|
May 21, 2014

HS: Organized Makeup Drawer

Organized Makeup Drawer// shutterbean

I can always tell how chaotic my life is when I open up my makeup drawer.  Same goes for my purse… my car…and the inside of my fridge.  Oof. I was checking out my old High Straightenance on Homefries and couldn’t believe that it’s been almost 2 years since I cleaned out/reorganized my makeup drawer. YIKES. Time to remedy that!

Let’s start with the BEFORE.

Organized Makeup Drawer// shutterbean

You know what motivated me to get organized? This makeup bag on the counter. Normally, my makeup lives in this drawer but I traveled last month and threw all the essentials in a makeup bag and never put my makeup away. I probably didn’t put it away because I had no room for anything. Things got chaotic up in there and I was getting annoyed with the makeup bag on the counter. Let’s remedy that!

I took everything out and took inventory. My goal was to put back only the products I use on a regular basis. No turquoise eye shadow will take up precious real estate because I think I might use it for Halloween one day. Nope. Essentials only. Also anything that’s past its prime? GONE.

My Everyday Life: Week 20

This part of the process isn’t pretty… but it’s actually my favorite part. I love getting rid of stuff because IT’S LIBERATING!!!!!!!!

And the mess is my motivation to keep plowing through.

Organized Makeup Drawer// shutterbean

I took all the acrylic containers out (you can get them at The Container Store or Bed Bath & Beyond) and washed them.

It’s amazing how dirty they can get…I washed them with soapy water and scrubbed them really well.

I also saw that I had a few stickers still on some of the containers.

THAT’S TOTALLY A PET PEEVE OF MINE!! You best believe I got rid of them.

Some people can live with price tags on things. I am not one of those people.

Organized Makeup Drawer// shutterbean

I shuffled the containers around and made room for more! WHAT WHAT?! It’s like Tetris (which is the only video game I play btw- go figure).

I really love it when one little shift like this can change the landscape. More room! More compartments. Why didn’t I do this sooner?

Organized Makeup Drawer// shutterbean

I started putting everything back. This is the part where I went back and forth to figure out what section would be used for what.

When you have designated spots for all of your items, you know exactly where to look when you need something. It also becomes muscle memory and you don’t even have to think about where things go. You just know!

Organized Makeup Drawer// shutterbean

AHHHH. Organized. Now I guess it’s time for me to clean out all my brushes and such. I’m due!

Organized Makeup Drawer// shutterbean

AHHHH.

Organized Makeup Drawer// shutterbean

This project took me about 25 minutes. Not too shabby! I hope this inspires you to tackle some of the organizing projects you’ve been meaning to get to.  A little bit of time can make a big impact to your everyday life!

Want more organizing mojo?  You can check out this video where I helped Joy organize her bathroom and bookshelf!

  • ALESSANDRA @ THE FOODIE TEEN

    You have some serious organising skills! Stickers/labels also really annoy me.. especially when the gluey bit won’t scrub off!

    • Tracy

      Amen! That’s when I use GOO GONE. Game changer!

    • Molly

      Acetone or fingernail polish remover does a great job on sticky bits as well. I find Goo Gone too greasy and sometimes leaves a stubborn residue. Of course, scrubbing in soap and water probably solves that problem.

      • Jamie

        I have to throw my two-cents in here and recommend peanut butter for sticky bits (on washable things like glass, plastic, hair…) if you don’t want the chemicals. Smear it on, let it sit for a bit, then wipe and wash. It really works. = )

  • Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health

    those containers are truly life savers.

  • Maryea {happy healthy mama}

    This is how i organize my make up, too. So much better than having it in a bag!

    • Tracy

      Totally! You know exactly where to look for something instead of shuffling through a bag….and then worrying that the bag doesn’t close!

  • shelly

    any tips for storing makeup for someone who does not have any drawers in their bathroom? i have one tiny medicine cabinet and approximately zero wall space (all taken up by a mirror and said cabinet)

  • Meg

    This calmed me and inspired me – I love the feeling of being organised, even with little stuff like this! Especially with little stuff like this!

  • Mallory

    Your HS posts inspire me…I am a sucker for a good before and after. I am terrible at actually buying tools to help me organize…such as, containers to go into drawers, etc… I never have them at the ready when I am mentally ready to clean out a closet, a cupboard, a drawer…I am sure it will all come together at some point. But you, you keep doing what you are doing…love it!

    • Tracy

      Buy the containers first and then figure out what to do with them! If you can’t appropriate them into your life, return them! I find that just having that step taken care of makes me 100 times more likely to organize.

  • Claire @Lemon Jelly Cake

    I need to organize my makeup too, I think I might do that today. 🙂 I’ve missed your HS posts and I’m so glad you’re continuing with them again!

    • Tracy

      Thanks! I hope to keep them up. Sometimes it can be hard to fit it in my schedule, but it makes it worth it.

  • Talia

    I did this very same thing yesterday. My daughter sent out an SOS to have me help get her apartment in order. I LOVE organizing! Went home and tackled my makeup as well – brushes are cleaned and all…

  • Jessica W

    Thank you for these posts! I just went back on Homefries and re-read your post on cleaning out your car. Mostly because my car is a total disaster (2 kids: 5 and 3yrs old) and I’m feeling overwhelmed. So thank you for motivating me!

    • Tracy

      Oh girrrrrrl. My car is a pit right now. Every Friday I do a clean sweep and bring stuff in…and I have only ONE kid. It’s crazy what happens in ONE WEEK!!

  • Aubrey M

    I love this post! I moved a year ago and have less makeup real estate than before. I’ve spent a year with a drawer that’s an absolute wreck. I’m fixing that today!

    • Tracy

      hooray!! You’re going to feel so much better when it’s done! Good luck.

  • tara

    Oooh you have so much fun-looking makeup tools! Your draw looks so clean and fun.

  • Taylor

    Love this! I’m a big fan of organizing and I love cleaning out make-up and drawers! I definitely need to get some of my bathroom stuff organized as well.

    xoxo
    Taylor

  • Laura

    Do you remember where you got the little containers?

  • Laura

    Hi Tracy – do you like your clarisonic and why? I have been contemplating getting one, but can’t deal with yet another routine if its not a miracle maker (-ish). Do you care to elaborate? Xo Laura

    • Tracy

      I use it about once a week when I do more of mask/spa situation. Like you, I can’t add more to my routine (I’m so bad at flossing!) and it sometimes seems like using it does that.

      I did add these facecloths to my routine and I really love them- they help exfoliate and they are good at taking eye makeup off. They suds up nicely.

      http://www.olay.com/skin-care-products/facial-cleansers/facial-cleansing-cloths-normal?pid=075609041273

      The clarisonic can’t do that and so I would have to use eye makeup remover…etc.

      When I want to go to bed, I don’t want a lot getting in the way, you know?!

  • Connie

    Your makeup drawer looks so clean and tidy! I need to organize mine…but I have significantly more products…that is another problem to tackle another day 😉

  • Lynn @ The Actor’s Diet

    All my makeup is literally shoved in an old Goonies lunch box. Thank you for the inspiration.

  • Beth

    I don’t have much for makeup but my first aid drawer could use a make over and this is perfect! I love your HS posts, I’m such a clean freak that it’s comforting to know that other people have the same tipping points as I do! You’ve been rocking the content lately just a head’s up! 🙂

  • Kali

    I love the organizing posts, but I also love taking a peek into other people’s make up stashes. I’m always interested the products other people use. Thanks for indulging me in this guilty pleasure!

    • Tracy

      You’re welcome! I think everyone has a secret snooper in them 🙂

  • Colleen

    Looks amazing! You have an enviable amount of products 🙂

    • Tracy

      Ha. Makeup makes me happy. I was super obsessed with it in high school. Just ask my mom 🙂

  • Sarah | The Cyclist's Wife

    Tracy, are you a Virgo?? 😉 All the Virgo’s out there know what I’m sayin’!

    • Tracy

      I’m August 18th- So a Leo that’s close to Virgo but I’m a Virgo rising 🙂 SO BASICALLY YES. More Virgo than Leo and I know what you speak of!

  • Jenna

    Yay, I’ve missed your High Straightenence posts! I just cleaned out the closest in our spare room last week, I’m really overdue for a fridge & kitchen cupboard clean-up, I find your posts super-motivating & might just help me get on with is, so thank you for that!

  • Melissa

    Nice work! I so need to tackle our bathroom and organize. I’m starting with the kitchen first though.

    Those bins are also available at Home Goods I stocked up on a few of them this past week!

  • Jane M

    Or you can get HOOKED on the YOUTUBE girls (like ME!) and see just how much makeup they have and put away! It’s like something I’ve never seen in my life. THEN IT MAKES ME WANT TO GO OUT AND BUY BUY BUY! Kinda an addiction! HAHAHAHA – only a very EXPENSIVE habit indeedy! I try and behave -or at least I think so!

    • Tracy

      it’s a slippery slope with those makeup videos! I GET SUCKED IN FOR HOURS!!!!!!!

  • Victoria

    Oh my goodness. Marry me! I always thought of myself as a pretty organized person, but you are inspirational! We don’t have Bed, Bath and Beyond in the province of Quebec (I live in Montreal), so I’ll be heading over to Ikea for my acrylic organizers. They will be particularly useful in my tiny bathroom — I don’t even have drawers in there, just cabinets! I watched you organize your BFF Joy’s bathroom in one of her videos and I loved what you did with it. Keep up the great work! 🙂

  • Tana

    Nice…I am wondering if you could tell us about the actual measurements of your drawer…that way, i might be able to follow something like this and figure out which size of containers I needed…that would really be helpful…Great job!!! You inspired Me…..

  • 8 Things to Boost Your Monday Blues | tomato chambray

    […] Organizing tips from Tracy “Shutterbean”. This girl makes me want to kick my OCD into overdrive so my […]

Leave a Comment