Declutter Your Beauty Products: Step-By-Step How to Sort and Organize

If you’re trying to declutter your beauty products, but don’t know where to start, look no further! Below is a complete step-by-step breakdown on how to sort through the mess and come up with a system that helps you stay organized so you can shift your focus onto more important things, such as staying on top of your beauty routine!

Step 1: Throw Away Expired Products

So you’ve dumped all your beauty products onto the floor – now what?  This step is the easiest since it does not require much effort.  All you’re doing is purging all the products that have expired.  That should probably take care of half the mess. 😉

Step 2: Get Rid of Products That Don’t Work!

Now that you’ve pared things down, it’s time to make some executive decisions!  What products do you dislike?  What products just don’t work for you anymore?  Those have to go!  Get rid of anything that no longer serves you!

Step 3: Categorize By Type

Alright, now to the nitty-gritty.  It’s time to divide things into categories.  Use categories that make sense to you.  Below is only a guideline, but that should give you an idea on how to sort things logically.

• Skincare
  • Cleansers/Makeup Removers/Toners
  • Moisturizers/Serums/Oils/Eye Creams
  • Scrubs/Masks
  • SPF
• Body
  • Lotion
  • Self-tanner
  • Shaving Cream
• Makeup
  • Eyes (eyeshadow, liner, brow pencil, mascara)
  • Lips (lip gloss, lipstick)
  • Face (foundation, bronzer, highlight)
• Hair
  • Dry shampoo/shampoo/conditioner
  • Hair spray/gel/mousse
  • Accessories (hair ties, scrunchies, clips, etc.)
• Nails
  • Nail clippers/files/cuticle cutter
  • Nail polish remover/cotton balls
  • Nail polish/base coat/top coat

Step 4: Group Things By Time/Frequency

This step is all about efficiency!  To make your organizational system effective, group things you use around the same time/frequency together!  For example, if your morning skin care routine includes cleanser + toner + day cream + SPF – make sure those products are in close proximity so that you’re not scrambling through bins of products when you’re in a rush getting ready in the morning!  It’s much easier when these items are grouped in one area rather than 10 separate bins in multiple locations. 

Examples of things grouped by time/frequency:

• Daytime
  • Day cream
  • SPF
• Nighttime
  • Makeup remover
  • Night cream
  • Skin repair serum
• Weekly
  • Face mask
  • Face/body scrub
  • Self-tanner

Step 5: Get Organizing Solutions

Now that you’ve categorized and grouped things, it’s time to think organization.  By now, you should have an idea of how many organizers/dividers/bins (etc.) you will need. 

Here are some examples of organizing solutions that you may need:

• Acrylic storage organizers
• Drawer dividers/trays/bins
• Lazy Susan
• Jars/glasses
• Brush holder

Step 6: Use Labels

Labels are optional, but can add a nice touch, especially if you have multiple bins.  If something gets misplaced, you’ll remember exactly where it should go!

Step 7: Create Storage Space

If you live in a home that comes with little built-in storage space, you may have to get creative and come up with clever ways to add more storage areas. 

Here are some ways you can create new storage areas for your beauty products to live:

• Over-the door rack
• Floating shelves
• Shower caddy
• Rolling utility cart
• Cabinet with drawers

Okay, so now that you’re all organized, what new products are you looking to add to your beauty collection?

Photo Credit: Lubov Lisitsa