Is there such a thing as too much makeup? We know you want to shout out a resounding NO (us too!), but the real answer is… maybe.

So many of us go for years without clearing out our makeup stash and end up hoarding way too many beauty products – some we don’t even use, but sneakily throw to the back of our beauty stash to use for an appropriate occasion (whatever that means).

To help put an end to your overflowing beauty drawers or bathroom cabinets, we’ve got some tips and tricks to help you on your decluttering spree – faster than you can say Marie Kondo!

1. Expiry Dates Are Real

The numbers are there for a reason and old, expired makeup can serve as a breeding ground for germs (does this explain the random breakouts you get every few weeks?) If the dates are no longer visible on the packaging but you know those products have been with you for a long time now, there’s only one thing left to do – toss em’!

There’s also a symbol on the bottom of some products which can indicate when you need to throw them out.

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For instance, 12M means this product is safe to use for 12 months after the opening. There are also other general rules about a product’s shelf life:

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While these are just recommendations, remember to check the actual product for expiry dates. If all else fails, just check the texture and smell of the product – these will definitely give it away.

2. It’s not you, it’s the makeup

Let’s face it. If you’re as white as snow, there’s no way that foundation you bought of the shade ‘ginger goddess’ or ‘bronze beauty’ (in the hopes that you will one day turn into a Greek Goddess) will ever match your skin tone. Why not give it to someone who can use it everyday?

And while you’re at it, consider giving away that cobalt blue eyeliner you purchased for yourself at the last Sephora sale saying “I will be rocking this at the next party!”. Some break-ups are hard, but necessary.

3. Out of sight, out of mind

Beauty products that have been stashed away at the back of your beauty drawer are most likely to be forgotten. Try to arrange all your items such that they’re mostly visible and within easy reach. A good way to do this is to invest in clear acrylic drawers like the ones from MUJI or Daiso.

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Who knows, you might even find that forgotten lip-liner you once couldn’t live without!

4. Labels will be your new BFFs

Take your consolidation game to the next level by creating labels when organising your products. Knowing exactly where you’ve put your darker lipsticks and how you’ve stashed your nude mattes could save you from running late to an important meeting in the morning.

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Besides, no one likes the added stress of trying to figure out what’s what. Beauty is supposed to be fun!

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You can even label your lipsticks by swatching it onto a small sheet of paper and taping that paper to the top of the tube. No more squinting at labels or opening each lipstick tube to tell your Ruby Woo apart from your Russian Red shade!

5. How to Marie Kondo your stash

If you haven’t watched Tidying Up With Marie Kondo on Netflix, here’s a summary. The KonMari Method – developed by Japanese pro organiser Marie Kondo – is an organised system of simplifying your life by getting rid of items that no longer bring you joy.

Knowing what makeup you have allows you to get rid of the old and make room for the new. As per Marie Kondo’s recommendation – to do this, take out all your beauty products and lay them on the floor. Next, sort them into piles by category such as moisturisers, eye makeup, brushes etc.

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Then, go through every single item within the category to decide which one you absolutely need (in the words of Marie Kondo – which one sparks joy for you), and keep only those.

Most importantly, remember that this is not an exercise in frugality – keep only those that you will actually use!

6. All good things must come to an end

Own up everyone – we’re all guilty of having products that are nearly finished, but we just can’t get around to actually finishing it or we can’t bear to be done with such an amazing product (hello, limited edition makeup!)

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Make an effort to finish these products before purchasing new ones and your beauty area will definitely be cleaner. Some companies even have initiatives which allow you to exchange your empties for free goodies! These include MAC’s ‘Back to MAC’ programme and Lush’s Fresh Face Mask programme.

7. Keep Brushes in a Cup

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Instead of having your brushes squashed together in a drawer, consider storing them upright in a cup. This prevents them from touching dirty, grimy surfaces which can transfer bacteria to your face, and also allows you to reach out for that one brush you need more easily.

8. Consistency is key

While these are just some tips to help you get started on decluttering your beauty stash, don’t wait till a year later to do this again. A routine check-up from time to time helps maintain an organised collection and ensures you don’t use expired makeup.

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Cleaning as you go also reminds you of the favourites you have so you don’t over-purchase new items and end up right where you started!