Beauty Product Organization Secrets Revealed by Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog

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When The Beauty Spotlight Team launched the beauty products storage series, where we each feature our storage and organization solutions for our considerable stashes, I knew that I had some work to do. As my collection grew, I found that things were getting stored just about everywhere– therefore, I made an effort to organize and store the majority of what I use in our master bathroom. Just so that the irony is not lost on you, that is Lola shown trying to break into the master bathroom! What an injustice, to the one after whom this blog was named, to be excluded from the Lola's Secret Beauty Blog sanctuary!

One of the great challenges of living in a house built in the 1920s– especially when you want to preserve the integrity of its architecture– is that we live very differently today than they did nearly a century ago. The pragmatic storage systems that we rely upon in our era, simply didn't exist then, and therefore in order to make built-in storage accommodate today's living one often has to do some careful retrofitting. Furthermore, master bathrooms– which tend to be grand in scale today– were comparatively quite diminutive then. When we first bought our house and began the process of remodeling it, one of our main concerns was to preserve the architectural integrity of the home, and when it came to our master bathroom we sought to restore it, rather than to create something historically out-of-sync with the spirit of the historically preserved houses in Los Angeles from this era. 

Diminutive scale, coupled with inefficient built-in storage, created numerous challenges for me– particularly since our master bath has been co-opted by Lola's Secret Beauty Blog. In the spirit of full disclosure, what you see in this post is a fraction of the products that I actually have, and I have a fully stocked "Beauty-Editors Closet" (that mythical creature that you hear about) filled with products awaiting review, and my home office, and bedroom are also filled to the brim with products awaiting review. I also did not include all of my makeup storage because I wanted to primarily focus on skincare storage for this article.

When we set out to remodel our master bathroom we opted for an historically appropriate pedestal sink in order keep the small space light and airy, and since there is a large built-in cabinet that afforded us this particular luxury. That said, as my collection of beauty oils and luxury skincare lines began to grow, I found that I still needed additional storage. Therefore, I picked up a few metal étagères to accommodate these particular items. I tend to prefer cleaner minimalist lines, and these definitely satisfied that aesthetic except that they are intentionally distressed. I will probably eventually paint them a different color, and eliminate the shabby-chic distressed finish. These particular étagères are quite sturdy and well made. (The metal étagères were $49.00 each from Ross).

When I set out to organize each of the shelves, I decided to place items that I reach for a lot on the top tier. Cleansing oils and lotions needed to be very accessible since I often use them multiple times in a day– particularly when I'm doing a lot of swatching. Clearly my toothbrush, cotton balls and often-reached for makeup brushes needed to be within easy reach.

The remainder of the shelves were organized by like-types of beauty oils with like-types of beauty oils. Face oils are grouped together, and body, hair and multipurpose oils are likewise stored together. Where I departed from this system was when I had multiple oils from the same brand, or numerous products from the same line. While the étagère on the left is largely devoted to beauty oils, the étagère on the right is grouped by brand, and it includes their respective beauty oils (if they make them). The lines that I sought to store here are unquestionably my favorite luxury lines. In some cases I have their entire line, but in others at least three of their products.

I kept changing what I stored on the shelves, and what you see in this photograph ultimately lost out to the fully labeled version above. I also decided to center the two étagères beneath the large antique mirror and the 36" Carrara Marble Shelf with Iron Brackets in order to maximize utility, symmetry, and ultimately to adhere to the principle of form following function.

White Marble Shelf with Iron Brackets 36"W x 5.5"D x 0.75"H (Regularly $178.00 on sale for $89.94 from Crate & Barrel)

The 36" shelf needed to store often reached-for products as well as a few decorative embellishments. I wanted candles and flowers to adorn this space because I sought a place of refuge from my crazy, busy schedule.

I primarily selected glass to capture and reflect light in this tiny space, and because it creates a weightlessness that I find so aesthetically appealing.

Cotton balls, Q-Tips, lipsticks and a few select pieces of makeup are within easy reach. I also included a couple of little glass boxes to store earrings and a couple of rings that I wear often.

Glass Canisters from Crate & Barrel in small and medium were the perfect size for the shelf, and each stored a generous amount, and I found them particularly attractive.

($16.95 for the Small Glass Canister and $19.95 for the Medium Glass Canister from Crate & Barrel).

My medicine cabinet is nearly 100 years old, and when we sought to remodel, I was adamant that original handcrafted architectural features such as this remain intact. The wooden shelves are fixed in place, so sometimes the height of a particular bottle made it impossible to store it with other products from that category, but that is a small price to pay given that amount of storage space that this medicine cabinet affords me.

Since the medicine cabinet is centered above the sink, I decided to store things that would logically be used at the sink. Notwithstanding the top shelf filled with hair masks, this cabinet is devoted to storing things like facial cleansers, exfoliators, masks, micellar waters, toners and makeup removers. They are easy to see and reach, and therefore are more apt to get used.

Among the other original features is this hand-built recessed cabinet, and it was the subject of much debate as we were drawing up plans for the remodel. There were suggestions made that we should gut this and borrow some space from the adjacent room and turn it into a big walk-in shower, and then remove the shower above the bathtub in order to have four-piece master bathroom. I just felt that it would somehow be unconscionable to demolish such a wonderful original feature. However, it should be noted that the shelves are very deep and inefficient, and whatever you store in the back essentially either vanishes into the abyss, or you knock everything down in the front trying to reach anything in the back of the cabinet.

Shown: Wamsutta Baratta Stitch Shower Curtain in White/Charcoal ($39.99-$79.99 depending on the size from Bed, Bath & Beyond).

N.B. The 5 drawers beneath the cabinet doors hold a multitude of sins that have descended into pure unmitigated chaos. These drawers house some of my makeup, makeup brushes, and skincare samples. They may be the subject of another feature in the future, but this post was primarily intended to show how I currently store my skincare, body care and haircare products.

It occurred to me that the only way to gain control of the product inaccessibility, and the messiness that ensued every time that I reached for things in the cabinet, was to take a trip to The Container Store to purchase three of their largest Bamboo Roll-Out Cabinet Drawers that bottom mounted. These were quite easy to install, and they roll out of the cabinet far enough that I can easily reach everything at the very back of the cabinet without any difficulty.

I organized the three bamboo drawers according to product type. The bottom drawer is filled with skincare products (primarily cleaning and anti-aging devices, serums, creams and lotions and eye creams).

The second drawer houses haircare products of all sorts from shampoos and conditioners, to styling products, but I also keep hairbrushes on this shelf as well. Additional, I decided to keep my favorite deodorants here as well because they are at eye level and very easy to see.

The top drawer essentially serves as a catch-all for body products that range from lotions and creams, to bath and shower gels, to exfoliators. I decided to place these on the top shelf, which requires a stepping stool to access, because I have many of these types of products in, or near, my shower.

(20" Bamboo Roll-Out Cabinet Drawers $69.00 each from The Container Store).

Bottom drawer rolled out.

There was also a great opportunity for added storage above the toilet, and between the shower and door to the bedroom. It was here that I had just enough space for two 24" Carrara Marble Shelves that could house select perfumes, shower gels and body lotions.

White Marble Shelf with Iron Brackets 24"W x 5.5" D x 0.75 H (Regularly $149.90 on sale for $74.94 each from Crate & Barrel)

Carrara Marble is the perfect accompaniment to the white subway tiles and vintage fixtures that I love seeing in Los Angeles architecture from this era, and I was utterly delighted to find these. I also made a decision to keep the palette white and charcoal in order to ground the pale green walls.

Below the  two 24" shelves there was another great opportunity for added storage on the top of the toilet tank, and this French Marble 2-Tier Server was the perfect choice to store my most-used foundations, blushes and eyeshadows. Furthermore, there was enough storage space underneath the bottom shelf to store a couple of wash cloths and hand towels– which is always a bonus in a small space. 

TIP: If you are seeking great storage solutions, be sure to expand your search beyond the most obvious choices. For instance, this 2 tier server was intended for kitchen use, but it provided a perfect storage solution to maximize the vertical space above the toilet. Repurposing products intended for other uses is among the most resourceful ways to exponentially increase your chances of finding the perfect storage solutions.

French Kitchen Marble 2-Tier Server 14.25" W x 7" D x 10" H ($59.95 from Crate & Barrel).

One of my greatest finds, when I began trying to find good small space storage solutions, was the Italian made Dottus 5-Bin Storage Tower. The great craftsmanship coupled with the sturdy steel construction made this a brilliant storage solution to flank the Pedestal Sink by St. Thomas Creations. I primarily store makeup in them, but there is also some skincare overflow in a couple of the swivel drawers. I purchased two in Anthracite (shown above), and one in red that is in my beauty closet where products awaiting review reside.

5-Bin Storage Tower 15"W x 10 3/8" Dx 28 1/2"H (Were $199.00 Now On Sale for $139.00 Available in White, Red or Anthracite).

Large 5-Bin Storage Tower 20 1/2"W x 14 5/8" x 281/2"H ($289.00 Available in White, Red or Anthracite).

Pedestal Sink by St. Thomas Creations (Base and Basin $569.99 from Wayfair, Walmart and Unbeatable Sale).

Once filled with products, this mighty little storage titan offers the most pragmatic, convenient and ingenious storage solution for makeup and skincare products. Its clean, minimalist design coupled with its Italian Modernist sensibility makes this both a joy to use, and visually pleasing.

The drawers swing out all the way, allowing you to reach every corner of the interior space with great ease, and it allows you to see everything at once.

I purchased the smaller of the two sizes because I really liked the scale in relation to the pedestal sink, and the bathroom size as a whole. Each drawer fits a remarkable amount, but if you open all of the drawers at once, and you have filled each one to the brim, then you will want to weigh down the unit by placing something on top to counterbalance it. I store my Muji 5 Drawer Acrylic Case on top since it the perfect size, and it keeps those often used lip products within reach.

(Muji 5 Drawer Acrylic Case $38.00 and up from Muji and Amazon).

After having made all of these modifications to my bathroom, I find that this has become my favorite room in which to spend time. I can play with my skincare and makeup products, and can find everything that I am looking for without incident. I feel calm and happy each time that I walk into this room, and now that things are no longer disorganized and cluttered it really embodies the type of sanctuary that I wanted. It should also be noted that while I have an extra bedroom that I could have transformed into a beauty blogger mecca to store all of my products, it just made a whole lot more sense to me to utilize my master bathroom since it is more amenable to product testing because of the sink and bathtub/shower.

How do you store your products? What are your favorite tricks to organizing what you have? Did any of my storage solutions prompt you to rethink some of your storage? What storage tips can you share with us?

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