So you may or may not know that while I’m a total geek when it comes to interiors, I’m a bit of a makeup junkie as well. I can talk about getting the perfect flick on your eyeliner or my favourite foundations until the cows come home. That new palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills or that gorgeous new highlighter from Tarte? I probably have it. Or I’m planning on getting it. I subscribe to more YouTube makeup gurus and makeup artists than probably anything else on the channel and will happily spend hours watching someone put makeup on their face. And yes, I recognise that as a 40-something interior blogger, this makes me something of a weirdo. I’m totally okay with that.
I mean, it shouldn’t be surprising, I suppose, that I have other interests outside of interior design. Last I checked, I was 100% human being, with an interest in a lot of different things, just like anyone else. I suppose that’s why you have so many ‘lifestyle’ bloggers out there – ones who choose to share lots of different aspects of their own passions – because it gives them more scope to chat about them on their respective blogs. And I totally get that. I often wonder if I’ve done myself a disservice by concentrating Swoon Worthy on interiors alone but well, it was a choice I made a long time ago and I’m still okay with that. Maybe in time I’ll expand it but for now, don’t worry – you won’t see a video on getting the perfect smokey eye from me anytime soon.
If I looked at my bank statement, most of my disposable income goes on the house but the second most popular ‘frivolous’ expense is on makeup. While I won’t be going into all my favourites or why I’m buying the latest xyz product, what I do want to talk about today is how I actually store all that stuff I buy. I realised as my passion for makeup grew, I was going to need some serious storage options if I was going to keep indulging myself.
While a cute tray or a little mug may be great for those who don’t have a more serious addiction, I’ve found that I’ve had to invest in some products that were tailored made for great storage. I have purchased most of my pieces on either Amazon or Muji but I’ve also got a couple easy budget options you may be surprised about.
This post contains a few affiliate links which are indicated by an asterisk (*). You won’t pay any more if you click on those links but I may earn a few pennies towards buying more makeup. Win-win!
I like clear storage first of all because I want to be able to see what I have. Everything that I use on a daily or weekly basis is stored on top of my vanity (you can see the DIY on that one here) so I don’t want anything too heavy or anything too precious. Acrylic storage is the easiest – both in terms of its low-cost and in terms of its practicality. My collection grows all of the time but this is what I’ve got going on at the moment.
My Favourite Makeup Organisers
So let’s start with brushes, pencils and little things like tweezers and nail care. I have a whole bunch of brushes and the more bleedin’ videos I watch, the more I realise I need want.
The large brushes are actually just a cleaned out candle holder that I received from Soak & Sleep. I just wiped away the wax and cleaned it thoroughly and as I didn’t want to throw out the nice clear glass container so it’s now the home for my biggest brushes.
I also purchased this clear acrylic desk organiser (yes, you can use these things for makeup) and it’s perfect for storing smaller brushes as well as things like lip pencils, eye liners, tweezers, nail clippers and my contact lens case. I also put my setting spray in there because I didn’t have a place for it otherwise and it fits perfectly so I don’t forget to use it after my ‘face’ is on.
Next is my stackable storage which holds the bulk of my foundations and powder products as well as mascara and miscellaneous items.
This is a combination of different products that worked well enough stacked up on top of each other even though they were purchased from different places. I adore the acrylic desk organiser which keeps all my most used products like my foundation, blending sponge and makeup wipes within quick and easy reach. With most of it loosely organised by type, it takes me a lot less time to find what I’m looking for in each little drawer.
Next, my lipsticks and compact powders (mostly bronzers and highlighters) are all held in these really cute little trays. The one for compacts are sized fairly small so I fit what I can in them and the slightly larger ones just go into the drawers as above.
I have more lipsticks than just these ones but these are my favourites so they all get pride of place on top of the vanity. In fact, all of these products you see are more or less my favourites – I’ll share where I store the rest in a minute!
Both of these little units I got on Amazon.
And then finally, it’s my palettes. I’m a total sucker for a nice palette and despite having a bunch of them, I still find myself reaching for a couple of favourites every single time. The thing that will probably make you laugh is that I actually don’t have proper storage for these at all.
Ya know the boxes that Ferrero Rocher come in? Those big clear flat plastic boxes? Yep, that’s what these are – there are two stacked on top of one another. The bottom holds a few I’m not using at the moment and the top one just acts as a tray to keep my regulars in place.
Everything else!
So that’s my whole set up! Oh, what about the stuff I am not using or have gotten sick of or are old and now I have to throw them out but haven’t gotten around to it yet? Those are stored in this storage unit I got from IKEA long ago which hides behind my door in my dressing room. It’s not pretty – as you can see it’s where all my hair products are organised on top – but it does the job!
So that’s how I organise my makeup collection. I know, of course, that it’s not as big as some of the ‘beauty bloggers’ you see but this is just my own personal collection of products that I’ve built up over the last couple of years. It’s not an everyday occurrence by a long shot but spending a little ‘me-time’ putting on my makeup feels like a lovely bit of ritual when I fancy doing it. I tend to listen to podcasts while I indulge myself and it’s just a bit of fun, really.
Now, it’s your turn. Tell me – am I the only 40 something out there that still enjoys makeup?? Are you a bit of a YouTube watcher yourself? Do you have any secrets for the perfect winged liner? Go on, let me know in the comments.
Hi Kimberly
I’m in a coffee shop on my phone supposed to be working on my laptop. However, I am now laughing to myself (looking crazy as alone) as not only am I an interior designer, my 2nd passion is make up, tutorials and the strangest thing I also use empty Ferraro clear boxes For storing makeup and even use the lids as they are a kind of diamond faceted effect and I stack them! Great post! Thanks for sharing all the ideas! X
Oh I love it!! So nice I’m not alone in my weird obsession! I actually think there is a lot of cross-over when it comes to interiors/makeup – you are assessing a space (or face), bringing out the best features, detracting from the stuff that’s not so great and creating something gorgeous from what you have, right?! SAME THING!! Hahaha! And I love that you use the Ferrero boxes too – they are way too nice to throw away ;) xx
Oh how I aspire to beautiful/simple/practical make-up storage!! As a fellow 40-something whose entire make-up collection is hidden in 2 scruffy toiletry bags (also as mum to 9yr old daughter who has systematically ruined every nice bit of make-up I’ve ever had!) this is my future organisational goal!! You never know, sometime in the next 15 years maybe I can steal HER make-up (after showing her this blog of course!)! Great blog as usual Kimberley x
Hahaha! My nieces (aged 9 and 12) are obsessed with makeup as well and they love to look through my stash when they are over – I could only imagine the destruction they’d cause if they were always here! Hahaha! I’m sure in a few years, you’ll be borrowing each others things ;) xxx
I love the muji storage I have but I’ve been wondering what to do with my compacts and you might have solved it. Going to measure up π. I love how it’s all organised! And we all have that drawer of now unused stuff we don’t know quite what to do with, don’t me. I’m so glad about that!
Hahaha! Yeah notice I didn’t show the inside of those drawers – stuffed to the rafters with odd and old stuff! I need a clearout for sure ;) The Muji boxes are amazing, I just love them! xx
Kimberley, I’m a 50 something who LOVES makeup; when I don’t want to put on a bit of mascara or lippie I reckon the end will be nigh, so at 40 something you have many happy years ahead of applying (and buying) even MORE slap!
I’ve just set myself up with a dressing table (IKEA Micke desk hacked with a little rose gold spray) and have lots of lovely bits of storage – including a pretty Miller Harris candle box that’s home to my makeup wipes, and an empty Zara candle jar I’ve sprayed the bottom half of rose gold, too. I haven’t had a dressing table since I was a little girl, it brings me so much joy :-)
Love the blog – you’ve helped me transform my home in the space of the few weeks since I found you!
Awww I think having a dressing table is just the nicest little luxury, isn’t it?! Yours sounds rather lovely and the idea of using a candle box for wipes is genius! I might have to steal that one ;) Thank you so much for your kind words about the blog – that means so much to me! Yay! Have a fabulous weekend! xxx
great ideas … but am I the only person who is shocked that you are “40 something”?! I thought you were my age group (20s)!
Oh my goodness, thank you!! You sweet thing you. Alas, I still have a pretty good recollection of the 80s so as much as I’d like to deny it, I don’t think my birth certificate is a misprint! Ha! xxx
Yep I’m also a fifty something that enjoys her make up, and sorry but I don’t care how old I get, I will always enjoy it. I used to think I bought a lot when I was younger, but now I have more of a disposable income, I tend to buy more. I have to say though it doesn’t help when I go shopping with our Kerri-Anne, and she adores make up, we can get stuck at the make up counter a loooong time lol.
Some great ideas there for storage Kimberly, I will use them and pass them on thank you xxx
Ahh yes, that’s it exactly! As I’ve gotten older, I have more disposable income so it’s like I’m making up for my 20 something years when I couldn’t afford the pricey stuff! Haha! Although that said, I have such a mix – there are some great products out there that are inexpensive as well – Maybelline’s Age Rewind concealer is one of my absolute must-haves ;) Hahaha! Shopping with Kerri-Anne sounds very dangerous!! Have a lovely weekend, hun! xx
I laughed when I saw your hair styling stuff on top of an IKEA 9 drawer cabinet as the top drawer of such a cabinet is where ALL my makeup is stored. One foundation, skin primer, 3 lipsticks, 1 blusher, 1 eye shadow, 1 mascara and 1 eyebrow shaper and my eyeliner. I wear make up everyday (now 70) but over the years have scaled down my collection and buy more expensive products, including a lovely moisturiser and cleanser. Less is certainly more at my age but I am never giving up makeup – or wearing beige!
Love your blog and your house Kimberley.
Hahaha! That Ikea unit is so handy, right?!! I love that at 70, you still wear it and enjoy it :) Thanks so much for your comment, it really made me smile today! xxx
You’re in your 40s?!?! You’re looking bloody amazing. I mean you looked lovely when I thought you were at least a decade younger but shit, no way you look 40-odd.
Hahaha!! Ahhh thank you Sharon you sweet thing you!! Mwah! xxx
Oh, I do love an organisation post!!!! Everything is so neat and orderly! I recently bought a little acrylic tray from Amazon to attempt a bit of makeup organisation too actually – but you’ve got some much better bits! The desk organisers are really good ideas, and the ferrero rocher boxes – I always find them so useful. I hate chucking them out, as they’re so handy!
Love this post!! xx
Oh yay! Definitely check out those desk organisers – they make the best storage and you can fit so much in them! And hell no, those Ferrero boxes are way too good to throw out ;) (Plus, ya know, you get to eat the chocolate) xx
Wow Kimberly, what an incredible collection! I half a fraction of the amount you do, but use MUJI acrylic storage to organise mine – I have a large drawer reserved for toiletries and the things I use out on a small shelf. Love seeing how you’ve arranged yours! xx
LOVE this! I’m just now trying to figure out makeup and branch out a little – and I need to try some of these storage solutions!