It’s that time again – Spring! And while most of us welcome the warmer weather with open arms, we’re not too happy about that extra sunlight illuminating dust and clutter.  So do something about it! This past weekend, I started digging through my things looking for my VO5 Hot Oil (my hair’s a dry, wintery mess) and before I knew it, I was on a Spring Cleaning mission – eliminate the clutter and mess in my beauty stash. 

There’s no better time than now to throw out those ancient eyeshadows you bought in junior high, and admit to yourself that you’ll never use that pomade you bought on a whim. Why not clean up the area you use everyday and make it a more enjoyable experience?

The lovely Bobbi Brown (celebrity makeup artist) offers guidelines for how long to keep your beauty products in her fabulous book, Bobbi Brown Beauty. 

Oil-based foundation: 1.5 years

Water-based foundation: 1 year

Lipstick: 1-2 years

Mascara: 3-4 months

Powder: 2 years

Eye Shadow: 2 years

Cream cleanser: 1 year

Moisturizer/cream: 1 year

Gel cleanser: 1 year

In addition, makeup brushes should be washed at least every 2-3 months, and sponges should be washed weekly and replaced monthly.

In my case, I put all of my daily makeup in a container for easy access, and organized the rest of my makeup by type (eye makeup, face makeup, etc.) in Ziploc bags.  This way, my makeup is protected from dust and I can see what I’m looking for right away. 

But what’s a girl to do with all those barely-used products she no longer wants? Join Makeupalley.com.  Makeupalley offers a swap system that allows you to list your gently used/new items and swap with other members for things they want to get rid of it.  I’ve used it many times to try out new moisturizers and hair products.  It’s a great way to get rid of clutter (without waste) and try something new!