I wear a lot of makeup and having a makeup organiser definitely helps me keep my makeup in order. A few months ago, I had to stop myself from buying makeup because I had too much of it. As some of you may know, makeup has expiry dates (more on this below), so I try to sort my makeup organiser out two to three times a year.

How long does makeup last?

According to Byrdie, the shelf life for makeup is as follows:

Mascara – 6 months

Foundation – 6 months to 1 year

Blush – 2 years

Lipstick – 1 year

Highlighter – 6 months to 1 year

Concealer – 6 months to 1 year

Brow pencils – 1 year

These dates aren’t exhaustive and you may read something entirely different on another website. When you buy a new product, check the label to see when it expires. On the majority of makeup products, you’ll find an image of a jar with a slightly open lid. There will be a number and the letter ‘M’ (for months) next to it (for example, 18M). 18M means that the product has a shelf life of 18 months.

Always check your makeup products before you apply them. There are a few ways to tell if a product has reached the end of its shelf life. If it has a unique smell or it has changed in texture or colour, throw it away. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had the product. Using expired makeup can cause irritation, breakouts or even infection. Dispose of the product immediately and replace it when you can.

My makeup organiser

Keeping the same/similar items in the same place in your makeup organiser

I like to keep similar items in the same place when I’m organising my makeup. There will never be a shortage of lipsticks and concealers in my makeup collection. To make my life easier, I keep them in one place so they are easier to find. I also have an additional makeup bag for my powders, bronzers and contour palettes. I always need to know where things are – this applies to everything, not just makeup.

Categorise items by colour as well if space permits

Something I would like do is buy a bigger organiser so I can categorise my makeup items by colour. If you love using a variety of colours for your makeup looks, this would be a good way to organise the products you use. Recently, I’ve been keeping things simple but if I ever decide to experiment with different tones again, this approach might be the way forward.

Clean brushes weekly or every other week

According to a Huffington Post survey, 61% of women clean their makeup brushes once a month. Makeup brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria. They can also cause breakouts and irritation. When it comes to makeup application, dirty brushes won’t give you the flawless look you desire. If you notice that your makeup isn’t popping the way you want it to, check your brushes and beauty blenders.

I have two sets of makeup brushes from Real Techniques – when I’m washing one set, I have another clean set that I can use.

In addition to your makeup brushes, cleaning your makeup bags is a must. Makeup bags are also a breeding ground for dirt and bacteria. If your makeup bag is made out of cloth, you can put it in the washing machine (check the label first) or hand wash it with soap and water. If your makeup bag is plastic, use a wet wipe to clean it.

Get rid of makeup you are no longer using

I love skincare and makeup. I always want to know about new products or trends, but after a really big clear-out before I turned 30, I decided to stop buying new makeup products. Sticking with the products that work for me is cost effective. I’m also able to find different ways to apply the products I have. The truth is you don’t have to spend a fortune on makeup to look good. You can work with what you have. Get rid of makeup you are no longer using. We’ve all bought things we don’t really need at least once in our lives. If you have makeup that hasn’t been opened, donate it to charity.

If you love makeup as much as I do, stop yourself before you buy something new. Is it something you want or is it something you need? As someone who has worked in the beauty industry, I will say that a lot of the advertising we see makes us feel like we need things that we actually don’t. It’s all psychological. Just something you should keep in mind before you part with your money.