Most people unknowingly purchase duplicate products, because their bathrooms are so messy that they can’t keep track of half the cosmetic items they own! Clearing out the clutter doesn’t simply make room for new purchases — it can potentially save you money in the long run. De-stress and de-clutter by transforming your bathroom into a place you will actually enjoy, rather than an overstocked mess of half-filled bottles and tubes.
Deep clean and revamp
Remove every single item from the backs of bins and drawers, and toss into a box for sorting. Before placing a single thing back, scrub down everything, including in-between the tiles, underneath faucets and the corners of your cabinets. If your bathroom is in need of serious renovation, a new coat of paint is an easy (and cheap!) solution. Next, replace that old medicine cabinet with a newer and more spacious model to hold your collection of beauty gadgets. If your bathroom lacks storage, install a simple glass shelf underneath the mirror to hold your daily essentials. To create the illusion of more space, add extra lamps and mirrors, which are both decorative and functional. For a personal touch, consider fresh flowers and photographs. If your bathroom is big enough, you can even purchase an inexpensive slipcover to revamp an old chair into a spa-like accessory.
Less is more
Next, it’s time to sort and toss. As a general rule, most products over a year old should be tossed immediately, with the exception of lipsticks, which can last two to three years. Mascara should be discarded after three to four months. Check any topical treatments, especially prescription-strength formulas, for expiration dates. If it smells funny or you notice a change in consistency, throw it away regardless of the actual expiration date. Toss anything you don’t absolutely love or need: half-used shampoos you don’t like, trial-size samples and makeup in the wrong color. Don’t feel guilty or think that you might use it someday.
Beauty basics
Reserve the counter for daily essentials: basics and brushes, sorted for easy use. Corner shelves fit nicely on bathroom counters and provide space for your everyday products. Use glass apothecary jars for bath salts, cotton balls and swabs — a great, chic tip from Real Simple. Although you could just as easily store these items in cheap tins, why not splurge and make the space stylish and pretty? This will encourage you to keep things clean and organized. Purchase a drawer organizer with compartments for small items like sponges and tweezers. Choose acrylic or plastic rather than wicker or fabric so you can easily wash off makeup smudges with soap and water. Store larger items in a turntable designed for spices, so all your items are equally accessible.
Jewels and gems
When it comes to jewelry, don’t feel confined to traditional jewelry boxes, which often end up cluttered and unorganized. A coffee mug tree, which looks like a tiny coat rack, is a convenient and affordable solution for miscellaneous necklaces and bracelets, suggests freelance writer Rachel Paxton. You can also attach small suction hooks to your bathroom mirror to hang your everyday jewelry, she adds. Rings fit nicely on the plastic icing tip attachment. You can find these in the baking section of any grocery store. For a finishing touch, use small decorative plates and bowls to hold rings, earrings and other small accessories.
Stash and store
Everything else goes under the sink! Purchase specially designed plastic shelving that can be adjusted to fit around pipes. Use storage bins to hold makeup, shaving supplies, hair care, first aid and skin care. Use deeper bins for heat-styling tools like hair dryers and curling irons and smaller bins with separate compartments for special occasion makeup and nail polish. For storage bins, options abound: Try decorative hatboxes, wicker baskets or metal CD bins. Plastic shoeboxes look neat and tidy and stack to save space, or try recipe boxes.
The essentials
After you’ve cleaned up your act, its time to consider how many of those fancy products you truly need. In reality, you only need a few. At the top of your list, you should have a cleansing and balancing facewash. Try SkinCeuticals Simply Clean or SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser. Next your arsenal should include a toner— try Bliss Daily Detoxifying Facial Toner — and a moisturizer that contains sunscreen. MD Formulations Protector 30 is an excellent option. For a few bonus essentials, choose an eye cream such as Kinerase Intensive Eye Cream and an antiaging serum like Cellex-C Sensitive Serum Starter Kit.
See also:
Affordable Skin Care Review: Creating a Skincare Routine for Under $100
Beauty on a Budget: Where to Spend Your Money
Making the Most of Your Moisturizer