A couple of months ago, I showed you my storage method for my makeup brushes: a pretty apothecary jar that I found at HomeGoods.
Well, here’s another one for even more storage.
This one is a large 3-compartment, stacked apothecary jar. It’s perfect for storing most of my extensive nail polish collection, and my Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eye Shadow and Intense Lip collections. Before I had this see-through storage idea, they were either in a cardboard box or in several different plastic containers on the floor of my crowded linen closet.
I splurged on this one. The large size is $49 at West Elm, but it comes in a smaller version for $34, good for storing sponges, cotton balls or swabs, lip balms etc. Maybe some day these will show up at HomeGoods, but I haven’t seen anything like them there yet.
I’m displaying the new jar on my antique English Art Deco vanity that I bought years ago at an antique store in Soho when I lived in New York.
I fell in love with the carved red & gray flowers painted on the vertical drawer handles. I also love the oval shape and how the seat fits right into the oval to maintain the design. And the adjustable, 3-way mirror is wonderful for the times I want to see the back of my head! I mostly apply my makeup in the bathroom since the light is better there in spite of the chandelier above my vanity. But I enjoy looking at it, and it provides good storage. 😀
Got any makeup storage tips to share with us?? Do you use a vanity?
I love your vanity. And I see you also like Youth Dew. It is a favorite fragrance of mine during the cold weather months. That is a neat apothecary jar. I am much too clumsy for all that glass. I would have that broke within a week with my butter fingers. lol
Thank you, Laura! I thought the vanity was quite unusual with the seat with more storage that fits into the oval. I still love it. And I do like Youth Dew. I’ve been meaning to do a couple of fragrance posts. Soon. If you like YD, you may love Musc Ravageur by Frederick Malle, a big Oriental scent. I adore it. The apothecary jar definitely solved my problem. Thankfully, I can handle the glass. 🙂
Love the look !! I like the idea of see through items for any kind of storage and that is simply beautiful and functional~
Thank you, Lois! I had bottles of nail polish stored in random plastic food containers and plastic bags all over the place, and I never knew what I do or which container the shade I wanted was in! This is so much better!
I like how you have your polishes stored. I love seeing posts like this since it helps give me ideas for storage.
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Thanks, Kim! This really solved my problem in a very attractive way, I think 🙂
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this post, Allison! I have always loved apothecary jars, and your inventive use for them is both pragmatic and stylish! Your vanity is gorgeous!
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Thank you so much, Lola! You always say just the right thing 🙂
That dressing table! *swoon* Yes, I use one. Have for almost always. I am of the personal belief that the bathroom is a hostile environment for makeup and the lighting in mine always blows. My dressing table is in my bedroom, under a window where I get indirect and direct sun. Perfect for makeup application. 😀
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You’re right, Erika. The heat and moisture in the bathroom isn’t good for makeup, I know. But I usually need the running water, and the drapes and blinds cut down the light from my northern and eastern facing windows. So, alas, my vanity is mostly for storage and decoration. I’m so glad you can actually use yours!
Love this idea. I was at Michaels and Home Goods the other day and I totally thought to myself, I need all the apothecary jars to make everything pretty. Totally going to do this! Beautiful and easy makeup storage!
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I wish I had seen this particular stacked storage jar at my local Michaels or HomeGoods. West Elm is certainly pricier, but I just needed to do something to organize all my polish and shadow singles!
Hi Allison,
I love the new makeup storage, you managed to store quite a lot of things in there!
I have a classical design vanity with 4 large drawers. I store my makeup and most of my skin products in there, and I use dividers to keep everything organized. I have only few things displayed on top of it; things that I use everyday.
I am a big fan of organizers, and I sometimes like to make my own 🙂
Dima Al Mahsiri recently posted…[re]fresh Fruit Acid 15% Gel Peel: the Optimal Starter Peel
Thank you, Dima! Yes, this is much better than my previous solution that was no solution at all 😉 Your storage method sounds wonderful. I wish I were that organized
Thank you for saying such a lovely thing, Allison! <3
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I absolutely mean it, Lola! I always look forward to your comments <3
Adorable Setup! I would love this for my lipsticks 😀
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Thanks, Kristina! It would be perfect for lipsticks too. And you probably wouldn’t need this pricier stackable one. 🙂
You just made my day, Allison! The feeling is absolutely mutual, and I always look forward to your insightful and thoughtful reviews! I look forward to reading your lovely blog every single day! <3
Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog recently posted…Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Solo Eyeshadow Tadzio No. 9 | Review and Swatches
Thank you again!! <3 <3 <3
Thank you, Allison!
Organizing is a must for me! And your storage is a clever one 😉
I believe organizing simplifies life, though it sometimes become a challenge when you have 5 ppl sharing the same home with you, lool .
Have you ever seen the lady behind “Zero Waste Home”? I saw her on a TV program yesterday. She keeps everything simple to reduce time for cleaning dust, she says I have more important things to do rather than spending my time dusting the house”, she had a good point, I agree with her!
So rather than displaying all of your makeup on the vanity, placing them in a storage keeps them clean and save your time for other things to do 🙂
Dima Al Mahsiri recently posted…[re]fresh Fruit Acid 15% Gel Peel: the Optimal Starter Peel
No, I haven’t heard of that program. I should look out for it! I have a big house, but I have a lot of stuff that definitely needs more organization. I do like having pretty things displayed on my vanity table. Thankfully, I have a woman who comes every couple of weeks to help me clean 😉
Your vanity is cute! Great storage ideas.
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Thank you, Phyrra!
“Zero waste home” is the name of her book. She has a blog with the same name.
Lucky you! Well, my 11 yr old daughter helps me a little in the house at the weekend, and I am teaching the boys to be more responsible ( if you use it, you have to put it back in place again! ). This really helps a little .
Dima Al Mahsiri recently posted…[re]fresh Fruit Acid 15% Gel Peel: the Optimal Starter Peel
I’ll check out her blog! You’re smart, Dima, to teach the boys to help out so they become good husbands when they grow up!
This is SUPER cute!!! I need to do the same thing! 😀
Thank you, Vivienne! It really helped me cut down on the clutter 🙂
Your vanity is gorgeous! If I had the space, I’d love to have a beautiful piece of furniture like that in the bedroom.
Monica.
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Thank you, Monica! When I lived in NYC, I bought a number of antiques from various stores around the city, and I got this English Art Deco vanity at a cavernous store in Soho that I’m sure is long gone with the rising rents there. So glad I got it ‘coz I’ve never seen anything like it since. 🙂
That stacked set looks so great and fancy!
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Thanks, Jessica, and so useful too!
This is such a fun idea! I never find anything this good at my local Home Goods lol.
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Fortunately, Brianna, I got the jar for my brushes at HomeGoods, but the stacked apothecary jar was a splurge at West Elma…but it was worth it!
Your vanity gives me mental images of old-time cat burglars stealthily scooping all the glitz into their black velvet bags. Hehe, if I were a burglar I’d smuggle out that vanity, not your television! Right now I’ve got a pretty waterfall vanity in storage. Just waiting for the right place to put it. 🙂
I like how your jars have lids. While I’ve got some pretty containers that I can keep my brushes etc in, nothing has a lid and occasionally I’m a bit doubtful as to the relative quantity of dust possibly contained within that brush I haven’t used in a week or so. Sadly no jar is gonna help me with the polish though. If that’s most of your collection then I really am an addict O.o Oy
Oh thank you, Rach! I have to look up what a “waterfall vanity” is. It sounds spectacular! Having a top on the apothecary jars really is a plus especially for the brushes. I get plenty of dusk in between my less than frequent cleaning bouts. I had to make a decision between filling the entire jar with polish or using the bottom for my Milani shadow/liquid lipstick collection and I decided to put away and giveaway a lot of polishes I don’t use much and have the shadows and lippies handier so I’d use them more often 😉 But yes, it sounds like you’ve got me beat!!
I adore your setup! SO cute and you can see everything perfectly! <3
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Thanks, Shipra! Exactly, I can see what I have. Before I didn’t even know where they all were. Yay!
Thank you Allison for your sweet words 🙂
Dima Al Mahsiri recently posted…[re]fresh Fruit Acid 15% Gel Peel: the Optimal Starter Peel
really great storage ideas!!! I need some organization in my life 🙂
The Dalai Lama’s Nails recently posted…Glitter Roses and Couture Gel Giveaway
Thanks, Hannah! I still need more organization, but it’s a start 😉
I love the idea. While my kids are small I have almost everything in plastic, hopefully one day I can have these gorgeous displays.
NORAH recently posted…Teadora Nourishing Lip Butter Dawn Review
That makes sense, Norah. Plastic around little ones. But I am so happy to get mine out of all those plastic storage containers where I can now see them. Not that I don’t have a zillion other plastic containers with random makeup in them 😉
Ooh, I love the three tiered jar! I have a big glass jar for my mini polishes. It’s not the most optimal storage, as you have to dig for the ones on the bottom, but it looks cute!
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This is quite good because the tiers are deep enough to hold quite a bit, but not so difficult to fish around for a particular shade.
That VANITY!!!! OMG!!! It’s gorgeous! I like the clear jars to contain things.
Kimberly recently posted…Facial Wipe Wednesday: Aveeno Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes
Thank you, Kimberly! I do still love my vanity table 🙂 And the clear glass that’s in one place is so much better than my plastic containers and bags all over the place!
I love “DIY” makeup organization and repurposing things! Most of my storage is repurposed like jars, palette holders etc.
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That’s the best way!
I love the stacked jar, I’ve never seen one!!
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It’s so handy. I now can use more of my nail polishes and my eyeshadow singles coz I know where they are!
Oh wow. I totally need that layered apothecary jar. Not even kidding.
Laura MyNewestAddiction recently posted…Popsugar Must Have Box November 2014 | Unboxing
It definitely helped me organize at least some of my major stash!
I love your vanity!!!
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Thanks, Sheila! It’s fun to have an antique vanity even though I don’t use it often enough
Ok, I need a vanity like that!! And cute idea with the jars!!
Thanks, Lisa!
I love that table! What a great storage idea, though I’d be afraid of all that glass around my clumsy self!
Thank you, Nidia. I collect glass perfume vials too so I’m good around glass 😉
I love your antique vanity!
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Thank you, Kathryne! It is quite unique. I’ve never found another even close to looking like it.
Such a sweet vanity set up. I am gonna be on the look out now for that type of container at Ross. I use a trifle bowl to hold all my brushes, because I got tired of the smaller vases… so it’s always great finding fun jars to make use of 😉
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A trifle bowl is a great idea too. I just wanted something with a top to keep them clean since I don’t dust that often!
Such a cute idea for storaging make-up <3
Thank you and thanks for your comment 🙂
Your brushes look SO pretty in these! Great ideas!
Jess Scull recently posted…Pur Minerals Soul Mattes Eyeshadow Palette – Swatches & Review
I like the way the brushes look too, and they stay clean and are handy in the apothecary jar
What fantastic storage ideas! I need you to clean up my office lol
Brooke @ Blushing Noir recently posted…MAC Smoky Black Friday Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow Swatches, Review + EOTD
Oh, you don’t! You should see mine. Filing is not my strong suit. 😉
This is such great info, I love your storage!
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Thank you, Justina!
I love this! I store my cotton balls and Q-tips in mason jars. I’ve been looking for chic ways to start storing other beauty products — Home Goods is a great idea for apothecary jars!
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Yes, HomeGoods is great for single chamber, traditional apothecary jars! I hated to spend the money at West Elm on the stacked one, but it was so unique and it solved my problem. I have my Q-tips in a Wedgewood container that I bought in London years ago, and some of my eyeliners are in a quite ceramic vase I got in Orvieto — though I need a much bigger one now to hold them all. Mason jars may be next!
Nifty idea with those Bella Eyes!! I have mine all stacked up in drawers hahah
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If I had drawers, I might have done that, Destany. They were sitting in the original cardboard boxes they came in in a closet and I had no idea what I had and never used them. Now I can! I still need more storage 😉
That vanity is amazing! Really pretty :). I don’t have one, I use a drawer in our bedroom for all my make-up.
Deborah recently posted…Swatches & Review – A-England Elizabeth & Mary collection
Thanks, Deborah! Unfortunately, I have outgrown my storage options. I need a makeup room like some of the other bloggers have. Jealous 😉 I think it’s great that you can fit your makeup in a drawer. You must cull your collection which is something I need to do!
That is perfect! I was looking for a fun way of storing my beauty products and might try this trick.
Anastasia recently posted…Birchbox Vanity Affair Limited Edition Box: An Early Christmas Gift To Myself
I’m sure you’ll fine an apothecary jar that fits the bill for your collection. Enjoy!
Haha well, luckily I compensate the make-up stash with an abnormally large nailpolish stash ;).
Deborah recently posted…Swatches & Review – A-England Elizabeth & Mary collection
My gosh, what a great idea!! Pretty too!
Polarbelle recently posted…Each Week Is A New Beginning..and Some Pretty Pictures
Thanks, Shelley! I thought it looked pretty darn cute!
LOL ! these storage tips are really amazing 😀 I also have few jars , now i will also try this 😀 hahah ,, its funny
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Why funny, Poonpo? Very handy 😉