Organize It: Clear Space Clear Mind

CLEAR SPACE CLEAR MIND

What you see is what you get—organize your goods and use what you have.

> There’s no time like the present for a (belated) spring cleaning. Gather up your unused trinket trays, mismatched bowls, and bud vases to display your products in thoughtful, meaningful ways that provide order and aesthetic bliss. Not ready for a big closet purge? Simply moving unexpected items around and organizing by color and material can give your closet an updated, boutique feel.

WORDS BY CHRISTINA WALL STREIT PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARISSA DE LA TORRE

Project!

Give basic acrylic storage drawers a personalized touch.

SUPPLIES:

» Clear acrylic vanity organizer (available at The Container Store, HomeGoods, or Amazon) » Wallpaper scraps, peel-andstick wallpaper, or cardstock » Scissors

» Measuring tape and ruler » Double-sided tape

1 Measure the inside of your drawers. 2 Trim the wallpaper to fit. 3 Apply double-sided tape from corner to corner. 4 Gently place wallpaper in the drawer then flatten any bubbles by lifting edges with a ruler. 5 Admire your work. BONUS: Change paper anytime to give your space a fresh update.

•THINK AGAIN. Save lids from your beauty products to organize your small items like bobby pins, tweezers, safety pins, and Q-tips. You don’t always need to buy more things—just rethink what you already have.

•WE’VE ALL BECOME GERMOPHOBES. It’s more important than ever to frequently clean out your vanity. Make sure you wipe down your beauty products with disinfectant wipes and dry them completely. (You’d be surprised how dirty they actually get.)

•GET MOVING. We all have those mixed-use items that have been used for a variety of needs. For instance, I have had this bust for 12 years. It has been a sculpture in my living room, an outdoor table decoration, and now it is in my closet as a hat stand.

Expirations dates are not just for the fridge. Here are a few quick reminders:

MAKEUP Concealer: 1 year Cream blush: 1 year Eyeliner: 3 months Eyeliner pencil: 2 years Eye shadow: 1 year Foundation: 1 year Lip balm: 1–5 years Lip gloss: 1 year Lipstick: 2 years Liquid eyeliner: 3 months Mascara: 3 months Nail polish: 1 year Powder blush: 2 years

BODY CARE Bar soap: 18 months– 3 years Bath oil: 1 year Body lotion: 2 years Body wash: 3 years Deodorant: 1–2 years Disposable razors: every five to seven shaves Eye cream: 1 year Face cream: 2 years Hair spray: 2–3 years Loofah: 6 months Makeup sponge: 1 month Perfume: 1–2 years Shampoo and conditioner: 2–3 years Sunscreen: 3 years Toothbrush: 3 months