Temptalia

How to Organize Your Makeup Collection + Best Makeup Storage Solutions (2018)

Christine — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 20:00:00 +0000

If you’ve started to feel like you’ve reached maximum saturation on makeup, or if your collection has started to overwhelm you, might I suggest diving into organizing your collection to get the most use out of it? A well-organized collection means you’ll be able to find the products you want when you want them, and ideally, you’ll have a much better big picture view of what you have currently. My own collection has evolved from personal to ever-growing to certainly one of the larger collections on the planet (surely, right??), and I’ve learned a lot about makeup organization over the years. Below, you’ll find my tips on how to organize your makeup collection along with the best makeup storage solutions (both vanities/desks, organizers, and more decorative options).

How to Start Organizing Your Makeup Collection

When you start an organization process, it’s important to assess what products you have, how much you expect you may add to your collection over time, where you’ll store everything, how you prefer to access or look for products, what you’ll use to keep everything sorted/organized, and so on.

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Tell me what magical drawer you’d like to see, and I’ll try to share These are the “archives,” where what makeup I keep gets stored, usually by brand and then type. This is the same system I’ve had for five years or longer, and it’s always full – but that means I’m regularly shifting things out for new things and I keep less and less new things as I understand my future needs more (for the blog). What I don’t keep is donated if possible and what I can’t donate goes to friends/family.

A post shared by Christine (@temptalia) on Jan 28, 2018 at 8:29am PST

How to Declutter Your Makeup Collection

The art of decluttering is really getting in touch with YOU and YOUR needs. I can tell you why I declutter something, but it won’t necessarily apply to you. Here are some questions to get you thinking about your needs, if you’re still figuring it out:

Why do I use makeup? How do I use it? Is it functional? Is it creative?
What products do I use regularly? What products can I recall off the top of my head? Which ones do I never use?
Will I really wear something that is outside my “comfort zone” or do I just like the idea?
If I never use X product, why am I keeping it? What purpose is it serving?

The easiest way to declutter is simply by getting rid of older products that are expired/turned/gone bad. I highly recommend checking older products for viability and whether any of them have gone past their usability, like dried out eyeliners or old mascaras or lipsticks that have lost their scent. Whether you follow the strict use-by guidelines or go by changes in smell, texture, etc., when you start to organize or reorganize, it’s a good time to make sure you’re putting away and keeping products that are still usable!

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I think this is about three, maybe four, months of lip products that I’ve swatched. Hubby was an all-star and sorted them all out so I could then assess what gets archived vs. what gets donated (or given to family for things like gloss). I keep less and less these days Pro tip: sort over an old sheet or towel… have learned this lesson the hard way

A post shared by Christine (@temptalia) on Nov 16, 2018 at 5:49pm PST

For some categories of gently used beauty products, you can donate them to places like Project Beauty Share, which accepts mailed in donations as well. You can also call around to local non-profits, and it may take awhile to find one that will accept gently used (most require new products), but you never know. You’ll want to donate products that can be sanitized (so not mascara, lipgloss, etc.) and are in good (almost new!) condition. Donating is about passing something on to have a better life in someone else’s hands, not a way to dispose of trash. If it can’t be donated, see if you’re able to remove any product to be able to recycle the packaging.

When it comes to the harder part of decluttering, a lot of it is learning to let go of products that you don’t use, whether it’s because you don’t like them, they’re poor quality, or you like other products better, and that can be an emotional journey, which can be harder for some. Decluttering is important when the amount of products you have gives you negative feelings; it’s not about being a minimalist or using up everything you own–it’s about enjoying what you have. Only you can decide how much is right for you, and it’s not a competition to see who can have the least or have the most.

If a product is poor quality and you have a better quality option, why are you keeping the poor one? Why would you choose to use an inferior product when you have a great version at the ready?

If you never wear red lipstick, why do you have five of them? Why not keep the best one for your coloring? (Maybe make a point to wear it, even if it’s just around the house! Or try dabbing it on as a wash/light stain.)

I heartily recommend checking out r/MakeupRehab for more support if you’re struggling with your collection, buying habits, and/or letting things go.

Determine How You Use Your Makeup

Think through your makeup routine from the types of products you use most often to how you apply them to how you decide what to wear when you wear makeup. It’s often easiest to organize your collection once you have an idea of how you think about products to look for. If you have a great memory and remember products by name, then organizing by brand/formula/shade may make sense, but if your memory doesn’t keep space in it for names, it may make more sense to organize by something like color or finish or function.

Products you use more often should be the easiest to access at any given point, so that might mean making your go base products like primer, foundation, and powder nearest and altogether, rather than grouped by type (like all foundations together). If you tend to have “everyday” or “work-safe” products and “weekend” products, having them separated in this fashion will make it easier to pull from for the occasion. It’s not a bad way to organize one’s products by putting some “special occasion” colors together so that when the occasion occurs… easy!

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Sorting… sorting…

A post shared by Christine (@temptalia) on Dec 31, 2017 at 1:28pm PST

For example, here’s how I think about my own use and how I have things setup on my end, which likely will not apply to you but may give you an idea of the thought process and what drives the how of organization! As I spend the bulk of my time trying new products, there are only a limited number of basics that I keep ready, such as foundations that work well for me, a few lip colors that can go with a variety of cheek colors when I’m swatching 10 in a row, blush/highlighter shades that go well with a variety of lip colors when I’m swatching 30 in a row, and then some of my favorite products that I’ll wear if I get a moment. I tend to remember formulas and some shades, so I organize most of the products I have (that aren’t as readily accessible) by brand and formula–I’ve found that I’m more apt to think “I want this one red shade by Bite…” or “I want to wear a Pat McGrath LuxeTrance…” Sorting by color, too, is likely impractical for me because 1) would take a decade to do, 2) makes it inefficient to store a bajillion products as I have.

Create the Space for Your Collection

Now that you’ve figured out what you’ll need to organize and a roadmap for how it should be organized, you’ll want to make sure you have the appropriate area for it all, whether that’s a new area or an existing area. What types of organizers and what might be practical will usually be dictated largely by your space. You might have to think vertical or outside-the-box to make smaller spaces work, but there are so many ways to organize one’s stash, regardless of space!

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So fresh and so clean! Just tidied up my vanity, wiped it down, reorganized my brushes…. too many or just enough?

A post shared by Christine (@temptalia) on Nov 20, 2018 at 12:14pm PST

Best Makeup Organizers for Your Space

I’ve used some organizers in the past, have moved on from them, have married others, and know some solutions that work well for others don’t work well for me, so with the experience of archiving and storing a mini-makeup library’s worth of products, I’ll break down the various ways I’ve found work well and for whom they’ll be more suited for!

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All clean!! Back to disaster in 12 hours

A post shared by Christine (@temptalia) on Dec 2, 2017 at 12:35pm PST

Vanities, Desks, and More for Makeup Collections

If you’re fortunate enough to have more space and can create a dedicated area to house your collection in more furniture-like organizers, this section is for you. A vanity is really no more than a table top, which may include a built-in mirror and a drawer or set of drawers, but it is a lot like a desk, too. I find that “vanity” is often like the word “wedding” and can just add an upcharge for being a “vanity.” You can easily turn most desks into vanities by adding a mirror onto the wall or getting a standalone mirror to put on top of the desk.

There’s a reason why you see a lot of Ikea makeup storage solutions on YouTube… they’re cheap, effective, and fairly accessible (at least in the US). I personally use Ikea’s Besta Burs (mine is wider than what’s sold these days), which has two drawers and a glossy finish (super easy to clean). I love mine, and the only issue I’ve had is that the drawers could extend further out to make accessing the back of the drawers easier. Here are thoughts on other Ikea desks that I think would work well for a makeup lover:

Ikea Micke ($49.99 to $99.99); the smaller version would work well for tighter spaces, maybe a corner in a bedroom, for getting ready. It will not offer tons of storage but should hold some of your basics like face products, brows, a few blushes, etc. within its drawer. The larger version is just about double the size, so it’ll offer a lot of area to spread out, which works in larger spaces, but it will be a poorer choice if you still need to fit actual storage units or drawers with it.
Ikea Alex ($149.00) now comes in a desk-form with two pull-out drawers. The Alex series is hugely popular for its drawer system, and if you like the look and feel of an Alex, you might actually prefer getting a standalone table top and laying it across two Alex drawer-units instead of the desk, which would work for smaller stashes and those with more space.
Ikea Linnmon / Alex ($126.99) is exactly as I mentioned: Alex drawers with a tabletop, though this system has two legs on the right side with the drawers on the left. I’ve seen many set-ups that have drawers on both sides. I use an Ikea tabletop with legs as my photography table and find it has held up extremely well over the years (at least five). This version would work well for someone with lots of space or who wants their vanity to double as their work space (as an actual desk).
Ikea Knotten ($159.00) is a standing desk, available in white and birch, with two open shelves and small drawers. This would work well for someone who prefers to stand and do their makeup and is tight on space. It is not going to be the most effective for storing all the products but would work well for someone who has less (or more storage space elsewhere) and wants to display their products.
CB2 Fullerton Modular Desk with 2 Drawers ($1,640.00) is a stunning option for those who have larger budgets and would work well for storing a mix of larger and smaller products in the drawer units (but pay attention to the larger bottom drawers and how they’d work for your purposes–good for hair dryers, body lotions but not so much for lipstick!).
CB2 Runway Acacia Wood Desk ($499.00) is very similar in look and feel to the Micke but is a more expensive option that may be more aesthetically pleasing to some.

Storage that Displays Your Makeup

If you’ve a very tidy individual or have some products you’ve love to display, whether limited edition boxes or packaging or uniquely-packaged products, you may want a solution that allows you to display some of your products while still offering storage for others. I do not recommend having lots of open shelving/glass unless you’re willing to keep everything fairly tidy and organized!

I personally use Ikea for just about all of my makeup storage units, and I have owned them for a long time and they’ve made many moves. Frankly, I’ve had some of my Ikea furniture hold up significantly better than furniture 3-5x more expensive, so I’m a fan. The shelf units I have all over my home doesn’t seem to be offered in its original form any longer, but it looks like the Kallax shelf units replaced it (they look like twins). I use plastic storage bins from The Container Store in these, which suits me, but it might not be the cleanest aesthetic for all involved. You can often find cube-shaped storage inserts that can slide in and out (Ikea sells some for the Kallax system), which will keep everything hidden from view, too, while allowing for displaying of certain products in open cubes. Here are some other shelving options:

Ikea Veberod (149.00) has a mix of open shelves and drawers (slightly open) with a smaller width and uses more vertical space. You can just use one or set a few up side-by-side for greater storage.
Ikea Fjalkinge ($329.00) is a wide, tall solution with open space and two drawers. What’s really neat about the design is you can adjust the shelves and drawers to suit your needs/height/use.
Ikea Besta (price varies on combination) is a very customizable storage solution, so you may want to visit an Ikea to plan (which is what I did). I purchased three double bookcases and removed the shelves and put in 16 drawers instead. They ran me about $600+ for high gloss black (drawer fronts made it pricey), but they don’t seem to offer that style as readily now. This Besta frame ($56.00) is half the width of what I have. This Besta combination ($470.00) shows a mix of glass and gray doors.
CB2 70″ Helix Bookcase ($219.00) is a gorgeous option for those who want lots of open shelving and don’t mind securing their bookshelf to a wall.
CB2 Piano White Wall Shelves ($24.95 to $49.95) come in 24″ and 48″ widths in glossy white and glossy black (CB2 also has several other wall shelves that come in different finishes with similar pricing/sizing). I recently added the 24″ shelves above my larger Ikea Besta storage units for more display space and absolutely love them. Just pay attention to the width of the shelf to make sure what you want to display will fit!

Generally, look for drawer units for office storage (sometimes scrapbook storage is a good term to lookup but can be too short to store much vertically, e.g. lipsticks standing up so check heights on drawers!) or bookshelves/bookcases for more open storage.

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Thank you everyone who suggested shelves!! @cb2 had these shelves in piano black, which match my dressers This has always been my fave spot in my makeup room, and now I love it even more! . . For those who asked, my fave @tomfordbeauty scents are: Amber Absolute, Bois Marocain, Fougere d’Argent, Plum Japonais, Oud Wood, Tobacco Vanille! I like Neroli Portofino in the spring/summer. . . And the bouquet is my wedding bouquet

A post shared by Christine (@temptalia) on Oct 21, 2018 at 3:38pm PDT

Makeup Organizers for Your Storage System

Now, let’s get into my favorite part: now that you’ve figured out the “system” that will hold your collection in general… how do we go about compartmentalizing everything in an organized fashion? The best and worst part… storage for your storage.

On a budget? If you receive boxes from products you’ve purchased (any type), you can use them as bins. This works well with empty shoeboxes, where you can keep or ditch the lid, or you can take a lipstick box and cut it in half, then glue all of them together to create little grids of lipstick holders. You can decorate with scrapbook paper or the like for a different aesthetic, too.

Here are several options, some I’ve personally tried and others I’m just sharing in an effort not to indulge in (because I don’t need them!)…

The Container Store Linus Drawer Organizers ($2.99 to $9.99) are my personal go-to. I use these everywhere in my home. I use a combination of the Shallow Drawer Organizers and Deep Drawer Organizers. My pro-tip: REALLY measure and figure out the sizes you need, and if you need a lot, wait for a coupon for 15% off one item and buy a box of the size you need.
The Container Store Clear Storage Boxes ($1.89 to $21.99) are another personal-go to for all things organizing throughout my home. I use these for larger items, like skincare and hair care. I think these are less practical for someone who a few items; I use these for more bulk organizing for something like “100 liquid lipsticks I have to swatch someday” and less for products I want to use one-by-one (like in a vanity).
The Container Store Clear Stackable Drawers ($12.99) come in a few sizes, and you can also purchase dividers (the best part about the system). I like these for how they store product BUT I am not personally enthused over the feel and quality (they just feel very thin and squeak when I pull drawers out). For The Container Store, I was ho-hum on them, but they are very functional.
byAlegory Makeup Organizers ($9.99 to $22.99) are for those who either have smaller collections where spending $20 on a holder for a dozen lipsticks is acceptable or for someone who has a big budget and wants to go all-in on acrylic organizers. I find acrylic organizers just get to be very expensive and aren’t as space-efficient for my personal needs (since I have a metric ton) but are gorgeous for those who more edited stashes or aren’t looking to maximize every millimeter of storage space. I reviewed their various organizers extensively here.
CB2 Shattered Glass Pencil Holder ($19.95) is just tall enough to house eyeliners, mascaras, and the like, and if you have small to medium-length brushes, it’ll work well for that. If you have very long or more top-heavy brushes, they’ll only work well with glass beads poured into the glass (about 1/3 filled) or if the holder is pretty full. I usually use pencil holder/mugs/short glasses for eyeliners. There’s a coordinating “catchall” that would be excellent for storing foundations, primers, etc. that you want to keep on top of a table/desk.
CB Cement Pencil Cup ($5.95) is a more industrial look and feel that isn’t as commonly seen, so I wanted to share it as a suggestion!
Target Clarte Glass Tumblers ($9.99 for 4) are 16 oz. glass tumblers that work well for storing brushes (I have several from Target, but they were from years ago, and I don’t recall the name/style… they look like these). I use round, glass beads from Save-on-Crafts.com (only place I’ve found them) and fill them about 1/3 of the way and use these to store my brushes.
Target Short Glass Tumblers ($0.99 each) are shorter but similar in look to the Clarte tumblers (4″, more like a pencil holder in height). There are also taller, 13 oz. versions at the same price here.

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Spent the morning trying to get the mail room under control This is “I’d like to review sooner rather than later but not right now” stuff. New things that I want to review right away live on my kitchen counter til I bring them to my photo room

A post shared by Christine (@temptalia) on Mar 20, 2018 at 8:59am PDT

These are just a few items I’ve tried and use and a few that I’m presently drooling over! Anything that’s used to organize office supplies or kitchen utensils are often good places to start, whether desk/tray organizers, pencil holders, or paper organizers (for palettes). I find glassware is a great place to look for more cylindrical holders (I like these for pencils, liners, mascaras, brushes, etc. that are more on display), and there are some gorgeous, more decorations out there. They’re also super easy to clean!

Helpful Posts from the Past

I reviewed and rounded up several acrylic storage makeup organizers/solutions previously here, which I highly recommend reading if that’s the direction you want to go in.

Here’s a write-up on organizing your makeup with additional tips and tricks using office and kitchen drawer organizers.

I love using glassware to organize my eyeliners and brushes, which I wrote about here.

The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular System | Read Review

Muji 5-Drawer / Read Review

Muji Acrylic Drawers / Read Review

Muji 5-Drawer / Read Review

byAlegory Makeup organizers | Read Review

The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular System | Read Review

Muji 5-Drawer / Read Review

Muji Acrylic Drawers / Read Review

Muji 5-Drawer / Read Review

byAlegory Makeup organizers | Read Review

Best Makeup Organizers & Storage Solutions 2017

Christine — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 12:00:00 +0000

The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular System

Last year, I reviewed a few different makeup organizing solutions, which I’ll recap below, and I thought that it would be a good time to check in on my personal favorites and how I organize my makeup presently. It hasn’t changed much, but I received an email alert from The Container Store about their Luxe Acrylic system being on sale (and as a long-time shopper at the store, sales are not always as frequent as one might like–I can’t be the only one who loathes having to spend money to contain things that I spent money on!), which made me want to pass the word along.

So, first: storage sale alert! The Container Store has my favorite Linus Shallow / Deep drawers (25% off) along with their Luxe Acrylic Modular System (20% off) on sale. The modular system is great for someone who wants an acrylic system that is very customizable as you can build it as you please (though now, you can also select from a pre-made combination!). I have too much stuff to store, but I love the way it looked and worked overall–I still use what I bought for the original review to hold products-to-review (see my full review here).

Makeup Organizer Reviews

Check out the posts below for more images and detailed information about each system, pros and cons, and the like.

My Most Used Makeup Storage Solutions

My vanity (Ikea Besta Burs, 70″ is no longer sold, but they still have a 47″ version) is a larger, two-drawer “desk-like” piece of furniture with a separate mirror mounted on the fall just above it. I love the way it works for me, as it is very wide but has a narrow depth, and the high gloss finish has held up beautifully (never seems to stain or scratch); my only complaint is the drawers do not pull out all the way, so accessing anything in the very back is annoying. My vanity drawers hold basics like my favorite, everyday kind of cheek colors, concealers, foundations, primers, and the like. My chair is clear with a chrome-plated frame (Ikea Tobias) and is comfortable enough–and I saw Ikea has it in a translucent gray and bluish-teal (swoon!)–but very easy to clean (my main concern).

Temptalia’s Makeup Room

I have all of my brushes in glassware (just tall, drinking glasses) with round, glass beads (here) to keep the brushes in place on top of the vanity along the back edge. I also store my eyeliners similarly but in more decorative glasses (Rosanna Jazz Age Old Fashion Glasses). The wall-mounted mirror (Ikea Ronglan, no longer available, try Hovet) gives me a good “at a glance” or “from a normal viewing distance” view of myself, while the table top mirror (Simplehuman Rose Gold Pro) is magnified so I can see details but doesn’t feel distorting. The rug is by Safavieh and is part of the Cedar Brook Collection.

Temptalia’s Makeup Room

I keep the majority of my makeup in customized Ikea Besta two-column bookshelf units (I removed the shelves and put in 16 drawers instead), but it does not appear that any of those things are sold anymore, though you can certainly build some variation. (They have a single bookshelf unit here, and then the drawers are here with drawer fronts here.) They are, effectively, tall dressers with pull out drawers that are tall enough that I can store most glosses vertically but do not have a lot of wasted vertical space either. If I were to do it again, I would probably get more of a TV wall unit with a mix of drawers, shelves, and glass doors (or open shelving).

I always have Linus Shallow and Linus Deep Drawer Organizers on hand for organizing within drawers. (I use them everywhere, not just for makeup, but these make up 95% of the organizers for my “archives.”) You can check out this post to see them in action and get more insight into what each size holds from my experience. The sizes I use the most these days are: 6″ sq. (Shallow), 3″ x 12″ (Shallow), 6″ x 9″ (Shallow), and 4″ sq. (Deep).

Also featured in the room: Safavieh California Shag Rug (4′ x 6′ in Purple), Derringer Coffee Table by Mercer41 (no longer available, but Alvar Coffee Table looks extremely similar).

About as close to a room tour as you’re going to get at this point

A post shared by Christine M. (@temptalia) on Dec 3, 2016 at 2:22pm PST

ByAlegory Acrylic Makeup Organizers & Storage Solutions

Christine — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:00:00 +0000

ByAlegory Organizer

ByAlegory Organizers are acrylic containers designed to fit various types of makeup. They have a range of sizes/types of organizers, and I picked up one of almost all (they came out with another style after I bought mine) to take a look at, see how they fit different types of makeup, and of course, to share that information with you. In general, I think these types of organizers are great for someone with a stash that will fit them OR for storing go-to/daily products, but if you have a lot of product, acrylic organizers add up quickly! The acrylic felt sturdy and scratch-resistant enough for regular use; it didn’t feel cheap or thin. They can be used vertically or horizontally, though I’ve shown them all horizontally (or flat, if you prefer). The organizers are available in different colors, as well, which isn’t as common with acrylic systems: Clear, Pink Clear, Purple Clear, Black Clear, White Solid, Black Solid.

Worth noting, since I bought these, I have seen the brand have regular sales/incentives, so there is that to watch for, and they are sold through Amazon Prime (also known as one of the best things ever), which is where I purchased all of mine.

ByAlegory Lipstick Organizer ($14.89) is a short, long tray with three columns (eight slots each for a total of 24 slots) designed to hold lipstick. It measures 8.6″ in length, 3.5″ in width, and 1.4″ in height with 0.85″ interior compartments. It holds a variety of lipsticks across many brands, and the wells are deep enough to keep most sizes upright, though they could easily extend the height by a half of an inch to ensure greater stability across some of the slimmer-style tubes. Things that fit: A lot of lipsticks (I tried Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Dior, MAC, NARS, Urban Decay)

ByAlegory Oversized Lipstick Organizer ($12.99) is a smaller, rectangular-shaped tray with three columns (four slots each for a total of 12 slots) designed for larger-shaped tubes. It measures 5.19″ in length, 4.02″ in width, and 1.18″ in height with 1.02″ square, interior slots. The standard lipstick organizer fits a fair number of brands, but more square-shaped and decorative tubes tend not to fit, so this is the option for storing those. Things that fit: Tom Ford Lipstick (full-size), Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick, Buxom Lipstick, Marc Jacobs Lovemarc Lipsticks, Givenchy Le Rouge, Guerlain Rouge Automatiques (if you have label facing up, the slider won’t fit in the standard holder), YSL Rouge Volupte Lipsticks

ByAlegory Lipgloss Organizer ($23.99) is designed to fit taller, narrower tubes of product. It measures 8.6″ in length, 3.5″ in width, and 3″ in height with .85″ square, interior slots (you’ll want to measure from the widest point of the lipgloss/product that will be in the container). It can hold up to 24 items. It definitely accommodates lipgloss well, but it can also house liquid lipsticks, eyeliners, lip liners, thinner-handled brushes (probably not your favorite face brushes, but most eye brushes fit fine in it). This was one of the most versatile units that I tried; I felt like there was little in the way of “tube-shaped things” that wouldn’t fit. Things that fit: Most liquid lipsticks (including Kat Von D, ColourPop, Anastasia), most lipglosses (I couldn’t find a formula that didn’t fit), eyeshadow pencils, lipstick crayons, most face brushes (even some of my thicker Marc Jacobs face brushes fit in easily)

ByAlegory Cream Shadow Organizer ($13.99) is a short tray with square-sized compartments designed to fit small compacts and pots. It measures 11″ in length, 5″ in width, and 0.75″ in height with interior compartments of 2″ in length and 2″ in width. The tray is really short, so it works well for short drawers and spaces. The organizer is ideal for someone who likes to store their products and visually be able to see the color/shade instantly. Smaller gel eyeliners and cream eyeshadows fit with some space around them, so they shift a little in their respective compartment. I wish each compartment was a little wider, perhaps 2.25″ as it fell just shy of holding smaller-sized blushes (Clinique Cheek Pops) and larger eyeshadows (like MAC Mineralize Eyeshadows, MAC Large Eyeshadows, Kat Von D Metal Crush Eyeshadows). It is a shallow tray, so while you can keep things on their side, it doesn’t feel quite as secure as would be ideal, but if you keep yours in a drawer and aren’t moving the trays often, it could work. Things that fit: ColourPop Blushes barely(!) fit, MAC Paint Pots, MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots, MAC Fluidlines, Chanel Illusion d’Ombres, ColourPop Super Shock Shadows, L’Oreal Mono Eyeshadows, Illamasqua

ByAlegory Eyeshadow Organizer ($19.99) is a two-column tray (16 slots in all) designed for smaller compacts, like eyeshadow. It measures 8.6″ in length, 4.73″ in width, and 1″ in height while each compartment’s interior dimensions are 2″ in length, 0.86″ in width, and 0.78″ in height. It’s a smaller organizer, and it really does seem to fit primarily single eyeshadows best; anything blush-size doesn’t fit and some of the more rounded compacts sit a little higher in the compartment but are close enough to fitting that it isn’t a concern (it would be if these were stacking or you had a very short drawer you were putting these into). Things that fit: MAC Mineralize/Large Eyeshadows, NARS Single Eyeshadows, NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadows, MAC Eyeshadows, Burberry Eyeshadows, ColourPop Super Shock Shadows, Urban Decay Eyeshadows, Milani Eyeshadows, L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows

ByAlegory Palette Organizer ($29.99) is a larger, customizable organizer that can have up to eight distinct compartments, but you can remove the dividers to create larger compartments if desired, and you can fit more than one palette in each slot (even as-is) depending on the thickness of the palettes you’re putting in it. It measures 9.75″ in length, 9.5″ in width, and 2.7″ in height with interior compartments measuring 1″ in length, 8.6″ in width, and 2.3″ in height. I love that there’s some ability to customize here, which at least lets you stack even more palettes (say all your Nakeds) together if desired. You can also double or triple up for slimmer palettes. They’ve also released a Small Palette Organizer ($25.99). Things that fit: Any palette that is shorter than 8.6″, as the width can be customized and each compartment is larger than almost all palettes (except a few bulky holiday mega sets); notably, Natasha Denona palettes were just a little too long to fit.

ByAlegory Compact Organizer ($19.99) is a short, single-column tray that can hold eight slim compacts. It measures 8.6″ in length, 3.5″ in width, and 2″ in height with interior dimensions of 2.95″ in length, 0.90″ in width, and 2″ in height for each slot. This is more accommodating for most blushes but doesn’t quite fit larger products like MAC Beauty Powders/Mineralize Skinfinishes perfectly (they sit about a half inch above the bottom of the compartment). Things that fit: MAC Mineralize Blush, Chanel Blush, Burberry Blush, Clinique Cheek Pops, MAC Blush, NARS Blush, Tarte Blush, theBalm Blush, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors

ByAlegory Oversized Compact Organizer ($24.99) is a large tray with two columns with five slots each (10 in total) designed to hold larger compacts. It measures 10″ in length, 8.5″ in width, and 2.6″ in height with each compartment’s interior dimensions being 3″ in length, 1.75″ in width, and 2.16″ in height. This is the most free-form of their offerings, as the larger slots can store a slew of products, from small to large, tall to short. What’s nice about this one is that you can use it for larger compacts, as intended, or you can adjust and store different parts of your everyday routine in it as well. Things that fit: Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Blushes, Slimmer Palettes, MAC Eyeshadow Quads (and most other eyeshadow quads), Loose Powders, Foundation Bottles, Perfume, MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes, Physicians Formula Powders

ByAlegory Eye/Lip Liner Organizer ($19.99) is designed to fit very tall, narrow cylinder-shaped products, like eyeliners and lip liners. It measures 5″ in length, 2.16″ in width, 2.16″ in height with two interior-sized slots–20 0.34″ round slots and 6 0.50″ round slots. Of all the organizers, this was the least useful to me; I think the slots are a little tight for some eyeliners with caps (a lot of eyeliners have the colored end/label on the end, not the cap-side). It worked well for holding most eyeliners, most eye brushes, larger eye crayons, and smaller face brushes (a lot of my Japanese cheek/highlighter brushes fit). Things that fit: Most pencil liners (Urban Decay, Sephora, Stila, Marc Jacobs, MAC, Zoeva, Tom Ford, Chanel, Illamasqua), NYX Jumbo Pencils (in large slot only), brushes (with narrower tapers–a lot of eye brushes fit no problem in the larger slots, smaller face brushes)

See more photos!

ByAlegory Organizers

ByAlegory Lipstick Organizer

ByAlegory Oversized Lipstick Organizer

ByAlegory Lipgloss Organizer

ByAlegory Cream Shadow Organizer

ByAlegory Eyeshadow Organizer

ByAlegory Palette Organizer

ByAlegory Compact Organizer

ByAlegory Oversized Compact Organizer

ByAlegory Eye/Lip Liner Organizer

Best Makeup Organizers: Acrylic Organization Systems Overview

Christine — Thu, 14 May 2015 18:00:00 +0000

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 — 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)

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide Acrylic Makeup Organizer Review & Photos

Christine — Thu, 14 May 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide ($415.00) contains five drawers and one top section (with lid), even in height. The unit is 15 inches / 38.1 centimeters in width, 12 inches / 30.5 centimeters in depth, and 12.5 inches / 31.75 centimeters in height. Each drawer has an interior space of 14.5 inches / 36.8 centimeters in width, 11.5 inches / 29.2 centimeters in depth, and 2 inches / 5 centimeters in height. The system comes with three sets of removable/adjustment inserts–an X (creates four triangle-shaped compartments), Slide (for dividing space into three columns), and Grid (creates six compartments) (each additional insert is $15).

It’s the heaviest, sturdiest, and uses the thickest acrylic out of the organizers I’ve reviewed today (full post of comparisons and thoughts coming next). The acrylic on the actual drawer component is 5mm in width, which is almost double the width of the other systems. There are indentations on the side of the interior of the unit for each drawer to slide out more easily so they don’t slide on top of each other. The acrylic used in the Icebox was also the clearest/cleanest in appearance from what I have tried. The unit comes altogether, so there’s no worry about drawers sliding off of each other. It comes with rubberized feet, but you’ll need to fill it or else I found that pulling one drawer would cause the whole unit to move forward (I had just one drawer filled and the others were empty, but when they were all filled, I didn’t have trouble).

These are all good things, but like I am with most things, function is also quite important. I really love that it comes with inserts so you can divide up the wide space and create smaller compartments, which I think works well for someone with a few of different types of formulas or a variety of brands, since like can be with like (which almost always uses space more efficiently). I don’t like the height of the drawers. I would rather see one drawer at four or five inches, another at three inches, and then shorter ones at one or one and a half inches, because I think you could make better use of the vertical space this way. It will be difficult to find the shade you’re looking for if you have two or three layers of products, as you’ll have to dig through it all. This is a default when you have a ton of products to organize, but this type of system really lends itself better to displaying products so you can easily pick the ones you want to use for the day. As a result, it is ideal to have things in single layers, and most products are either short or very tall (think eyeshadow vs. lipstick, stored vertically) and having every drawer have a two inch height is overkill for that purpose, yet it’s way too short to accommodate anything stored vertically.

I would have loved to see this unit come with a large, four inch tall drawer at the base, three drawers at one and a half inches tall, and then the top compartment at five inches. It could also work with shorter drawers overall and a large top compartment. The Icebox Skinny has a five inch tall top section, but the drawers underneath are the same two inch height, but I think that would be a better use of vertical space than the Wide based on my attempt to fit various products into it. The Icebox Wide fits a fair amount of product, so it is ideal for someone who has more than a traincase-full but not enough for a “makeup room”! It’s extremely well-made, and I can see a lot of thought into some of the details (like how the drawers slide out, customization of interior space), but I definitely had trouble maximizing the space in a way that I felt was efficient but still practical (from a usability standpoint).

What each drawer can hold…

28 x MAC Blushes | no dividers, three rows of six, two rows of five
24 x MAC Blushes | with divider (creates six compartments), each compartment holds four offset
30 x ColourPop Super Shock Cheeks | with divider (creates six compartments), each compartment holds five
48 x MAC Lipsticks | with divider (creates six compartments), each compartment holds eight
25 x NARS Blushes | no divider, five rows of five, up to three layers, or six rows of five staggered
24 x NARS Blushes | with divider (creates six compartments), each compartment holds four, up to three layers
62 x Urban Decay Eyeshadows | no divider, seven rows of eight each, plus six offset on the side, up to two layers
48 x Urban Decay Eyeshadows | with divider (creates six compartments), each compartment holds eight flat, up to two layers, can accommodate them on their side
54 x NARS Lipglosses | three columns of eighteen each, up to three layers
2 x Make Up For Ever Artist Palettes | divided compartment holds two layered, up to three layered
24 x NARS Blushes | with divider (creates three vertical compartments), each compartment holds eight flat, up to three layers
62 x ColourPop Super Shock Shadows | no divider, seven rows of eight, plus six along the offset on the side

What the top compartment can hold…

On the Icebox Wide, the top compartment opens with a lid, which is on a hinge and lays flat against the back of the unit when opened, or it can rest against a wall, if it is leaned up against one. If you leave the lid open, you can create an area where vertical space isn’t restrained. The Icebox Skinny has a much taller top section (5 inches). After using this one, I would highly recommend the ability to have a much deeper top section if you tend to have a lot of product syou’d want to store vertically, assuming you want to keep the lid closed. The top section comes with a cross-grid that divides it into four triangles. If you plan to store a lot of products vertically in this area, I would recommend swapping out the X divider for a Grid, as you can get six, rectangular spaces, which are much easier to work with and enable you to sort by type/brand/size and not have to fill each compartment as full in order to keep them all standing vertically. (Be careful pulling the X insert out, as it is very tightly fit into the space.)

55 x NARS Lipsticks | fit an assortment of Audacious and regular lipsticks
55 x MAC Lipsticks | fit them horizontally, but as these have curved tops, you’ll need to pack it full in order to keep them standing
3 x Urban Decay Naked + 2 x Naked Basics Palettes | fit three full-sized Naked palettes, plus the two smaller palettes flat and stacked
3 x Z-Palettes + 2 smaller palettes | these sections were good for storing these wide, tall kind of products/palettes (your lid won’t close, if that wasn’t obvious!)
3 x Liquid Foundations + Loose Powder | one section fit three liquid foundations (lying down) and a loose setting powder, so you could close the lid with this set-up; the foundations obviously can be stood up, too, and then the space would accommodate more bottles

See more photos!

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 55 x NARS Lipsticks

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 3 x Z-Palettes + 2 x Make Up For Ever Artist Palettes

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 28 x MAC Blushes

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

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 4 x NARS Blushes, 5 x ColourPop Super Shock Cheeks,
8 x MAC Lipsticks (Grid Insert)

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 54 x NARS Lipglosses

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

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 62 x ColourPop Super Shock Shadows

Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide — 25 x NARS Blushes

The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular System Makeup Organizer Review & Photos

Christine — Thu, 14 May 2015 15:00:00 +0000

The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular System

The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular System ($11.99 for $29.99) includes a variety of individual units that can be stacked onto each other to create a customized makeup organization solution for your needs. I didn’t purchase all the different types of units, but I purchased a few to give a good idea of what you could store or how it might work. I decided on the Wide Medium Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer ($29.99), Half Tall Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer ($19.99), two Half Short Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawers, and Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer ($29.99) to sit on top of the other units. The system you’re seeing in this post cost a total of $109.95.

The widest and largest component is the Wide Medium Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer ($29.99) is 12.5 inches / 31.75 centimeters in width, 8.5 inches / 21.6 centimeters in depth, and 2.5 inches / 6.35 centimeters tall. There is also a tray version, which could be placed on top of your system of components, which is shorter (1.25 inches / 3.2 centimeters in height) and has no drawer/lid, but it would work for storing things like piecemeal acrylic organizers (like a lipstick holder), perfumes, foundation bottles, and so forth.

The smallest component is the Quarter Short Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer ($11.99), which would be useful for storing things like eyeliners, shorter makeup brushes, five or so lipglosses, or a few single eyeshadows; this is half the width of the Half Short Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer ($14.99) (which is featured in this post). There is also a Quarter Tall Acrylic Modular Drawer ($14.99), which is double the height of the Quarter Short and half the width of the Half Tall Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer ($19.99) (which is featured in this post).

I like the idea of the Quarter Short and having two stacked on top of each other; one holding eyeliners and one holding eyeshadow primers–I could see that working well. I wouldn’t go for too small of sizes unless you have a good idea of how you plan to separate and organize your products, as they can be limiting if you’re not quite sure. On the other hand, the Half Tall drawer is better suited for larger products or oddly-sized ones; while it can fit things crammed in, you will have trouble seeing what’s in it, so keep that in mind.

The strength of this system is its ability to be customized, so if you have a lot of single eyeshadows, you can get the right drawers for that. I like that they have the taller drawers available, as most lipsticks will fit vertically (labels facing you), which makes finding the one you want easy. Most lipglosses are not going to fit vertically, which is a challenge for nearly all drawer systems, so your best bet is to lay gloss flat or store them in the top unit, which has no height restraints. The acrylic is sturdy and has good clarity, and it doesn’t feel cheap by any means.

The system is modular, but it is really held together only by rubberized feet on the bottom of each component; they do not interlock by any other mechanism. The empty components are moderately heavy, and when stacked up, they stayed put despite shaking the table strongly. Once you load it up with your makeup goodies, it seemed even sturdier, so for most, I think it should be sufficiently stable. The drawers are also nearly flush with the holder itself, so you can hear the acrylic squeak sometimes as you pull out the drawer. They do not pull out as smoothly as I would like, though this seems to be common with acrylic drawers that are more flush.

What a Wide Medium Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer can hold…

Exterior: 12.5 inches / 31.75 centimeters in width, 8.5 inches / 21.6 centimeters in depth, and 2.5 inches / 6.4 centimeters in height. Interior: 12 inches / 30.5 centimeters in width, 8 inches / 20.3 centimeters in depth, 2 inches / 5 centimeters in height. It’s tall enough to layer some products if desired, and it is wide enough to fit an assortment of types of products or a combination of products.

35 x Urban Decay Eyeshadows | five rows of seven in each, up to three layers, and you can have them on their side, though it will be a challenge to find things, of course!
35 x ColourPop Super Shock Shadows | five rows of seven in each, up to two layers, you can have them on their side as well
3 x Urban Decay Naked + 2 x Naked Basics Palettes | single layer of three of the larger palettes, the two smaller ones stacked; you can stack all three of the larger Naked palettes together
12 x NARS Blushes | three rows of four each, up to three layers
36 x MAC Lipsticks | two rows of fourteen each, plus a few loose ones in the excess space
28 x NARS Lipglosses | one row of eighteen, plus two vertical rows above of five each

What a Half Tall Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer can hold…

Exterior: 6.25 inches / 15.9 centimters in width, 8.5 inches / centimeters in depth, 3.5 inches / 8.9 centimeters in height. Interior: 5.6 inches / 21.6 centimeters in width, 8 inches / 20.3 centimeters in depth, and 3.25 inches / 8.3 centimeters in height. I found that in practice that I didn’t like this size as much as I expected to. The height works well for storing products vertically, like lipsticks or short lipgloss, but you need a lot of them to keep them from falling over or else create a divider. I would go for the Quarter Tall, which halves the width but keeps the height. This wider size will be better for more of a mish mash of products or larger, more oversized products that don’t fit elsewhere–say extra foundation bottles, eyelash curler, or giant bronzer. It can also be used to store some palettes, depending on how large they are. It may be more ideal for quads and the like as well if you have more than a handful.

36 x NARS Blushes | two columns of fifteen, plus six along the side
70 x NARS Audacious Lipsticks | ten rows of seven fit perfectly
70 x MAC Lipsticks | ten rows of seven fit with a little give but nothing will fall over
17 x MAC Powders | two rows of seven each, plus 3 along the back
20 x MAC Blushes | two columns of ten each
7 x Urban Decay Naked Palettes | all three of the full Naked palettes fit along the depth, and you could likely fit at least four more or so (or other comparable palettes)
MAC Quads, Dior Quints, Chanel Quads | these fit within the height of the drawer

What a Half Short Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer can hold…

Exterior: 6.25 inches / 15.9 centimeters in width, 8.5 inches / 21.6 centimeters in depth, and 2 inches / 5 centimeters in height. Interior: 5.6 inches / 14.2 centimeters in width, 8 inches / 20.3 centimeters in depth, and 1.25 inches / 3.2 centimeters in height. This is a great size for single layers of products that you want to keep separated, rather than in a single, wide drawer. I like that there isn’t too much height, so you don’t get a lot of wasted vertical space when using a single layer of products. It fits a good variety of products as well.

14 x NARS Lipglosses | one column of five, one row of nine, up two layers
11 x ColourPop Super Shock Cheeks | two columns of four each, plus three on the side, one layer only
15 x ColourPop Super Shock Shadows | five rows of three each, one layer only, excess space on the side
4 x MAC Powders | four fit offset, very inefficient use of space
6 x NARS Blushes | two columns of three each, up to two layers; you can fit eight if staggered slightly
18 x MAC Lipsticks two rows of seven each, plus four loose at the top, labels facing outward, one layer only
6 x MAC Blushes three rows of two each, one layer only
15 x Marc Jacobs Eyeliners one row of fifteen, up to two layers possible
16 x Sephora Eyeliners one row of sixteen, up to two layers possible

What a Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer can hold…

It’s 12.5 inches / 31.75 centimeters in width, 8.4 inches / 21.3 centimeters in depth, and 3.5 inches / 8.9 centimeters in height. This component has several different compartments, so it really can fit an endless combination of things. It also includes a removable acrylic lipstick organizer that fits twelve (each has a defined square-shaped slot).

From the left side, there are three wide components (about half the width), and the bottom one is designed to hold the removable lipstick holder. These larger compartments can hold a variety of things. My recommendation would be for taller items (like foundation) as well as for anything you might reach for every single day without fail.

On the right side, there are four smaller square compartments next to a medium rectangle at the top with a larger, wide square on the bottom right. The smaller square compartments would be ideal for eyeliners and makeup brushes; anything with a small diameter and more length. These could also hold something like mascara, but you can only fit one tube of an average-sized mascara in it, so it’s not the most efficient use of space. Here are somethings that fit well into it:

8 x MAC blushes | two columns of four each on the bottom right compartment
12 x Lipsticks | organizer naturally holds twelve lipsticks in the bottom left compartment
4 x NARS Lipglosses | each small square compartment fit four
Makeup Brushes | each small compartment on the top right half of the unit fit brushes well
35 x Eyeliners | when placed in the top right most compartment
3 x Urban Decay Naked + 2 x Naked Basics Palettes | fit in the top left most unit (two of the full-sized stacked, and then the two Basics palettes stacked with the third full-sized)
2 x Eyeshadow Palettes | upper left most component fits up to two MAC/Z-Palettes

Some combination ideas…*

Extra Large | 2 x Wide Medium Luxe (bottom two drawers), 1 x Half Tall Luxe, 2 x Quarter Tall Luxe, 2 x Half Short Luxe, 1x Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer ($163.92)
Large | 1 x Wide Medium Luxe (bottom drawer), 2 x Quarter Tall Luxe, 2 x Half Short Luxe, 1 x Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer ($119.94)
Medium | 1 x Wide Medium Luxe (bottom drawer), 2 x Half Short Luxe, 1 x Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer ($89.96)
Small | 1 x Half Tall Luxe, 2 x Half Short Luxe, 1 x Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer ($79.96)
Brushes | 3 x Wide Medium Luxe ($89.97)
Eyeshadows/Lipglosses | 6 x Half Short Luxe ($89.94)

* Please note, it’s hard to really quantify someone’s collection, so these are just suggestions. For instance, if your stash is more like mine, this system isn’t going to work for all of it, but it can work for essentials, favorites, or a current rotation. About one drawer of my personal organization system fits into the acrylic organizer I bought for this post.

See more photos!

The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular System

The Container Store Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer

The Container Store Half Short Luxe — 14 x NARS Lipglosses

The Container Store Half Short Luxe — 11 x ColourPop Super Shock Cheeks

The Container Store Half Tall Luxe — 36 x NARS Blushes

The Container Store Half Short Luxe — 15 x ColourPop Super Shock Shadows

The Container Store Half Short Luxe — 4 x MAC Powders

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

The Container Store Half Short Luxe — 6 x NARS Blushes

The Container Store Half Short Luxe — 18 x MAC Lipsticks

The Container Store Half Short Luxe — 6 x MAC Blushes

The Container Store Half Short Luxe — 15 x Marc Jacobs Eyeliners

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

The Container Store Half Tall Luxe — 17 x MAC Powders

The Container Store Half Tall Luxe — 20 x MAC Blushes

The Container Store Half Tall Luxe — 3 x Urban Decay Naked + 2 x Naked Basics Palettes

The Container Store Wide Medium Luxe — 3 x Urban Decay Naked + 2 x Naked Basics Palettes

The Container Store Wide Medium Luxe — 3 x Urban Decay Naked Palettes stacked

The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular System (Empty!)

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers for Makeup Organization Review & Photos

Christine — Thu, 14 May 2015 14:00:00 +0000

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers ($27.95) is a single unit with five drawers that pull out completely, so you can take out a drawer and set it down like a tray, which gives you greater access to anything you put into it. The unit measures 10.2 inches / 26 centimeters wide, 6.9 inches / 17.5 centimeters in depth, and 6.6 inches / 16.5 centimeters in height. The interior space of each drawer is 9.4 inches / 23.9 centimeters in width, 6.5 inches / 16.5 centimeters in depth, and 0.9 inches / 2.3 centimeters in height. These drawers are shorter than the 2-Drawer system by 0.85 inches / 2.1 centimeters, and while you can stack this on top of the 2-Drawer unit, it is a tiny bit wider and slightly deeper.

The weight of your products help to keep the drawer from falling out, even when extended quite far, but you can also fully remove the drawer to access anything stored in the back. I prefer this, personally, as it means you can really maximize every inch of the drawer. It’s also a nice way to store lipsticks with labels facing outwards so you can read them quickly, rather than having to pick up, read, pick up, read to find the right one. The 5-Drawer has a moderate thickness on its exterior sides, while the drawers themselves are slightly thinner. The unit sits comfortably on counter tops without sliding around as it has rubberized feet on the bottom to prevent slippage. The drawers sit on “tracks” so they pull out easily without rubbing against the drawer above or below it.

The shorter drawers won’t allow you to hold products like foundation bottles, larger tubes, and cylindrical loose powder containers (among other things!). The short height is ideal for someone who only wants to have a single layer of product per drawer, as it wastes very little in vertical space as a result–too tall drawers often waste space unless you plan to layer or have specific products that are tall enough to fill it. These drawers fit eyeshadows, lipglosses, lipsticks, blushes, bronzers, pressed powders, slim palettes, eye brushes, eyeliners, eyeshadow primers, and things of that nature very well. It has a decent footprint, where it’s not going to fit for everyone’s play space, but it is a good option for those with a vanity about two to three feet in width or on top of an Ikea Alex drawer unit.

What each drawer can hold…

23 x Urban Decay Eyeshadows | four rows of five each, plus three offset on the side, one layer maximum
23 x ColourPop Eyeshadows | five rows of five each, plus three offset on the side, one layer maximum
8 x MAC Blushes | two rows of four each, with a fair amount of space, one layer maximum; the two rows fit more comfortably in this unit than the 2-Drawer unit due to the greater width
2 x URban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palettes | fits two next to each other with space along the right and bottom of them (could fit
eyeliners along the bottom, possibly eyeshadows on the right)
20 x NARS Lipglosses | two rows of ten each comfortably, one layer maximum
14 x ColourPop Super Shock Cheeks | three rows of five each, two offset on the side
6 x MAC Powders | two rows of three each
24 x MAC Lipsticks | two rows of twelve each
9 x NARS Blushes | three rows of three each with some excess space on the right OR stagger them slightly and get four rows of three each with labels facing up; if laid flat, you can get two layers in
29 x Marc Jacobs Eyeliners | single row, single layer; two layers possible
29 x Sephora Eyeliners | one column of 18, one row of 11; two layers possible
Brushes | fits brushes of various length; round or fluffier face brushes may have too large of a diameter to fit well but will work for eye brushes and smaller/flatter face brushes

See more photos!

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers

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

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 23 x ColourPop Super Shock Shadows

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 8 x MAC Blushes

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 2 x Urban Decay Palettes

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 20 x NARS Lipglosses

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 14 x ColourPop Super Shock Shadows

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 6 x MAC Powders

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 9 x NARS Blushes

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 12 x NARS Blushes

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 28 x Marc Jacobs Eyeliners (should fit 29-30)

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 29 x Sephora Eyeliners

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — Makeup Brushes

Muji 5-Drawer Acrylic Drawers

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers for Makeup Organization Review & Photos

Christine — Thu, 14 May 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers ($25.25) is a set of two, clear, acrylic pull-out drawers. Each drawer full extends out, and it is on a “track” so it doesn’t rub against the drawer above or below it, so it is also less noisy. The acrylic is thin along the interior drawer edges with the exterior edges being slightly thicker. The unit itself is 10.2 inches / 25.5 centimeters in width, 6.8 inches / 17 centimeters in depth, and 3.75 inches / 9.5 centimeters in height. Each drawer is 9.6 inches / 24.4 centimeters in width, 6.25 inches / 15.75 centimeters in depth, and 1.75 inches / 4.5 centimeters in height. There is a slight pocket of empty space between the edge of the organizer and the top of the drawer, so you have a little margin for error.

I like the slightly taller drawers, as it gives you some room to play with and layer products if you get a little overflow, though with this type of system, it is ideal to use single layers so that you can see what you have. You can also get the same version with a clear lid (here) for $26.75, which would enable you to keep it open to use the top drawer as a standing area for taller products. For a moderate size stash, I would recommend getting four drawers with one set having a lid, so you can keep foundation bottles, setting sprays, larger powder containers, and so forth there. If you have a makeup room-sized stash, this type of system is best for storing essentials or everyday products, but it’s not space or cost efficient otherwise.

It has moderate weight; enough not to feel flimsy, and it sits on slick surfaces without rattling around, especially once you’ve loaded it up with your stash. The acrylic used isn’t quite as crystal clear or as thick as top tier price ranges would dictate, but I think it would be sufficiently clear and streamlined for most. It seems more prone to picking up scratches and visible smudge marks from dirty fingertips (hey, it’s makeup!), but I don’t tend to notice either unless I’m really looking. Once you put your stash into the drawers, the weight of the products keeps the drawer from falling out even when extended by 75-80%.

What each drawer can hold…

3 x Urban Decay Naked + 2 x Naked Basics Palettes | fits two of the full-sized palettes stacked on top of each other
20 x Urban Decay Eyeshadow Singles | five per row, offset, one layer maximum
22 x ColourPop Super Shock Shadows | five per row with two fit in the “notches” of the rows, one layer maximum
8 x MAC Blushes | two rows of three each comfortably, with room for two more offset; one layer maximum
20 x NARS Lipglosses | two rows of ten each, vertically maximizes space; two layers possible; easier to remove glosses with two rows of nine glosses
8 x NARS Powder Blushes | two rows of four each, two layers fits most comfortably, three layers comes right up to the edge (doesn’t seem to scrape, but it is very close)
24 x MAC Lipsticks | two rows of twelve each, labels facing outwards makes it easier to read from either end of drawer
6 x MAC Large Powders | two rows of three each, six fit comfortably, one layer maximum
14 x ColourPop Super Shock Cheeks | three rows of four each, two fit offset to the side, fit comfortably, one layer maximum
Makeup Brushes | fits various makeup brushes, including longer ones (like Chikuhodo) as well as fluffier ones (like Chikuhodo Z face brushes)
22 x NARS Audacious Lipsticks | two rows of 11 each, labels facing outwards for readability, one layer maximum
29 x Marc Jacobs Eyeliners | single row fits approximately 29, but easily could have three or four layers
28 x Sephora Eyeliners | arranged in column of 17 and a row of 11 for maximum capacity (fits about 25 in a single row across)

Today is all about acrylic organizers, and next up, we’ll take a look at the Muji 5-Drawer system, followed by Container Store’s modular acrylic system and Sherrieblossom’s Icebox, and we’ll conclude with a round-up and comparison of what’s best and for what and how to maximize these systems.

See more photos!

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 3 x Urban Decay Naked Palettes + 2 x Naked Basics palettes

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 20 x Urban Decay Eyeshadows

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 22 x ColourPop Eyeshadows

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 8 x MAC Blushes

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 20 x NARS Lipglosses

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 8 x NARS Blushes

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 24 x MAC Lipsticks

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 6 x MAC Powders

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 14 x ColourPop Super Shock Cheeks

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — Brushes

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 22 x NARS Audacious Lipsticks

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 28 x Marc Jacobs Eyeliners (should fit 29-30)

Muji 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers — 28 x Sephora Eyeliner Pencils