I’VE never been one who’s been that into make-up. Sure, I wore it and enjoyed putting it on and would have the (very) odd manicure, but it’s never been a hobby of mine.
For many years I had the same small green leather make-up bag containing one foundation; one concealer; one blusher; one eyeliner; one mascara and two lipsticks, with maybe a lipgloss lurking in the bottom there. It was all I needed really, bit of slap to cover up the oul blemishes and wrinkles. Often I wore no make-up at all, sometimes only wearing it on special occasions.
But then something happened. Firstly I started reading the brilliant Beaut.ie and my eyes were opened to all the wondrous and magical lotions and potions that were on offer. Then, miracle of miracles, Beaut asked me to write a few articles for them.
‘I won’t be writing anything about beauty or fashion will I?’ I asked, horrified, terrified that I’d be found out.
When they stopped howling laughing they assured me that no, I wouldn’t be working on the beauty side of things, they had professionals for that, I’d be writing about things like bras and periods and celebrities.
Grand so. But although I stuck to writing about things I knew about, I read more and more articles on the site about beauty and decided to try a few products for myself. Then I read some more beauty blogs and started following some beauty bloggers on Twitter and before I knew it I was lusting after foundation like a teenage boy lusts after nipples.
So over time, this happened:
The obligatory before picture.
Yes, that’s a king-sized bed. And yes that’s all my make-up and cosmetics spread out all over it. For someone who was once content with one mascara that lasted a full 18-months, I’ve sure come a long way. I unearthed bottles and tubes and lotions I had forgotten all about, eyeshadows in pretty colours, even some good brand names that I had no idea how they got into my sweaty paws. Clarins? Elizabeth Arden? I know nothing of these expensive delights, yet there they were, taking up room on my dresser. I found a Lancome lipstick that I’ve never seen before in my life. I must have shoplifted it, it’s the only explanation because I literally have no idea how it found it’s way into my top drawer.
Anyway, I decided enough was enough, I had to find a way to keep all of my make-up tidy and together instead of stuffing it into drawers and bags strewn all around the room. So on Mother’s Day when my poor husband asked me what I wanted to do for the afternoon I said I wanted to go to IKEA and find a ‘storage solution’ as the real beauty bloggers call it.
So off to Ikea we went where we found this little beauty with four lovely colourd-ey baskets for €41. Perfect for the job. Back at the ranch I set about filling the baskets, barely able to lift them onto the shelves, so crammed were they with all my stuff.
The after shot. Neater, no?
I divided them into cleansers/face cream and foundation/concealer/blush; nail polish/nail polish remover/eyeshadow/mascara; deodorant, body lotion and perfume and lastly hair care including my hair dryer and straightener.
Face creams and foundation/concealer
Perfume and body lotion
Nail polish, lippie and eyeshadow
I’m determined to keep the top of it clean and tidy, as I’m a hoor for clutter so I carefully placed a few photographs on the top along with the beauty bible to end all beauty bibles, the Beaut.ie book, Gorgeous to Go.
Hair products
Face all done and products put away neatly! No wonder I look smug!
I’m determined not to add anymore clutter. I have spoken!
I’m only delira with it so I am. It looks so pretty, I’ve more space in the room, everything is together and I can put my hand on whatever I need, whenever I need it. I feel, almost, like a grown up!
For more beauty goodness have a gander at these blogs and websites, some of my favourites, they really know what they’re talking about: Cherry Sue Doin’ the Do, Lovely Girlie Bits, Behind Green Eyes, Frillseeker, Cornflake Girl’s Musings, All the Buzz, Robyn Rants and Raves and Forever Fabulous in Bows and … ah look, there’s loads of great ones! Check these ones out and then have a goo who they follow and check them out on Twitter too.
Beating Myself Into a Dress 
Anita Lawler
Hi Karen, love the unit-Ikea are the business when it comes to storage arent they? Just said Id mention (in case u have the storage/everything-in-its-place bug!) Ikea also do these inserts that fit into their drawers so that you can pop them in and further divide up the space…heck heres the link I dunno if Im explaining it properly! http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/20219597/ Great for small fiddly things like lippy that just roll around drawers oh and hair clips & bobbins! Great collection of makeup by the way,since following Beaut.ie my collection of lotions have grown too-all in the name of gorgeousness I say! X
beatingmyselfintoadress
Ooh thanks for that! I forsee another trip to IKEA!
A Cookbook Collection
That’s gas, I love your collection of products for someone not into cosmetics! You’ve made me feel better about my beauty spending habits, good to know I’m not the only one. I blame beaut.ie too! I bought a hanger thingy a month ago that’s supposed to organise my make up, it’s still in its packet :$
beatingmyselfintoadress
I forced myself to get the shelves set up and sort out the make up the minute we came home from Ikea, cos I knew otherwise it’d just languish in the spare room! Beaut.ie has a lot to answer for!
Sharon (BehindGreenEyes)
A teenage boy lusting after nipples!! I WHEEZED. Beaut.ie was the beginning of my downfall too. That and the fact that my Mam worked in a chemist for years so having a big massive drawer of makeup IN THE KITCHEN was completely normal behaviour. Sadly, my husband prefers the drawers to house things like cutlery and books and random screws and pens and bits of plugs, so all my makeup lives between a big bag from Penneys in the bedroom and a box on the bathroom windowsill that is crammed so much that if I take one thing out, ten others fall out too and it’s a race to stop things falling down the toilet. It’s like Celebrity Tipping Point in reverse!! The nail polishes………I can’t talk about the nail polishes, I’ll look madder than I already am. Thank you kindly for the mention also x
beatingmyselfintoadress
Ah I know how you feel about everything falling down on top of you, I was the same. Enough was enough! Get one of thee units, for serious, they’re the business.
Paula
Beaut.ie was the beginning of my obsession too! I was struggling with *really* dry and itchy skin when I stumbled upon a Beaut.ie of La Roche-Posay’s Iso-Urea moisturiser. It was a godsend! I still use it today and my love affair with LRP began then too.
Once you start, the stuff just accumulates. It gets everywhere! I’ve had two clear outs in the past year, one when I moved and another after I moved and I *still* have so much makeup/skincare. It’s currently scattered across what was my partner’s desk, you think I would have found a permanent storage solution after nine months…but, no. I love your basket solution.
On the upside, I made a decision about two years ago to use up all my foundations before buying any more. I’m down to my last one, which is on its last legs. Now to decide what to replace it with when it runs out. My fave Armani Luminous Silk is a bit out of my price range.
Thank you for the lovely mention. x
beatingmyselfintoadress
It seems that Beaut.ie was the start of it for a lot of us! Damn temptresses!
Robyn
Em, Karen, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh at seeing my name up there or bow down at your feet and thank you for including me amongst such goddesses of the beauty world. I’m honoured that you value my opinion so highly! x
beatingmyselfintoadress
No problem! You always do good reviews, I always like reading your blog!