When it comes to makeup organization, I can’t get enough creative hacks. You have so many shapes, sizes and products to keep uncluttered you really have the opportunity to incorporate a lot of cool stuff. And on the cheap! Here are my current favorite 5 dollar store hacks for uncluttered cosmetics and great DIY beauty organizers. You can pick up all of the necessary items at your local Dollar General or even Amazon.
Mesh Bags – I love these for storing all of those foil packets of shampoo and conditioner. You know you won’t use them if they are not *in* the shower, but who wants 74 samples falling all over the shower every morning? Not me. Store them in here. Hang it on your shower wall with an inexpensive hook and they will actually get put to use for once.
Clear Containers (with lids) – These little plastic containers are cheap and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They are awesome for storing small cleanser, perfume and moisturizer samples. Get them with the lid so you can stack them. Since they are clear you can still easily see what’s inside without having to open each one.
Stackable Drawer Trays – If you store your makeup in drawers, consider this option. The various sizes and shapes make them perfect for storing brushes, lipsticks and mascaras. The upper trays can be lifted out for additional storage without additional space.
Magnet Makeup Board – I love this idea and you can customize it to fit your personality. Grab an inexpensive cookie sheet at the Dollar General. Spray paint it your favorite color. Slap some self-adhesive magnet strips on the backs of your eye shadows, blushes, etc. and your makeup will then stick to your board.
You have a few ways of displaying this. You can glue a pretty ribbon on the back and hang it on the wall, or use a decorative cookbook stand to display it on your vanity. You could also stencil it or add a pretty frame.
Items Needed:
- Metal cookie sheet
- Self-adhesive magnetic tape
- Spray paint
Over the Door Organizer – If you are a beauty product hoarder, like me, you need a lot of space. These cheap (under $15) organizers are perfect for keeping all of your cosmetics in your line of sight. No digging. No forgetting about a mascara until a year later. It’s all right there.
While you can probably pick up the one with clear plastic pouches even cheaper, I prefer the mesh. They don’t get near as grimy-looking. Some are even washable.
Check out my other Beauty Product Hacks for Organization (here)!!!!!!
We have plastic containers, but I don’t know why it didn’t dawn on me to use ones that are clear. That is quite the upgrade from opaque 😉 Thanks for sharing these cheap, organizing ideas!
Thank you, Brittany!
That cookie sheet/magnetic cosmetic display is BRILLIANT! I live in a small apt with an even smaller bathroom. I can’t wait to try this… Thanks!
I definitely need to dress mine up, Andi. It’s a little drab, but it works!
I am…a cosmetic addict, and have been for a looong time. While I still have yet to find my HG system, here’s a few that have worked. The shoe/door thing worked forever until I got tired of seeing it! Crate & Barrel sells fab, cheap clear plastic boxes, all sizes, with the LID ATTACHED. That was integral. Plus, we all know this, but they sell small clear plastic, segmented boxes, $1 or less, too…yes, you have to,decapitate your lippies, but it really DOES clear space & increase portability! $1 store flatware drawer things are good for brushes/pencils, and you can stack them in covered craft store boxes. HSN sells this AMAZE-BALLS Joy Mangano organizer, it has all these mesh & plastic varied size triangular bags that Velcro to a base & roll up. For less than $40 (flex pay!) that’s been closest to my HG..you can make one your ‘essentials’ or everyday face bag & just have it ready to go always. Well worth the cost, and they come in 3 sizes now, I think. Tackle boxes. Same thing as a Caboodle, just uglier, but loads of sizes & inexpensive. I used those FOREVER. My stash has overtaken all those, sadly, and is all over the place right now. As a b-day gift to me, I’m actually breaking down & purchasing a true m/u artist, large rolling train case. I have my ‘5 minute face’ in one of those thick decorative storage type chipboard boxes from Tuesday Morning, which is oval, two levels, a mirror inside & a small handle, that’s saved a ton of time & digging around. It was less than $10. I always thought one of those big red metal rolling toolboxes would be fab, lol. Not so much now! Oh…brushes…..craft stores sell canvas segmented rolls, for artists to store pens/markers..brushes! Lol. They are plain, but washable, fit a good amount of long handled brushes while not smashing them, and allowing air to reach them. If you catch them on sale they are easily less than $5. Oh, craft stores also sell these fab clear units…like box bottoms that come with a snap-on lid that has a handle, best of all..you can stack them onto other matching ones & click them together. Various sizes & shapes. I have a fairly small, square, 3 level one that holds my odd shaped sponges & eyelash curler/brow kit. If you have space & no need to move your stuff around much….use Mason jars or decorative tumblers, tea cups, bowls…that you find at antique stores for nothing. You can decorate Mason jars a million ways, and the other pieces can make a beautiful vignette when coordinated in some way. Lastly, I’ve looked at the 3-4″ decorative, zippered fabric binders I store scrapbooking pieces in….I think you could easily get one of those on sale, and a bunch of various sized pencil pouches with reinforced rings….and make your own inexpensive ‘beauty book’ with eyeshadows, blushes, some thinner palettes, certainly pencils-they usually have slots built in for those…if you aren’t completely out of control like I am, that would be fun. I’m off for my giant train case…the good news, you can find them under $100 now! Before, no way. Best of luck my Glamazons! Sorry to ramble, but hope someone gets a spark!
Great tips! I’m always on the look out for inexpensive solutions to clutter. 🙂 Thanks!
These are some really great ideas! I have so much stuff tossed in my bathroom cabinet and it’s so unorganized. Next time I go to the dollar store I’ll see if I can find some of the things you mentioned! I especially like the idea of using the mesh bag in the shower for all those samples! 🙂
It’s the only way I use them, Michelle. Otherwise they just end up in a drawer.
I helped a friend sew a makeup brush organizer she could also wear as a belt because she was a makeup artist and we ended up reorganizing all of her makeup supplies with things like this! So helpful and a cheap way to get organized 🙂
What a great idea, Meaghan!