Attention Hoarders of Beauty Products: Pare Down with these Top Five Essentials

Are you a hoarder? If you open your bathroom cabinet and it looks like a shelf from the drugstore, then you are definitely a product junkie. It's okay, I kinda sorta am one still. It used to be worse, where I would have 5 shampoos in the shower, because each one offered a different solution to my hair woes. But, I've since trimmed down the shampoos to just two, and two conditioners as well. What? One is for daily use, the other is "deep" conditioning.

Don't feel too bad. A recent LA Times article talks about a woman who had 40 tubs full of cosmetics and stored them way past their shelf life. She was storing them in storage units that cost $260 a month for 5 years. Good thing she found a pro organizer who helped her move them to garage cabinets.

Who would spend $15,600 just to store cosmetics they didn't use? That's a huge waste of money and space.

So, what can you do to help minimize clutter and maximize space and money? Pare down your beauty products to essentials that you actually need. Another tip is to find products that multi-task. For example: Nars The Multiple can be used to highlight lips, eyes, cheeks and body.

Four products in one--awesome deal!

To help you start getting rid of the clutter, I've compiled a list of top 5 must-have beauty essentials:

1. Lip Gloss - I love lip gloss of any kind--as long as it's shiny, pretty and doesn't stick to my lips or anything else. One of my favorites right now is Buxom Lips from Buxom. It's $18, lasts forever, non-sticky and plumps your lips! The tingly sensation is an added bonus.


2. Black Mascara - Some people like brown mascara for the "natural" look. But, if you're gonna vavoom your lashes, go all out! Black makes a statement and makes your eyes pop. Plus, it looks good on all eye colors. Blinc has a great waterproof mascara that forms tubes around your lashes so it stays. $24 isn't cheap, but it will deliver results.


3. Moisturizer - Dry, flaky skin is a big no-no for anyone. I'm a big proponent for soft, supple skin. My favorite body lotion is Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Lotion. It's hypoallergenic and fragrance free, which is perfect for sensitive skin. And at $6.99 for a 24.5 oz. bottle it will last at least two months.


4. Baby Wipes - This is a huge multi-tasker. Not only does it clean baby's bottoms (and yours), but it also comes in handy when you need to take care of a make-up mishap. And if you're too lazy to wash your face at night, just swipe one of these over your face and be done with it. Target has great Unscented Baby Wipes that are super soft as well. At $11.04 for a pack of 704, they are way cheaper than brand name face cleansing cloths.


5. Shampoo - I'm partial to Dove hair products. They smell great, work well and are cost friendly. My friends always comment on how soft my hair is and are surprised when I tell them I use Dove. My favorite shampoo is the Dove Therapy Intense Damage Repair Shampoo. Target sells it for around $5 a bottle. Dove also has a shampoo and conditioner in one for those of you who don't want to buy two products. 

I hope this list helps you out in your quest to conquer the cosmetics clutter. At least you'll look fabulous while doing so!