Tidying-up our Makeup Stash

Have you seen the latest Netflix show which everyone is raving about? It is "Tidying up with Marie Kondo", which teaches us how to find happiness in cleaning and minimizing our possessions. She always asks, "Does it spark joy?" If it doesn't, it is time to throw it away. This is what inspired me to write a blog about tidying up, but with makeup. read more

Tidying up makeup stash

Have you seen the latest Netflix show which everyone is raving about? It is "Tidying up with Marie Kondo", which teaches us how to find happiness in cleaning and minimizing our possessions. She always asks, "Does it spark joy?" If it doesn't, it is time to throw it away. This is what inspired me to write a blog about tidying up, but with makeup.

Makeup products have always been a part of our daily life. We apply makeup whenever we go somewhere, or when we just want to feel good. Because we love makeup so much, we buy more makeup products than what we actually need & use. Whenever there are makeup sales or new arrivals of the trendiest makeup, we buy them immediately because we feel the urge & need to own & collect them.

I must admit, I do that most of the time too. I am definitely guilty of hoarding makeup. But then one day, while I was doing my makeup & saw my piles of foundation, blushes & lipsticks, I just realized, a great majority of them I don't even really use. I just bought them based on impulse.

Tidying up makeup stash

For example, even though I have tons of lipstick, I noticed that I only usually use 2-3 shades. Then the rest of my collection are just sitting there, taking-up space on my table & makeup kit.

I just realized that what I am actually doing is hoarding. I wanted to minimize my makeup products that I actually use & just buy those that I really need. Plus it saves up space & MONEY!

So, now we go to the art of decluttering. Decluttering means we let go of things that we don't actually use & have a mindset of practicality. It also means removing things that have sentimental value to us if we really have no use of them.

How do we go about decluttering? What are the steps that I have to take for this project to be successful?

Pull-out everything. Spread out everything.

This will make you see what & everything that you actually have. Empty your makeup kits, drawers, tables & handbags of every makeup. You can put them all on a dining table or on a floor to be able to spread them easily & see everything at once.

Categorize your makeup.

Group all lipsticks, foundations, blushes, mascaras, eyeliners & eyebrow pencils together. This will help you realize how many you have actually bought for the past few months.

Check the expiration date.

If they are already past the expiration date, throw them away even if there's still a lot of product. You can check the expiration date usually at the bottom of the product

Below are the makeup shelf life which will serve as your guide:

  1. Foundation: 6-12 months
  2. Powders: 2 years
  3. Creams: 12-18 months
  4. Concealer: 6-12 months
  5. Lipsticks: 12-18 months
  6. Mascara: 3-6 months
  7. Pencils: 12 months

Check the smell & texture of your products, especially for liquid foundations & creams. If they doesn't smell or feel right, it is time to throw them away.

Will I really use it?

Once your makeup products are reduced, ask yourself will you really use the products remaining? Swatch your makeup products & ask yourself, "Will I be able to really use it in my everyday look or glam look?". Try asking that to yourself for every item that you check.

Here are some of the guide questions you can also use:

  1. Does this makeup fit my current style?
  2. Do I have a similar shade? Because if it is very similar, you can decide to let go of the other one.
  3. Will I use it? If not, then it has no purpose in your makeup kit, drawer & table.
  4. Do I use this regularly? If you are not using a product for at least 6 months, then it is time to say goodbye.

Remember that the method of decluttering does not only apply on makeup. It can also be applicable to your skin care products, clothes & other material things.

After sorting through your makeup, you should have these 5 essential products as part of your basic makeup stash:

  1. A good concealer
  2. A translucent powder to mattify shiny areas.
  3. Mascara
  4. Lipstick
  5. Blush

There is also one rule to remember & to follow even if the temptation is too strong: Use up all your makeup product before buying new ones.

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