Assess what you’ve got.
Following the spring equinox, days begin lasting longer and nights get shorter. Daylight saving time, which moves the clock forward starting in March, gives you even more light hours to get things done like refreshing and spring cleaning your beauty bag.
Got the urge to purge? Read on to determine which beauty products to keep, how to organize them, and how to safely toss the items you don't need. (Recycling isn't just for the kitchen.)
Assess what you’ve got.
Remove all your products from your bathroom, vanity, makeup bag, etc. and lay them out on a large white sheet or towel. This clean background lets you clearly see and assess what you have, and it's particularly helpful for seeing the colors and textures of your makeup. Categorize everything. Now get down to business: If you haven't even picked up a product in two years, it's got to go.
Next, assess the quality of what's left. Any change in texture, color, or smell is a telltale sign that a product is past its prime. If the color is separated on your nail polish, even after you shake it, it's time to get rid of it. Skin-care items often come with expiration dates, so anything that has expired should go.
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Organize what's left.
Now that you've streamlined your stash, organize it. Separate skincare, haircare, and makeup items, storing each category in its own place. Using clear, stackable drawers, which let you easily see and access what you need.
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Train cases with pull-out trays are a great space-saving storage solution. Try the Caboodles Train Case. 👇
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Skin-care products containing active ingredients—vitamin C and retinol, in particular—are best stored in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight, which can render those ingredients inactive.
Get rid of everything else.
Resist the urge to dump all your castoffs into a garbage bag and call it a day. Donating unwanted items somewhere like Thrifty Threads is a great option—though for hygienic reasons it's essential that they be unused. What about the rest? Much of what's left over can likely be recycled.
Other ways to make your beauty routine more sustainable:
To minimize the beauty trash you produce, simple changes go a long way. Perhaps the biggest offenders are face wipes. They're great for travel, but for daily use, consider swapping wipes for a washable alternative, like the Magic Mitt or Clarisonic. When makeup shopping, opt for refillable compacts for eye shadow, powder, and blush. Jane Iredale houses its makeup in pretty, refillable metal compacts.
