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10 Chic Ways To Store Your Make-Up (And The Pro Tips For Keeping It Neat)
Organise your make-up collection with these artist insider tips.
Make-up storage - it's the bane of our lives. If we had a pound for every time we've mourned a smashed lipstick or lost an eyeliner lid, well, we'd be rich enough to buy their replacements. Which is why we turned to make-up artist and beauty storage extraordinaire, Lisa Potter-Dixon, to steal her organisation tips and tricks. 'I have so much make-up I had to turn my spare room into a beauty room. So if you want to know about storage, I’m your girl.' Agreed.
Lisa's top go-to rules for storing your make-up stash? Drawer, dates and precise organisation.
1.Store everything by product
Keep each category of product separate, so blushers together, eyeshadows etc. Label each box with what’s inside. If you're a make-up hoarder, you may want to get some file cards. Use these to separate shades i.e. pink blush, coral blush etc.
2. Get your hands on clear storage drawers
There are some amazing clear storage drawers out there. Muji and Sephora are great for these. This is where I separate anything in a small pot like single eyeshadows, glitter etc.
3. Cut your lipsticks up (yes, really)
If you have a ton of lipsticks, and don’t mind losing the packaging, cut them up (brutal, I know), into pill boxes. This is a great way to see the colours you have in one place. Don’t melt them down though as this brings the oil to the top and means you lose the pigment.
4. Give your mascara a best before date
When you get a new mascara, write the date on it with a sharpie. Mascaras should be changed every 3 months. It’s the one product that this is an absolute must for. There is a ton of bacteria stored in that tube from opening and closing it every day, so changing it is key to stopping infection.
5. Turn your lip liners upside down
I separate lipliners and eyeliners into pots. Turn them upside down so you can see the shade on the bottom - it'll save loads of time taking all the lids off to find the colour you want.
Shop the best make-up storage and organisers
There's nothing quite so annoying as losing the make-up brush you need most. Have you ever tried doing your brows with a fluffy blender? That's why keeping your brushes confined to one tall and neat case is vital to keeping them safe. Not only does this protect your bristles safe from desktop dirt or being misshapen inside your make-up bag, investing in a vessel with a lid will also keep them in check on the go.
From limited-edition Christmas cases to opulent engraving, delightful packaging deserves to be put on display. This clear acrylic holder allows you to put up to 24 lipsticks in pride of place on your vanity. Both ornamental and organised, it also means that you don't have to upturn your entire make-up bag in the name of finding your favourite.
Make-up bags are the classic way to storing your cosmetics; they're easy to travel with and the options are endless. They can be a designer statement, a love note to your favourite brands (Glossier or Charlotte Tilbury anyone?) or a timeless ever simple block colour. If you're on-the-go or just hate the process of unpacking your bag to find a rogue product in hiding, opt for a clear colour way. You can instantly find what you need without having to scramble through a depth of cosmetics.
As Lisa advises, clear drawers are the way to go for easily displaceable pots like single eyeshadows and glitters. However, they're also a wonderful option for avid make-up collectors. A tiered display case like this is also great to categorise each product and enjoy your beauty assortment its entirety.
Nanshy Large Travel Make-Up Organiser with Mirror
Nanshy Large Travel Make-Up Organiser with Mirror
Whether you're an artist, guru or just enjoy a cleanly kept kit, this sturdy and sectioned make-up bag allows you to categorise your collection at ease. With adjustable divides you can customise each section to fit your personal selection, while the strong exterior and mirror make it ideal for professionals and globetrotters alike.
Vueset Viking Jack Lipstick Palette
Vueset Viking Jack Lipstick Palette
While depotting lipsticks may seem unnatural to the everyday make-up fan, it's a space-saving method professional artists have used for decades. The best option is this artist-approved palette from Vueset, allowing you to keep all your most beloved shades in on convenient, air-tight place.
Beauty Blender Blender Defender Protective Carrying Case
Beauty Blender Blender Defender Protective Carrying Case
From up-cycled luxury candle jars to sophisticated purpose-built carrier cases, the options of how to store your make-up brushes are plentiful. Meanwhile, those who veer towards a sponge application for our dewy base are often left just squeezing the tool wherever it will fit. To ensure your sponge stays plump and clean, we recommend a protective case such as this robust option from Beauty Blender.
The Flat Lay Co. Flat Make-up Jelly Box Bag
The Flat Lay Co. Flat Make-up Jelly Box Bag
Love the easy of a make-up bag but not the packing and unpacking? This cubic case unzips into a handy desktop tray, keeping your cosmetics neat while you get ready, without the tedious tidy up afterwards.
Palettes are by far the trickiest make-up product to store. Larger palettes can be a squeeze for your average make-up bag, while smaller palettes can lean too large for a small set of cosmetic drawer. Our solution? Invested in a short but wide acrylic storage box. You can stack up to five eyeshadow palettes in this display by Muji, or, as Lisa advises, you can split your products on each shelf.
Keep your liners and brushes concise with this role up beauty case. With a zip pouch for those beloved (but easily dropped) items and a protective brush-tip cover, this handbag must-have will keep your make-up, and your handbag, safe from spills.
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