Killing 2 birds with 1 post here. I wanted to do one on my stash and one on how I keep it but this will work. I will post my polish stash as soon as I found more storage ;)
After much frustration in storage I got sick of digging to fi
nd what I was looking for and things becoming damaged because my storage sucked. Armed with a challenge of tight space and tight budget I set out to organize my treasures...
The first thing I fell in love with (and probably still my favorite thing) in my apartment was the windowsills. Big counter like spaces. I was considering turning the spot into a seat for me to sit and read but reconsidered. Our apartment is a small one bedroom but we have quite a bit of stuff. Rather than find a place to inconveniently stash it or spend the cash on a vanity that would take up space I don't have I decide to use my living room windowsill. This also allowed for decent natural light at the time I typically do my makeup.
I have a thing for knick-knacks if you didn't notice ;) This is after I de-cluttered!
Alrighty, first I have my brushes. These are stored in three separate glasses (from L to R): my favorites, face and things I sometimes use. I also have some brushes that never get touched in an old brush roll. The glasses are from the dollar store ($3 for the 3) and they are filled with vase filler I purchased at Jo'Anns (about $5 for 2 bags). I would like to replace the beads with glass ones which are heavier. You could also use colored sand (available at the dollar store).
Eyeliner is kept in 2 separate containers. The first is an old plastic cup I had that was too scratched up to use anymore (damaged cups you already have are great for storing these things, they're technically free and cute too boot) which I store eyeliner I don't typically reach for. The other is a short cardboard box from the dollar store and filled with some of the vase filler and contains my favorite liners.
Mascara. Yes, I have way more mascara than I can ever use but I can't help it! I store it in a short plain brown cardboard box I picked up from the dollar store and I plan on decorating it (any ideas) soon. The size of this is perfect for me and they don't slide around even when I pull one out.
Foundation/powder/highlighter/color corrector/etc is all kept in this little clear box. The box is from a set of 5 with lids that I purchased from Walmart for $3. They are a little on the flimsy side (not rubbermaid quality) but sturdy enough for holding knick-knacks or things like this and I can use the rest of thema round the house.
My left hand corner. I keep a brush and ponytail holders on pins in the wall, I also keep my headbands hanging on a ribbon so I can easily keep my hair out of my face. The base is a 3 drawer chest I purchased at walmart for $3.
Drawer #1 is my blushes.
Drawer #2 is my eyeshadows and various things like primer, glitter and gel liner.
Drawer #3 is palettes.
On top of that is my storage solution for pigment samples and Fyrinnae shadows- I've kept them this way for a couple of years- magnetic boards. Each pigment has a magnet on the bottom (boards are about $5 each and I've only needed a single pack of magnet sheets for about $3). The only draw back to this is having to put the magnets on- it take about 5 minutes for 20 pots for me. I can also sort them how I prefer and find them easier.
My right hand corner. On this side I have 2 sets of drawers. The smaller one is from Target for $4 on clearance for lipgloss and the pink bottom one is another $3 one from walmart for lipstick. The top smaller one contains...
Drawer #1- pink gloss
Drawer #2- Lip balm and lip liner (weird mix I know lol)
Drawer #3- all my other gloss
And drawer #1 in my pink lipstick drawers- pink lipstick. In each of my lipstick drawers I also have a small wire separator ($3 for 3 at the dollar store) where I keep my mac lipsticks which tend to be what I reach for (tired of searching for the shade I want ;)
Drawer #2- reds
Drawer #3- everything else (neutrals, purple, orange, brown, etc)
And lastly my collection of hair products I keep tucked to the right of the pink drawers (I hate doing my hair and gave away most of my products) and my skin care which is kept in a basket ($3 for 3 at walmart and the handiest things ever) also kept to the right of the pink drawers.
So altogether I spent:
Walmart:
$3 for sets of drawers x2
$3 for set of 5 storage bins with lids
$3 for set of 3 baskets
$1 for tacks
Total= $13
Target:
$4 for set of drawers
Total= $4
Dollar Tree:
$3 for 3 glass vases
$2 for 2 cardboard boxes
$3 for 3 wire drawer organizers
$1 for double sided pill organizer (used to store fake eyelashes)
Total= $9
Jo'anns:
$5 for 2 bags of vase filler
Total=$5
Grand total=$35 + tax
If you want to be technical we could include my magnet board storage:
Walmart:
$10 for 2 magnetic boards
$3 for sheets of magnets
Total= $13
New grand total= $48 + tax
I also did make a couple of unnecessary purchases I will add to the total:
Target: $4 for a goose neck clamp lamp on clearance
Dollar Tree: $1 for flower standing mirror
Total= $5
New grand total= $53 + tax
So tell me...
How do you store your stash?
Suggestions on improvements I could make?
And if you see anything would would like to see reviewed or swatched let me know!
