How to Declutter Your Makeup Collection in 7 Simple Steps

7 Simple Steps to Decluttering Your Makeup Collection

Learn how to declutter your makeup with our detailed step by step guide. Say bye to clutter and hello to a streamlined, stress free makeup routine with these simple tips.

Makeup has a way of sneaking into our lives and settling there. Before you know it, your stash has taken over, and you find it challenging to find the makeup pieces you really need because they are hidden by the clutter.

Decluttering makeup is about prioritizing your needs and letting go of what no longer serves your makeup needs.

To declutter your makeup, decide what items you need for each made-up look you use. Trash expired or broken products. Donate and gift new items that you will never use. Keep your favorite pieces in one place and your seldom-used ones in a different spot to use when needed.

If you have noticed that your makeup is slowly taking over your home, it may be time to declutter. What may feel like a fun purchase here and there can leave you overrun by the makeup you never use.

Reclaim your space by removing what you don’t need and give new pieces to people who will appreciate them.

Related Decluttering Article:

How to Declutter Your Closet

How to Declutter Your Makeup – 7 Simple Steps

The time has come to declutter your makeup collection, but the question is how to choose what to let go of. Makeup costs a lot of money, and the thought of throwing it in the trash can be somewhat unsettling.

Let us look at the best way to declutter your makeup, step by step. When you are done, we will ensure that your makeup station is clean, seamless to use, and deliciously dazzling.

#1. Decide on Your Makeup Looks

Taking the plunge to declutter your makeup does not mean you have to become a minimalist with your makeup look. We are all about keeping your signature styles and letting go of all the rest.

To complete this first step in preparation for decluttering, take a few minutes to consider your primary makeup looks. Depending on your lifestyle and relationship with makeup, they might include categories like some or all of the following:

Relaxed daytime
Office chic
Night out
Daytime fun
Camera-ready

Really take the time to consider the different makeup looks you use in real life for this step. Once you have your list down, it is time to jot down what makeup items you need for each item.

Let’s use one category as an example so you can create your own with your makeup looks.

For the “Relaxed Daytime” look, we would need the following makeup items:

Concealer
Foundation
Eye pencil
Blush
Eye shadow in the brown palette
Highlighter
Bronzer
Mascara
Light colored lipstick
Lip gloss

Note that for this step, you do not list the items you have but the items you would need for each look.

Go through each makeup look and create similar lists. Once you have completed the lists, use highlighter pens to note items that are the same, E.G., mascara, eyeliner, etc. This will be a tremendous help in the following steps.

#2. View All Your Makeup at the Same Time

The best way to assess what you should keep and what you should let go of is to haul out everything you own in one go.

Lay an old sheet or towel on the floor or your bed to prevent issues with stains from this exercise. Then, place every piece of makeup on it. That means emptying your purse, car, drawers, dresser, bathroom, and anywhere else you may have makeup stashed for various purposes.

When you can see everything simultaneously, assessing what should stay and what can go becomes more manageable.

I just did this yesterday and it helped immensely in deciding what to keep and what to get rid of.

#3. Let Go of Expired and Damaged Makeup

Go through all the makeup before you and check the expiration date. It is not common knowledge, but makeup goes off just like food. That means that when you purchase it, you should note when it will expire.

Using makeup that has expired or gone off can result in infections. Expired makeup can simply lose pigment and so lose its appeal, but it can also become home to bacteria. To be safe, place all expired makeup in the trash.

Makeup that has damaged containers or that is damaged itself should also be among the first to go. Not only can damaged packaging hurt you, but makeup can spill onto your shelving or pouches, causing a massive mess for you to clean up later.

If you are wondering how long makeup lasts, here are a few popular items and their lifespans:

Foundation: 2 years
Concealer: 1 year
Mascara: 3-6 months
Liquid eyeliner: 3-6 months
Eye shadow: 2 years
Eye pencil: 1 year
Lipstick: 18 months

#4. Save What You Use and Love

The next step in your makeup decluttering is to select what you love and use from the pile of what you own.

This is when you use your makeup look lists from the first step. Pick the items you use regularly and the products you love on your skin.

If you aren’t sure, give them a try in the mirror before making a decision. If the makeup flakes do not blend well or look bad with your complexion, let it go rather than keep it.

Make sure you have all the items that can complete each makeup look you compiled in the first step, but don’t be concerned if you have extra pieces, too. Additional pieces can be kept in a separate container and used over time.

The main deciding factor for keeping makeup during this step should be that you will definitely use it and love it.

If you have not used it in months, or the color is not one you typically select for yourself, be honest and toss it.

#5. Repurpose What You Can

When you have taken out all the makeup you will be keeping, you should be left with a fair number of items you no longer need. The big question is what to do with it.

Makeup that is still new, unopened, and in good condition can be gifted to friends, family, colleagues, or a women’s shelter. There are also numerous online platforms where you can sell unopened makeup if that is something you want.

Some makeup companies promote the recycling of their packaging. If you have any of the following products in your “to-go” pile, consider emptying the makeup out and sending the packaging to be recycled:

M.A.C
Origins
LUSH
Bareminerals
Amika
Bliss
Zoya

#6. Toss What Cannot be Used

There is a crucial step to decluttering makeup that may only sometimes be mentioned, and that is the speedy tossing of what cannot be used.

Even the best of us can be tempted to retrieve items we have marked for the trash if they spend too much time inside and not in the trash.

Your best bet for achieving a decluttered makeup station is to head to the trash with your “toss” pile as quickly as possible. Let it go, and enjoy the clean, clear space you have created for yourself inside.

#7. Clean Your Makeup Station before Restocking It

Now that your makeup stash has been decluttered, it is time to clean your makeup station before you re-pack all the items.

Use soap and water to wash counters, shelves, and drawers. Clean your makeup brushes and sponges, and set yourself up to start fresh.

As you re-pack your makeup in your makeup station, consider keeping different makeup in different places.

Keep your everyday essentials in the most accessible spot. All the other items can be in a cupboard or drawer that is still easy to access but out of sight.

By doing this, you will keep your makeup station clear of clutter. Your makeup routine will be streamlined and pleasurable as you can easily find what you need and have only what you use and love at hand.

If we refer to the lists you made in step one, you would keep “relaxed daytime” and “office chic” on hand and the rest nearby but out of sight.

Makeup Organizers for Organizing and Displaying Your Makeup

Now that you have decluttered your makeup, here are some awesome organizers to help you organize, store and display the makeup you’ve decided to keep.

DreamGenius Makeup Organizer 4 Pieces Acrylic Makeup Storage Organizer AMEITECH Makeup Organizer, 360 Degree Rotating Adjustable Cosmetic Storage Display Clear Cosmetic Storage Organizer – Easily Organize Your Cosmetics, Jewelry and Hair Accessories BAGSMART Travel Makeup Bag, Cosmetic Bag Make Up Organizer Case

Final Thoughts on Decluttering Your Makeup

To declutter your makeup, decide exactly which makeup items you need, use regularly, and love for your specific skin.

Go through every piece and toss items that have expired. Regift or sell makeup that is still unopened. Recycle packaging where possible and discard the rest to avoid the temptation of keeping things. Clean your space and re-pack it cleverly with your most used items in an easy-to-reach spot.