Spring Cleaning Your Makeup Stash

I know you don't have to wait for a certain time of the year to have a clear-out but there's something about the lighter evenings that makes me feel more productive when I get home from work. Also, I know I'll be moving house in September so streamlining my stash is going to be at the back of my mind over the next few months. Today I'm going to share my top tips for clearing out your stash and narrowing it down.

How much space do you have?

I've pretty much decided that when I move out I want my entire collection to fit in 3 x 5-drawer Muji boxes and 3 x wide 2-drawer Muji box (you can check out their acrylic storage offerings here). My idea is to trial just having the products I'm taking with me and see if there's anything I miss much - then when I come home at Christmas I'll have had a good chance to assess what I need and what can go (to whittle it down more than I already have). I think you need to start by visualising how much stuff you think is reasonable. One of the things I've also found helpful for saving space and using products more is de-potting them. If you have 10 single eyeshadows you really like but they take up an entire drawer and you often forget to reach for them then you should definitely consider de-potting. All you need is some heat (like hair straighteners), a pair of scissors or tweezers and a magnetic palette to condense them down into much less space.

What do you really love?

If you've got a pretty big collection it can be a little overwhelming to try and tackle it all. I suggest instead first narrowing it down to the products you really love and definitely want to keep, as that's a much easier job (we'll deal with the rest later!) I'm not saying anything as extreme as one item per category (it totally depends on the size of your stash though) but just your favourite products you find yourself reaching for all the time. A good rule of thumb if you're struggling is to also make sure it's a product you've used in the last month.

What do you 'need for the blog'?

There are always going to be a few products you feel you have to keep hold of to reference in your blog posts. Whether it's a dried-out mascara you still want to be able to mention but aren't going to repurchase just yet or a super-hyped foundation you need to talk about how much you hate or the amazing dupe you want to be able to suggest; we probably all have these kinds of products. Set them to one side and we'll come back to this later.

The old and/or expired pile

The next thing to do is the easy part: throw out anything that's expired or looks/smells like it needs to go. I have to say I don't necessarily follow expiry dates to the letter as I'm generally very hygienic with washing brushes, not double-dipping into eyeshadows and so on, which means that whilst I bear them in mind I tend to go more off texture, look and smell. Any separated-out nail polishes, caked-up concealers and old mascaras are the first to go into the 'rubbish' pile. As a general rule of thumb; powders last considerably longer than cream and liquid products. However this a good rough guide:

Skincare - 6-12 months

Primers and Foundations - 12-24 months

Concealers - 6-18 months

Powder Products - 24 months

Mascara - 6 months

Eyeshadow - 12-24 months

Pencil Eyeliner - 24-36 months

Lipsticks and Lipliners - 18-36 months

The seasonal and special occasion pile

These are the products that maybe you've not used in the last month but you do still really like, they're just maybe something you wouldn't wear right now. Maybe it's the full-coverage foundation you only wear for nights out or the really deep, vampy winter lip colour or that neon eyeshadow palette you picked up for Halloween. If you can't see yourself wearing it even when the time comes then get rid of it - if you still love it then it can go in the 'keep' pile. If you're not quite sure then add it to your 'last chance' pile.

The stuff that's just not you

That green eyeshadow you really thought you'd make work for you. The foundation that's completely the wrong colour. That lipstick that totally washes you out. The mascara that makes your lashes look short and clumpy. You get the picture! These are the products that didn't quite work for you and for whatever reason are still knocking about. Maybe they're products you loved at the time but your tastes have changed. These products should all go in the 'pass on' pile.

The 'last chance saloon' pile

These are the products that you bought and kind of forgot about, never gave a real chance or maybe they're even still sat unopened! They're the products that have potential and now it's time to put them to the test (which we'll come to later). I've rediscovered so many products that have gained a new lease of life through this method.

Get organised

Ok - now it's time to get organised! I like to keep my everyday makeup in a set of 2 large Muji drawers - you can totally use a makeup bag and still do this, I just find it easier to see what I have when I use acrylic storage. I switch this up every week and make sure I have a balance in there of everyday staples, new products I'm testing and products I want to get more use out of. This is where your 'last chance saloon' products come in - test each product and give it a proper chance for a week and at the end of the week, when it's time to rotate everything round, decide whether to keep it or add it to the 'pass on' pile. This is also a great way of making sure you're using your full collection.

Personally I like to keep a separate section in my storage for any products I've kindly been gifted but haven't yet photographed. I also have a separate drawer for any free samples, sachets and testers I save for when I travel. Now it's time to return to those 'need it for the blog' products - I'd also advise keeping those out of your main makeup collection to reduce clutter and you can just go back to them as and when you need them. Then you'll also remember to throw them out when you re-purchase any of them.

Get swatching

It's time to go back to your maybe piles with those 'last chance' and 'occasion' products and get swatching. See if any of the products are similar to each other or to products that are in your definite 'keep' pile. If they are then ask yourself if you really need both! Anything you have duplicates of - pick your favourite and leave the other in the 'things to pass on' pile.

Get rid

Now it's time to start getting rid of stuff!

If you're in need of cash and want your products to go to a better home then have a blog sale! Obviously don't include stuff that no one in their right mind would want to buy and consider if it's really worth trekking to the Post Office to send a lipstick you sold for 99p.

If you have unused and unopened products then you can donate them to women's charities. The most high-profile one that I know of in the UK is Give and Makeup however there may also be local organisations in your area.

If all else fails then you can always pass things on to friends and family who will probably appreciate it!

The old and expired products of course need to just go in the bin - along with anything else that's not really worth selling or not in a nice enough condition to give away.

Use it up

I haven't really covered off skincare and body care products in this post but this can apply equally to them as it can to makeup. Even if you like all of them; you probably don't need 3 liquid concealers on the go at the same time that you use in the same way and have a similar finish! Put one of them (with the least left in it) into your everyday makeup rotation until it's used up and then replace it with the next to be finished and continue. This will cut down on space taken up with half-used products.

There you have it: my process and advice for cleaning out and streamlining your makeup collection!

Will you be having a Beauty Spring Clean? What are your top tips?

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