Hi friends!
I like to keep my makeup collection in check as much as possible. So every 6 months or so I go through my existing stash to see what I have or have not used to make room for newer items. Sometimes I will do it more often, but it really all depends on how much I’ve bought in any given time period.
Here are my main declutter criteria:
a) I haven’t gotten much use out of the item, say within the past 3 or 4 months;
b) it’s in relatively good condition and not horribly old (I’m talking like past 5 or 6 years old);
c) it can be santizied (i.e. no liquids or creams).
If all the above criteria are met, I will take it out of my collection and put it in a “donate” pile to give to friends or family. (I’m still trying to find women’s shelters around me that will take makeup and/or other toiletries.) So I did a little declutter of my stash just recently to make room for some newer purchases, but before I give those items away I thought I’d take you through what I’m parting with. Sound like fun? I hope so, so let’s start!
FACE

Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Box o’ Blushes from a limited edition holiday collection

Interior of the Box o’ Blushes. Top row from L to R, Dandelion, Bella Bamba, Sugarbomb, Watts Up Cream Highlighter sample. Bottom row from L to R: Hoola Bronzer, Coralista, Rockateur, mini brush.
I actually just referenced this in my beauty anti-wishlist post from last week! After writing that, I got a bit tough with myself. Cute packaging is no reason to hold onto an item that you barely use anymore, so you know what? I’m getting rid of it! I’ve always loved Benefit’s box blushes, and I still do to a certain extent, but I just don’t prefer them anymore. As you can probably see they’ve all been gently used except the Hoola Bronzer which I don’t believe was ever touched. (I do need to toss the little Watts Up sample before I give this away; it’s gotten hard and gross since it’s a cream.)
EYES

Clockwise: L’Oreal La Palette Nude 1, Sephora Colorful 5 in Mild to Wild Khaki, & NARS duo in Brousse.
The L’Oreal palette was a ‘skip’ in my last Snatch or Skip post on drugstore palettes. It’s nice enough and you can get some pretty good looks with it but I’m just generally underwhelmed, especially for the price. The Sephora & NARS palettes are very nice quality products, but I just don’t reach for them much anymore. Time to move on!

Clockwise: Clinique duo in Like Mink, MAC single in Ricepaper, MAC single in Greensmoke.

MAC single in Greensmoke
I actually didn’t buy this Clinique duo; it was included as a gift-with-purchase. I never used it once, I think because I was just bored when I looked at it. Anyway, that’s my excuse. But Clinique shadows are usually very good quality, so I’m sure it’ll work for someone. Ricepaper from MAC was a little too yellow for me, and Greensmoke just didn’t flatter me although it’s quite lovely when you look at it in the pan.
LIPS

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks in shades Dreamer (left) & Loyalist (right).

Loyalist (left), Dreamer (right)
I know “no liquids or creams” is one of my declutter rules, but these are quite new and they’ve barely, I mean barely been used. I only used Dreamer once; Loyalist never got used at all except to swatch. I really love the formulas of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Inks. The deeper mauve-pink shade Lover is one of my all-time favorite drugstore liquid lipsticks. But I had one of those “what was I thinking” moments when I picked up both these shades. They are beautiful colors for sure, but just way too light for me. Dreamer gave me that horrible “butt-hole” look! Sorry I had to! It’s in such contrast to my natural lip color that it looks like I have a ring in the center of my mouth (hence “butt-hole”). So they gotta go!
Have you decluttered anything from your beauty stash recently? I’d love to know!
xo, Erica
PIN IT!
I think I need to go do the same thing….My kids got into my makeup collection this summer and some of them are pretty gnarly and should be tossed.
It feels so good to declutter, doesn’t it? Whether it’s personal items like makeup or clothes, or storage units in your house. Lots & lots of stuff gives me anxiety!
Me too! it makes it hard to make choices 🙂
I got rid of a few glitter eye shadow pallets that I was holding onto. Realistically I wasn’t going to use the bright colours in the Autumn and winter x
Yea sometimes you have good intentions when you buy a product, but it doesn’t work out 😉😄.
Thank you!
Thanks for the reminder, I absolutely need to do that. My girls ruin half the make up for me. I think I should give that to them. A great post and a wonderful reminder to get rid of clutter.
I’m so bad about throwing makeup away!!!
I can be sometimes too!
I agree with you completely about the need to declutter … problem with me is always think I might want to go back to the item. Don’t get me wrong I have been brutal in the past with the big clean up and maybe it is about time I do it again…. yikes….other problem … bought too much recently! 🙄
Sometimes you just gotta be super strict with yourself and go for it! Otherwise you’ll never part with anything.
Love declutering
Me too! It’s good to let things go every once and awhile