If you love collecting new beauty products to the tune of multiple visits to Sephora every month, you're probably amassing quite the stockpile. And while there's nothing wrong with trying out the latest and greatest, owning so many products that you can hardly close your vanity drawer or medicine cabinet is no fun. To keep your pretty self sane and all of your favorite products organized and in sight, we asked top makeup artists to share their best-kept secrets for clearing the clutter and streamlining their beauty routines.
Buy a Bobby Pin Container
Image Source: Alex LaMarsh
"In the jewelry-making section of the craft store, I found small containers with different oblong compartments and a lid that snaps shut. I quickly realized this was the answer to all my bobby and hair pin woes! I now have all my light and dark pins separated by size. It's the easiest thing in the world. It saves the time and headache of digging for a pin. I did this for my professional makeup and hair kit, then finally did this for myself at home when I realized I was always digging for a bobby pin at the bottom of my makeup bag." — Alex LaMarsh, celebrity hair and makeup artist in Los Angeles
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Pile Them on a Cake Tray
Image Source: Shara Strand
"What better way to store your makeup beautifully than by utilizing things in your household that don't get use? Cake plates and platters make amazing ways to store and organize product, if you have the space. It's perfect for every glam girl who loves crystal! Set up your cake plates on top of a mirrored makeup table to give yourself a glam feel. Also, following the idea of using your crystal, you can store lip liners and eyeliners in Champagne glasses or, really, any type of glass. Same thing goes for makeup brushes. Don't overclutter the glasses so you will be able to see things very clearly. You will never lose your lip liners and eyeliners again!" — Shara Strand, makeup artist and owner of SHARA Makeup Studio
"Because I have an obsession with candles, I always seem to have so many and a variety of sizes so I knew I could do something great with them. Once I was done with the candles, I would break up the remaining pieces using a butter knife, wash out the glass container, and then put the container in the microwave for 20 seconds. Wipe away the melted wax with a paper towel, then stuff the glass with different things. Get creative by gluing on items like beads, crystals, beans, jewelry, or whatever you like!" — Brandy Gomez-Duplessis, celebrity makeup artist
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Organize With Clear Containers
Image Source: Cat Norton
"I like to store my makeup in clear containers so I can see the products. The Container Store is always a good place to start, but sometimes its products can be a bit pricey. I'd suggest checking out the clearance section at Marshalls or TJ Maxx — you might find a gold mine!" — Cat Norton, Boston-based makeup artist
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Pour Concealer Into a Bead Container
Image Source: Alex LaMarsh
"We all have a few concealers in different textures and shades. For personal use, I have a small beading container I found in a craft store that has three different compartments. For professional use, I have a larger one that allows me to store up to 12 concealers. Just take a spatula or butter knife and cut them out of the store-bought packaging and scoop them into the compartments of your new container. This is also amazing if you're like most people and have issues finding just the right shade. It allows you to mix your shade as you need it without having to open several different packages, which is great if you find you get darker or lighter with the seasons." — AL
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Take Lipsticks Out of the Tube
Image Source: Alex LaMarsh
"I have a ton of different lipsticks, so I bought a clear plastic tube that has different sections that screw together. I use it to store lipsticks. I cut the lipstick out of the tube with a palette knife and scoop it into these containers. The brilliant thing about them screwing together is I can make the tube as long or short as I want. It also allows me to group all the colors together — I have a tube of my favorite nudes, reds, etc. It also makes mixing colors so much easier and it's great for traveling because you can pick and choose which shades to bring!" — AL
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Store Brushes in an Old Mug
Image Source: Cat Norton
"If you're a makeup brush junkie like me, your stockpile can easily get out of control. My quick and easy solution is to grab an old mug. You can get creative and decorate it yourself or choose one that already has a sassy or cute saying on it." — CN
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Keep Your Serums in the Fridge
Image Source: Michelle Spieler
"I store all of my serums, specifically vitamin C, in the refrigerator — not only to buy me time on the expiration date, but also because the cold serums really wake my face up! If you live in a hot climate, you can keep all your skin care and even foundation in the refrigerator to preserve it longer and it feels amazing to apply on a hot day!" — Michelle Spieler, Hollywood industry makeup artist
