Beauty organization

Most collections get out of hand slowly. A gift set, a few samples, a sale, and one day the product you use every morning is hiding behind six you forgot you owned. The fix is not a bigger cabinet. It is knowing what you have.

Start by putting everything in one place and sorting it by type: skincare, face makeup, eyes, lips, hair, body, fragrance and tools. Seeing it all together is usually a surprise, and it shows you straight away where the duplicates are.

Next, check each product. Is it in date? Has it changed in smell, colour or texture? Do you actually use it? Keep what passes, move the nearly finished ones to the front, and let go of anything you cannot date or would not use.

Then give your best space to what you use every day and store the rest by how often you reach for it. Keep products closed, upright and away from heat and direct sunlight.

The step that makes it last is writing it down. A list of what you own, with the date you opened each product, lets you check before you buy and use things up in the right order. You can keep that list on paper or on a free CosmeShelf shelf that you can open on your phone in the store.