You know what it's like - one day you blink and you've got 10 different (yet very similar) lipstick shades, a dozen eyeshadow palettes, and more mascara tubes than you can count. Sometimes you have to have a thorough rummage in your makeup bag just to find your best mascara.
So, you need some make-up storage ideas, sharpish. It's not that you don't use, or won't use, all of the items you've got laid out on your dressing table and in bathroom drawers. It's just that we like to have different products on hand for different occasions - a deep red lipstick for date night, and a subtle pink gloss for work. But of course, owning all of this make-up and skincare can mean an overflow of products and no place to put them all.
Luckily, retailers are selling handy make-up storage solutions to our surplus problem, and they're getting prettier by the day.
So where can you buy items to store your beauty bits in, to create more space, and streamline your morning beauty routine? And how do we keep our often-expensive products in the best condition so we can make the most of them for longer?
How to look after your make-up
"I actually love looking after my make-up - there is nothing more satisfying than having products that are clean, organised and ready to use," says celebritymake-up artist Lisa Armstrong, who has launched a fantasticmake-up collectionwith Avon. "It's important to look after your make-up products and brushes, otherwise you won’t get the same performance from them and they won’t last as long."
When it comes to make-up storage, there are a few key things to remember, "Keep your make-up out of direct sunlight, put the tops back on all your products and bin your mascaras after six months of use," says Lisa. And look after your brushes."Bacteria will grow on your brushes and applicators if you don’t regularly clean them. It’s so easy to do - you don’t need a fancy brush cleaner. I use washing up liquid to clean my kit."
Make-up storage to help you get organised
John Lewis & Partners iDesign Plastic Storage Chest, £17.99
This very chic, clear storage chest is perfect for make up and any hair accessories you have lying around, but want to get organised.It's very neutral so will fit it with just about any decor, and is small enough to fit on even the most cramped dressing table!
Plus, it's perfect for stacking, so treat yourself to one, two, three....
Wayfair Make-up Organiser Jewellery Box, £39.99
Now this is serious make-up storage! This £44 option from Wayfair has eight drawers and various dividers on top, so there's certainly no lack of space to put all your favourite bits in.Another see-through choice, with this organiser it'd be ease to locate whatever items you need whilst getting ready.
The two bottom drawers are slightly larger for bigger items, while the rest while easily slot in your lip glosses, lipsticks, mascaras, and the like.
John Lewis & Partners Organiser Drawers, £30
This pretty and unique storage box hastwo wide compartments on the top level, and three small compartments below.
And we love the multi-coloured effect, which adds a bit of fun to your make-up organisation!
Muji Acrylic Boxes, from £12.95
There's a reason that these clear acrylic boxes from Muji are a make-up storage classic - functional, and inexpensive, they also allow you to display your make-up with pride!The see-through boxes mean you can see exactly what's inside, and with the slightly more expensive option (£29.95), there are five drawers, so you can even organise it depending on product, if you wish.
The easy to care for material also means these Muji boxes are super easy to clean and maintain, and if you no longer need to make-up storage, use it to store other items, from jewellery to paperwork.
Next Vanity Box, £45
For those of us who love some rose gold in our homes, this Next mirrored make-up storage box is ideal.It's a little on the smaller side, but it's great for storing both jewellery, make-up and brushes, with a specific slot on the side for taller, thinner items such as your brushes, hand lotions, or perfumes.
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It's got one larger drawer on the bottom for bigger items, and two smaller ones for smaller items, such as concealers, blush or bronzer. And, like the above organiser, if you decide you no longer want it for make-up storage, it would work brilliantly as a pretty jewellery box.
Oliver Bonas Marble brush holder, £24
This on-trend brush holder from Oliver Bonas allows you to display your brushes in style. It has specific storage solution for your brushes to save them from being dirtied by your make-up in the bag, and enables you to pick the one you need more easily.
The marble bottom to this elegant holder also means this storage solution won't look out of place in the chicest room in your house - especially if you're a fan of marble decor in general.
Net-a-Porter cosmetics case, £20
This large minimalist case is made of vegan faux leather –ideal if you're trying to cut back on your use of animal products. It's perfect for seeing all of your go-to products easily through the clear casing and picking out what you want quickly.
MORE:Cruelty free make-up Vs vegan make-up, how they differ and which is better for you
One big perk of this Net-a-Porter case is that it's easily transportable - simply zip it up and bring it along with you! Travelling storage is a fabulous time-saver, after all.
Amazon Storage Basket, £9.82
For a super affordable option, there's this pretty white wicker basket is on sale at Amazon. With five handy slots there's plenty of room, and no drawers means you can slot in bigger items.
The product has already got plenty of five star reviews on the website, with one writing, "Very sturdy, clean design. Works very well to organise make-up brushes and smaller bottles of toner, lotion, make-up products."
So which one have you decided on?
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