July 24, 2025

Makeup Storage Ideas

Makeup is a powerful thing. You can use it to complement your features or create a complete work of art. However you like to use your makeup, you’ve probably accumulated countless products over the years, from lipsticks and foundations to eyebrow pencils and concealers. But if you haven’t sorted out a proper storage solution for your cosmetics, your makeup collection probably feels cluttered and disorganized.

If that’s the case, we’re here to help! Our guide features all the best cosmetic storage ideas to help you organize your makeup and find a home for all your products.

Why Makeup Storage Solutions are Important

Have you ever wasted time desperately searching for your tube of mascara or hunting down your favorite eye shadow? In that case, it’s time to organize your makeup collection.

Finding a proper home for all your mascara, eye shadows, lipsticks, and blush can help you know what you have. For instance, when you determine a special place for your foundation and concealer, you can find them at the drop of a hat and notice when they’re running low so you can restock them.

Follow our makeup storage ideas to save yourself time and energy when putting on makeup for a day at the office or a night out on the town.

How to Prepare Your Makeup for Storage

Run an inventory of your makeup collection, which involves sorting through all your makeup to determine what’s good and what you can throw away. Toss anything broken, old, or expired, noting anything you need to replace or restock. Also, part ways with makeup you don’t like or don’t plan to wear again. For example, if you have an eye shadow palette you haven’t touched since 2015, ditch it. And if you have a busted tube of lipstick that won’t budge up or down, send it to the garbage.

If you have any new, unused, and unopened cosmetics, see if any of your friends would like to take them off your hands or gift them to your cousin for her birthday. This is a great way to downsize your collection without feeling guilty. Once you’ve gone through all your products, you should have a makeup collection you actually plan to use.

The Best Makeup Storage Solutions

Now that you’ve sorted through your makeup, you can start exploring our list of our favorite cosmetic storage ideas. Implement these storage solutions into your home to eliminate clutter and organize your products!

Experiment with Different Jars

For this DIY idea, upcycle some jars to create storage receptacles for your makeup. For example, repurpose your mason jars for your makeup brushes and sponges, place your lipsticks in a jam jar, and use a pickle jar for your collection of blushes. Organize these jars on your desk, vanity, or bathroom sink to elevate your room’s decor.

Invest in a Lazy Susan

A Lazy Susan makes the perfect makeup organizing idea because it makes it easy to see exactly what you have in your collection. Look for one with multiple layers, then organize your makeup on each level. For example, your eye shadows could go on the lower level, while your foundation, blush, and concealer could go on the top level. When you’re looking for something in particular, simply spin the lazy Susan around until you find what you need!

Pick up Drawer Dividers

Drawer dividers are a simple solution that can do wonders for storing makeup! Clear out a drawer in your bathroom console, vanity, or dresser, and then place the drawer dividers inside. Using each compartment and slot, you can organize your makeup collection to your heart’s content. The best part is that this option lets you conveniently tuck your makeup away out of sight.

Get Stackable Racks

When it comes to storage for makeup ideas, stackable racks certainly come in handy! These storage solutions are especially helpful when you don’t have a lot of space, as these let you stack makeup on top of one another. Place these on the corner of your desk, tuck them under your bathroom sink, or even place them in your closet or cabinet.

Find a Decorative Tray

Look for a decorative tray, like one with a mirror, and neatly display your everyday makeup, such as your lipstick and blush, on top. This stylish accent piece will help organize your cosmetics while enhancing the decor of your bedroom or bathroom space.

Convert Ice Cube Trays

This one might surprise you, but ice cube trays make excellent storage compartments for small makeup items like pots of eyeshadow, blush, and lip gloss. Simply designate each cube to a makeup item so you can clearly see and find what you have in your collection, and then arrange them on your shelf or tuck them in a drawer.

Put Your Favorites on Display

Some makeup is just too pretty to store away! For example, maybe your blush sits in a beautifully hand-carved compact, or your favorite lipstick looks like it belongs in a vintage movie. In this case, create a special space on your vanity or dresser to show off all your show-stopping cosmetics.

Place Them in Plastic Bins

Plastic bins will do the trick if you have an extensive makeup collection! Designate a plastic bin for each kind of cosmetic. Your mascaras can go in one, your press powders and blush in another, and your foundations, BB creams, and tinted moisturizers in a third one. Place the lids on, label the outside of each bin, and then stack and stash them in a convenient place.

Take Advantage of a Rolling Cart

We love rolling carts as storage options because you can wheel them around whenever you need them. Find one with multiple levels and organize your makeup on each level. Once you’ve arranged your cosmetics on the cart, you can place it in the corner of your bathroom or a nook in your bedroom out of the way and roll it over to you when you’re ready to apply your makeup.

Use a Kaboodle

Kaboodles were all the rage in the early 90s, and for good reason! These colorful tackle box-like storage containers offer the ultimate makeup storage solution. Not only are they compact, making it easy to take your makeup on the go, but they also have convenient storage compartments to make organizing your items a breeze.

Get a Makeup Trunk

For this cosmetic storage idea, invest in a makeup trunk. These stylish storage solutions invite you to organize your makeup in the many different compartments and slots designed specifically for cosmetics. Some have trays with dividers that stack on top of each other, while others have deep pockets for bigger products like foundation and face lotion. You can store this decorative trunk on the corner of your desk or a shelf. Conveniently grab the trunk when you want to take your makeup on the go.

Install Shelves

This makeup storage idea simply involves installing shelves in your bathroom or bedroom so that you can neatly arrange your makeup collection on them. Depending on your preferences, you could arrange your makeup as is or incorporate another one of the storage items on our list, like plastic bins and storage racks.

Use Makeup Bags

Makeup bags have long been a go-to option for storing makeup, and they continue to do the trick. For this storage idea, we like to designate one makeup bag for everyday use and another for special occasions. For example, your everyday makeup, like mascara and foundation, can go in one bag, while the sparkles, eyeliner, and metallic eye shadow can go in the other. Tuck these in a drawer, on a shelf, or under your bathroom sink for easy access.

Look for Storage Solutions Designed for Makeup

If you don’t feel like getting creative, you can always invest in a storage solution made for your makeup. For instance, you can get towers with multiple drawers with built-in dividers and travel-sized containers with pockets and compartments. These are great because they have slots just the right size for all your products, from makeup brushes to lip gloss.

Contact Stor-It Today

Did you know Stor-It is the largest and oldest storage facility in Idaho? It’s true! We’re the experts at moving and storing and can provide you with all the best advice. Now that you’ve organized your makeup, you might be looking for toiletry storage ideas for your bathroom products or perfume storage ideas for all your favorite scents, and that’s where we can help! Check out all our moving and storing guides, and when you’re ready to rent a storage unit in Treasure Valley, allow us to assist you.