Who doesn’t dream about achieving bathroom Zen?
Editing your skincare shelf down to the things you really love + use + need can be so satisfying. It’s time to take a look at what you have, let go of what you don’t want and celebrate the things that you do!
Let it all hang out.
First chaos, then order. I always recommend pulling every item in that category – skincare products, tools and samples for example – and putting them in one place to take a long, hard look.
Has anything expired?
If so, it’s time to say goodbye with zero regrets. For skincare, each item should have a tiny number on it corresponding to the number of months your product is good. The PAO, or “period-after-opening” symbol (it’s that little icon that looks like an open cosmetics pot) has a corresponding number of months or years that indicates the useful lifetime of the product after opening. All products should have this icon on either the box or the primary packaging.
If anything smells off, or has a texture that has changed – it’s time to retire it. With either makeup or skincare, it’s important to always use clean hands when dipping into your product, helping extend the life of the item. Another interesting note: all skincare products need preservatives (the good and safe kind) to stop the growth of bacteria, mold, yeast and fungus in products that are formulated with water and are left in humid environments like your bathroom.
Is it really useful?
From the dry skin brush you’ve used once or twice, to the facial oil that made you break out but maybe you’ll try it again – be critical of what hasn’t had a purpose in your routine and recycle, donate or repurpose whatever you can.
Confession: that brush has made my suede ankle boots look like new!
Sample mania.
Many of us have a ton of skincare and makeup samples scattered around. Some of them are underutilized little gems we can leave in our purses for touch ups or take on trips to save space. Sort the samples you want to keep by type, and organize them in spare cosmetic bags so they’re not cluttering your cabinets.
Rebuild your Skincare Wardrobe.
If you need to fill in the gaps now that you’ve streamlined, my best tip is this – go for a team of multi-tasking products that take minimal effort and shelf space. The idea behind Care Skincare is that just a few, high performance formulas are necessary: Soft Sweep Micellar Cleanser + Toner, your choice of moisturizer (gel-cream Deep Moisture Fix or The Everything Moisturizer), Eye + Lip Cream and Tireless Retinoid Serum. There may be other products you choose to incorporate into your routine (like eye makeup remover, for example) but these are the five essentials for glowing skin, and I use them every day.
Other ways to get tidy.
I love following visual advice from the Home Edit ladies – there is a place for everything, and everything goes in a clear container! Organize your essential skincare by use or whatever system works for you. For example: morning skincare, evening skincare, body care, bath care, etc. Upcycle beautiful, empty candle jars to store your Q-tips, cotton balls and brushes. Having everything gorgeously neat also ups the enjoyment of your skincare routine, too.
Show and tell!
We’d love to see what you’ve been up to! Send all your amazing decluttering pics to us at help@careskincare.com.
Take Care!
Michelle
Photos by Christian Mackie, Munro Studio
Bio: Michelle is a former beauty executive who loves being part of the Care Skincare Team. She’s married with two young children who have more energy than all the drinks on a Starbucks menu.