Sunday’s Coffee Talk: How Do You Keep Your Beauty Stash Organized?

Mailbox Junkie is away on vacation so I thought I would give the Sunday talk post a whirl, though no one does it better than her!!!

ill-give-you-rxc3dm

I am chronically always behind on everything. Usually blog stuff, and of course home organizing. Let’s just say that I am messy and always have been. After I am done with work, I just don’t want to do anything but kick it with my cat and read about weird things on the internet or watch cartoons.This subscription hobby brings out the worst of my lazy cleaning in a way that slowly suffocates me. I joke about it a lot but I really do have a huge problem on my paws! Where do I put all the stuff I am sent and how to I have the things I want ready to use when I want to?

 

I have been giving mass amounts of goods away to family, friends, and even my poor boss. They don’t understand subscription boxes and the addiction so I just try to slowly drain my excess on to them. heh. So as I destash and let go of items I have also found that there are some items I wanted to try but just forgot about.

 

How do I keep these items in the forefront so that I can reach and grab em?

 

Here is what I came up so far:

 

unnamed (29)

unnamed (28)

 

This storage cabinet was picked off of Amazon for about $15 shipped. They have a huge amount of different options. I picked this one because it was cheap and got pretty good reviews. I was surprised that it was so big but glad because I have a lot of little samples.

I have just started to load the drawers up…

unnamed (31)

unnamed (32)

unnamed (33)

 

I started to notice how many doubles I have of items so that will help me suss out which I should gift and which I should try first.

 

unnamed (30)

Here it is as I start to fill it. The drawers stay close but don’t have that locked in feeling when shut. So not the best quality. However, it works well for this job because the drawers open up easily allowing me to peep inside for my next treat or gift!

 

Just one thing I am trying out… Still, I could use any ideas on how I can keep on top of this stuff and make my office neater and more “curated.” It is usually a vortex of boxes and products…

 

Help me!!! Or just discuss all the ways you keep the pile of beauty products you have laying around nice and neat!

 

  20 comments for “Sunday’s Coffee Talk: How Do You Keep Your Beauty Stash Organized?

  1. Dayle
    September 4, 2016 at 5:09 am

    What a great idea. I love the fact that the drawers are see through. What if you took it to the next level and put labels on things? Facial serums, body, masks, hands, eyes…?

    I have been trying to be good and share my sample sized items every few months in the form of care packages to my nieces. My daughter turns 13 next month so she gets some of the stuff. The full sized items that I don’t want, I am thinking about using as Christmas gifts.

    In my dream world I would have a cabinet with special lighting that would not hurt my delicate oils so I could more easily see what I have and then use accordingly. In reality I have baskets in my closet. One for samples to donate, one for samples that I want to try, one for full sizes for gifting and one for full sizes that I will use but are just back-logged for now. The one area I haven’t yet conquered is open samples that I liked enough to keep, but not enough to use every day.

    • September 4, 2016 at 5:47 pm

      Dayle you are so right about the labels. I think I will sort stuff and then put labels (I am thinking maybe clear ones?)

      I would totally have a walk in for all my cosmetics and lighting for doing make up and such!

      I keep “cubbies” in my office for each writer, readers/friends, my boss, and general donation. My process is to write my blog review and do pics. Then once I am finished I can break down the box and I start to put items in each place. But I still end up with so much stuff lol

  2. Heat7918
    September 4, 2016 at 6:19 am

    That storage cabinet is awesome! I’m proud of you for getting organized! πŸ™‚ And I like Dayle’s suggestion to add labels. Just curious – what percent of your stuff fit in there?

    My stuff is a mess… it’s all over my bathroom: under the sink in GlobeIn baskets, in Glossyboxes and Birchboxes in an old wire organizer stand and in my bathtub… the stuff I want to use daily sits in decorative basket/bowls on my counter or just directly on the counter since I’m lucky to have room there (double-sink and hubbie doesn’t take up much space.)

    I do give away some of it (I don’t get nearly as much as you do!) but I’m a bit of selfish hoarder (hey, I paid for it!!) and I want to try as much as possible. There are definitely things I tried and didn’t like that I need to get rid of one way or the other – prefer to give them away if I can so it doesn’t feel like such a waste.

    • September 4, 2016 at 5:44 pm

      Heh…well I am TRYING to get organized. It just gets kinda boring sorting though things.

      I totes need labels and once I figure out what I have I will start grouping them better. Otherwise I still won’t know what I have.

      Oh, and I am unsure of the percent of stuff at the moment that can fit because I kinda got bored and decided to drink wine and watch Archer so…I did not finish. I will share my whole set up once done. But, at the sake of my bear maybe reading this and knowing my shame… I would say that my full size and larger size items are really the big room takers and that for the smaller samples (non foil) this might take care of 1/3. Maybe… probably…. I hope.

      I have a coworker who doesn’t mind using stuff I have swatched and don’t like. So I never apply anything directly to lips or eyes. That way it stays pretty clean and I let someone try it (I tell them I swatched it)

      I am still working on a system so I am not left with anxiety. I have always been a beauty hoarder. Especially little bottles and such. As a child I had a suitcase that I would keep my little things in. My family thought it was cute. But, as a grown up it is shameful.

      • September 4, 2016 at 7:53 pm

        OMG not shameful! My sqeakers do this all.the.time!!! Just like their momma and she is proud of them and you. XOXO

        • September 4, 2016 at 8:17 pm

          Aww Pnut your words are like a hug to me!!! I would go to camp with a travel suitcase filled with samples and such to give to the girls I made friends with. I grew up in the Bay Area and I had the interesting soaps and pearl powders and such lol I have already loved looking at the little pieces of pretty.

  3. September 4, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    I also was thinking label those bins. I tried to use one of those for my craft supplies, but because they don’t latch in and Bella would probably knock it over daily, I had to look further. I did end up getting tool sorting bins though, they just have front latches. They’re better made than similar looking craft bins [that are usually pink or purple].

    • September 4, 2016 at 5:38 pm

      Yeah for sure labels are a must. I just don’t even know how to go about it… like… so much stuff man!!!

      My kitty doesn’t go into my office so she wont knock anything down. But this thing would totalllllly be a hazard!!!

      I would love to see your set up, I think you do a great job making your place look neat and cool!

  4. September 4, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    Amazon! You got great stuff there. *stash envy*

    • September 4, 2016 at 8:22 pm

      Well we both know my stash is pretty much your stash lol I tried to do more sorting today… It is shameful. I didn’t want to share anything about it because it really is a shame.

      I have the money to spend on this hobby. So no kids (or family) go without, nor kitties. But it is out of hand at this point. I promised myself I could only keep an area with my stash and like a damn addict I have overflowed.

      I may do a deeper post to show what I mean. Even if it shows my shame. I find this helpful and I have already set aside a few boxes and prizes to send out!

      • September 4, 2016 at 9:14 pm

        Woman no shame. You are going to make me bust out my camera and take photos too! Be proud. I am πŸ˜€ And I love that you share your stash with me you know I appreciate it XOXO.

        With that said, what I am not proud of is when I don’t use my goodies on a daily basis. I am pretty good with the skincare but I need to get back to wearing makeup or at least putting on a lippy product every 10 seconds. And I started back to lighting all my candles I amassed during my candle kick thank goodness because I want to buy more lol.

  5. Mailbox Junkie
    September 4, 2016 at 8:11 pm

    Right now I am using my Oui Please boxes for my stash. At least that sub was good for something….. I am typing this in the dark! Off to watch wreck it ralph!!

    • September 4, 2016 at 8:15 pm

      I have them out and might do another post (also Susie sent me how she does stuff and its awesome and worth a post!) with just the mess of my life. I have the boxes I haven’t given from Oui but it they are filled with the useless fancy stuff I have been sent. I swear if I had less of a deep voice and messed up hand a video of it all would be hilarious!!!

      Also… I type in the dark all the time…. all creepy like. Hope you are getting some rest and fun from your visit to the mainland!

      • September 4, 2016 at 9:17 pm

        I type in the dark. Whilst nursing briefly for a quick message. I used to blog doing both but Squeakette was like “Whatcha doin?” πŸ˜›

        BTW I am typing this in the dark lol.

  6. Artemis
    September 5, 2016 at 1:22 am

    For skin care, I have a three-drawer plastic “dresser” and I have makeshift open compartments within it (old sub boxes are great for this!). I like your bin better for neatness sake. I highly recommend doing a massive sorting. I took everything I had everywhere and sorted by type (serums, face scrubs, body creams, etc.). I always have 1-2 items from each category either in the bathroom or an open small cardboard box in the bedroom (sub box!) and when I use something up, I grab another from the dresser. This is a great method to see multiples. If I like a product, I’ll use the same thing when I run out to see if there is a long-term difference. If I don’t like it, and I can’t repurpose it (say, using shampoo as a body wash), I toss it and the multiples (or, give the multiples to a friend that may like it).

    For make-up, I use the stackable acrylic makeup organizers from The Container Store. Again, I organize by type, but here, I throw everything in and use as I want rather than waiting to run out of something. The only exception is for mascara and nail polish, which I keep in compartments in my plastic dresser. I only have 2 mascaras out at a time.

    I also have anxiety about the tremendous about of stuff I have (not just cosmetics, but everything). I “read” The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up a few months ago on audiobook (recommend it highly) and it was indeed life changing. I have been doing a massive purge for a few months now and it has made such a difference. Marie Kondo says that sorting isn’t enough as things will become a mess again eventually. You need to discard as much as possible. And I would add, control the volume coming in. For me, that meant a total beauty ban (including beauty sub boxes) unless I need to replace an item and I have nothing in my dresser from that category. That probably won’t work for you as a blogger, but maybe there is a compromise there.

    Good luck!

    • September 24, 2016 at 10:52 am

      I am going to look into this!!!! Thank you again!!!!!!

  7. Laura
    September 5, 2016 at 9:51 am

    My area of excess is jewelry and I’ve been doing my best but I had too many pieces for my current storage so I ordered a jewelry armoire and it just arrived this morning! I will be even more organized after I put my things into it tonight! πŸ™‚
    For me to organize anything #1 put all same category items together including stash/new items and currently used-everything in the house or if you have a stash at work too, it should be everything you own all together! Lots in one large category? Then do subcategories until working with a small amount of items at a time. ex-“makeup”-“face”-can be split into concealer, foundation, blush etc. Everything should be in piles on the floor or on a table and all the shelves,drawers, boxes, bins you were using will be empty. When organizing the space will always look messy/worse at the beginning until you are done. Your “getting ready for the day” area should be empty, clean if needed. If you were storing things in cabinets, wipe them out. For now keep your empty boxes and bins close by. Grab a trash can and a donate/gifting box.
    #2 Pick out anything you KNOW you don’t use/don’t like or obviously broken/empty/expired and throw or donate. Have you ever looked at something and went “ugh I don’t like this” and continue to keep it? I know I have, but it is ok to release the guilt over money spent/who gave it to you. Expiration dates-anything over 4 yrs old to me is an obvious throw away. There are guides on the internet for how long makeup is good for. Most items it will tell you 1-2 years however I’ve used a few items past that. The main thing is if it looks/smells/ bad or causes a reaction. Favorite items that are empty or broken, Jot down a note of what it was to repurchase later.
    #3 Look at the amount of items remaining and decide where to store them. This is the time to re-think where stuff goes if you want. Its best if one whole category fits together on one shelf or in one box. Categories that you go thru a lot of should be easiest to get to, for shelves that means a lower shelf, or for boxes and bins it should be on top of the stack, things not used often can be further from reach. Take a look at what you already have for storage and decide if you need to purchase storage items. When putting everything away, stack items by date received (or expiration dates if listed) -oldest items in front on a shelf or on top of the pile for a basket or bin. Any boxes or bins that aren’t being used now that you are organized should be thrown out, donated, or put up somewhere else if you want to keep. Take out the trash, and put the donate box in an area you will see it later so you don’t forget to get rid of the items.
    #4 Next time you get ready it will take a little longer since you will be starting fresh. Go thru and pick your items you need for right now only. When you need an item grab the one in front/on top and use it first. Sometimes the oldest things are kept because we didn’t really like them but kept it anyway and forgot about it. When you go to get a product if you are reaching around or under the item to get something else but don’t want the item in front it should probably go…The items you are using right away go in your “getting ready” space. Each day its the same process, if you need something go get it and once you use it put it in your “getting ready” space. It should be a lot easier to get ready with a now simplified space.
    #5 When new items are received put them at the back of the correct row, or at the bottom of the stack.
    A trick I use when I receive an item with no expiration date on the package I will put a small sticker with the date received on it. Try to keep up with it once a week. It won’t stay organized unless you continue to work on it.
    I hope that helps someone, its how I’ve been handling my items and I think it works very well. πŸ™‚

    • September 24, 2016 at 10:50 am

      Laura sorry for the late reply. But this was an awesome post!!! You gave me some great ideas!!!

  8. Farmcat
    September 7, 2016 at 7:38 pm

    It is awesome to read everyone’s organizing ideas. I need to get my stuff organized. I just need to find the time to do it. And hopefully soon. Right now I’m not buying any new boxes until it is done. I still have a couple of boxes that the gift subscription hasn’t run out yet but other than that my mail should be relatively sub box free. Which is a sad but a good thing. I have been feeling suffocated by it and has been giving me added stress and anxiety I don’t need. It is probably not as much as I think there is since I need to reorganize the whole room anyways and the sun box stuff is only a small part of the room.

    • September 24, 2016 at 10:46 am

      I am going to do more posts on organizing…namely if you want to send in any pics or anything I would love it!!! πŸ˜‰

Leave a Reply to Subscriptionista Cancel reply