While decluttering videos have been making the rounds lately, it's important to understand why you need to declutter your makeup. It's nice to have a huge makeup collection that you declutter because you want to pass products along that you're not using, but there is also a good reason why you should be decluttering your makeup.



Expiration

Makeup does have an expiration date, and over time these products can lead to eye infections, skin irritations and breakouts. The date on the packaging is for unopened products. When you open a product keep in mind that you should be using it up within that time period. Even unopened makeup can separate, change color or smell bad. These products should also be tossed away. Eye products such as mascara and eyeliners have a shorter life span. Even with eyeshadow, you can pass along bacteria. Foundation with a pump is ideal, because bacteria isn't introduced back into the packaging like fingers or application can do.

Broken Bottles or Packaging

While going through and decluttering your makeup, you might find broken bottles or packages that are causing products to leak and possibly ruin other items in your collection. Caps like to come off eye liners and lip liners.  Makeup sure that lids are nice and secure while cleaning your makeup. Makeup looses hydration and can begin to dry out, while you can try some hacks to revive it- it might not be as effective.


Consumerism

I've also fallen into the "more is more" thinking and truthfully, if you're not using a product you might want to pass them along. Eyeshadow palettes and some other products can be sterilized and maybe your family or friends would get more use out of it. If you have a smaller collection, your more likely to use the stuff you have.

Clean them up

Similarly to washing your makeup brushes, you can clean up the packaging on your products. It will help you to wash away bacteria and give you an incentive to use it because it's clean and looks nice.

Categorize

If you find some products that you've been holding onto because you're not sure if you like it. Set it aside and give them a try. If you see that you're still not liking it, or seem on the fence about it, be honest with yourself- you won't use it. Get rid of it. If you're also not wanting to pick up the product and use it, again you probably won't use it and don't need to keep it.

You Will Feel So Good

When you're finished decluttering and you've sorted through your makeup, you will feel so good. I promise, you will. Much like cleaning your house, you don't want to do it but it feels so nice when you can sit back and see what you accomplished.