom.

Ideally, the container in your bedroom would be portable so you can bring it to the bathroom when needed, use what you need, and then put everything away and take it back into the bedroom when you're done. This keeps the bathroom clutter free and is most convenient, most of the time, for how your life really works.

Accomodate All Members Of The Family's Stuff

Special care and attention needs to be paid to items that multiple people sharing a bathroom also share, and make sure it stays in a convenient spot for all those people.

However, if several people in your home share a bathroom I'm sure you're familiar with the explosion of personal care products that accumulate that only one person in the family uses. Those special creams, hair products, shampoos, or other toiletries, not to mention makeup and cosmetics can add up quickly.

Most bathrooms just aren't designed to hold that many people's stuff. It's not that you have too much in such instances (at least once you've decluttered), it is that you realistically can't store it all in the bathroom.

In those instances it is best to designate a portable container for each person's individual stuff. This can be a bag or a basket that they keep, most likely in their own bedroom. Then, when they're doing their makeup or personal care in the bathroom they bring in their basket, have all their own products at hand, use them, put them back in their container at the end, and put the container back in their bedroom when they're finished.

The system is simple, but I will grant that training people to do this, especially teenagers, can be a bit of a challenge.

But the rewards are worth it for everyone. No one's stuff gets misplaced or broken, everyone has enough space to do what they need to do in the bathroom, and there are no eye sores from overflowing countertops.

Step 3: Consider These Makeup Storage Solutions

Now that you know the basics of organizing makeup and cosmetics, it's time to choose the storage solutions that will make the most sense for your family's needs.

Canisters Or Apthecary Jars

These are perfect for makeup applicators and brushes, or other items such as cotton balls or swabs, or makeup removal pads.

They are often much prettier than the container the item comes in, and can add a decorative touch to your bathroom counter. Just use them sparingly, and only use for items that you actually do use daily. Otherwise they take up precious counterspace that you should use in a different way.

Makeup Bags Or Baskets

For daily use items I find a small bag or basket can work quite well.

An open basket could be kept on your bathroom counter, or a closed makeup bag could be stored under the sink or in a bathroom linen closet to be grabbed and used daily before putting the items back away.

These types of containers are also useful if you don't have room in your bathroom to store things but must transport them from another room as you use them.

Drawer Dividers

Another good choice for daily use types of items are drawer dividers. If you've got a drawer to keep your makeup and other personal care items in, you know how it can easily become a jumbled mess with all those little tubes and containers sliding around in there.

Drawer dividers to the rescue. Simple dividers (such as those shown above) can keep various items compartmentalized so everything is easy to grab without pushing things aside through the mess.

Make sure to also read this article all about bathroom drawer organizer article for more ideas.

Acrylic Makeup Organizers

One of the best types of containers you can use for a larger makeup collection are acrylic makeup organizers. They typically consist of several drawers, and some of them also have an open organizer for the top.

They are sturdy and also easy to clean, which is important when considering makeup which can easily drip or powder can spill.

Some of them are quite pricey, but pay attention at places like Amazon to both the product cost and shipping costs. Sometimes paying for shipping is still cheaper than a comparable product with free shipping.

Most of the time these are stored on either a makeup table or on a bathroom counter, so choose something that you find attractive and fits the amount of makeup you've got since it will be displayed.

Shower Caddies Or Baskets

Typically makeup and cosmetics are not taken into excessively wet areas, but since we also talked more generally about personal care products in this challenge I'm throwing this storage solution out there - shower baskets or caddies.

A personal shower caddy or basket may be the best solution for items taken into the shower with each family member if several people use the same bathroom. This can keep the shower from getting too crowded with products.

If you need to use this option make sure whatever container you choose can get wet repeatedly, and also has a way to drain so no water accumulates in the bottom.

Listen To Taylor's Video Tips For This Week's Organized Home Challenge & Declutter 365 Missions

Do you want more in-depth tips and instructions for how to do this week's missions and challenge all about decluttering and organizing cosmetics and toiletries? If so, I've got recorded video tips from me, Taylor, from the video archives in the Declutter 365 Premium group, all about this week's challenge and missions.

These video tips are available on demand in the archives, once you're a member of the group.

In Week #26's video I discussed the following topics, among others:

• Why you need to declutter old and expired makeup
• Tips for organizing makeup and toiletries
• Storage for toilet paper and feminine hygiene products
• Declutter 365 missions for week

I suggest watching the video archive for the week, perhaps while you're doing some decluttering or cleaning around your home, before starting the week's missions and Challenge, and then you'll be able to breeze through this week's worth of decluttering missions, as well as organize what's necessary for the 52 Week Organized Home Challenge, based on the advice and instructions within those videos.

It really is like having me, Taylor, available, 24-7, as your decluttering and organizing coach, for every area of your home!

Plus, once you're a member of Declutter 365 Premium you get access to not only this video, but all the videos for the 52 weeks of the year, for 5 years (that's over 260 videos available in the archives!)

Get This Bathroom Decluttering Checklist + 32 Other Decluttering Checklists For Your Home

Right now you're decluttering your bathroom, and there's a lot of stuff to declutter in this space.

Get your 1 page bathroom decluttering checklist, plus 32 other decluttering checklists, to help you declutter your entire home here.

I've done the hard work of breaking down these tasks into smaller more manageable steps for you, so you don't get overwhelmed or worry you're forgetting a task, and you can go at the pace you want, whether that's fast or slow.

In addition, you can tackle these decluttering tasks in whatever order you want when you use these checklists!

Tell Me How The Cosmetics & Makeup Organization Challenge Is Going For You

I would love to know how this week's Challenge is going. You can tell me your progress or give me more ideas for how you've organized this items in your home in the comments below.

I also would love to see before and after pictures of your organized makeup and cosmetics once you've completed the challenge. Submit your pictures (up to four per submission) and blog posts and get featured in the Creative Storage Solutions Hall of Fame. You've worked hard to get organized, so now here's your chance to show off!

Here are some ideas that have already been submitted:

Hair Appliance Holder Ideas

Nail Polish Storage Ideas

Sneak Peek For Next Week's Challenge

We're working on our homes slowly, one area at a time, so don't get too distracted from this week's Challenge. However, I know you like to know what is coming up, so I'll tell you.

We're beginning the transition between focus on items often found in the bathroom, to clothing and closets. The perfect way to do this is to organize our linen closets.

Make Sure You Make The Most Of These 52 Organizing Challenges

Get your copy of the printable one page 52 Week Organized Home Challenge schedule for the year here, so you can see all the challenges we're working on.

Further, if you'd like to join a community of others who are all commmitted to these organizing challenges and corresponding decluttering missions, and want more interaction with me, Taylor, video archives of Taylor providing more tips for each of these challenges and missions, as well as live monthly group coaching sessions focusing on the skills and habits necessary to maintain your home from now on, I'd urge you to join the private and exclusive Declutter 365 Premium Facebook group (you can learn more about it at the link).

In addition, have you gotten your Declutter 365 Products yet, to make sure you can get even more assistance with decluttering and organizing your home this year? There are both free products (like the Declutter 365 calendar, a $20 value), as well as add-ons, such as daily text messages, planner stickers, and a Premium Facebook group, as well as a pack of printabe decluttering checklists.

Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase a product through them I receive a small commission which helps me provide this information to you for free, plus support my family. My integrity and your satisfaction are very important to me so I only recommend products I would purchase myself, and that I believe would benefit you. To learn more please see my disclosure statement.

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When you work through the Declutter 365 missions, and accompanying 52 Week Organized Home Challenges, you'll be able to declutter your home one mission at a time, organize what's left, and learn the skills, habits and routines to maintain your space from now on.

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