If there’s one thing my daughter and I love, it’s wearing make-up. I never leave the house without it. My daughter and I could spend hours inside of any Ulta or Sephora trying out all of their wonderful cosmetics, creams, and potions. Because I wear make-up daily, keeping it organized is a must. Let’s look 10 genius tips to organize your make-up to make your cosmetic application go much smoother each day.
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR MAKE-UP
If you’ve been reading my blog, you know what step we always take first when organizing. First, we declutter. Toss or recycle anything that is broken, old, dried out, dated, or no longer fashionable. There is no need to organize things you no longer use.
After you declutter, start setting aside all of your make-up by categories- brushes together, eyeliners together, lipsticks together, and so on. Now, you can see what you have that needs storing. Let’s look at a few different ways to organize your make-up.

Ever since I was young, I have had a Caboodles make-up organizer. I am old enough to remember that when you purchased one, you could send off the postcard for a personalized name plate to be mailed to you that you could adhere to the top of the Caboodles case. Fancy, right?
Today, these type of organizers are still very popular and useful. Mine is made of a hard plastic, has two levels inside, a latch to hold it closed, and a handle to carry it. I love that it is plastic because it can be easily wiped clean. Trust me, mine gets dirty with everything from spilled or shattered power to lipstick mishaps.
Bonus: Do you need some inspiration to organize? Check out her great ideas in this video below!
Another popular way to organize your make-up, specifically your brushes, is in a rolled case with individual pockets inside as seen is the photo above.
Not only does it keep your brushes in excellent shape, but it keeps them organized.
A great way to organize lipsticks and lip glosses is in a plastic/acrylic make-up holder like the one seen in the photo above. Now, obviously this photo shows a cosmetic department in a store, but you get the idea.
The individual partitions allow you to store your lipsticks neatly and easily see the color you are trying to select.
Another attractive way to organize your make-up is to use cute vases and cups as seen in the photo above. You can store “like” items together to keep everything accessible.
These types of containers are great for storing long, thin products such as eye liner pencils, eyebrow pencils, mascaras, etc. Just be sure you select a sturdy container that isn’t easily tipped over.
Some people prefer to have a make-up organizer that is small and easy to transport. For that purpose, I would suggest zipper pouches like the one in the photo above. I always keep a cosmetic pouch in my purse to touch up my make-up throughout the day.
If you choose to organize your make-up with these pouches, I would recommend having one pouch for each type of item – Such as: One pouch for skin products(primers, foundations, powders, highlighters), One pouch for eye make-up products (eyebrow pomade, eyeliners, eye shadows, mascaras), and One pouch for lips (lipsticks, chapsticks, glosses), and One pouch for make-up applicators (brushes, sponges, beauty blenders).
After you organize and separate everything into pouches, you can store all of those pouches inside a large pouch or bag or even in a train style case.
Bonus tip: If you can, always choose a make-up holder that can be cleaned. I have been known to toss my fabric make-up pouches in the washing machine to keep them looking their best. Choose a quality bag that will stand the test of time. I have a cute Coach cosmetic bag that I bought on clearance that has lasted for years. Because I machine wash it occasionally, it still looks new.
Organizing your makeup can make your daily routine more efficient and enjoyable. Here are 10 genius tips tips to help you get started organizing your make-up:
1. Declutter and Sort
- Evaluate Your Collection: Go through all your makeup products and discard anything that is expired, broken, or that you no longer use.
- Categorize Items: Group similar items together, such as lipsticks, eyeliners, foundations, eyeshadows, etc. This will make it easier to find what you need.

2. Invest in Storage Solutions
- Drawer Organizers: Use compartmentalized trays or inserts in your drawers to keep different types of products separated.
- Clear Acrylic Organizers: These are great for visibility and can be used on countertops to store frequently used items.
- Stackable Containers: These are perfect for maximizing vertical space, especially in smaller areas.
3. Utilize Vertical Space
- Wall-mounted Shelves or Racks: These can hold items like palettes or brush holders.
- Magnetic Boards: Attach small magnets to the back of your makeup items and place them on a magnetic board for easy access and display.
4. Label Everything
- Label Makers: Use a label maker to label drawers and containers so you can quickly identify where everything belongs.
- Color Coding: Use colored labels or markers to differentiate between types of products or brands.
5. Keep Frequently Used Items Accessible
- Daily Makeup Bag: Keep a small bag or basket of your everyday essentials within easy reach.
- Countertop Organizers: Use a rotating makeup organizer or a tiered tray to keep your go-to products on your vanity.
6. Maintain Brushes and Tools

- Brush Holders: Store your brushes upright in holders or jars. Make sure to separate clean and used brushes.
- Cleaning Routine: Regularly clean your brushes and tools to keep them in good condition and prevent contamination.
7. Specialized Storage
- Lipstick Holders: Use holders designed specifically for lipsticks to keep them organized and visible.
- Palette Holders: Use file organizers or racks to store makeup palettes vertically, making them easy to browse through.
8. Travel and Samples
- Travel Bags: Keep a separate, pre-packed makeup bag for travel to save time when packing.
- Sample Storage: Use a small box or bag to keep sample-sized products organized and easy to find.
9. Lighting and Mirrors
- Good Lighting: Make sure your makeup area is well-lit to make application easier and more precise.
- Magnifying Mirror: Use a magnifying mirror for detailed makeup work like eyeliner and brow shaping.
10. Regular Maintenance
- Weekly Check: Spend a few minutes each week tidying up your makeup area and putting things back in their designated spots.
- Monthly Declutter: Re-evaluate your collection monthly to keep it manageable and up-to-date.
Bonus Tips
- Repurpose Items: Use household items like mason jars, office organizers, or kitchen spice racks for makeup storage.
- Decorative Trays: Use decorative trays on your vanity to corral smaller items and add a touch of style.
By implementing these tips, you can create an organized and functional makeup space that makes your beauty routine more enjoyable and efficient.

I hope you have found this information on HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR MAKE-UP beneficial and have a few more ideas to organize your make-up. If you enjoy reading this type of material, subscribe to my blog where I give you tips and tricks on cleaning and organizing everything in your home.
Also, if you enjoy this type of material, check out my daughter’s related blog post on beauty products here.
Need to deep clean? I have lists for you to guide you along.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.
Also, to keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
Need to Declutter Every room? I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.
2022 update: The year long thorough declutter series is on video now. You can subscribe via youtube through the video shown in this post below.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price.
How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Attic checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.

How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.

Need some Inspiration to Declutter? Join us for the Year Long Through Declutter Series by subscribing by email below. To subscribe, just leave a comment below.
The Year Long Thorough Declutter Series is designed to help you declutter every room and every space in your home. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. You can sign up here. It includes daily tasks, so you can track your progress. It also includes detailed lists to declutter each room and each space within your home. Subscribe below to receive your daily task. To subscribe, leave a comment below.
New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:
Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.
Step 3: How do you remove clutter?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.
Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.

Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.
Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com:
14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered
How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule
How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter
What is Preventing You From Getting Organized?
Also, check out a great post on decluttering over here from becomingminimalist.com. Joshua Becker has some great tips on decluttering and minimalism.
For further reading, check out the fly lady here. She has some great cleaning and kitchen decluttering ideas plus excellent organization tips to get you started.

Recent Comments