Okay here it is, a strategic approach to organizing any cluttered make-up bag!
NOTE: This may take anywhere from an hour to possibly a week to accomplish, depending on the severity of the situation.
First, gather your make-up bag or tote, including all those secretly hidden container collections you may hiding. Place all of the cosmetics out on a table and keep a trash can and some cleansing wipes nearby. First, take a good look through the pile of cosmetics, getting familiar with what you have done. All or any mascara containers that have been purchased over 6-8 months ago, need to be disposed of, no need to open and smell them in the hopes of being able to keep them.
Next, find all of the gadgets you use to colour your lips, and all of the eye liners, and put them in Pile 1. Then collect all of the eye shadows and blushers and put them in Pile 2. Now collect all base make-up such as foundations, concealers, powders, etc., forming Pile 3. Finally, you are left with Pile 4, this pile being reserved for tools such as any applicators, brushes, eyelash curlers, etc.
If your piles are large, be sure you have a large-enough trash container and get some tissues, as this could get emotional for some. Unless you enjoy keeping pieces of make-up for some strange trip down memory lane, be prepared to rid yourself of those possible bacteria-infested items. It might be a good idea to thank the piece of make-up for helping you through life before disposing of it into the trash; this way, dealing with the separation becomes easier.
So–now you have 4 piles of make-up to deal with. Starting with Pile 1, assess the colours of lip products and containers and throw out any dirty or malodorous products, these can not be saved no matter what your reasoning; then, pick out your absolute favourites, clean them, and place them in a new pile, New Pile 5. All liners including eye, should be freshly sharpened and cleaned as well. This could take some time, but it will give you time to reminisce as you organize. Salvageable tubes of your not-so-favourite colours can be kept on reserve for other make-up opportunities such as theatre or costume moments. This is probably why you have been keeping them for so long, also known as the Inner Diva Syndrome. Therefore, it may be a good idea to get a container, perhaps labelling it, DIVA PILE, DO NOT TOUCH.
Next, search through Pile 2 and throw out those broken powders! No, you should not try to salvage these into other containers. Powders that are still pressed and intact are salvageable, again, cleaning up and placing your favourites in the New Pile 5, and the others in the Diva Pile. Then on to Pile 3–any liquid foundation purchased over 1 year ago, or broken powders are out, they were probably the wrong shade to begin with anyway, so don’t feel too much of a loss; unless you like that orange-coloured base, in which case you might be able to transfer it to the Diva Pile. Okay, you are now halfway through this process, good for you: now it is time to tackle Pile 4. All tools need to be cleaned by swishing brushes in mild soapy water and rinsing, repeating this until the water runs clear from the brushes. Brushes need to be placed flat out on a towel, allowing them to air dry. Disposable applicators are exactly that, use them once, then dispose of them. Tools such as eyelash curlers and brushes should be cleaned weekly, allowing for better performance of products. Keep a good selection of brushes handy as natural drying of the newly-cleaned brushes can take some time.
Now you should see one nice New Pile of freshly-cleaned favourites and one diva box. Now get a piece of paper and a pen; it is time to take inventory. The first thing you need to write on the list is, one new make-up bag. If your current make-up or container is clean and presentable-looking, great; If not, reward yourself with a new make-up bag. Until then, make-up should be placed in a clean container. Looking at the New Pile, whatever foundations or concealers you now have, keep the foundations that best suit your own skin tone, and try to limit this to 2 products; the rest can be safely put into the Diva Pile. Pick out and keep 2 to 3 of your favourite lipcolours, one neutral daytime shade and one richer deeper shade and one glosser are best, as these can be intermixed to create different colours–the rest, into the Diva Pile. Choose the neutral or pinkish shades of blusher, keeping one or two for the new make-up bag, the rest in the diva pile. A good powder bronzer makes for a great contouring tool. Taking a look at eyecolours, select a collection of colours that include a light base shade, a medium shade and deeper shade, also a shimmery shade for those evening appointments. Choose a few favourite eyeliners as well. Powdered shades that are neutral can be spiced up using your colourful liners as accents. The rest, into the Diva Pile. In addition to having a good foundation, lipcolours, shadows, and blushers, your new-looking collection should have a good new mascara. Any missing products should be replaced with new fresh ones, and be sure to purchase the right products for yourself the first time around,;plenty of make-up products come with knowledgeable people who sell them, so do not be afraid to ask for help if you have difficulty selecting cosmetics. Having only the essentials in your main make-up bag helps to keep it clutter free can take a load of stress away, helping you to feel more put together and organized, and you will always have that secret Diva Pile to dip into when necessary . . . .
To better make-up bags, everywhere!
