How often do you go through your makeup collection and toss out old products? I shared tips on decluttering your closet last week, and today we’re focusing on beauty. What’s one tip for transitioning your style for the spring season?

“Revamp your makeup collection and toss out anything that is old or unused.”

The best way to transition your style for Spring is by first getting rid of anything that you no longer use. Below are a few tips to help you revamp your makeup collection this season:

1. Look at the label on your makeup for an expiration date.

I believe most of us are aware by now, but I wanted to share just in case this is new information for some. When it’s time to toss makeup and get reorganized, one fast way to decide what needs to be thrown out is by looking at the makeup label. A majority of makeup products have a cosmetic graphic with a timeframe like 6M, 12M, and 18M stamped into the graphic. This lets you know how many months you can use a product before it’s recommended to throw it away. I don’t use this as a hard yes/no since some products seem to last a bit longer than the suggested timeframe, but it’s a good frame of reference when decluttering. The product may not necessarily be old, but it can start to lose its original consistency after the suggested ‘use by’ date passes.

2. Toss any makeup you haven’t used in the past 6 months.

We’ve all heard the fashion rule of thumb when it comes to clothes, right? “If you haven’t worn it within the past year, it’s time to get rid of it.” For makeup, I believe the same rule can be applied with an accelerated date. If you purchased a product and haven’t worn it beyond the first month of owning the item, consider moving it to the “dump” pile during your decluttering process. I find putting a 6-month timestamp on makeup to be helpful because chances are if I haven’t touched it in 6 months, I’ve found something better or have changed my beauty routine.

3. Make a list of any spring beauty items your current collection is missing.

You don’t have to necessarily follow trends, but it’s a good idea to have a list of what you need/want for the spring season before heading to store to shop. This season is all about the nude glow. Nude and neutral lips in all finishes will become the primary lip trend, and highlighters will continue to dominate the makeup world. If either of those trends interests you and there isn’t anything in your current collection to achieve the look, add it to your shopping list.

4. Store your most-used items in clear acrylic storage units.

“Out of sight, out of mind” is a real thing. Besides my lip products (because I have too many), all of my makeup is stored in an acrylic container that sits on top of my counter, fully visible. This type of storage is intentional because I know that if I hold on to makeup items but tuck them away in a secondary makeup bag, I’m going to completely forget about the items. What’s the point in owning products if you aren’t going to use them?

This can also serve as a great starting point for clearing out your makeup collection if you’re looking to truly downsize. Purchase a clear makeup container and sit it somewhere visible, but leave it empty. Pay attention to what items you consistently reach for within a week’s timeframe and move those products to the visible container. Anything that you didn’t reach for can be completely removed from your collection.

I’m giving up makeup/clothing shopping for the next month and a half*, so now is the perfect time for me to streamline my beauty collection and identify what areas I need to fill. We have just one more post left in this Spring transition series, and then you’ll be able to see what makeup and fashion items made the cut. I’d love to see how your spring decluttering is going, so feel free to tag me in pictures on social media! Looking at makeup collections and clothing racks from others is a great way to find style inspiration.

How is your spring cleaning going?

*Note: I just recently purchased a few items that are still on their way to me, so you may see new items during that time period.