A sneaky peek at my makeup organisation

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I’ve always been a bit of a makeup addict and an organiser, so there’s nothing that combines these two passions better than makeup organisation! I recently revamped my dressing table which gave me the push I needed to really look at better ways to store my makeup. Until just recently, I used a big makeup artist’s trunk which sat on the floor - not the most ideal solution - and meant that most of the makeup that I used on a day to day basis would just end up strewn across my dressing table.

 

Storage

Storage is key for good organisation. My main objective was to find little homes for all of my bits and pieces, but to still be able to access them easily. Like lots of beauty bloggers out there, I love acrylic drawers for this - they allow you to still see what’s in each drawer, but fit so many products in each one. MUJI is the standard place to buy these, but as I don’t have one near me I opted for this Osco version from John Lewis which cost £20.

 

3 Acrylic drawers, MAC lipsticks in top drawer, blush compacts in second, and MAC palette in third

Closeup shot of MAC lipsticks lined up in drawer

Second drawer - Rosie from Autograph blush and Bronzer, Stila Convertible Color

 

I love how I can line up all my MAC lipsticks so that I can see the label and know which one I’m picking out! Gone are the days when I would be looking for a particular shade and have pulled out every single one before I found the one I was looking for. I keep the top drawer for lip products, the middle for cheeks, and the bottom stores my MAC eyeshadow palette.

 

MAC Pro Palette

If you’ve not come across the MAC palettes before, they really are the best way to store your MAC eyeshadows. I’ve always liked to choose my own shades rather than buy a pre-selected palette, but once you have more than a handful storing and organising them becomes a problem. The Pro-Palettes come in different sizes and I have two that hold 15 eyeshadows in each. There are little magnets to hold your eyeshadow pans in place. If you’ve already invested in lots of MAC eyeshadows, there’s just a bit of faff in transferring the pans out of the individual packaging, but there are great tutorials on Youtube for how to do this - basically you just melt the glue with a hairdryer, and then prise the pan out of the pot. It’s actually much easier than it sounds! And you can buy refills to pop directly in without the packaging - the best bit is that they’re £3 cheaper this way!

 

More Storage

Obviously there are oversized items that don’t fit in my acrylic drawers that I wanted to find a home for. My foundation, night cream, and other bits and bobs needed somewhere to live. So I also bought this acrylic makeup stand to house all of those miscellaneous items.

 

Acrylic makeup stand, holding Estee Lauder foundation, Essie nail varnishes, Jo Malone Perfumes, Benefit Rollerlash mascara

Closeup of acrylic makeup stand - Estee Lauder DoubleWear Foundation, Essie nail varnishes

 

But I found that I still needed more space to house my nail varnish collection. I had been hoping that they would fit in the little slots in the makeup stand, but they’re just that bit too big to fit. So I bought this mini 3-tier nail varnish stand - cheap and cheerful at £6.49 from Amazon.

 

3-tier acrylic nail varnish stand holding Essie nail varnishes

 

Although it’s described as mini, I’m not a huge nail varnish lover, so this is perfect for me. I love how they all look lined up next to each other - it makes that organisation nerd in me do a little cheer!

 

On the go!

I also carry around a few items in my handbag for daily touch ups, which I pop in this super cute little cactus makeup bag from Oliver Bonas.

Charlotte Tilbury Lipsticks and Oliver Bonas Cactus pink makeup bag

Oliver Bonas Pink stripe and cactus makeup bag

 

How do you organise your makeup? Are there any tricks I’m missing?

 

 

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25 Comments
  • Becky | Spirited Puddle Jumper
    September 28, 2016

    WOW Katy, I am very envious of your make up collection! Love how you’ve stored everything- I’m an organisation addict too, so love how everything has its place! Hoping to finally have a dressing table in the new house when we move in a month x

    • Katy | Hot Pink Wellingtons
      September 28, 2016

      I love a bit of dressing table organisation! Although the sight of so many MAC lippies all lined up does make me wonder whether I have a few too many - but then I saw a picture the other day of someone who had literally a whole drawer full of them, just all muddled up! Can’t wait to see your new setup 🙂

  • Laura @dearbearandbeany
    September 28, 2016

    I am on the look out at the moment for a dressing table for our room, as I now have room to fit one in and I am so excited. Reading this makes me even more excited as I can’t wait to get my makeup more organised. Love this, thanks Katy x

    • Katy | Hot Pink Wellingtons
      September 28, 2016

      Oh, I love my dressing table - I’d miss it so much if we didn’t have space! It makes me secretly (or not so secretly now I’ve published this post) so happy to see all my makeup nicely arranged!

  • Katy
    September 30, 2016

    Oh my goodness can you come and organise my dressing table?! I love this SO much! x

  • Molly Louise
    October 5, 2016

    I don’t think you are missing any tricks at all - such perfect organisation! I’ve now got lipstick envy, and feel a trip to Mac coming on 🙂 #HomeEtc

  • Innocent Charms Chats
    October 6, 2016

    I love this, I wanted to do acrylic drawers my problem was I like makeup way to much and have tons of it xx

    • Katy | Hot Pink Wellingtons
      October 12, 2016

      Haha, I know that problem! I’ve tried to be more disciplined about throwing away used up makeup, or past it’s sell by date, so I had a big clear out recently. It feels good!

  • Caro Davies
    October 6, 2016

    Gosh — you are SO organised!!!!!! Nope — all my makeup is ratting around in a couple of make-up bags!!! My nail paints — and I love Essie too — are in little storage baskets in the bathroom cupboard. But sadly, until I have room for a dressing table, I think this kind of organisation is beyond me!!! 😉 Caro xx #HomeEtc

    • Katy | Hot Pink Wellingtons
      October 12, 2016

      I love storage baskets - so useful! I definitely need to organise our bathroom a bit better - that has not had the same treatment, everything is just shoved in cupboards!

  • KarenAnita
    October 7, 2016

    BRB off to buy that cactus bag. SO CUTE!

    #HomeEtc

  • sexybiatch
    October 8, 2016

    Can i please have your organizing skills lol

  • Fran Jones
    October 9, 2016

    Looks good to me! I have a main makeup bag that has mu daily essentials in, and my brush roll and then a few plastic tubs with lip glosses and other bits that I don’t use all the time in. I also have a similar Perspex stand like you, but found hardly anything fitted in it, so it sits in our bathroom cabinet with tweezers, eyelash serum, nail scissors and a few other bits in! #kcacols

  • Fi - Beauty Baby and Me
    October 9, 2016

    Looks gorge! I have so much make up everywhere that you’re inspiring me to go and get it all organised! xx #KCACOLS

  • Kayleigh Woodland
    October 9, 2016

    Oh I just love all of these! I need some better makeup storage. I love your little cosmetic bag too, it’s so cute! You’ve created a really lovely little space! Thanks so much for sharing at #kcacols we hope to see you back next time!

    • Katy | Hot Pink Wellingtons
      October 12, 2016

      Thanks, I love the bag, it’s adorable, isn’t it? I love that feeling when everything has a place and it looks all neat and tidy

  • Topfivemum
    October 9, 2016

    OMG your bathroom looks better than a Boots counter! I’m so envious! My makeup is normally all stuffed into one little bag and everything is normally covered in gunk from the eyeliner or crumbly bronzer getting all over everything. Thanks for both shaming an inspiring me all in one post LOL xx #KCACOLS

    • Katy | Hot Pink Wellingtons
      October 12, 2016

      Haha, if it makes you feel better, my old makeup trunk got pretty grubby with crumbly bronzer, dust, and other rubbish just collecting! It was time for an update!

  • Mainy - @myrealfairy
    October 9, 2016

    I could really do with you organising my hair and make up bits omg I’m shamed:)!! xx
    mainy
    #KCACOLS

  • Fionnuala Zinnecker
    October 11, 2016

    Wow, that is organised! My make up was a complete mess until we did up the bathroom recently. Now the everyday basics are out in easy reach and everything else is in a big make up bag in a drawer. The acrylic drawers are very handy. Like you I have a separate, cute mini make up bag for my handbag. #HomeEtc

  • Diapers at Dawn
    October 12, 2016

    Ohh it all looks so pretty and neat! I would love for my make-up to look like this but I’m yet to buy a table to set it all up on for my room. Hopefully I’ll have a pretty makeup station like yours soon! x #KCACOLS

  • My Petit Canard
    October 12, 2016

    I have exactly the same Muji acrylic drawers for storing all my make up! I’ve been looking for something for my nail varnishes though so am off to buy the one you’ve recommended from Amazon - bargain! I also have that same Oliver Bonas’s make up bag, but in the marble print, how funny! 😉 Emily #HomeEtc

  • Stephanie Robinson
    October 13, 2016

    Wow that is organised. I have a similar set of drawers for necklaces and jewellery but my makeup goes into a drawer and out of the way. #homeetc

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