4 Tips for Cleaning Out Your Beauty Cabinet

When the seasons change, your house isn’t the only thing that needs a thorough once over. It’s a good idea to clean out your beauty cabinet, as well.

Clearing out the old, organizing the favorites, and replenishing your cosmetic supplies are great ways to ensure that you’re ready for the months ahead. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Set the Stage

Before you start reading labels and making choices, take some time to set the stage. We recommend a few different steps that can help make your cosmetic cleaning go smoothly:

• Schedule plenty of time. That way you can do the job all at once without rushing any decisions. Usually, an hour or two is a good amount depending on how many products you have.
• Gather all of your beauty products in one place beforehand. Check the bathroom, your purse, the car, the other bathroom. You get the idea. Make sure everything is gathered before you start.
• Have your cosmetic cleaner ready to go. If you want a DIY or natural cleaner, you can use something like white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even extra virgin olive oil and dish soap.
• Bring your reading tools. If you don’t have perfect eyesight, make sure you have your glasses or even a magnifying glass nearby. These bottles can have small text!

2. Review Each Item

Once you’re ready, take the time to review each item in your cosmetic repertoire. As you do so, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is the item an essential one that you use regularly? If so, there’s a good chance you should keep it.
• Is the item expired? The potency of ingredients can diminish over time. Even SPF can lose its ability to protect your skin. Pay attention to expiration dates.
• Have you used the item recently? If you haven’t used it within a month, it may not be worth keeping.
• Does it have chemicals or other harmful additives? Make sure each item lines up with your cosmetic philosophy and ethical code.
• How many tools do you have? Along with cosmetic products, consider how many other tools you have. You don’t need two dozen brushes or that old, crusty sponge.

Use these questions to help you sort through your cosmetics.

3. Clean Everything Up

As you go through all of your cosmetics, create three piles:

• Items to keep,
• Items to donate,
• Items to throw away.

Once you’re finished, start by throwing away the last pile. Package up your donation items, as well.

When it comes to the things you’re keeping, take some time to clean anything that is messy. This can include washing off the dirty exterior of a bottle, cleaning a cabinet, or wiping out a makeup bag.

Cosmetic tools like brushes and sponges are notorious breeding grounds for bacteria, as well. Use your seasonal refresher session to clean your tools. This should ideally be done every week or two, but it’s an inevitable item that gets pushed off. Make sure it gets done now.

4. Reorder and Organize

Once you have a good idea of what you’re keeping, you can also figure out what needs to be replaced. This is also an ideal opportunity to consider any additions to your setup that might improve your cosmetic routine.

Take some time to order these replacements right now. Don’t wait, or you’ll forget, especially if you’re ordering online and will need to wait a day or two for things to arrive.

Once you’ve reordered, take some time to reorganize what’s left. Split things up into categories, like skin and body care, hair products, and makeup. Then put everything back in its place.

Make sure everything is in a cool area that doesn’t get too humid, too. This avoids damaging anything with photosensitive or dry ingredients.

It’s wise to refresh your beauty cabinet every few months. While some things like brushes need to be cleaned more often, make sure you don’t neglect the need to give your larger cosmetic toolkit a once over every few months as well.