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Storage Solutions: Temptalia's Beauty Stash 2009

Makeup Organization & Storage
Christine |


Newest storage solution!

I’m always on the hunt for a new and improved storage solution for my makeup, and it seems like it is a never-ending quest. Keeping everything in my TV-stand-turned-vanity worked when I didn’t have to keep it in a closet, but for the past year, that’s where it has been. It makes using anything from it a pain in the butt, so stuff often goes unused instead. My bathroom was also starting to look like a Sephora threw up in it, LOL.  (You can see my previous storage solutions here, too, to see the different stages!)

Inspired by Pursebuzz’s 20-Drawer Rolling Cart, I found myself getting two of the 10-Drawer Rolling Carts. The all-black drawer look suited me better, and unfortunately they don’t come in a set of 20, so two it was.

Just a heads up, these drawers do not really fit lipsticks or lipglosses standing up. They’re 2.75″ high, and the only lipsticks that I could fit were MAC — and they had to be on the top drawer only, because there’s a little extra room (heighth-wise) on the top drawer. Trust me, I tried, too. I had visions of all these lipsticks in one drawer dancing in my head, but no luck in realizing that dream. I found that these carts are sturdy enough for my purposes, though they’re not robust or ultra durable. The drawers do have a tendency to slip off their tracks when pulled in and out hurriedly, but it’s not a big deal to pop it back on. They’re small and compact, which makes them perfect for the space I’m in currently. (The second bathroom contains the majority of my stash–and nobody showers in it, so there’s no heat/steam issues.)

I used Shallow Drawers from The Container Store for inside the drawers, as well as black liner (to prevent shifting). Each drawer measures approximately 13.5″ long and 9.5″ wide. The shallow drawers are a pretty good fit, and you can use different sizes to suit what make up you might have. I still have a lot of my skincare and body products elsewhere, plus some stuff scattered in bathroom drawers. Overall, though, I ended up with only four empty drawers. I have just enough room to grow, hopefully!

See inside…


Brushes are kept on the counter-top


Drawers of skincare/acne-care/mascaras – you can see detailed photos here!


Palettes in a bathroom drawer (more secure!) — see detailed photos of my palettes here and close-ups here.


On top of the carts: MAC lipglasses; Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Guerlain, YSL lipsticks


On top of the carts: New/recent MAC products


Drawer #1: MAC lipsticks


Drawer #2: Liquid liners, mascaras, eye liners, lip liners, gel eye liners


Drawer #3: MAC lip stuff — prolongwears, slimshines/mattenes, square lipglosses, dazzleglasses


Dazzleglasses!


Drawer #4: Benefit


Drawer #5: Chanel (plus La Mer foundation)


Drawer #6: Dior


Drawer #7: Givenchy, Rock & Republic, & YSL


Drawer #8: Guerlain


Drawer #9: MAC powders/MSFs


Drawer #10: MAC Blushes


Drawer #11: MAC Pigments


Drawer #12: MAC pigments, glitters, samples, beauty powders, palettes


Drawer #13: High-end lipglosses/lipsticks


Drawer #14: High-end makeup (left), NARS (middle), Urban Decay (right)


Drawer #15: Clinique (left), high-end makeup (right)


Drawer #16: False lashes

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159 Comments

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TJ Avatar
TJ

Ok. I’m going to show my husband this when he gets home from work. He complains about my product, skincare and brushes. BTW. I love the storage. Your collection is admirable 🙂

Marie Avatar
Marie

WOW, you just made me feel a whole lot better about my stash. I thought I had a lot but its nothing compared to what you have. How long do you normally keep your makeup before deciding to toss it?

Neelia476 Avatar
Neelia476

WOW! (Drooling O_O) A girl’s dream, lots and lots of makeup! How do you decide what to wear?! Would love to spwnd a day in your room!

Tricia Avatar
Tricia

HOLY MACARONI. That is one incredible collection. *jealous rage looming* LOL. I don’t even have enough makeup to worry about a storage solution! -_-‘

Millie Avatar
Millie

I like the drawers. Everytime I visit your site (which is everyday), I have to look at these pics for inspiration or just simply to brighten my day! 🙂

How do you like La Mer foundation and the Clinique Even Better foundation? Am interested in trying them.

Letitia Avatar
Letitia

I feel like that commercial when the girl is walking her friends through her house, just to get to that awesome closet and they all start screaming!

I had to take a deep breath!!!

Amber Avatar
Amber

Wow. What a collection. How many years have you been collecting? Also, my friend is selling all of her MAC MSFs…..do you have any recommendations of ones that you like from your collection?

The Fashionable Housewife Avatar
The Fashionable Housewife

OMG I hate you!!! And I mean that in the nicest way… lol

Seriously, I think the last time I saw that much makeup I was at Sephora… How do you even find what you are looking for to get ready in the morning?! So many options! I’d never leave the mirror…

Carla Avatar
Carla

Is that a joke or do you seriously have it insured? I have probably as much as you and have been saying that I should but never looked into whether or you could do such a thing.

Court Avatar
Court

Two questions:
1) How long did it take for you to collect all that?

2) Can I come over and play?!

It’s like heaven in 16 drawers…

ali Avatar
ali

omg i love the blue guerlain gloss in drawer 8… please please pleaaase do a swatch/review on it! it looks so gorgeous! (can you tell i absolutely adore blue glosses?)

apfelwinter Avatar
apfelwinter

It’s a really incredible collection. Which make me curious, how long do you keep products? I mean, do you care about the expiry period, and if you do, how long is safe to use make-up products usually, in your opinion?

Anitacska Avatar
Anitacska

I love your storage ideas. I also have a LOT of make up (as you know) – although not quite as many Mac products as you! -, but mine is all over the place (as you know), unfortunately I don’t have space for something like this in my bedroom or bathroom. 🙁 Also for me it’s better scattered as this way my husband doesn’t quite realise how much make up I actually have. 😉

liz Avatar
liz

i must say that this has inspired me. i dont have near as much as you, but i would like to find a set of drawers i can stick on my desk and organize with. i have a traincase but the shelves are so small, drawers will make it easier. great idea!

Trish Avatar
Trish

Gosh, I discard anything longer than 6 months old, why risk the product drying out or losing its pigment.Thats what my top dresser is for. 🙂 Have a nice day

inuchan Avatar
inuchan

Woot Chrisine, that’s a pretty nice collection! :)))))))))) Believe it or not, all those pretty colors made my Monday morning a great one!

>(((^__^)))<

Angeljade Avatar
Angeljade

*bowing with tears* I am not worthy! I am not worthy!
*Looking to restart heart* – THE TORTURE! Pigments! PIGMENTS!
Ahhhh the TORTURE!

Christine, how, when, can you adopt me? PUT me in your WILL PLEASE! Ms. Santa I have been good this year.

Where can you find the MSF Petticoat? Or Old Gold Pigment? Please ohh WISE ONE! I have been searching forever. Please HELP! *Looking up to the heavens* THE LIP GLASSES! Ahhhh THANK YOU GOD! MY Caribbean heart can’t take it. I must know where I can find Ms. Fig Dazzleglass!

Jenelle Avatar
Jenelle

Wow, I’ve seen collections before but I have to say I am most impressesd by yours!! Hopefully one day I will get there, I just started collecting Feb. of this year.

priscilla Avatar
priscilla

i was just about to buy this on qvc but i still not sure yet…but to bad that they don’t make the black one in a set of 20 right.So where did you buy this one im trying to see if i can find it cheaper

liz Avatar
liz

hey, i’m not christine but it was available on the costco website or maybe even in store. if you don’t have a costco, its like a sam’s club or other bulk sale membership based warehouse store.

priscilla Avatar
priscilla

i was just about to buy this on qvc last week-it sucks that there isn’t a set of 20 in black-but im trying to see if i can find it even a lil cheaper or buy it at costco if they have it in black…where did you get yours

Tattoo Girl Avatar
Tattoo Girl

WOW!! and I thought I had alot of pigments. I made my husband look at your collection so he would stop complaining about mine!!

alice Avatar
alice

WoW!! It’s so amazing!! Wondering how many items in total are there? 500 i guess? In the country I live, if I have such things in my room, I must put it in a safe place (i.e with lock)..sometimes maid can take one into her pocket! 🙂 Bet yours is safe

Carla Avatar
Carla

Hi Christine, I went to the Container Store and bought a bunch of the shallow drawers but I could not find the size that you have your MSFs & powders in. Can you tell me what size those are please?

I love the way you organized your collection and I want to thank you for sharing. The drawers that I am using now are getting cracked from the weight of the product so these shallow drawers are perfect as you can’t put too much in them.

Christine Avatar
Christine
Light Medium, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. Normal-to-Dry skin. View Christine Full Profile

Those are the deep drawers – they’re just the same as the shallow ones (and should be in the same spot), just taller! Your store might have been out of stock, that’s all I can think of, but they’re definitely all in the same area.

Thanks 🙂

Brenda Avatar
Brenda

Did you purchase all of the regular size items (thinking of the dior, guerlain and Nars items like the compacts and shadows) or do you get given more free stuff now because of your website? And what do your YSL lipglosses smell like? I’m asking because i HATE the way mine smells….

And thank you for sharing! Now i don’t feel so bad for mine!

sheryl Avatar
sheryl

This is soooo impressive. Christine, I am waiting for MAC to create a pallate for midsize pans like the mineral eyeshadows duos and the new mineral eyeshadow quads. In the meantime, do you have any suggestions???

Criselda Avatar
Criselda

OMGGGGGG Your collection is AMAZING!! I am only a begginer…but such a makeup junkie at heart…I don’t have any collected yet, this is so insiprational!! How lovely 🙂 You should show it on you tube! I WOULD sooo watch that 🙂

Chrissy Avatar
Chrissy

My boyfriend would die if he knew I was aspiring to have a collection as huge as yours lol

Thanks for posting this! If you’ve updated your makeup organization, please make an updated post.

Kim L Avatar
Kim L

Finally someone who has more makeup than I do. I have 6 drawers for the open stuff (little white pullouts about 3 inches high per drawer) and a 3 drawers in my chest of drawers (narrow chest of drawers).
Plus I just threw out a garbage pale full of makeup

Mookxi Avatar
Mookxi

Christine, just wondering — when you’re storing your MAC lipsticks — how do you actually remember which colours are which ? Do you categorise them by shades or by alphabetical order or .. ? I know some people like to pot their lipsticks just for convenience of being able to see the colour (which is why I like the packaging for Shu Uemura lipsticks — display of Japanese design where they think about usability !) but I’m just going through some ideas about how to store all my MAC lipsticks (not as many as you by the way — VERY impressive collection) !

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