Declutter your beauty routine and simplify it for the new season.
We’re all guilty of stockpiling skincare and makeup products. The question is, do we really need to use them all? It may be time to declutter your beauty and simplify your daily routine.
World-renowned decluttering queen Marie Kondo says: “To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose. To throw away what you no longer need is neither wasteful nor shameful”.
Tough at first, there is a sense of satisfaction after going through the process of decluttering.
There’s no denying, there’s something so satisfying about having a bathroom vanity decorated with pretty bottles and drawers filled with all the latest makeup products.
But over time, it’s easy to accumulate too many beauty products, and many expire and some may never even get touched.
You may even find yourself spending unnecessary money on the latest and greatest storage for your excess beauty products, so you can organise them by type. But in the end, is that necessary? Do you need to organise that many beauty products you aren’t even using?
Here are some tips on how to declutter your beauty routine:
Take inventory of your products:
The first step to decluttering your beauty routine is to take an inventory of all your products.
This could be a little overwhelming as you start to realise you have WAY too many products, and perhaps 5 of something you really don’t need.
It’s common for most of us to hold on to products for that ‘just in case’ moment which may never come.
Once you have gathered all your products up, take note of what you have by sorting them and categorising them into groups, such as skincare, makeup, hair care, and body care – you get the idea.
Throw away all expired products:
Expired products can be harmful to your skin and may not work as effectively as they should.
That vitamin C serum you tried twice over a year ago has more than likely stopped working, time to let it go. And that mascara that you wore once and it made your lashes look longer but you haven’t used in over a year, has most likely dried up. That’s got to go as well.
For skincare, if you’re unable to determine the expiration date, here is a small guide to their shelf life:
- Cleanser: 1 year
- Toner: 6 months to 1 year
- Active exfoliants: 1 year
- Face oils, moisturisers, and serums: 6 months to 1 year
- Powder clay masks: 2 years
- Face masks: 1 year
Choose what products to keep:
Be honest with yourself about what products you use:
If you haven’t used a product in the last six months, it’s probably time to get rid of it. If a product is not suitable for your skin type or you don’t like the way it works, it’s best to get rid of it instead of letting it clutter up your space.
Once you’ve narrowed down your products, assess what’s working for you and stick with it. Remember, it can take several weeks before you start to see results with some products, especially with skincare or growth mascaras. It’s a commitment.
Any unused products which haven’t expired, donate to a charity, like a women’s shelter, or pass onto family and friends to use.
You can also sell products on websites like eBay or Poshmark, if the quality of the product is still at store bought level.
Simplify your routine:
Simplifying your routine can help save you time and money. Consider multi-use products you can use for multiple purposes, like a tinted moisturiser which also acts as a sunscreen.
For skincare, stick to the basics like having a cleanser that also exfoliates, like the AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleaner by Dope Skin Co.
And a moisturiser which also works as a sunscreen, like the Fenty Beauty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF Face Cream.
For makeup, you can also use a blush which works as a lipstick and an eyeshadow, like the Lük Beautifood Lip Nourish which can be used as your lipstick, lip balm, eye shadow and if the shade is right, as your blush too.
Try using a skin luminizer which also works as a highlighter, like the Lük Beautifood Luminzer Drops which can be used on both the face and the body, as a foundation over concealer for a natural beauty look or applied as a highlighter under the eye area.
Store your products:
Once you have decluttered your beauty routine, it’s important to store your products in a smart way.
The products you will be using daily, keep those close at hand, on your vanity or in your bathroom. Wherever you conduct most of your skin rituals for AM and PM.
For makeup, try keeping your everyday products like mascara and concealer in a small makeup bag for easy access, which also makes it convenience fort travel in your bag as well.
Extra products you are using, but don’t use every day, like highlighters, metallic eye shades, and different lipsticks, can be kept in useful storage containers, or organiser drawers, so they are easy to get to, you can see what’s in them, and you won’t forget to use them.
And remember, when you decide to take a stroll through Sephora or Mecca one weekend, and you pick up the latest eyeshadow palette by Huda Beauty, ask yourself – do you really need it?
