the Realistic Organizer: Clear out the Cosmetics

Ok, I've been neglectful. There's no other way to put it. I've been distracted by other things and while the organizing has continued, the blogging was put on the back burner. Not to worry, I'm back now, and with tons of new inspiration!! Or Pinspiration, as Brit calls it. And a big thanks to Pinterest, and some of the people I follow, for the inspiration of this post.

We had some family visitors a few weeks ago. While my aunt and I were getting ready for the day in the one and only bathroom in our apartment, the plethora of my makeup collection was brought to my attention. I was shocked when I took a step back and actually looked at what I use versus what I have. Something needed to be done.

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Every year around this time I go through all my summer and fall clothing. I review what I
wear and what I don't, and what I really don't need to wear again for style sake. I realized I should be doing this with ALL of my things, not just clothing. I had so many items that just became part of the scenery in my makeup application routine that I hadn't even noticed how long they'd been there.

As usual, I cleared everything out and started fresh. When it was all down on the table, my shock simply continued. Who in the world needs all this?! Well, the Kardashian's supply definitely puts mine to shame, however I don't see myself being on the cover of US Weekly anytime soon, therefore all of this is totally unnecessary.

I had so many "Just In Case" items you'd think I was planning to go to the Academy Awards every year. Even when I do have a fancy date with Brit or we have a special occasion to attend, my face doesn't make the drastic change I've apparently been supplying for. So out with it! Out with all of these experimental eye shadow colors and lip liners. I finished my make up experimentation in my teens, {and some of these items may very well be that old}!!

So when considering my daily routine, here's what I use almost daily {sometimes the eye shadow doesn't always make the cut}...

And here's what I knew I could throw out...

{hooooooly hat guys!}

So much of this stuff was past it's expiration date and really needed to be tossed ages ago! Others, such as a purple eye liner {for me, really?? What on earth was I thinking}, should have never been purchased in the first place.
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Now that I have a bit more control over the cosmetic situation, I needed to come up with a new way to store everything. But how? Hello Pinsperation! Here are a few things I pinned...

{link here}

{link here}

I really had no clue how to tackle this one. I liked the tray idea but, because we only have one small bathroom, leaving makeup and other personal supplies out really isn't an option. Gotta maintain some sense of privacy. I wanted to try to fit everything in our medicine cabinet and really loved the magnetic idea, (you'd think I'd learn my lesson from the stress of the spice rack) well I did. I told myself no. Then it hit me! My super huge and unnecessary MAC (magnetic) container. I'd never even used it before but I knew it was magnetic and that's exactly what I was looking for.

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First, I tested it by putting my cosmetics in it to make sure they would all fit. They did {yay!!!}.

Then, I had some small magnets we weren't using for anything, that were the perfect size and strength for my makeup. I used a hot glue gun to put them on.

At first it worked perfectly. But after several uses the magnet didn't stay adhered to the glue very well. I put a couple drops of gorilla glue on top of the hot glue and that seemed to do the trick. The good thing about this is that the hot glue easily peels off the makeup container, (not too easily though, I have to use my nails) allowing me to switch out the makeup when a new one is necessary, and the gorilla glue keeps the magnet in place. So when I need to change out my makeup all I need to do is add another small dot of hot glue.

Always, test! The picture may not display this very well, but that's upside-down!! And everything is staying in place perfectly! Then I had my big strong Brit break the lid off of the MAC container so that it could be easily stored {steak knives may or may not have been used}.
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Now, how to store it all...
I took a look in the cabinet and knew I could move some things around to create space.

{remember this?}

I wanted to put all my brushes and mascara in the clear containers I had, but they were all being used. By moving my clear elastics into the small jar {see below} I could move my bobby pins into the small box, and then have a free container!

{contacts/glasses, face wipes, make up, and hair supplies. The essentials for me}

It all seemed to fit perfectly, but now I needed to make sure the MAC container would stay in place. I used a Command Picture Hanging Strips to adhere the container to the medicine cabinet. This also makes it easy for me to remove and replace the container. I can remove it from the cabinet and press it right back into place.

Just a little side note, I LOVE these things! They're just as easy to remove as regular command hooks, but with these you just place one strip on the object and the other on where you are putting it. And voila! They work just like strong velcro!

Anyway. So here's my new little makeup space!!

It fits {and works} perfectly! The other perk is that the back of our cabinets is a mirror so I don't even need to take it out to apply my makeup. But, if necessary, it's very easy for me to grab the two containers and move into any other room to makeup my face. You may be able to see here that a couple more things snuck in to that clear container. I added eyeliner and a couple of eye shadow brushes that weren't photographed before. But they all still fit beautifully!
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The last little ditty I did was crucial to prevention. I labeled each makeup item with the date (or approximate date) that I purchased it. I hung up this printable {posted by Serena at Pretty Fluffy} in the cabinet as well so I will remember to throw out and replace my cosmetics as they expire! Thus, preventing the surplus I had previously.