SPOTLIGHT: My Lipstick Collection & Storage...

There's no denying my lipstick collection is quite extensive (!), and being the size that it is, storage is somewhat of a challenge. Of course there's a wide variety of acrylic units available which are effective and look super pretty, but when the volume gets beyond a certain level, they're impractical, both from a space perspective, as well as the cost factor. Just for the record, the main thrust behind amassing such a number of products is because I'm a colour-matching nut. I experimented with blending colours back in the early days when I only had a dozen or so, but with the range of lippies available these days, and so many at ridiculously affordable prices (plus the frequency of free ones available with GWP's and on magazine covers), my kit has grown with not too much outlay over the years to the point where I can now lay my hands on the exact shade to go with any outfit. I've also won quite a few in various competitions, and some of my gorgeous friends have generously gifted me with sets or colours they would never wear. But the sheer volume introduces a new dilemma which is... "how do I find what I'm looking for?"...

This is my entire collection, including the ones I haven't tried yet (part filled container far right)

The original solution I worked out was to store the products in colour families and/or type, and to do that, I needed to be able to see each and every one, and have enough storage space to group them into their particular category. Until recently I kept them in inexpensive plastic trays & cubes of different sizes (see below). This worked fine from a practicality point of view, but it looked messy...

And then just the other day, I spotted the container below in my local bargain store for $9.99. It's solid and sturdy, has removable dividers, handles, and a clip on lid should I need to transport the contents (not the tall ones of course), and I can lift the whole thing off the shelf and take it across the room to the window so I can select the colour and finish I'm after...

I bought two of these, and can fit most of the products into both, needing only a couple of my original containers for the overflow. I might add that I have no intention of expanding my collection any further - my mission is to limit the quantity to these two boxes, so over the next few weeks I'll be doing a serious cull, and in future when I buy a new one, it will be on the condition that I toss an existing one away. Wish me luck lol!...

So here is what my lippie storage looked like before... 

And here it is now...

It's a whole lot neater, and my plan is to eliminate the narrow box in the middle (currently lip glosses) and the one at the back (ones I rarely if ever wear because they're way too pale), and I'm confident my clean-out will achieve that. I have literally dozens of lip products that are darn uncomfortable on my lips, too drying, too streaky/patchy, or the colour is simply not all that flattering - it's just a matter making the time to do it...and letting go ha ha ♥...

So how do you store your lipsticks?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Adding this post to Ingrid's weekly Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - every Monday morning from 6:30am...