Organization & Display: Jumbo Eye Pencils

Trying to strike the perfect balance between functionality and aesthetic in my makeup storage is a never-ending project for me. However, this little project I took on this week seemed to be another step in the right direction! I had picked up the glass at Bath & Body Works during their semi-annual sale. Although it's meant to hold their mini candles, I don't actually have any of those - I just thought it was attractive! I decided it would make a nice addition to my makeup storage. 

Since it's taller than the container I previously had my jumbo eye pencils in, it was harder to see the colored tip of each one. I thought turning them upside down would help - except all of the NYX pencils are completely white, unlike the other brands I have, which show the color of the pencil on the bottom. 

Instead of giving up, I put my nail polish collection to use - matching each pencil to a polish & painting the bottom section! I taped off the bottom section so they'd have a crisp line and did as many coats as needed to get to the right opacity. For three of the colors I mixed polishes together to achieve exactly the right shade and texture, but the rest I had polishes that were close enough.

I am thrilled with the way they look! It's much easier to see each pencil's shade, and I think having the colors displayed more obviously will make me more likely to reach for them - lately, my jumbo pencils have been somewhat ignored! 

If you have any questions about the process, the colors I used, or anything else - just ask!

Depotted Eyeshadow Collection

This is just a very quick post for those who were curious about my eyeshadow storage. If you would like to know the names of certain shadows or anything else at all about this setup, please ask! 

The palettes appear in the same order as they are stored.

Updated Makeup Storage!!

The way the top of my "vanity" currently looks. It's just a table from IKEA. There's a large drawer set underneath, but it's not interesting so I left it out.

I didn't take any closer photos of the things stored in the turntable. If you would like to see some, let me know! I got the utensil container at a rummage sale and the turntable is from Walmart. 

The newest additions! The bottom two drawers are the men's shoe drawers and the top one is the women's shoe drawer. All are from The Container Store: http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10000103&N=&Ntt=men%27s+shoe+drawer. On top are my eyeshadow palettes stored in a desk organizer from Target. If you'd like any more detailed photos of those, let me know! 

Top drawer. In an empty cookie package, I have my loose eyeshadows, gel/cream liners and shadows, bases, and single shadows that are not depotted.

Middle drawer. I got a divider set for this drawer, which can be found at the same link. The back left has backups, back right is random products, middle left is eye makeup removers, right is brush cleaners and guards, front left are Wet n Wild palettes that aren't depotted, right are liquid foundations and my primer.

Along with the drawers, I picked up two of the lipstick organizers (found here:http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10009899&N=&Ntt=lipstick) I put all the lipsticks and glosses that could fit upright in there, then lipliners and taller products down in front, along with my lip scrub and Sonia Kashuk sharpener.

The top drawer of the larger drawers is just my hair stuff (headbands, clips, bobby pins, etc) and it's not cleverly stored at all. If anyone is curious, I can post a photo however.

The middle drawer now has my face products. This is where my lip products used to be stored. I got this divider from Target awhile back. I got it in store and I'm not sure how to find it on their site - sorry!
Back left is an NYC loose powder (that I never use), middle left are my blotting sheets, and the front is my lash curler and Sonia Kashuk sharpener (this thing is AMAZING. GET ONE! http://www.target.com/Sonia-Kashuk-Cosmetic-Pencil-Sharpener/dp/B00333U1D2/ref=sc_qi_detaillink) The middle section is pressed powders and a cream foundation. Back right are concealers, front right are highlighters, bronzers, and the one blush that's not depotted.

The bottom drawer. The cookie package on the left is all brow stuff. The one on the right has moisturizers, cream makeup remover, lip balm, and contact stuff. The container in the back is extra contact stuff. It's one that comes in 3-packs at Walmart or the dollar store.

 I hope this was interesting and helpful to some of you! If there is anything at all you want to know about more specifically or see different photos of, please let me know and I'll do it!

Nail Polish Collection/Storage

I store my nail polishes in a snapware container with dividers inside. I got the Snapware at Target. The white dividers I got from the dollar store and the clear one I found at my parents' house, but I think it is from Target a few years ago.

The top level is where all my China Glaze polishes are, plus other brands that are "higher end" such as OPI, Sephora by OPI, Orly, Sonia Kashuk, and Zoya.

The second level is everything else, and it's where the cheaper polishes are. Revlon polishes over on the left. The top bin has Finger Paints and Milani. The bin in the middle has Essence on the left, Sally Hansen in the center, and Sinful Colors on the right. The bottom bin has Claire's and Covergirl on the left, ELF in the center,  then Wet n Wild and Maybelline on the right.

These really help me keep my polishes organized. The only issue is that Sephora by OPI and Covergirl polishes are a bit too tall for the lid or other level to fit properly so they have to sit on their sides. I also wish these were available in smaller sizes of the same height or one level at a time.

I have base and topcoats as well as my swatch wheels and nail art supplies in separate, smaller containers. They aren't Snapware but they're a similar idea. I keep polish remover, cotton balls, and all other manicure tools (nail clippers, cuticle pushers, etc) in an open-top bin that I also got at Target.

If anyone is interested, I can take photos of the other bins and do another post. They're not as specifically organized as the polishes so I didn't photograph them originally, but I easily can if you'd like to see. I could also do more specific photos of the actual polishes.

Storage and Organization: Part Two

Large drawers: Top drawer. Makeup wipes, applicators, sponges, qtips, tissues.

Middle drawer: Lip products

Bottom drawer: Eye products. L-R: loose shadows, loose shadows and bases, gel liners, shadow sets, HIP duos, single shadows. (I have since depotted most of the shadows, but thought I'd leave this picture to show storage possiblilities)

Smaller drawers, top drawer. Face products: powders, concealers, blushes, primers, etc.

Middle drawer: eyebrow and lash products. Left: Colored mascaras, eyelash curler. Center: brow pencils, clear mascara. Right: tweezers, spoolie brushes, Finishing Touch shaver.

Bottom drawer, basic items. Contacts, moisturizers, lip balm, etc.

Makeup Storage and Organization: Part One

My entire vanity area

Top of large drawers (left of vanity)

CD case palettes with my depotted products; Tarte treasure chest

Eye product storage. Farthest left compartment: NYX Jumbo eye pencils and similar products. Center compartment: mascaras. Right compartment: eyeliners and primer. I found the container at TJ Maxx.

I keep my liquid foundations, ELF Mist & Set, witch hazel, jojoba oil, and deodorants in the container on the right. Sunscreen, contact solution, and Queen Helene cleansing cream are underneath the turntable.

Brush storage. Container from Target. Back compartment: Face and lip brushes. Bottom left compartment: eyeliner and smudging brushes. Bottom right compartment: all other eyeshadow brushes.

Top: Perfumes and body sprays. Top drawer has ponytail holders, headbands, and clips. Middle drawer: backup products, travel palettes. Bottom drawer: Samples of perfumes, lipglosses, etc.

Necklaces on wall. Top shelf: hair products, earring storage. Middle shelf: Lush and bath products, nail polishes. Bottom shelf: hair tools, nail care products and tools