Makeup: Why It’s Important to Declutter It Regularly and How to Do It

If you love Sephora and Ulta, this article is for you. This one is for makeup-loving tweens, teens, moms, grandmothers—and anyone whose makeup collection seems to multiply overnight. You know who you are!

Before you shop for makeup for back-to-school—or head out on your next Sephora haul—take a few minutes to go through what you already have.

Regularly decluttering your makeup doesn’t just make your bathroom or vanity easier to organize. It can help you avoid buying duplicates, actually use the products you own, and identify makeup that may be past its useful life.

Makeup Reality: Makeup Doesn’t Last Forever

Makeup expires—and often sooner than you might think.

Using old or contaminated makeup may increase the risk of skin irritation, breakouts, or eye infections. That’s one more reason to regularly take stock of your collection and declutter products that are old, questionable, or no longer being used.

And if you have no idea when you bought or opened something? That’s a good reason to take a closer look before continuing to use it.

How Long Is Makeup Good For?

The answer depends on the product.

Many cosmetics include a Period After Opening (PAO) symbol on the packaging. It looks like a small open jar with a number and the letter “M” inside—for example, 6M, 12M, or 24M.

This tells you how many months the manufacturer recommends using the product after it has been opened.

How to Find the Shelf Life of Your Makeup

Look for the small open-container symbol on the packaging.

You may find it on:

• The bottom of a mascara or lipstick tube

• The back of an eyeshadow or bronzer compact

• The product’s outer packaging

For example, 12M generally means the product should be used within 12 months of opening.

The makeup expiration symbol looks like this:

There's No Symbol on My Makeup. How Do I Know When It Expires?

If you can't find a PAO symbol, check the manufacturer's recommendations for that particular product.

You can also use a general makeup expiration chart as a helpful reference.

Save this chart to reference the next time you clean out your makeup—and share it with the makeup lover in your life!

I Don't Remember When I Opened It. What Should I Do?

We've all been there.

If you can't remember when you opened a product, inspect it carefully and consider how long you may have owned it.

Signs that a product may be past its prime include:

• An unusual, old, or sour smell

• A noticeable change in texture or consistency

• Separation that wasn't present before

• A change in color

• Dried-out or hardened product

• Damaged or questionable packaging

When in doubt—particularly with products used around the eyes—it's generally better to replace the product than take a chance.

Tips to Reorganize Your Makeup

Now that you've taken stock and potentially replenished a few essentials, it's time to organize everything so it's easy to find and use.

Remember:

If you buy it and don't use it, it's money wasted!

When organizing makeup, visibility and accessibility are key.

You want to be able to quickly find what you're looking for—and see enough of your collection that you don't forget what you already own.

Simple, clear acrylic organizers can work particularly well because they allow you to see your products while giving everything a designated home.

Here are five organizing tools I like for keeping makeup visible and accessible.

The Lighter Home’s Favorite Makeup Organizers

Acrylic stacked turntable: I like this one especially because there are adjustable shelving to accommodate different height items.

Stackable Makeup Drawers: This is another space maximizing system. It stores flat items such as compacts nicely.

Drawer Inserts: These inserts are perfect for vanities. We recommend labeling the back wall of the insert to prevent from mixing them up. This is helpful for early mornings, too!

Brush Organizer: Keeping brushes together is a good way to prevent cross exposure with other makeup and products, especially if they are in a pouch.

All-in-one makeup organizing system: If you have a small amount of makeup, or want to keep your “best of” all together, this system combines products 1 through 4 into one!

One Final Tip

Before your next trip to Sephora or Ulta, shop your own makeup collection first.

Take stock of what you have and make a list of what you actually need before you shop.

And when you open a new product, use a permanent marker or small label to write the month and year you opened it on the bottom or side of the container.

It's a tiny organizing habit that will make your next makeup clean-out much easier.

And remember: organizing isn't just about making your space look better. It's about creating simple systems that help you see what you have, use what you own, buy less of what you don't need, and make everyday life a little easier.

Ready to create a lighter, more organized home?

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t knowing what needs to go—it’s finding the time, energy, and right system to actually do it. The Lighter Home can help you declutter, organize, and create spaces that are easier to maintain long after we leave.

Ready to get started? Contact The Lighter Home today to learn more about our professional organizing services.

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