If you find yourself prone to purchasing on impulse or often feel like you purchase products that are well-reviewed, popular, or buzzed about but don’t actually find you love them like you feel you should, this list of tips might help you figure out how to better understand your own preferences and needs and purchasing behavior.  In particular, as we approach the end of the year, I imagine there are a few readers who will be looking to start low- or no-buys for 2019.  It seems like a lot of us are feeling oversaturated when it comes to beauty products, so it only makes sense that we’ll start to turn to what we already own and getting more out of those products.

Assess What You’ve Already Purchased

Before you even think about purchasing another product, STOP! Let’s work through what you’ve purchased in the past, how that’s worked out (or not worked out), and what the takeaways might be from past purchases.  By figuring out where you’ve gone right and where you’ve gone wrong, you’ll know what areas have room for improvement.

Create a Makeup Inventory

It’s a good idea to have a good recollection of what products you have as this will ensure that you’re using the products you have regularly.  If you get to the point where it’s hard to remember it all, you might want to consider a more formal inventory process, like a spreadsheet, bullet journal, or use Temptalia’s Vanity.  The upside to any digital version is that you can easily find or sort by various parameters (like finding out what eyeshadows you have or what MAC products you have).

If you’ve purchased products and returned or otherwise removed them from your stash and you can remember them, consider keeping an additional tab on a spreadsheet or use our Archive functionality in the Vanity (for products you have tried but no longer have).  Knowing what didn’t work can be just as useful in building up self-knowledge as knowing what has worked well!  If you’ve destashed a dozen liquid lipsticks and kept one, maybe liquid lipsticks aren’t really your thing so you can mentally note to temper excitement in the future if you see a color that catches your eye but comes in a liquid lipstick formula.

If you’re setting up your own spreadsheet or journal, here are some characteristics you might want to include:

• Brand + Shade
• Type of Formula (e.g. Lipstick)
  • If a type has enough variety in formulas, you may want to include additional information like loose vs. pressed or liquid vs. cream.
• Color
  • Depending on how many products you have and how you think about color (or how you decide what to use), additional parameters like undertone and finish may be useful.
• Price
  • You might put the price you paid if you want to keep track of spending or the retail price at the time you purchased.
• Photos/Swatches
  • If you’re feeling particularly industrious, you could include your own photos/swatches of the products you own!

How to Declutter Your Makeup Collection: Tips & Tricks

It’s entirely possible that you’ve already done so or have managed to make fantastic purchases and have nothing you want to part with, and if that’s the case, congratulations, and you can skip ahead!  For those who have felt like they’ve just accumulated a little too much or haven’t been as discerning as they’d like, now that you know what you have, it’s a good time to work through what you have with a more mindful eye.

Let me introduce you to: makeup decluttering or makeup destashing.  What is decluttering? It’s removing products that you no longer use from your makeup collection — clutter.  They’re products taking up space, that might create noise and make other products harder to find/see, and are no longer, rarely, or begrudgingly used.

I’ve touched on some of my recommendations and advice on fine-tuning the products you own previously when I wrote about how to organize your makeup collection, so you may find some of the tips below familiar.

If and when the amount of makeup you own starts to give you negative feelings or reactions, that’s when it’s time to reassess what you have, why, and whether it’s time to let it go.  If you love everything you have, and there’s no outside reason to downsize, there’s nothing wrong with having more products.  It’s not a competition of who has the most or who can get by with the least.  It’s about getting to a size that you find manageable, whatever that means for you; it doesn’t have to be manageable for someone else, just you.

First, these are the five questions I think are important to ask about products I’m trying to decide whether to keep or declutter…

1. Does this product work well for how I want to use it?
2. When was the last time I used this?
3. Did I like it last time I used it?
4. Do I have other products that are similar to it (whether in color or function) that I use more often and/or prefer to it?
5. Do I see myself using it again?

The Easy Decisions

The easiest products to let go are the ones that are expired, whether you follow strict use-by dates (on most labels) or if you go by smell/texture/performance tests.  If there are particular products that are sentimental to you (and that’s why you’ve been keeping them long past the expiration date!), go through your memories and evaluate if keeping the product adds to that memory or if you really hold the memory in yourself already.  Consider separating these types of products out and finding a way to display and honor them, if they are so sentimental, instead of keeping them in a box or drawer that you forget about.

The products that worked terribly for you should be the next easiest to say ta-ta to. These are the ones that you’ve tried, hated, and shoved in the back of the drawer and never reached for again.  These are products that you feel look bad on you (wrong color, one star!), wore poorly, were difficult to work with, etc.  If there are products that did not work for you and you cannot let go, then set them aside and make a point to use them again, then reassess if it’s really adding usability and/or joy to what you have.

The Hard Decisions

Based on what I’ve seen readers and others in the community speak about, and what I’ve personally experienced as I’ve become more and more discerning about what I keep myself, these are the types of products that can make you waffle a little…

Expensive flops.  The money’s spent.  Keeping a product you don’t like and don’t use just takes up space and doesn’t pay you rent. You aren’t getting your money back by keeping it.

So-so products.  If it’s so-so but you don’t use it, it’s likely because you don’t like it much on yourself, you rarely have reason to use it (e.g. maybe it’s the type of color you only like for special occasions, which leads me to my next point…), or have a better-performing product that is comparable in purpose (color, finish, function).

Unicorns.  These are going to be products that you just have the one of, maybe for you it’s a super, glittery highlighter.  The question is whether you use it, enjoy it, and does serve a purpose in your collection. There might be a reason why you only have one, and it might be because you don’t really enjoy that type of product but felt compelled to give a chance for a myriad of potential of reasons.

But limited edition.  Use it or lose it. What good is that gorgeous limited edition that you love every time you wear it but only allow yourself to wear very occasionally for fear of running out of it? How many products you do you actually finish? What is the real likelihood that you’ll finish? Just how amazing and unique and utterly special is this one limited edition item that even if you used it regularly and finished it that you’d be destroyed because it was no more? There’s always something new and shiny right around the corner in beauty, and our tastes and preferences change over time – you might be sick of that shade after using it ’til the bitter end!

The Excuses

There are some common excuses I’ve come across for why a product that seems like it doesn’t have a good purpose for someone is otherwise kept (and rarely or never used), which I’ve summarized and countered below.  I do, however, want to make it clear that curating your makeup collection is about making you happier, not more miserable.  If you find yourself struggling, that’s okay; everyone’s journey is different and certain parts may be harder for some than others.  Maybe for you success is destashing one product–just make sure you’re putting in a conscious effort to make your collection work better for you.

For those where the mental block goes beyond just feeling like you wasted money but goes deeper and is more rooted in a fear of no longer being in the position of being able to afford products, consider decluttering as a way to remove the noise from what you have today but store the decluttered products in a safe place until you are able to move past that fear (to whatever degree you may be able to).

Decluttering is not about minimalism or capsule collections or aspiring to a specific aesthetic or size of a collection.  Anyone who takes what they have and adopts a minimalist lifestyle by the acquisition of more things is doing so from a place of privilege.  Adopting more mindful purchasing habits, being more aware of how and what we use in our collections, and having the willingness to accept that sometimes products don’t work for us or we shouldn’t have purchased something (so we can let go of it) are the goals.

“I already spent money on this, so I should have to use it because I wasted money on it!” If you have additional products that you could be using, there’s no reason to punish yourself for past mistakes. This is supposed to be a fun, creative outlet.  You want to learn from mistakes you’ve made in the past to make better decisions in the future; that’s what you should be taking away from bad purchases.

“What if I need this product-I’ve-used-once-and-doesn’t-fit-my-preferences-at -all someday?”  That excuse can work a few times, but it can’t be the excuse used for every single item you have and never use.  Is this someday a real, feasible event? Maybe you don’t love neutrals but are about to graduate school and will be entering a career that often requires neutrals you can grab at this excuse, but if you think teal eyeshadow looks awful on you, want to remove it every time you wear it, then what is this someday you’re looking for?  You want to realistic about potential changes, especially when it comes to personal preferences.

“I’ll regret it if I get rid of it!” Take everything you’re willing to part with but are afraid you’ll regret parting with and put it into a box.  Take that box and put it somewhere you rarely see, like the back of a closet or under a bed.  Leave it for at least a few weeks, and then think about whether you actually missed any of the products you put in it.

“The packaging is so pretty!”  If you find the design/packaging/presentation attractive, then it’s not makeup, it’s art. You bought 3D art, and art is meant to be enjoyed, e.g. be on display, not tucked in a drawer or bin or wherever so you better find a place to display it!

Before You Purchase

When adjusting purchasing habits, one of the keys is to be more diligent about the process before the purchase.  This is the time spent deliberating over the purchase, which may be subject to a number of questions, checklists, steps, and processes based on your individual needs and what works for you.  Here are some actions I like to take when making purchasing decisions, both big and small, that can be applied to beauty purchases but also purchasing in general:

Is it within my budget for beauty (or “fun” money) for the time period?

Creating a budget is an excellent tool to see where your money goes each month, as this helps see if you’re over-spending in a particular area while providing a better idea of cash inflows and outflows.  If you have the ability to do so, you can set a spending amount for a time period for a category, like $X per month allowed on makeup.   If you find it harder to reduce spending, you may find stricter rules and specific limits to be more useful than more arbitrary ones.

How would this purchase impact my financial goals?

I always find having a financial goal in mind helps to curb excess and unnecessary spending because I have a bigger picture in mind.  This might be something like taking a great vacation, paying off student loans, contributing to retirement, buying property, or any number of worthy goals.  I like having both short-term and long-term financial goals setup so that I have more immediate satisfaction of contributing to a short-term goal while also working towards a long-term goal.  For example, I try to contribute as much as I can to pre-tax retirement each year for my long-term goal of being able to retire early (which is really the goal of working because I want to, not because I have to).

How will I use this product? Where does it fit into my collection?

If you’re adding a product to what you already own, then ideally, it should be adding something of value. It should serve a purpose and be a product you expect to use and enjoy.  A lot of what I ask myself here are the same questions I ask about whether I should keep or destash a product: will I use it, how often will I use it, do I have anything similar to it (do I really think this is going to be better? why?), etc.

Have I done my research on it?

If you can find reviews, swatches, or even try it in person, you should be attempting to do so!  You might have to set aside some time to be more proactive finding reviewers that you trust and align with, or to filter and skim through dozens of consumer reviews on various retailer websites.  If it’s a brand new product, you’ll want to consider your history with the brand and their products, whether you’re comfortable purchasing blindly or if you’d really rather wait for some reviews.

After You Purchase

If you thought the process stopped there, you’d be so wrong — that’s how products we don’t love and use accumulate!  Once you’ve decided to purchase something, the next step is to try it and see how it works for you.  This will allow you to see exactly how it will or will not work for your needs and within your collection of products.

If you’re fortunate enough to live in a region that allows returns or exchanges, returning a product that does not work for you, that was hopefully purchased mindfully (not everything works out!), in a timely manner is a good way to avoid accumulating products that do not work for you.  The ability to try and return is a nice-to-have, but it isn’t an excuse to buy products willy-nilly because you can return (as in beauty, most returned products are destroyed/thrown away/disposed of, not resold), which results in unnecessary waste.

If you keep the product, make sure you have a place to put it, as an organized stash leads the way to a more well-loved and well-used collection of products. If you’re keeping track of what you own, add it to your inventory. And enjoy!

While I cover thousands of products each year in the form of reviews, there are also several resources available to everyone to ensure that every purchase is a good purchase for your personal needs. My goal is to help you make better purchasing decisions, whether that’s indulging on a luxury product, getting a cheaper and better alternative, avoiding buying that 18th red lipstick you know you already have, or just cutting through some of the hype behind a product. This post includes five ways to use what Temptalia offers to save money on makeup products, resist temptation of buying a new beauty product, and getting the most out of the beauty products you own.

Create Your Vanity & Keep Track of Your Beauty Products

When you become a registered member, you’ll unlock access to your Vanity, which is area you can add and keep track of all of the products you own.  The Vanity is a really cool feature that goes beyond just creating a digital list of products you have.  You’ll get a visual representation of the products you have with your own “Swatch Gallery” (of any products that we have photos/swatches for).  You’ll be able to filter your vanity to just see what eyeshadows you own or what MAC products you have.

For every product you own, you can also track things like when you purchased or opened it, whether you’d repurchase, how many you have or how much you’ve used, along with personal notes (that are just for you!), like “breaks me out” or “summer color.”

View Dupes You Already Own

Here’s where things get really cool and show you just how powerful it can be to take some time to add the products you own into your Vanity… You can view dupes found IN your vanity; these are dupes you already own, which can be a great way to start decluttering and help determine why you use one over another.  Oh, oh, and if those aren’t enough dupes for your satisfaction? Try going to the end of the page and clicking “possible dupes,” which will give you even more insight into potentially similar shades you have!

See products that you have that are dupes of each other

View Dupes You Already Own for Products You Want

You can also view dupes between your Vanity and your Wishlist, effectively ensuring that if you’ve got your eye on something, it isn’t already present in your stash (and if it’s similar, you’ll know that in advance and can make a decision from there).

You don’t have to add something to your Wishlist to take advantage of seeing what dupes you already have of a product, though, because at any time, you can check whether you have dupes of a product by clicking “limit results to items in my vanity” when you’re on The Dupe List or clicking “check vanity for dupes” when you’re on any product’s Dupe List!

Check your vanity for dupes when browsing any product’s dupes!

Note: The vanity is going to be most useful and most meaningful for those who do tend to purchase more products that I’ve reviewed (past and present) than products that aren’t reviewed at all — but we have a system built so you can add products as you go to help streamline that process so you can still track products that aren’t in the database as well!

The Dupe List

As one of the core features on Temptalia, The Dupe List remains one of the most popular parts of the site.  There are over 230,000 dupes in the database with more being added almost every single day.  The way we built this feature was to help you find a dupe for any reason, whether that’s finding a more affordable option, one that’s currently available, one by another brand, or one that’s more accessible in your area (or whatever reason you may have!).

Check for Dupes Before You Buy

There are certain shades we all gravitate toward, and while some redundancy might be workable, sometimes it can get out of hand to the point where it feels overwhelming.  Depending on your personal needs, two overlapping shades may be disastrous and for others, more then ten similar shades is the breaking point.  It’s a good rule of thumb, though, to check out the dupes listed for a particular product you’re considering.  Pro tip: limit results to items in your vanity / check your vanity for dupes to compare against what you own.

Limit your search results to show only dupes you own!

Compare Any Two Palettes Before You Buy

Worried that there may be too much overlap between two palettes? You can pull up a comparison on-the-fly of any two palettes that we have swatched.  Head over to The Dupe List and Compare Any Two Palettes. We’ll show you any actual dupes (that are officially on The Dupe List) along with most similar shades (e.g. two shades of browns that are listed within similar depth, undertone, shimmer level) as well.

Compare Any Two Shades

If you’ve ever asked me how A and B shades compare, I’ve most likely answered but also directed you to check out our Compare Any Two feature, which allows you to pull up swatches of any two products on-the-fly.  You can easily compare swatches of two shades this way, and if it looks like a dupe I missed, you can even add it to the Dupe List!

You’re welcome!

It starts with registering and creating your own Vanity...

Then you'll be able to see dupes you already have in your stash...

And be able to see what dupes you own when you're looking up a product for dupes!

Check your vanity for dupes when browsing any product’s dupes!

It starts with registering and creating your own Vanity...

Then you'll be able to see dupes you already have in your stash...

And be able to see what dupes you own when you're looking up a product for dupes!

Check your vanity for dupes when browsing any product’s dupes!

I find that the application of cream and liquid eyeshadows doesn’t differ much (a lot of the same “rules” apply to both, I’d say!) but how you should apply each depends entirely on the result you’re trying to achieve!  A reader requested that I share some of my tried and true tips and tricks for working with liquid and cream eyeshadows after recently reviewing and posting this look and this look using Stila’s newest liquid eyeshadows.

General Tips

1. Your mileage may very tremendously depending on the formula.  Unlike the powder eyeshadow, one brand’s cream eyeshadow and another brand’s cream eyeshadow can vary wildly, which can mean that one application method will work well for but not the other.  This is often related to product density, how emollient/liquid the formula is, how pigmented it is, and how long it takes to dry down.  Experimentation is vital.
2. Wetter formulas can take longer to dry, so it will be more important to keep eyes closed while waiting to dry (to minimize product getting into creases and lines) or a thinner, sheerer layer applied, set, and then built upon with a second layer for greater coverage if desired.
3. If an eyeshadow has taken a bit of time to dry down and has pulled into any fine lines or creases, you can easily diffuse and soften any creasing preemptively by using a fluffy brush or patting with fingertip over the area as it is drying down. It’s a bit like under eye concealer; sometimes you have to let it do its thing, crease a little, and then go back and blend after it has some time to dry down but isn’t cemented on yet!
4. A lot of liquid eyeshadow applicators are over-sized and disperse more product than needed, so using a separate tool (fingertips or otherwise) is often a better choice than the included applicator (often, a doe-foot).
5. You can dust translucent or similar-colored powder on top to help set and prevent creasing over time.
6. Cream and liquid eyeshadows tend to be easiest to work with on the lid or all-over so I often prefer to lay down powder eyeshadows in my crease area or above it and then applying cream/liquid eyeshadows on the lid itself.
7. I find applying powder before cream eyeshadows makes it easier to avoid disrupting the cream eyeshadow once it has dried down, as some formulations can flake off with too much blending once they are set, so I try to do more of the blending ahead of time and then only go back in to darken or soften after the cream eyeshadow has set if necessary.

As a Standalone Eyeshadow

1. Most formulas apply best with a flat, synthetic brush (some like MAC’s 242, which I’ve found difficult to dupe, but concealer brushes often work well in its place).  The synthetic material ensures that it doesn’t get sucked into the bristles, which gives better color coverage and payoff as well as gets more even coverage in a single layer.  I use about half of the length of the brush flattened against the surface of the eyeshadow’s surface or on the applicator (for liquid eyeshadows) and then apply as appropriately.  If you need to apply the product to a small area, try using a lip brush (or something like Urban Decay’s E213), which has a similar shape, but is much smaller.
2. Use a clean, fluffy brush (synthetic preferred) to soften edges as they are drying down, as this helps to soften the edge without adding more product nor sheering out the bulk of the placed eyeshadow.
3. When working with multiple shades, it is often best to work dark to light and having multiple brushes on hand really goes a long way to avoid muddying colors up as it is harder to fully wipe away excess otherwise.  You can try using a quick-drying brush spray, which are alcohol-heavy, and wiping on a paper towel if you only have a couple of brushes.  I would avoid doing this with brushes with natural hair, though.
4. By working dark to light, you can gently pull and diffuse the lighter shade over the darker shade while maintaining the intensity of each shade on its own.  I find that working light to dark can result in too much of the darker shade coming through as the lighter shade is dry by the time I’m blending out the dark, so inevitably, the darker shade ends up having to be diffused over the light, resulting in a larger, darker section than I may have anticipated.
5. For more glittery formulations, you’ll want to work quickly when it comes to blend because as the glittery eyeshadow dries down, blending will just result in loosening the sparkle/glitter, which will cause fallout.
6. If you’re only using one cream eyeshadow over a larger area, sometimes a fingertip works just as well as a brush, and fingertips tend to be slightly better in softening edges if it is a drier or thick formula where the warmth from fingertips can soften and make the product more malleable.

As a Sheer Wash of Color

1. Fluffy, synthetic brushes (I like Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush or IT’s All-Over #322) work well for getting some color onto the center lid and then work well to diffuse the edges in light, circular motions to spread and buff out the edges. To pick up product, use the edge only and swirl softly in the pot or lightly dab the edge onto a liquid eyeshadow applicator and gently buff in 2-3, circular rotations on the back of the hand prior to applying to the lid (this step is particularly important if you are working with a more pigmented formula).
2. Apply using a clean fingertip (or get a little on the back of your hand using a spatula or end of a brush handle) by patting on the center of the lid and diffusing outward and upward.  Often, the warmth of the fingertip can help make the eyeshadow more malleable and spread quickly.

As an Eyeshadow Base

1. If you’re looking just to lay down a wash of cream eyeshadow as a base, applying and blending out with fingertips is quick and efficient.  It’s also a good way to get a thinner layer across a larger area without fear of it drying down too quickly.
2. For more precision, use a flat, synthetic brush (some like MAC’s 242, which I’ve found difficult to dupe, but concealer brushes often work well in its place) to lay down the product on the area you want and then use the edges of the brush to gently diffuse the edge if desired.
3. The most important part of application in my experience is ensuring that the layer is even in thickness and has minimal patchiness (unless I’m really packing on a much deeper, more pigmented product on top, then the patchiness often doesn’t matter).  If it’s an uneven layer, that just ends up coming through more and more with powder products layered on top.

As Eyeliner

1. You’ll want to use a synthetic, angled or thin liner brush; I like angled brushes best with cream and gel eyeshadows that are quite pigmented and a bit denser.  Thin liner brushes work better for me when I’m using a runnier, more watery, or liquid formulation.  Here are some of my favorite brushes for detail work.
2. Some formulations apply better in short strokes, picking up more product as necessary, and others can be applied in a more fluid, one-stroke motion and then repeated for greater intensity if desired (not all liquid/cream formulas layer well–this is particularly true with thicker, chunkier finishes and very liquid eyeshadows that take longer to dry down).

How do you apply your cream and liquid eyeshadows? What applications and tools work well for you?

Whether you’ve just started to play with makeup or you’ve been applying it for years and still find that getting your eyeshadows to come together isn’t as easy as you feel like it should be, I hope this post featuring every tip and trick I could extract from my makeup-minded brain helps in some way!  This is an expansion on the step-by-step smokey eye tutorial I did earlier, but this post focuses on how to get the most out of your eyeshadow based on formula as well as finish. You can view my favorite eyeshadow formulas here (along with all of my must-haves, in general).

How to Apply Eyeshadow

Here are some general application and blending tips I have when it comes to working with powder eyeshadows, and then we’ll move into breaking down tips more specific to the type of eyeshadow you’re working with next.

1. Blend less than you think you’ll need.  You can always blend more, but once you’ve over-blended, it can be difficult to get the intensity and contrast back.  This is particularly true if you use a magnifying mirror to apply your eye makeup, because you’re already looking at your eye so close-up and magnified that it’ll often look more and more blended from a “normal viewing distance” (e.g. looking in a normal mirror or when someone stands in front of you).  Also, keep in mind the look and effect your going for — did you want a seamless blend of neutrals where it’s such a subtle gradient that “muddy” is almost a good thing or are you trying to showcase multiple, more contrasting shades?
2. Experiment with bases, primers, and tools.  Some formulas work better with certain products but not others.  This doesn’t mean one should go out and buy additional product to make something work that isn’t working, but if you have a creamy primer and a drier primer, you might consider experimenting with what you have in your stash and seeing what performs better and when.  Similarly, a fluffy brush might work great with this shade but a denser brush might do better with another.  Sometimes fingertips really are the tool to use.
3. Eyeshadow primer usually works for intensifying pigmentation and improving longevity.  I might make the effort to test without, but in a normal existence, I’d always use primer because… all it does is take everything to the next level and give me the 110% confidence that everything will look good 12+ hours later.  In my experience, it’s not a gimmick at all.  A good eyeshadow, however, will still be quite pigmented and blendable without a primer–it will be the longevity that the primer will do the most lifting for.  My favorite primers are MAC’s Prep + Prime 24HR Eye, Smashbox’s 24HR, NARS Smudge Proof, and Urban Decay Anti-Aging Primer Potion.
4. Consider layering primers if you’re having difficulty with longevity or setting lids with powder.  Over the years, I have heard from many readers that laying down two primers is often the miracle solution for better wear, particularly on oily or more hooded lids.  The most common combination I’ve seen is using a creamier base, like a MAC Paint Pot, and a thinner, more silicone-based primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion.  You can also dust translucent powder all over the lid and let that work its magic for a few minutes, or you can pat on translucent powder to set the primer/base prior to eyeshadow application.
5. Always step back and admire your work by looking at your eye makeup in a regular mirror (not a magnifying one) and also from a step back, which is how most people will be seeing your makeup!  This helps to ensure evenness, intensity, shape, and blending.
6. Experiment with shapes and placement.  Just because such and such style works for one person doesn’t mean you’ll find it works or looks “right” to your eye — sometimes that can be that you’re not used to seeing yourself in that style of makeup and other times it’s that another placement or modified placement will be more “flattering” to your eye.  I recommend taking some time to play around and trying a few typical eyeshadow placements to see what you like best.  Don’t be afraid to do less or more steps.  There’s nothing wrong with using one or two or 20 eyeshadows; it’s makeup, it’s your face, and it should be fun.
7. Practice blending colors together with shades from related families first.  If you’re struggling with blending colors together, try blending like with like; this doesn’t mean a light beige and dark beige but more like a gold and a copper or a soft brown and a deep brown or pink and plum.  You want enough contrast between the two shades that as you blend the two together, you create a third, more mid-tone shade between the two of them; this will help you gauge if you’re blending efficiently.  If the two shades are too close together, they can get lost easily if you’re just learning.
8. Start with less pressure and gradually increase pressure as needed to blend out the eyeshadow.  Something that I see (and personally did) when starting out was that I was a lot more vigorous with applying product to my eyes (and face, actually), when I really didn’t need to be tugging or pulling on my lid space as much.  In fact, learning to use less pressure is a skill.  Try holding your applicator further away (hold a brush handle toward the end rather than near the ferrule or brush head) as this will naturally yield a softer pressure on the skin.
9. Tools of the trade:  sponge-tip applicators work well for packing product on, and a clean one can be quite effective at softening crease shades, though brushes are often the “standard” you’ll see used in a slew of tutorials.  If you’re new to brushes, I recommend picking up a basic eyeshadow set and keep the price point under $30 and learning the shapes you like (and you may like what you already bought and not feel the need to upgrade or add to it!).  Brands like Real Techniques, Wet ‘n’ Wild, EcoTools, elf, and Sonia Kashuk all offer basic sets and are, generally, well-received by the community.  Here are the basic shapes that I find useful for eyeshadow application:  shader brush (small-to-medium in size, flatter with a dome-shaped edge that’s slightly fluffy overall) for packing eyeshadow onto the lid and intensify pigmentation; a tapered, crease brush (I like having a smaller, more precise option and a medium-sized one for depositing and diffusing color into the crease and above the crease); a fluffy, blending brush (medium in size, less dense, fluffy for applying color to the brow bone and softening corners and edges); and a pencil brush (tapered or pointed, small, good for detail and precision work).  Please refer to my must-have makeup brushes for powder eyeshadows for some idea of shapes and styles.

How to Apply Powdery Eyeshadows

Pay attention to the type of formula you’re working with.  For powder eyeshadows, some formulas are so soft and silky but they can be very powdery, others are harder and stiffer but are more buildable.  You’ll want to adjust your technique and the order of your application (to some degree).

Here are some examples of more soft, more powdery formulations that I’ve tried: Anastasia Eyeshadows (particularly mattes, less so with shimmers), LORAC Eyeshadows (particularly the Pro palettes), Tarte Amazonian Clay Eyeshadows, and Too Faced Eyeshadows.

1. Apply your eye makeup first, because it’s going to be difficult to completely escape some fallout, especially if you’re working with shades that contrast against your skin tone.  Why waste a bunch of time applying your base just to have to touch-up and redo it later? You might consider priming or prepping the skin but leaving complexion products for post-eye makeup if you need some prepping products to absorb and sink in!
2. Use a softer touch as the powder is more yielding and plenty of product will get on your applicator (brush, sponge-tip applicator, fingertip, whatever) and a firmer touch will just kick up more excess product, which is messy and will waste the product.
3. Use softer brushes, be careful with fluffy brushes as scratchier brushes can disturb the powder’s surface even more, which will dislodge more product than you’ll need for application; similarly, fluffy brushes tend to flare out more at the tip, which can pick up an excess amount of product and then apply too much with little precision.
4. Tap off excess prior to applying to the eye area by lighting tapping the ferrule of the brush against your wrist or forearm; there’s no need to whack it against your wrist or the edge of the table, just a light tap is all you need.  If you’re using sponge-tipped applicators, this can be useful but the sponge tends to hold the excess powder better.
5. Be careful using dampened tools or fingertips because more powdery eyeshadows often absorb natural oils and moisture and leave behind hardened surfaces, which will turn your ultra-soft eyeshadow into an eyeshadow brick.
6. Pat and press the eyeshadow on for better color intensity, which will minimize how much product can get swept or diffused before you’re ready to blend.  This will also ensure that there’s a precise lay down of color as more powdery formulas can be harder to control.
7. Blend with a clean brush or after you’ve already used your brush to apply most of the color, then use the mostly-clean brush to diffuse and blend out edges to minimize fallout, over-blending, and muddying. It also ensures that you don’t over-intensify any particular area, too!
8. Use a smaller, more precise brush to intensify after blending.  If you’re fairly happy with the result you’re getting but want a lid color richer or the crease to be more defined, use a smaller brush to darken just the area you want to minimize having to go back and do additional blending.

How to Apply Stiff Eyeshadows

Here are some examples of firmer, denser, and/or stiffer formulations that I’ve tried:  Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadows, MAC Eyeshadows, NARS Eyeshadows, and Viseart Eyeshadows.  Most metallic shades these days tend to be denser/creamier and/or thicker, so some of this section would apply to shimmery shades from these formulas as well:  MAC Extra Dimension Eyeshadows, NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow, and Tarte Tarteist Metallic Shadow.

1. Use a heavier hand because the surface of the pan is stiffer and firmer, so there’s little fear of picking up too much product on a brush, and depending on just how firm or stiff the formula is, it may range from moderate pressure to heavy pressure.
2. Push and lightly jab at the pan with the edge of a brush when you want to get more pigment.  I prefer a pushing technique over a swirling or sweeping technique when picking up my powder eyeshadows in general (but I’m all about that ~pigment~), where I a flat, shader brush (like a MAC 239) and use the tip of the brush and gently push the pan a few times to dislodge product, and then I pick it up with more of the brush’s surface area so that I can pat it onto the lid.
3. Use flatter, denser brushes with creamier and more silicone-based powder eyeshadow formulas.  These types of brushes are often synthetic eye brushes that are marketed for cream and liquid usage, but they tend to do well with these denser (but creamier, not too stiff) formulas–like heavily shimmered, more metallic eyeshadows.  I find brushes like MAC’s 242 work well, but I’m also a huge fan of Smith’s 253, which is a natural option.
4. Build up intensity to avoid having a nightmare of a time blending out a stiffer eyeshadow, because often, the firmer and stiffer the eyeshadow, the more strongly it adheres to the lid and less blendable it is.  What I like to do, particularly with richer or darker hues, is to apply in layers, gradually building color intensity so that it is strongest exactly where I want it and I simply don’t layer on as much on areas that I want it to be more diffused or blended.  It ends up looking more blended without actually blending it out as a result.
5. Use a scratchier brush for blending out edges.  This is why the softness of a brush isn’t always the most important feature!  Sometimes, you’ll want a slightly scratchier, rougher brush (this is not to say it should be painful or irritating; e.g. squirrel hair is far softer than goat but goat is still soft yet blends more efficiently), which will move the eyeshadow more efficiently.   The longer spent blending, the higher risk one has of muddying everything in the end.
6. Use similarly-hued, lighter shade to help blend and diffuse edges.  If all else fails, I’ll take another eyeshadow (hopefully one that’s a bit less stiff!) and layering it just above the harsher edge I want to blend and then pull that lighter shade down and use it to diffuse and soften the edge without lightening the original shade too much.  Be careful using more white-based shades as it can cause some deeper shades (especially when working with matte eyeshadows) to turn gray.
7. Use a firmer touch when blending out the eyeshadow.  You’ll likely want to use more circular motions or more pulling along the edge, which will move the pigment a little more than more gentle, sweeping motions.  Sometimes I find that using my shader brush (like the MAC 239) and that edge is more effective than a softer, tapered crease brush (like Hakuhodo J142) because it does a better job of pulling the pigment up and out.
8. Apply matte eyeshadows prior to creamier, denser metallic eyeshadows.  I find that some creamier, denser metallic eyeshadows do not blend that well with matte eyeshadows, which are often a little thinner and more powdery, so I will apply the matte eyeshadow first and then gently pull the metallic shade over the edge of the matte.  This seems to help minimize the need to try and make the two textures (which are different in thickness) meet and blend.

How to Apply Matte Eyeshadows

Sometimes the finish of the eyeshadow can make a difference in technique and placement.  I’ve outlined some makeup tips for working with specific finishes, and we’ll start with more matte eyeshadows first!

1. Dampen your brush after picking up the eyeshadow unless the product explicitly says it is a wet/dry formula, though my experience is that even wet/dry matte eyeshadows can sometimes harden over time.  I’d err on the side of caution and spritz your brush or applicator with water or your adhesive spray after you’ve already picked up the eyeshadow.
2. Clean your brushes regularly to avoid natural oil and shimmer build-up, which help keep your matte eyeshadows usable for longer and minimize shimmer transfer.  This goes for anyone who uses a hair sponge or Color Switch between eyeshadows–you’ll want to be careful with mixing mattes and shimmers if you are a die-hard, matte finish lover because shimmer will sneak up on you otherwise!  The natural oils that can get built up in a brush can transfer onto the surface of your matte eyeshadow, which will harden it over time.
3. Applying mattes in the crease before shimmers keeps mattes matte with less effort.  Whenever I apply matte eyeshadows into my crease after I’ve applied shimmers to my lid, I end up with a lot more shimmer in my crease than intended.  If I lay down my matte eyeshadows in my crease or on my brow bone first, I find that there’s little shimmer migration/transfer from any blending I’ve done for the shimmers.
4. Buildable coverage isn’t a bad thing, so don’t think you have to buy the most pigmented eyeshadows ever nor apply color in a single application.  It is much easier to control the end result of a look by applying color more gradually, especially with deeper or more intense shades.  A good example is working with black eyeshadow: sometimes buildable is so much easier as it ends up more versatile and more foolproof than an intensely pigmented, rich black where one feels like even the littlest amount ends up being too much.
5. Use a paper towel to gently rub off harden surfaces that can occur over time with repeated use of mattes.  Some formulas are more prone to this than others–firmer, stiffer, and/or thinner powder mattes seem to be most prone to this, which is why you sometimes see testers in stores that feel very hard and have little color payoff because it’s collected so much oil from fingertips over time.
6. Powder over creamier and tackier bases if you’ve found that whatever primer or base you’re using causes your matte eyeshadows to darken too much for your liking or mattes become difficult to blend.  Creamier and tackier bases can absorb the matte powder better but then keep it locked in place too well.  If you use a flesh-toned powder or translucent powder and dust it over the prepped lid, that can help improve blendability.  However, I don’t find this method always works and can cause some eyeshadows to appear faded or result in poorer adhesion, so this is a step that’s worth trying and seeing how it fits (or doesn’t) in one’s routine.

How to Apply Shimmery & Metallic Eyeshadows

1. Consider how you prefer to apply your shimmery eyeshadows before buying a particular formula.  These days, there are more formulations and shades releasing that are best with fingertips, which some have no problem using and others loathe to do so.  I know that for me, while patting a shimmer onto the center of the lid isn’t a hassle, trying to maneuver color into my inner lid or outer lid with any semblance of precision is nearly impossible with my fingertips.  Other times, an eyeshadow might look its best when applied with a dampened brush (whether water or an adhesive spray, like MAC Fix+), and this is not always a step someone wants to bother with.  You’ll want to look for key phrases like “wet/dry” or “use fingertips for best pigmentation.”
2. Use denser brushes for creamier formulas and press and gently push and pat the color into place.  The denser brush will do a better job picking up product and then give you greater precision and help with the pressure needed to pat, pack, and press the eyeshadow into place.  I gently pull and sweep in very small back-and-forth motions (like 1-2mm in range) as needed to disperse and spread the eyeshadow over the lid.
3. Use a fluffy brush for a less shimmery effect.  I know, I know, why did you buy a metallic eyeshadow if you didn’t want a metallic one?  It’s about getting the most out of your eyeshadow–just because it’s metallic doesn’t mean you can’t tamp it down a bit for a different look.  By using a less dense brush, you’ll get a softer result, including the shimmer.
4. Pat over a matte eyeshadow to minimize the metallic or shimmery finish.  This can work with translucent powder, but I tend to prefer using a satin or matte shade in a similar hue lightly patted on, which doesn’t alter the base color too much but can tamp down a metallic eyeshadow that might be emphasizing my lid’s texture.
5. Intensify the sheen and shine using a dampened brush or applicator.  With most shimmery shades (true frosts and metallics; satins can depend), it doesn’t usually matter whether a dampened brush is used directly in the pan or not but it’s never a bad idea to pick up product first and then spritz the brush after.  By dampening the brush, it helps bind the eyesahdow better and yields a smoother, more metallic/reflective finish and can sometimes deepen the actual hue of the shade.  Your best bet would be to use an adhesive spray, like MAC Fix+, which dampens but also improves the hold, too.
6. Smooth out the shimmer of a drier eyeshadow with a dampened brush or a fingertip.  Oh, that shimmer eyeshadow looked so pretty in the pan but on the lid it looks a little blah or almost dry or gritty on the lid instead of reflective and sparkling? It’s not too late–if you press lightly with a fingertip, it can help “melt” the product onto the lid or a lightly dampened brush (without any additional product) minimizes the dryness and can smooth the eyeshadow significantly.
7. Use a tacky base or glitter glue/adhesive with sparkling and glittery eyeshadows to avoid fallout.  Glitter formulations are getting better over time, but there are still quite a few variations out there that, while not as bad as before, can still have fallout over time and nobody wants glitter in the eye.  I use something like Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy or Too Faced Glitter Glue, which both help quite a bit (the latter is better for a full-on glitter/sparkle product).  I keep glitter glues confined to the area I want glitter, because I find that other, more traditional eyeshadow bases/primers are easier to apply and blend product over than glitter glues.

I’d love to hear your own personal tips and tricks–particularly any (even if I’ve mentioned or touched on it!) that really helped you learning how to apply and blend out your eyeshadow.  Share below in the comments section!

Here’s an in-depth, step-by-step eye makeup tutorial that is geared towards explaining every step in as much detail as possible so that whether you’re a makeup beginner or an old pro, it should be easy to follow. My hope that is that the makeup tutorial will help you learn how to apply eyeshadow, how to blend eyeshadow, and how to use multiple eyeshadows in a single, cohesive look!

The look showcased in a warm, smokey eye that uses a light-to-dark gradient on the lid and layers mid-tone to deep shades in the crease for depth.  In real time, it takes about five to ten minutes per eye once you’ve had some practice. You might also want to take a look at this eye makeup diagram if you are unfamiliar with certain terminology (like crease, brow bone, etc.).

I wanted to create a fairly generic, warm neutral look with a slightly smoky outer corner and lash line, so it should be easy to replicate with a slew of products, but I specifically used Milani’s Bold Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette and Urban Decay’s Perversion 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil.  I used three brushes: a medium-sized, tapered crease brush (Wayne Goss 17), small, tapered crease brush (Wayne Goss 19), and a flat eyeshadow brush (Smith 253) for the tutorial.

Warm Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial | Step 1

Warm Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial | Step 1

Step 1:  Apply Color to the Crease

For most looks, I prefer applying crease colors prior to anything else.  Alternatively, working with mattes before shimmers is another way to think about it.  By laying down color into the crease first, I minimize how much shimmer from the lid gets diffused and blended into my crease since I shouldn’t have to do much blending (if any) at the end of the look.  I tend to layer colors in my crease and place them so that I can get particular deep color in the deepest part of my crease with color gradually fading upward toward the brow bone (deep crease, crease, above crease, and brow bone).  For adding depth, I tend to prefer applying as one of my last steps, but if preferred, you can read through step 6 and insert it between step 1 and 2!

The Tool:  I like using a soft, tapered crease brush–about medium in size–like Wayne Goss 17 (you can find other options from my must-have crease makeup brushes).  The edge should have some shape but not be too pointed; the sharper the point, the more precise the application and the less diffusion there will be.  Sharper points tend to work best for placing more intense, opaque color into the crease and using a fluffier brush to diffuse and blend.

The Technique:  Gently swirl and tap a tapered crease brush into Sweet as Honey eyeshadow, a warm, mid-tone brown with a matte finish.  Place the tapered edge just above the deepest (must sunken) part of the crease and start about halfway from the crease gently sweeping (no swirling, no circling, no pushing) the brush outward over the crease to pull and diffuse the color outward.  This keeps the concentration of the color in the center and enables us to blend and diffuse the color outward, inward, and upward.

Using the slanted portion of the tapered crease, gently sweep the brush back-and-forth in very short, feathery movements against the edge that closest to the brow bone.  I find that the edge closer to the lid tends to diffuse on its own (and is typically covered up by other eyeshadows, so a perfect gradient is unnecessary).  Always make sure to blend less than you think, take a step back and view the blending from a normal distance, and then go back in as necessary.

You want a decent blend, but we’ll be applying another shade above the warm, mid-tone brown to help diffuse and create a gradient up to the brow bone in the next step, so don’t spend forever diffusing this one shade.

Warm Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial | Step 2

Step 2: Diffuse the Crease Color & Highlight the Brow Bone

The Tool:  We’ll be sticking with the tapered crease brush from step 1, but you could also use a fluffy, blending brush (like Wayne Goss 17).  If you’re using a more powdery formula, I recommend using something denser (often why I’ll use a tapered crease brush!) for initial placement or else the eyeshadow can get everywhere.

The Technique:  Using a similar technique as in step 1, pick up a moderate amount of Bare in Mind Eyeshadow, a soft, light-medium beige with a satin finish.  First, I placed the brush along the outer portion of my eye, just above where we placed the crease color, and diffuse outward.  Then, I moved the brush upward (without getting any additional product) and diffused the brow bone shade upward and outward toward the edge of the tail of my brow.  Afterward, I swept the brush back and forth in soft, fluid motions from inner crease to above the outer crease once.  If necessary, I’ll pick up a bit more product to soften and blend out where it seems needed.

This particular shade has a light sheen to it, so it ended up doubling as a good shade to diffuse the crease color as well as to highlight the brow bone.  Sometimes, I’ll use two separate shades for this, and I prefer to apply my brow bone highlight earlier on, particularly if I’m working with more powdery formulations as there can be fallout from the brow bone onto the lid, which is easier to clean-up when there isn’t anything on the lid yet.

Pro tip #1:  if you have additional brushes, either wipe thoroughly between colors or use additional brushes (same shapes) as depths or finishes change to avoid cross-contamination.

Pro tip #2:  if you’re using a more shimmery shade to highlight the brow bone or want to really make the brow bone pop, try placing the shimmery eyeshadow directly under the arch of the brow.

Warm Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial | Step 3

Step 3:  Apply Eyeshadow to the Inner Area of the Lid

The Tool:  I like flat, small-to-medium-sized eyeshadow brushes that tend to work well for packing, pressing, and some sweeping/blending motions.  For this tutorial, I used Smith’s 253, which is one of my favorite brushes for this purpose as the arrowhead shape helps it fit well into the inner and outer corners of the lid space.  You can find other brushes I love for applying eyeshadow on my must-haves list.

The Technique:  I patted my brush into Gold-Getter Eyeshadow two to three times to pick up product, then lightly tapped the handle against my wrist to allow any excess to drop off prior to getting onto my lid.  I like to hold the brush so that the shape of the edge of the brush fits as well as it can to the inner corner of my lid.  I gently pressed and pushed the brush into the inner third of my lid and gently pulled the brush outward toward the middle part of my lid in a controlled, fluid motion.

After the initial placement, I turned the brush on its side (in photo two) and used the edge to gently diffuse the edge of the color toward the middle part of the lid.  I use this same technique when it comes to applying other shades to the lid, which you’ll see in the next steps.

Warm Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial | Step 4

Step 4: Apply Eyeshadow to the Middle of the Lid

The Tool:  For this tutorial, I used Smith’s 253, which is one of my favorite brushes for this purpose as the arrowhead shape helps it fit well into the inner and outer corners of the lid space.  I used it for the inner portion of the lid, and I’ll be using the same brush here.

The Technique:  I patted my brush into Blazing Hot Eyeshadow two to three times to pick up product, then lightly tapped the handle against my wrist to allow any excess to drop off prior to getting onto my lid.  For placement of the brush head, I tried to get it on the exact center of my lid–an area that doesn’t quite have any of the inner lid shade on it yet–and then gently swept it toward the inner lid shade but don’t get too worried about blending the two together.

Blazing Hot and Gold-Getter should blend into each other with little effort as they aren’t too contrasting, so using more of the side and edge of my brush, I gently move the brush back and forth (about 1-2mm where the two shades meet) to diffuse.  I find that the easiest way to avoid losing the intensity of the inner lid shade is to wipe off my brush once, and then go back and gently pull the inner lid shade toward the middle shade.

Warm Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial | Step 5

Step 5: Apply Eyeshadow to the Outer Lid

The Tool:  For this tutorial, I used Smith’s 253, which is one of my favorite brushes for this purpose as the arrowhead shape helps it fit well into the inner and outer corners of the lid space.  I used it for the inner and middle areas of the lid, and I’ll be using the same brush here.

The Technique:  I patted my brush into Red Between the Lines, a soft red, two to three times to pick up product, then lightly tapped the handle against my wrist to allow any excess to drop off prior to getting onto my lid.  I like to hold the brush so that the shape of the edge of the brush fits as well as it can to the outer corner of my lid.  I gently pressed and pusedh the brush from my outer lid toward the outer corner being more mindful of the shape and trying to bring the color to the outer corner–think of your lower lash line extending toward the tail of your brow (like you might for liquid eyeliner), that is the angle of the placement I prefer for my outer corner shade.

For blending, it should easily diffuse into Blazing Hot with just a very light back-and-forth sweeping motion between the two shades.  If you want more of the reddish hue, gently sweep the angled, fluffy edge of the 253 from the edge of the red shade toward the middle of the lid; if you want more of the copper hue, gently sweep the brush from the center of the lid toward the outer corner.

Warm Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial | Step 6

Step 6: Apply Eyeshadow to the Outer Corner & Add Depth to Crease

I prefer to add depth later on in the look, as I find connecting the outer corner to the deep crease to be easiest after I have a good idea of how everything is coming together.  By laying down a softer, more diffused color in the crease previously (in step 1), I don’t need to blend out the deeper shade too much.

The Tool:  I like smaller, tapered crease brushes (even a pencil brush will do well for the initial placement, and then use your medium or large crease brush–as clean as you can get it–to do any blending needed) like Wayne Goss 19.

The Technique:  I take the very point of the brush and tapped into the eyeshadow–Brunettes Have Fun, a dark, matte brown–and tapped the brush lightly against my wrist to remove any excess product prior to applying the color to my eye.  Now, I like to place the brush along the very outer corner/edge of my lid and where it meets the deeper part of my crease, and then gently sweep the brush in a single, fluid motion to about the halfway point of my eye.  By starting at the outer corner, the most product is deposited there and less and less gets pulled toward the middle/inner portion of my crease.

I used feathery, back-and-forth motions in the deep crease to even and diffuse the color with most of the blending done by the tapered tip of the brush.  Then, I use the fluffier edge of the tapered crease brush and diffuse the dark brown shade upward to blend with the original mid-tone crease shade we applied.

Warm Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial | Step 7

Step 7: Step Back, Assess, Fix

This is where you’ve done most of the work, and now it’s time to assess how everything is coming together in a normal mirror (in case you’ve been using a magnifying one–I always do!).  We don’t want to over-blend and get a muddy result, and it’s important to remember that unless you’re sharing high-res close-ups of your makeup, people in your day-to-day life are not going to be seeing a macro shot of your lid and any blending.

For this look, I ended up going back with the medium-sized tapered crease brush and applying more of Sweet as Honey Eyeshadow, the mid-tone brown, above the crease as I wanted a better and smoother gradient toward the brow bone.

Warm Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial | Step 8

Step 8: Final Touches, Highlighting, Lining

The last step is about applying a brightening shade to the inner corner/tearduct along with applying eyeshadow to my lower lash line and lining the waterline.  I put mascara on last, and I often go back and run my brush along my lower lash line for a final blend after liner and mascara is on, in case of any smudges (inevitably, there usually are a few!).

The Technique:  For the inner corner/inner tearduct, I like the Smith 253’s arrowhead shape to get a good pat of product into the nook and cranny there, and if you have smaller eyes, a small pencil brush will also work well.  I patted my brush once into a pale, shimmery eyeshadow–Sands of Time–and patted and pressed the product onto the inner corner of my lid–the space between inner area of the lid and the bridge of the nose.  I turned my brush on its edge, picked up a touch of Gold-Getter Eyeshadow, a shimmery gold, and placed it on the inner third of my lower lash line.

Then, I took my small, tapered crease brush and used it to smoke out the lower lash line.  I first applied Red Between the Lines, a soft red, from outer to inner lower lash line with feathery, sweeping motions back and forth to really diffuse and drag the color downward.  I then took just the very point of the crease brush and dipped it gently into Brunettes Have Fun, a dark brown, and applied it to the outer half of the lower lash line and tried to get it as close to the waterline as possible.

Pinterest-Friendly

Here’s a shorter, Pinterest-friendly version of the tutorial if you’d like to pin it to a board for later.

Whether you’re on a no-buy, low-buy, or are otherwise trying to limit your purchases this holiday season, this guide is for you. I find that the holiday season, particularly in beauty, can be a tough time to resist with the plethora of offerings and slew of sales.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of an anti-haul, it was (to my knowledge) made popular by Kimberly Clark (and originating with Amber’s Beauty Chair), a YouTuber, who creates videos discussing products she’s not going to buy and why (often newly-released or hyped up products).  I wanted to take the spirit of that and apply it more broadly to the holiday season, which even I find overwhelming after years of reviewing, as well as give some information on what low- and no-buys are about and some general advice on being successful with them.  You’ll also find some general reasons why to skip out on some of those holiday releases at the end

What are Your Guidelines?

If you haven’t already, outline the “rules” of your no-buy, low-buy, or what exactly you’re reducing or limiting purchases of. You’ll want to determine what you plan to allow yourself to purchase, if anything, and under what circumstances. It’s your plan, so it can be as specific or as broad as you want to be, though I recommend trying to be less broad where it makes sense to make it easier to stick with the plan. Think about the length of time you want to commit to the plan; it might be an initial commitment of six months or a year or even just a month.

If you’ve tried a no-buy or low-buy, and it did not work out, perhaps the guidelines need some work. Here are a few suggestions:

• Replacement only: if and when a product that is well-loved and well-used is finished, it can be purchased again
• One-in, one-out: if and when a certain product is finished, something can be purchased to replace it (could be finishing a lipgloss and getting a lipstick)
• Fill in the Blanks: there are certain gaps in your stash, make note of them, and only if an item meets that need you have can it be purchased
• [Product Type] only: this could be skincare or haircare, basics, and often is related to replacement-only kind of low- or no-buys
• Set budget: determine the amount of money you’re allowed to spend per period (week, month, year), whether unused money can be rolled over, and so forth
• Planned purchases only: either purchases you’ve mapped out well in advance of starting the low- or no-buy (e.g. “that palette releasing in December”) or if you’ve thoroughly researched a product, determined it fits within your guidelines, and so forth
• Project Pan: purchases can’t be made until certain items, a certain number of items, etc. have been used up (panning, de-tubing, etc.)

Unless there is a dire financial situation, try to set reasonable guidelines; it is better to start off with a more moderate low-buy and succeed than go cold turkey and fail within a week.

Focus on Your Goals

There’s usually some reason why one consciously changes how and what they’re purchasing. When you created your guidelines, you may have set goals, or you may have a goal in mind that has set off the need for reducing your beauty purchases. This could range from shifting your money to something different (e.g. buying a house, paying down debt, taking a vacation) to feeling overwhelmed by what you own to curbing impulse buys to simply wanting to spend less when it comes to beauty products. Whatever your goal may be, when you’re tempted, think about the goal you’re trying to achieve, look at the progress you’ve made, and reaffirm why that goal is a priority for you.

Here are some suggestions on keeping your eye on the prize:

• Track expenses: go back and track how much you spent prior to your new plan, and then track what you’ve spent (or not spent!) since
• Track progress: whenever possible, tracking and being able to reflect on the progress made toward a goal is useful and can make a goal seem a lot more tangible and doable
• Track usage: go through and inventory your collection (you can even use our vanity system!), see what you’re using (or not using), see how often you use certain things, and it can help make the driving force behind the need for a low- or no-buy clearer
• Find support: let friends and family know about your goals and ask for support; look for online communities like /r/MakeupRehab with like-minded individuals

Change Your Thinking

To be successful at reducing purchases, especially when making significant reductions, is to think more critically about your purchasing habits and what purchases you actually make and why. We don’t want to buy things on a whim any more; we want to buy products that fit our guidelines and are, ultimately, going to be products we love and use often. Are you READY?

• Research: Thoroughly read/watch reviews, look for swatches, learn more about the brand/formulation
• Explain: Why do you want this product? What need will it fill? Why is it tempting? Why now?
• Apply: How does it fit into your plan? How will it affect your progress? How does it fit into your collection? How often will you use it?
• Dupes: Do you have similar shades or something that is functionally the same?
• You: Will it make you happy or will it make you feel guilty? Will the happiness be from the acquisition or from actually using the product?

9 Things to Do to Help Resist Temptation

1. Unsubscribe from as many mailing lists as you can; these brands exist to sell to you, and some brands are particularly aggressive with daily emails, talk of FOMO, etc.
2. Make an inventory of all the products you own. It is helpful to know what you have, but it may also give you greater insight into what you have too many of (for you), products you seem to gravitate toward (and ones you can’t remember ever using).
3. Shop your stash for dupes or layering combinations to recreate whatever shade it was that made you feel tempted. You would be surprised just how far the art of layering can go to getting you close enough to just about any shade.
   • If you’ve made your inventory using Temptalia, you can view dupes in your vanity but also dupes between what you own and what’s on your wishlist, too!
4. Get through the clutter in your stash. I’m a big believer in destashing products you don’t like or don’t work for you; unless it’s truly necessary, sometimes recycling, trashing, or passing on to someone who would enjoy it more is far better than using it up. You paid for it already; you are not saving money by using it if you have something else you’d rather use. Do you know how long it takes to finish most color cosmetics? There’s little need to own 10 coral blushes and keep four you never use because you have six still to use! By removing the “noise” in your collection, it’ll let you appreciate and enjoy what you have more thoroughly–no wading through mediocre products, no more trying to use them just to say you did.
5. Save it for later, whether that’s to a real or mentalwish list and revisit in a week, two weeks, etc. and see if the pull of temptation is really there or was it just a knee-jerk reaction.
6. Try to avoid emotional shopping because you aren’t in the right headspace to do so thoughtfully. If you’re having a bad day, week, or month, try to find different ways to bring a smile to your face (watch a sappy movie, spend time with friends/family/pets, do your makeup instead, look at your progress, exercise, etc.) rather than simply buying something new and shiny. New and shiny lasts about as long as it takes to open the box.
7. Read reviews, look for swatches, and watch tutorials of products you’re interested in. Reviews can indicate whether it’ll even be worth acquiring, while watching tutorials can show you how something can come together (or not) and often show that, “Yeah, I can create that look with what I have” rather than, “Wow, that’s different than any other look I’ve ever, ever seen!!”
8. Accept any weaknesses and make adjustments. If it’s hard for you to physically go into a Sephora without making a purchase, avoid going to Ulta until you’ve made more progress toward your goal. Change doesn’t have to happen overnight!
9. If a sample is available of a product, see if that helps curb the need for it; you can try it without buying it, which will give you more hands-on experience using it. This could be an actual, deluxe-sized sample or just going to a counter and swatching (but maybe leave your form of payment at home to avoid impulse buying!).

5 Reasons to Skip the Holiday Hauls

1. You aren’t going to use everything in that set/palette.  10 lipsticks at a steal of a price, but if you’re only going to use two of them, that’s not really worth it, is it?
2. Why are you trying something you had no interest in before?  Just because it’s a good value or it’s on sale doesn’t mean you need it.  If you weren’t interested in it at full price, is it really something to be considering?
3. Limited edition is here today, gone tomorrow but repeated forever.  After awhile, a lot of the holiday sets and palettes start looking the same, especially by certain brands.  If you can’t partake this year to meet your goals, there’s always next year, and frankly, at the rate the industry is going, spring and summer and fall are going to turn into release bonanzas anyway.
4. The quality isn’t always the same in holiday sets as in full-sized products.  Again, even if it’s “cheaper,” is it really worth buying when the quality is lower? Why would you want a medicore or so-so product in your collection? There are so many excellent products that there’s no reason to settle for so-so!
5. You can dupe it.  No, seriously, do you know how many dupes I pull for most products?  It’s getting to be obscene.  A 15-pan palette might result in adding 500+ dupes to the database.  And if you can’t dupe it, maybe there’s a reason why you don’t already own something like it (e.g. doesn’t work for you, not practical, etc.).  Always check our Dupe List!  You can also compare two palettes to see similar shades (or even dupes).

Forgive Yourself for Mistakes

If you purchase something that wasn’t part of your plan, don’t give up on your low- or no-buy. Be kind to yourself by thinking about what happened, what you can learn from it, whether there should be adjustments made to your guidelines/plan/goals, and how to do better in the future. You want to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again, so the focus should be on how to improve and move forward.

Have you tried a low- or no-buy? How did it go? Do you have any advice to share?

What kind of trip is it?

What you might need for a trip will depend on where you’re going, what you’re doing, and how long you’re going for.  For instance, if you’re primarily going to be outdoors or underwater, perhaps you won’t need much, if any, but if you were going to a more formal occasion, you might want a full arsenal of your favorites.  Cold weather might dictate favoring certain products, while hot and humid weather will have you looking for your longer-wearing favorites.

What are you going to wear?

I like to decide what clothes I’m bringing first, and then I’ll assess what kind of makeup I’m likely to want to do with those clothes (plus, considering what I’ll be doing or where I’m going).  This helps me guide my choices and not bring everything and minimize bringing things I won’t use.  You can really plan out down to the last product, or you can simply come up with a rough outline, like whether you’ll wear mostly neutrals or you’ll need a more subdued lip color to pair with a really electric eye look you want to do.

Are you checking a bag, carrying on, or going by a less restrictive means of travel?

Depending on how you travel, you may need to be more minimalist or you really could bring everything but the kitchen sink (this always happens if I travel by car!).  When traveling with a carry-on, you’ll have to worry about meeting current liquid restrictions and fitting everything in a quart-sized bag, which can get challenging as it includes things like lotions, creams, gloss, mascara, foundation, and so on.  I admit that when I travel, I often impose on my husband’s quart-sized bag to get everything to fit!  Another option is to buy smaller, empty travel containers and take only the amount of moisturizer you might need or to put a week’s worth of foundation in a sample jar, rather than taking an entire bottle.  This is also a great idea for your favorite perfume; I usually try to grab sample sizes in my favorite scents when they’re available for free when you make a purchase at Nordstrom or Sephora.

How you travel may also determine how safely you need to pack your makeup, as checking a bag will require better padding and securing to minimize shifting in your luggage.  I like to put anything fragile sandwiched between softer items, rather than sitting on the sides of luggage, so if something sits on it, it doesn’t get the immediate impact and the clothes around it will help absorb that impact.  You can also lay foam, bubble wrap, or tissues over powder products (like a freestyle eyeshadow palette) to prevent movement and loosening while in transit.  You’ll want to avoid keeping too many glass containers next to each other, and if you have any pumps, a little tape can secure them in place so you don’t open your bag to a mess.  I also like to contain liquids in plastic bags if they’re larger (say a shampoo) or if I have several of them (so if one leaks, it’s not on your clothes).

How I Made My List

I traveled to Boston this past week for about four days for a family gathering, which I knew had a few semi-formal to formal events, so much of what I took was dictated by the four dresses I had planned.  I anticipated doing more neutral-to-warm-toned looks and didn’t expect to use much color, though I took some pops of color that played off colors in some of the dresses I had in the form of eyeshadow and eyeliner. I took more eyeshadow than I normally would, because I knew I was going to be doing my sister’s makeup as well, so I wanted to be able to give us both a variety of looks and finishes, and I also had a mega-sized palette that I felt like, “Might as well fill it!”  I always travel with my favorite cream eyeshadows, as they’re my go-to if I run low on time or end up with a very casual or lazy day, but I didn’t end up using them this trip.  They also work well as an eyeshadow base if desired.

Since I knew I was going for warmer looks, I took one warm-toned blush and one more neutral-toned blush, plus two highlighters that could be worn with either.  If I thought I might have a cool-toned look in the plans, then I’d also bring a plum or berry-hued blush, as that’s my go-to option for cool looks or use a neutral blush.

For lips, I wanted something light, mid-tone, bold, and subdued, and I always use lipgloss as a layering product to give me more lip color variations so I try to go for more dramatically different gloss shades (one that can lighten, one that can brighten, one that can darken, and one that I can wear alone).

When it comes to tools, I pack a few of the different sizes/types that I like, so I don’t have to worry about washing brushes while I’m away, and I can still use them as I would at home (which is typically one brush per color unless they’re really similar).  I actually forgot a pencil brush this trip, so I would add that (I ended up using an eyeliner brush for that function) normally!  If you don’t mind washing your brushes, I’d recommend a solid brush soap to manage the amount of liquids you have or taking a smaller amount of your go-to cleanser into a travel-sized container.

I packed all of my brushes and eyeliners in a medium makeup bag, and then I split any additional cylinder-shaped items between that bag and a second bag.  All of the other non-liquid makeup products fit into the other medium makeup bag.  I keep a third makeup bag for things like deodorant, cotton swabs, toothbrush, bandaids etc.  The large, freestyle eyeshadow palette I took with me fit perfectly within my purse, which I packed in my carry-on (I use a much larger bag on the travel days, then switch to my regular purse while I’m at my destination), and this helped to keep it protected.

See a full breakdown of what I took on a recent trip!

• Chanel Dentelle Precieuse Highlighting Powder (Limited Edition)
• Chanel Jersey Joues Contraste
• Tom Ford Love Lust Blush
• Kevyn Aucoin Starlight Highlighter
• Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lipgloss (Citrus, Canary, Oyster — limited edition, Midnight Violet)
• Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes (Escapade, Pink Haze, Platinum
• ColourPop Truth Super Shock Shadow
• Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation (Discontinued)
• Tom Ford Eau de Parfum (Tobacco Oud, Velvet Orchid)
• Tom Ford Extreme Mascara
• NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Primer
• Guerlain Rouge G Lipcolor (Gillian — limited edition, Garconne, Gems — limited edition, Gracia)

• Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation (Discontinued)
• Tom Ford Eau de Parfum (Tobacco Oud, Velvet Orchid)
• Tom Ford Extreme Mascara
• NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Primer
• Anastasia Dipbrow
• Guerlain Rouge G Lipcolor (Gillian — limited edition, Garconne, Gems — limited edition, Gracia)
• Marc Jacobs Highliners (Ro(cocoa), In the Buff, Sunset, Peridot, Intro(vert), Ody(sea), Th(ink))

• Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows
  • Row 1: I414, I318, S234, S228, I238, ME828, I838
  • Row 2: M546, S616, S556, M548, ME612, D562, D552
  • Row 3: M626, M536, D716, ME512, S506, ME654, D712
  • Row 4: I662, I628, ME554, ME304, D306, S404, I508

• Sephora Eyelash Comb
• Makeup Geek Mascara Spoolie/Brow Brush
• Louise Young Angled Eye Brush
• MAC 252 Brush
• Sephora Concealer Brush (Discontinued)
• MAC 239 Brush (multiples)
• MAC 242 Brush
• IT Cosmetics #112 Precision Eye Brush
• Hakuhodo J5523 Eye Brush
• Makeup Geek Outer V Brush
• Tom Ford #13 Crease Brush
• Wayne Goss #19 Crease Brush

• SUQQU Cheek Brush
• Wayne Goss #10 Fan Brush
• Wayne Goss #11 Blush Brush
• Wayne Goss #02 Highlighter Brush
• Chikuhodo Cheek/Highlighter Brush
• Hakuhodo G5545 Blush Brush
• Wayne Goss #11 Highlighter Brush
• Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
• Make Up For Ever #128 Powder Brush

• Tom Ford Medium Makeup Bag (I use two for makeup, I don’t think you can purchase these)

Shopping for an acrylic makeup organizer? Hopefully this post will have you covered! I reviewed, stuffed, and critically eyed four systems: Muji 2-Drawer ($25.25), Muji 5-Drawer ($27.95), The Container Store’s Luxe Acrylic Modular System ($109.95), and Sherrieblossom’s Icebox ($415.00). It was important to me to see how the highest, more luxury-priced system compared to a more affordable system, because then I can tell you with confidence whether something is worth it or not, or where the trade offs are.

Full Reviews

Click the links below to view the full review for each system along with more photos.

• Muji 2-Drawer ($25.25)
• Muji 5-Drawer ($27.95)
• The Container Store’s Luxe Acrylic Modular System ($109.95)
• Sherrieblossom’s Icebox ($415.00)

It’s hard to compare the pricing of each system at a total unit cost, because each unit is a different size. I tried to take the equivalent of one, full-span drawer and its interior space, which is really what matters. I looked at the price per drawer and calculated the square inches in each drawer, which gives you an idea of the drawer’s space for a single layer of product, as it ignores the vertical space that exists but may not be used. I also took the volume of the interior of each drawer in cubic inches to get a price per cubic inches, which accounts for the ability to layer or stack products. For both measurements, keep in mind that it is very difficult to fully use every single inch of space, but it is a more helpful way to compare across the units, I think, that is more objective.  (I really hope I did all the calculations right!)

Muji 2-Drawer ($25.25) is going to be your worst-value proposition, as each drawer is typically too short to layer products but tends to be a little too tall for a really efficient single layer drawer. However, for storing makeup brushes like fluffy face and cheek ones, it is ideal, as it gives enough height for the brushes to slide in and out without getting caught, whereas the shorter 5-Drawer may be too short. The best aspect of the 2-Drawer system is that it should stack the best, so as you grow, it can grow and stack nicely. I would eye the use of this very, very critically and see if you are storing products that would really fill up the height well or if the shorter 5-Drawers would work just as well for you.

• Best For:  Large/Face Makeup Brushes, oversized eyeshadows or blushes, thicker palettes
• Pros:  Designed to be stackable, so good for expanding collections; drawers slide on well, low entry cost
• Cons:  Costly for the space you get, not tall enough to layer most products but taller than a single layer of most products, may be hard to see in person, more prone to scratches
• Where to Buy: Muji

Muji 5-Drawer ($27.95) is the best bang for your buck when it comes to displaying products in single layers. I also found the width of it to be slightly better for the majority of items I tried–things just fit better across with less wasted space. It could be deeper, as could the 2-Drawer, by an inch or two and be more efficient for makeup storage. The drawers slide on easily, full extend or can be removed and placed like trays on a surface, so it’s easy to access any part of your stash. Each drawer is shorter, so something like a foundation bottle will not fit, but it is ideal for blush, lipstick, eyeshadow, eyeliners, eye brushes, lipgloss, etc. stored flat in a single layer. It is the cheapest for storing products as a single layer.

• Best For: displaying products as a single layer — eyeshadows, lipsticks, gloss, blush, eye brushes, most palettes
• Pros: Affordable/good price per sq. in., drawers slide in and out well, sturdy enough for most uses
• Cons:  More prone to scratches, less stackable (rubberized feet, but you should be able to stack one more on top and keep heavier items in the bottom one), may be hard to see it in person
• Where to Buy: Muji

The Container Store’s Luxe Acrylic Modular System ($109.95) consists of components so you can build your own system, so the one I purchased cost $109.95, but the pieces range from $11.99 to $29.99, so the actual cost will depend on what components you select (I made some combination recommendations here). I really liked that there was an option for a taller size, which would allow you to store quads, palettes, blushes, powders, and lipsticks vertically; the latter is more important to me, because labels facing upwards is my preferred way to find lip products. However, the tall is not tall enough for lipgloss (not even MAC Lipglass, which is a shorter gloss). Makeup storage systems are so dependent on very personal factors: 1) what you own, 2) how you use and reach for your makeup, and 3) how much you own, which is why the customization aspect of the height and width of the drawers is a huge advantage of this system. The major downside is that the drawers are flush with the exterior, so you can sometimes hear the drawers squeak as it rubs against the base, and if the drawers slid out more like the other three systems, it would be near perfect.  I felt like this was storing endless combinations and types of products, and things tended to fit well without having to offset a lot.

• Best For:  versatility, you can store the greatest type and amount of products across the various sizes; form and function (higher quality than Muji but lower initial investment cost compared to Icebox)
• Pros:  customizable/versatile as you can select your components to best fit your stash and how you use/reach for products, quality acrylic, ability to see it in-store (to a degree; not everyone will be close enough to a location), stores a lot, enough weight to keep everything in place, easily expanded or rearranged as needs change (can also easily be repurposed for other things if you decide one component doesn’t work as well)
• Cons:  drawers are flush with the exterior holder portion, so they don’t slide as smoothly as the other systems; possibly overwhelming on how to choose your components (they should create some “buy it all” combinations)
• Where to Buy: The Container Store

Sherrieblossom’s Icebox Wide ($415.00) (provided as a press sample) seemed to have the highest quality of the four systems I tested. Muji’s acrylic is the thinnest at 2mm on its drawers, while Container Store’s was 3mm; Icebox had 5mm, so significantly thicker and more durable. It was also the one that looked the best after sustained use, and it had a clearer, more crystal-like quality to it. To me, this one is only worth getting if you really need the size (it’s quite large) AND you expect to layer your products, because then you can maximize the vertical space of each drawer. As it is a single unit, it is sturdier than the Container Store’s option. For storing single layers of product, there is a lot of wasted vertical space in each drawer. I also highly recommend the Skinny over the Wide, because the top section is 5 inches in height for more versatility, if going with this option. My favorite part about this system was how well each drawer slid out (they also can be removed) and inclusion of inserts for dividing up the space of each drawer. I think the functional use of space could be improved, even the quality of the unit is high.

• Best For:  layering products — the two inch drawer height begs you to layer your products, can also store the average single eyeshadow on the side, which may be practical for more “long term” storage, or for someone who wants a higher quality acrylic
• Pros:  high quality acrylic that’s very clear, thick, and sturdy; single unit means it is sturdier and the thicker acrylic contributes a lot of weight even when empty; drawers slide beautifully in and out, hinged lid enables you to use the top section without height restraints, inserts enable you to divide the wide drawers into compartments
• Cons:  price (high investment cost and still expensive on a price per square inch/cubic inch basis), lower accessibility, will have a lot of wasted vertical space if you don’t expect to layer products
• Where to Buy: Sherrieblossom

I personally found the The Container Store’s Luxe Acrylic Modular System to work best for storing makeup overall.  Its strength is that aspect of customization and that made it the most functional for me.  It’s not a cheap system, but it can be built in stages or as your needs expand, so you can spread the cost out over time.  I also really liked the Muji 5-Drawer and think it is an excellent solution for storing products in single layers with little wasted space, and the best part is that it ended up being the most cost-effective of the four systems.  Between the two, I highly recommend considering how you currently store your products; do you want them all laid out, do you want to store anything vertically, and so forth.  I don’t think anyone who’s housing their stash in acrylic organizers is throwing the units across the room, and the Mujis are plenty sturdy for sitting on a desk or vanity.

Acrylic organizers are best suited for stashes that fit inside one entirely, or for storing your favorites, essentials, or current rotation.  I think that an organizer on top of an Ikea Alex drawer unit (9-drawer is the most popular and costs $129) is an excellent solution that’s clean, looks good, stores a lot, but it offsets some of the cost of housing bulkier products or ones you don’t reach for as often by using the Alex for that purpose.

What do I use for storing makeup?  First, keep in mind that I have an archive of makeup, so my storage needs are extremely high.  I’ve gone through various systems over the years, but I’ve been happy with my current solution for the last four years.  I use a 16-drawer Ikea Besta unit with high gloss black drawer fronts, which you can see here, and I have three of them; this is the more permanent, long-term storage, and I use organizers within each drawer to maximize space and still be able to find things (this post details what I use).  They don’t sell the Besta frame I use anymore, but they have a single column frame (as well as smaller frames), which runs you $70, plus the cost each drawer and front (this is where it gets pricey).  Mine were $560 each, but the height of the drawers was more effective for me compared to Alex 9-drawers, as I can stand lipglosses vertically.  I use a Besta Burs (70″ version) as my vanity, and it has two pull-out drawers; it is not particularly efficient for storing products (and I hate that the drawers don’t fully extend), but it’s narrow and perfect for me as I keep the majority of makeup stored on the Besta units and only keep things like foundation, favorite blushes, and so forth in the vanity.

See more photos!

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 24 x MAC Lipsticks

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — Brushes

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 23 x Urban Decay Eyeshadows

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 12 x NARS Blushes

The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular System

The Container Store Half Short Luxe — 14 x NARS Lipglosses

The Container Store Wide Medium Luxe — 35 x Urban Decay Eyeshadows (plus four on the side)

The Container Store Half Tall Luxe — 70 x NARS Audacious Lipsticks

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 24 x MAC Blushes (Grid Insert)

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 4 x NARS Blushes, 5 x ColourPop Super Shock Cheeks,
8 x Urban Decay Eyeshadows (per layer), 8 x MAC Lipsticks, 8 x NARS Lipglosses,
2 x Make Up For Ever Artist Palettes (Grid Insert)

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 36 x NARS Lipglosses + 8 x NARS Blushes (Slide Insert)

My personal system: Ikea Besta Burs 70″ High Gloss White Vanity

My personal system: Ikea Besta with 16x pull out drawers, High Gloss Black

My personal system: Interior of drawer (Guerlain products; those Rouge Gs are stacked,
so there are actually four trays of them in this drawer, alphabetized and separated by status)