My room usually looks like a closet, makeup case and library exploded at the same time. Clothes, books and products litter almost every flat surface that can be found. I finally gathered enough energy to at least try to do something about the beauty products.
This is what my vanity looks like on a regular basis:
I try to vary my makeup on a daily basis and end up with a bunch of things scattered everywhere by the end of a given week. As I began to put some stuff away and reorganize, I ended up rummaging through my entire stash and realizing what a huge pile of products were in my possession. Delightful. Truly. But it's hard to make the argument that I require anything more. I said recently that I was doing well in adhering to my lippie/liner/shadow bans. It's true. What helped was this rummaging through of products and weeding out the old/useless and seeing just how many things go unused or forgotten.
Most of my makeup is kept in this train case:
Not very imposing at all. Yet it can fit so much! I bought it used from a makeup artist who was upgrading to a heavy duty MAC. For me, I think it's the perfect size to store it all. I don't need drawer/filing systems. It would surely drive me to madness.
It opens up to reveal several tiers of storage space.
The top level is for eye makeup. Liners on the left:
Shadow pots on the right:
More shadows and some small face products in the middle tier:
And in the bottom pit are palettes, blush, bronzers and compacts:
There were a few things that I "ewwwed" at. Some I took out to give away. Some I took out to throw away. But most remain stored safely in my train case, waiting for their rotation.
These images became seared in my brain. Whenever I encountered a good sale or bargain this week, I was still tempted but less conflicted. I have tons of good products at home. I really don't need to bring home another.
Another thing that helps tremendously is the "empties" campaign. I've mentioned jokingly that it becomes addictive to empty out products but it's true. It's tough at first but the more you do it, the most exciting it gets. So I left on my vanity some products that I'm determined to finish or put a dent in by the end of the season.
Slowly but surely, I will find and maintain my balance. My makeup limit is the train case. I will not upgrade to a bigger case or a file storage system. I've reached my max -- and until some extra space is made in the train case, I'm reluctant to purchase new makeup. Surely I couldn't have picked a worse time to do so with the holiday collections on the horizon, but my one year blog anniversary is also looming and I'm afraid more has been accrued than reduced within a year's time. However, instead of beating myself up about it, I'm determined to continue the fight, learn to set a limit and be happy with it -- until a new limit has to be set.
How about you? Do you know what your limit is? Do you care if you have one? How do you store your makeup and what do you do when it gets full?
This is what my vanity looks like on a regular basis:
I try to vary my makeup on a daily basis and end up with a bunch of things scattered everywhere by the end of a given week. As I began to put some stuff away and reorganize, I ended up rummaging through my entire stash and realizing what a huge pile of products were in my possession. Delightful. Truly. But it's hard to make the argument that I require anything more. I said recently that I was doing well in adhering to my lippie/liner/shadow bans. It's true. What helped was this rummaging through of products and weeding out the old/useless and seeing just how many things go unused or forgotten.
Most of my makeup is kept in this train case:
Not very imposing at all. Yet it can fit so much! I bought it used from a makeup artist who was upgrading to a heavy duty MAC. For me, I think it's the perfect size to store it all. I don't need drawer/filing systems. It would surely drive me to madness.
It opens up to reveal several tiers of storage space.
The top level is for eye makeup. Liners on the left:
Shadow pots on the right:
More shadows and some small face products in the middle tier:
And in the bottom pit are palettes, blush, bronzers and compacts:
There were a few things that I "ewwwed" at. Some I took out to give away. Some I took out to throw away. But most remain stored safely in my train case, waiting for their rotation.
These images became seared in my brain. Whenever I encountered a good sale or bargain this week, I was still tempted but less conflicted. I have tons of good products at home. I really don't need to bring home another.
Another thing that helps tremendously is the "empties" campaign. I've mentioned jokingly that it becomes addictive to empty out products but it's true. It's tough at first but the more you do it, the most exciting it gets. So I left on my vanity some products that I'm determined to finish or put a dent in by the end of the season.
Slowly but surely, I will find and maintain my balance. My makeup limit is the train case. I will not upgrade to a bigger case or a file storage system. I've reached my max -- and until some extra space is made in the train case, I'm reluctant to purchase new makeup. Surely I couldn't have picked a worse time to do so with the holiday collections on the horizon, but my one year blog anniversary is also looming and I'm afraid more has been accrued than reduced within a year's time. However, instead of beating myself up about it, I'm determined to continue the fight, learn to set a limit and be happy with it -- until a new limit has to be set.
How about you? Do you know what your limit is? Do you care if you have one? How do you store your makeup and what do you do when it gets full?
I store my makeup in a train case, too, though there is some overflow because the bulkier palettes (like the Tarte jewel box) don't fit. That's its own box, though, so it's fine. I'm trying not to grow past this little train case, either, so that does put a cap on my maximum makeup capacity :P I do, however, plan on purchasing just a few more products...eep.
ReplyDeleteI'm making progress toward empties, I think! I'm trying to make a bigger effort to use what I have, too, and looking at all of the things I have does make it easier to pass on other things. How many peachy blushes does a girl really need, you know? Stay strong, Liz!
I'm trying to be more mindful before I buy something now. I try to think if I have something similar already in my stash, especially blush-wise and eyeshadows. I've actually hardly bought anything(maybe a blush, ok?) since I've been back from Europe! And, I no longer buy things at the drugstore just because so-and so on YT says it's awesome. No more of that for me. I never ended up using that stuff anyways. Actually I find that not watching YT videos a lot lately has really stopped me from lemming for things. And I haven't been reading the really popular blogs that push MAC either.That's also helped out a lot.
ReplyDeleteI keep my makeup in a drawer in my bathroom, and then I have a little organizer for the extras.
I'm trying to use some things up as well! You're a good influence! Just wish I was as strong as you are!
Very nice. I have everything all over the house, some in the bathroom, some in drawers, some in the closet, it's a mess. I don't really have a space to do my makeup. This is sooo organized!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started playing w/ makeup, all I had were these 2 travelling cosmetic bags! Fast forward to a year later and I have 4 desktop Sterilite drawers. Six months later and I have a Ikea bedside table with 3 drawers and then the latest addition is a 10 drawer rainbow push cart. This is my limit! Actually, I may get a Helmer for my nail polishes but I swear this is it.
ReplyDeleteI have a mint green sort of art deco shaped Caboodle (yep one of those) for my make up. It holds my fun random stuff I used to use, star stickers, rhinestones, fake lashes and glitter.
ReplyDeleteI have a lunch box-sized caboodle for my (old) lip sticks and glosses. I have a clear caboodles train case that is meant to hold make up but I decided to put kitchen silverware organizer baskets in my victorian style vanity to use instead.
Three of the 4 vanity drawers hold make up. One has lipsticks and glosses I use. Another has a bigger basket for powder compacts, foundation and blush. The 2nd basket in the back, has bronzer & blush I don't use much. The 3rd drawer has one tray of eyeshadows and the other holds brushes. The tray in the back holds eyeliners & mascaras.
Make up I use every day is in a small translucent make up bag on my dresser. It has concealer, mascara, an eyelash comb, black eyeliner pencil, a few everyday appropriate eyeshadows...and my peach toned waterline pencil.
I want to keep my make up 'collection' as small as I can. I go through it every once in a while & throw out rancid lipsticks.
I try to finish something before I buy a new one. I have 3 tinted moisturizers and I only like one of them but I mix them together to try to use them up, Lol. I have the same thing going with pressed face powder. I have hit pan in one so far, so that is good.
This blog post has reminded me to use my eyeshadows instead of 'saving' them, what I'm saving them for I have no idea, ha ha.
Impressive collection, Liz - and impressive organisation! I have just recently reduced my out-of-control stash dramatically. I threw out a ton of cruddy old stuff, sold some, gave some away... I feel like my collection is so much more manageable now. Sure, I had 47* gorgeous teal eyeshadows, but since I never wear teal eyeshadow, what is the point?
ReplyDeleteAs for my storage, I have one of those plastic four drawer document holder wotsits in the bathroom - one drawer has single eyeshadows I can't part with but rarely use, one has single eyeshadows I use all the time, one has blushes, and one has a bit of a random assortment of mascara, concealer, powder - the bits and pieces I am currently using. I keep my lipsticks in the fridge (it gets hot here and I don't have air con), my foundations on a shelf in the bathroom cabinet, and any unopened or back up products in a dresser drawer in my room. Oh, and eyeshadow palettes are in a basket on said dresser. And pencils are in a vintage melamine spice canister in the bathroom.
OKAY. EVERYTHING'S EVERYWHERE, ALRIGHT?
And is that Benefit Flatter Me I spy? My favourite of the Creaseless Creams - I LOVES IT SO.
*47 may be a slight exaggeration.
I've hopelessly exceeded my limit and dammit, I just ordered more today! :-( Project 10 Pan is coming soon, I can feel it!
ReplyDeleteLiz, my dear friend, you truly are an inspiration to many of us and your will power is nothing short of awesome! That being said, I have a small point to bring up here: while I can fully appreciate your reluctance to purchase anything new until you've made some serious dents in your collection, what about product expiry? I'm the last one who should talk here, as I'm a bit of a sentimentalist and hate parting with ANYTHING, but if you hang on to some stuff longer than you actually should due to your "vow", you could run the risk of other issues cropping up. Factoring that in, maybe giving yourself the ok to purchase a VERY limited amount of any of the new holiday items beginning to creep onto store shelves, instead of outright denying yourself, may actually be good for you. I'm just saying; I don't want you thinking that now that you're set on this course that you need to follow it come hell or high water! We'll love you no matter what -- even if you do take a detour off that wagon once in a while! Life is much to short and precious, so enjoy what you can now while you can! Have I convinced you yet? LOL!! PS: I seriously need to organize all my accumulations...but as it stands now, I'd probably have to have a wing added on to my place to do so! Seriously though, I promised to show you how I organize my polishes a while ago and I haven't forgotten...it's coming up plus my other makeup storage!
ReplyDeleteYou are super, super organized! I wouldn't be able to fit my make-up into one case even if I tried! Lol, when it comes to make-up, I sadly do not have a limit. :( It's hard when you're a make-up artist, though, 'cause you get exposed to SO MUCH MAKE-UP, it's hard not to get caught up in it. And I usually get discounts on a lot of it, or for free, so I get some stuff I don't even want. :P
ReplyDeleteI use tons and tons of Ikea container bins (and cutlery trays!). And then I usually separate them by product type, and then permanent or limited edition, and then by brand. Most of my eyeshadows are from MAC, so the ones that aren't in palettes, I usually de-pot. I have six 15-pan palettes, and about 50 more to de-pot, but I've gotten too lazy. :P
Once every few months, I go through various stashes and clear out the shades I won't wear or use anymore. They're usually very lightly used, so I'll offer them to my girlfriends, and then throw away what they don't want. I usually give my MAC containers to my friends so they can get a free lipstick/eyeshadow/gloss through the recycling program.
Liz, we're in this together. I have the same sort of insanity going on. I have a professional make-up train case and it filled to the brim (and not with girlish glee). So much so that I had to get a medium sized plastic drawer system (like a large night stand) and fill an entire drawer with stuff, but then I couldn't contain my nail polished in there. So I had to use some plastic container for those.
ReplyDeleteI've been really good about buying more, even though I've been tempted. I just ordered the staples for the Sephora Friends and Family (and I was going to not order anything) like a replacement brush head for my Clarisonic and only one nail polish and a nail file to get me to free shipping. And whenever I buy something from Sephora I figure I can always return it. Sometimes I do. Knowing that I'm not in this alone helps me to wade through this issue.
@Larie - Ooooh, wanna peek in your train case! (Hmmm, that sounded a little dirty. lol) I think 5 peachy blush should do it. One matte, one shimmery, one pinky peach, one orange peach, one very soft true peach. Yay!
ReplyDelete@Tracy - I think it also gets to the point where it's hard to remember what you have, so if you're not on top of things, it's easy to bring home a dupe by accident! I've stopped watching YouTubers completely which helps A LOT. If I do catch an odd video here or there, I remain very very skeptical nowadays. You're strong too - you run and everything! My gym bag is still gathering dust!
@Justine - My bathroom is stuffed with skin/hair products. I don't like the steam getting to the makeup so I keep them separate as much as possible. Thanks! It was a sad mess before I took the time to reorg.
@Ashley - Oh wow! See, I thought of upgrading to those carts/drawers and thought it would simply overwhelm me. I do think I need something better than shoeboxes for my nail polish, too!
@Miz_Em - Now I kind of want a Caboodle! A clear one sounds like a great idea. I've been mixing up all my foundations in every which way in an attempt to use them up as well. I tend to "save" as well and it's such a waste. Let's use them and be happy every day!!! :D
@Dee - Thanks! Means a lot coming from you. :) Ahhh, teal. I think it's almost as irresistible as the perfect shimmery taupe. Yep, it's Flatter Me you see all right. I've used it only once since getting it - hence the post and this harsh rule I'm setting up for myself. I'm proud of you for the overhaul and remaining strong! Let's keep at 'em, sister.
@Vita - LOL! No worries; I've done the same many a time. Start with a P5P or something more manageable and see how you do. :)
@Eugenia - Thank you, my friend! I appreciate your concerns! Having encountered an expired sunscreen recently, I am much more alert to expiry dates now - especially when it comes to skincare. I did toss some products that are too old or feel/look/smell funny. My goal isn't a blind one to empty everything by using them. It's to use as much of what is good and not be wasteful. I think sometimes we give up too quickly on products and move on to the next thing without giving something a fair try. This is an exercise in productive restraint, not a punishing rejection of beautiful new things. I'm pretty sure that I'll cave to some new stuff in the weeks/months to come, but I will try to be more selective and mindful of what I pick up. I think it's all about keeping the right balance for the kind of person that one is. I shoot from one extreme to another and need to set some boundaries! And yes, I am still looking forward to your nail polish organization post!!! Woohoo!
@Denise - Ahh, thanks! Well, as an MUA you HAVE to have as many products as possible! lol I don't work with makeup as a living, nor am I a celebrity or model, so sometimes I think my stash is a little over the top for the average person. It sounds to me like you stay on top of your collections fairly diligently! I can't even imagine the mess I'd be in if I were in your shoes! Your friends are very lucky! :)
@D - Yay! *holding on to you for dear life!* Oh, for sure - nail polish deserve their own house. I do appreciate the Sephora return policy, especially now more than ever! I don't mean to make anyone feel guilty about having a lot of makeup. I'd just like to find a way for us to enjoy everything we have, look forward to new things to come - without feeling guilty about any of it! I don't think it's unrealistic.
Liz, I'm always so amazed at your willpower! I think I'm going to start doing empties posts as well :) I've set aside a very tiny Sephora bag for that purpose (hey, gotta start at a realistic place hahah).
ReplyDeleteThat is so cute! Hmmm... maybe I'll set aside one too just for finished samples. Or is that being too ambitious? But do start, MM! :DDD
ReplyDeleteHi Liz!
ReplyDeleteI did an audit of my own 'stash' and it's insane how little I used the products I threw away.
I also used to feel so much pressure to buy stuff at the cosmetics store, but I think I'm more afraid of credit card debt than missing out on a few products.
And LOVE your campaign! Nothing feels better than hitting the eyeshadow/blush pan or turning the shampoo/conditioner/serum bottle upside down to get the last few drops out.
Liz, I love this post--it's so timely for me! After I started blogging this past April, I had NO limits. I assumed I was supposed to buy all the latest and greatest and begin reporting on it, even if it wasn't something I particularly wanted ... or wanted only slightly. This behavior was in stark contrast to the excitement I used to get when, once a season (or even just a couple times a year), I would buy something new that I totally loved (usually a lipstick) and wear it and love it every day until the product lost some of its halo and just settled back into the normal state of my liking it. Things were so much simpler then, and let's just say my morning routine happened a lot more quickly because I didn't have literally dozens of lipstick to paw through.
ReplyDeleteI knew I was in super bad trouble when I went to Ikea early this past summer and purchased their large Alex storage set of drawers. And I realized I was in equally bad trouble when I had no problem filling it. My intent was good. I wanted to centralize my makeup in order to know what I had (avoiding wasteful repeat/duplicate purchases) and so I could start using the neglected items more often. In sight, in mind, right?
No one was more surprised than I when, as beautiful and wonderful as all that makeup was, I never felt good about it. Makeup has an expiry date and I knew that I'd never use any of it up, not in this lifetime. So I spent the last few weeks testing, gathering, culling (which is why I haven't been blogging as much), and now ONE single Alex drawer (out of six) holds ALL my makeup. I threw away my train case and relegated the two fishing tackle boxes to the basement, where they now hold small tools and parts. The rest of my makeup will be dispensed with in an upcoming blog sale if it's under a year old and in like-new condition. Anything older (or more than gently used) got the boot, and it was exhilarating!
I admire you and your pursuits at reducing your beauty routine and products. In fact, you're my Patron Saint of Makeup Chastity. ;D
@Mary - Hi! Thanks for commenting! You're absolutely right - I do so love turning over the nearly empty bottles and squeezing out the last drops. More importantly, the credit card debt point is... on the money, shall we say? ;) I'm hesitant to talk about that aspect because preaching about finance is a tricky thing to do, but sometimes I'd silently do some math in my head and realize if I hadn't bought X amount of products this year, I might be sunning in the Caribbeans or something like that - ya know?
ReplyDelete@Zuzu - Blogging definitely adds complication to our habits. Not only do we feel obligated to report on new products, we're always looking at promo pics of the latest offerings and having to ward off temptation months and months in advance of the product arrivals! And the more we look at other people's posts, the more we're tempted to join in on the makeup parties and buy, buy, buy! I've broken my own rules so many times but it's better to keep up the fight than roll over and drown. :) Thanks for sharing your struggles, Zuzu. LMAO @ Patron Saint of Makeup Chastity! I don't think I'm deserving of this particular sainthood yet but I shall continue to endeavour and hope to share it with you too! ;)
I have a similar train case that I got from Sephora about 6 years ago, and I agree it's great for organization of makeup! However, your stash looks so much prettier than mine LOL! I have mine grouped but also according to seasons/usage too. And I also rotate, as you do. AND I also have several products left out to remind me to use them up within the next couple months. SO it seems we have a bunch of similar cosmetic habits! Naturally :) Let keep up with the good work, shall we? I think you're doing great!
ReplyDeleteWell I say I have become more aware of all that I have, but I seem to keep bringing it in, little by little...much like a squirrel. I have done well with buying no eyeshadows for a while now, but certain products like mascaras, blush, highlighters, etc. just suck me in over & over. And the holiday collections..it's like I can't look or I'll convince myself I need it all!
ReplyDelete@Toya - Why doesn't this surprise me?? LOL And I don't think mine can be prettier than yours but perhaps you have a few more Clinique products than I do. ;D Gosh, I haven't thought of dividing the stash by season (except for lippies) but I don't think I have the energy for that. Thanks for the support as always! I can't wait to meet up again and gab about our crazy habits in person!! :DDD
ReplyDelete@Tracy D - That's what happened to me too! And I was on a mission to reduce from the get-go but look what happened! I think we all have certain specific weaknesses. I got much better with skin/hair stuff but accrued many more shadows and blush. Gah.. the holiday stuff are KILLING me!