Pare down your beauty loot

NEW YORK—It’s easy to get carried away when faced with aisles and aisles of bath and body products.

In the United States, there are countless drugstores boasting a bonanza of beauty finds. In the Philippines, there’s PCX, Beauty Bar and Watsons to satisfy every Pinay’s cosmetic craving.

With so many options available in the market, streamlining one’s makeup stash can be a bit of a challenge. Here are tips on how to determine the essential pieces you need, including ways to declutter your beauty drawer.

ASSESS the condition of your skin and other factors that contribute to your buying habits. Has your skintone changed since last year? Is it worth holding onto that bottle of foundation given by a relative abroad, even if it’s the wrong shade? Tailoring your products to suit your current complexion also helps polish your daily beauty routine.

DISCARD anything that smells, coagulates or has long been discontinued in stores. Powders usually have a longer shelf life than creams and liquids, since anything moist is more prone to bacterial contamination (with the exception of airless pump dispensers). Also note that certain active ingredients become less effective over time. As for makeup, anything past its shelf life tends to turn gray or ruddy on skin.

CONDENSE products and give away duplicates, unless you are planning to pursue a career in makeup artistry, or it’s your favorite product and the shade is extremely hard to find (I have a personal bias toward Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencils).

Stick to the following basics: foundation, pressed powder, two to three eyeshadows or one reliable palette, eyeliner, mascara, blush, lipstick and lipgloss. Add bronzer or highlighter as needed.

INVEST in a makeup organizer at home, so that you can see everything. I am a fan of the plastic containers sold in hardware stores or the home section of department stores. This way, you keep track of what you use and don’t use. Also, keeping everything organized and visible helps you resist the urge to hoard products you won’t even end up using.

Mariel Chua is the former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen and Ok! Magazine. She is now based in New York City. Visit NyMinuteNow.com.

(Image courtesy of http://sanantoniodailyphoto.blogspot.com. Original article link here.)