I've never been a minimalist, and I never will be. I love color, live in patterns, and in general just like having options — lots of them. What I don't like, however, is clutter.
As a self-proclaimed "beauty girl" and collector for more than 15 years (three of which were spent as a beauty editor), it's no surprise that I've amassed quite the product stash [1]. Sure, I'd done several purges over the years, dividing some products between friends and throwing old ones in the trash. I'd also made my way through quite a few, using them up until the last drop or swipe. All that being said, I still had more than I would ever need. A massive beauty declutter was definitely overdue.
Long bubble baths, massages, and indulgent skin-care routines [2] are often touted as popular forms of beauty self-care. But I'm arguing that purging your excess products — and reorganizing, cleaning, and maybe even donating in the process — trumps them all. So if you're looking for an excuse to get productive and take a much-needed internet break this spring, this might be the perfect activity.
Keep reading as I share my approach to decluttering your beauty products once and for all, including a handful of pro tips, organizer recommendations [3], and the final results.
Decluttering Your Beauty Products, Step 1: Assess the Situation
With limited storage space in New York City, I'm forced to get a little creative with how I store my beauty products. Before I started my declutter, I had half a credenza (aka three drawers) hiding all my makeup, bathroom cabinets stocked with hair, skin, and body products, and a few tote bags overflowing with products in closets and under my bed.
My main goal was to whittle my collection down to only what I had room for (but hopefully less). This meant that after the declutter, everything had to fit in its place — no squeezing into non-existent empty spaces or stacking products that weren't meant to be layered. I already had somewhat of an organization system — a variety of containers, certain areas delegated to hair products or palettes, etc — in my drawers and cabinets, so this gave me an even better idea of how much real estate I was working with.
Decluttering Your Beauty Products, Step 2: Purge What You Don't Use
Now it's time to get down to business. Everyone has their own process when it comes to decluttering, whether it's working section by section, doing a mass purge, or somewhere in between. I fall into the latter two categories; I like to see what I have all at once when it's in the same physical space, so I tackled each area of my apartment separately, but each section within that area simultaneously before reorganizing.
Starting with my makeup drawers and a cardboard box (which later multiplied) for all my "no's," I quickly split my collection in half using a specific set of criteria. Taking a note from Marie Kondo, I asked myself if each piece "sparked joy" — or, in other words, if it was something I'd be genuinely excited to use. Then I considered the more granular details: Was this product expired? Did it have any weird smells or texture? When was the last time I even picked it up (if ever)? Finally, I determined if it would better serve someone else — a friend, relative, or person in need. I used the same approach in my bathroom and when sifting through each tote bag.
Decluttering Your Beauty Products, Step 3: Organize What's Left
Once this was complete, I organized the products that made the cut. For my makeup drawers, I rely on a mix of dollar store containers, Stori Compact Organizers [4] ($13), and HBLife Lipstick Holders [5] ($9) to keep things in line. Then I divided the no's into shipping boxes for friends and family, a tote for donations [6] (sealed, unused products), a bag for recyclables, and a bag for trash. It may seem intricate, but it was undoubtedly productive.
Decluttering Your Beauty Products, Step 4: Donate the Leftovers
Just a note on what to do with leftover product. I moved quickly getting things out of my small apartment; I immediately contacted Share Your Beauty [7] and arranged to drop off several bags of brand-new products. These would then be distributed by the organization to homeless women and victims of domestic violence. Then I shipped some well-stocked boxes off to my best friends and mom. For recyclable products, I suggest programs like Terracycle [8], or looking for local recycling events that can ensure the products are disposed of in the most responsible way possible.
The Final Results
Who doesn't love a good transformation? Although my drawers might not look insanely different when you compare the before-and-after photos, seeing my purged products pile up felt good. I estimate I decluttered more than half of what I started with.
Unless you have a truly massive collection, sparing one day (or less) is all you need to declutter your beauty products. But the effects are long term. Since then, I haven't felt stressed out when opening a drawer or sifting through excessive lip liners to find the one I actually wear on a regular basis. I feel good knowing my unwanted products are being put to use, even if I still have more than I really need. Then again, I did say I'll never be a minimalist.