Good Housekeeping’s experts have devised a strategy for women on the go who need their toiletries organized in the smartest possible way. Conquering the cosmetics clutter will make you more efficient and, ultimately, save money.
Cut countertop clutter » Speed through a.m. and p.m. routines by keeping essentials spillproof and within reach. "Even in the biggest bathroom in the world, the prime real estate is the area around the sink, and it’s limited," said professional organizer Julie Morgenstern, author of Organizing From the Inside Out.
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Pump-out potions » Dispensers save family members the hassle of fussing with lids and tops. Even smaller daily necessities such as eye cream come in pumps, such as Borba Age Defying Eye Creme Concentrate ($20, Walgreens). Using a pump also is more sanitary than dipping fingers into a tub of lotion.
Stick to presoaked eye pads » Eye makeup remover pads make it a cinch to wipe off your mascara. But their true genius is in saving space. Instead of storing remover and a pile of cotton pads, you need counter space only for one tub.
Need more incentive? Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads come in a taller tub with 50 percent more pads ($8, in drugstores this month).
Stand dental care on end » Many toothpastes come in flat-topped tubes. An upright electric toothbrush also keeps toiletries streamlined. If you don’t want electric cords cluttering your bathroom, try a battery-operated version, such as Oral-B Pro-Health Precision Clean Battery-Powered Toothbrush ($16.50, cvs.com).
Streamline your makeup » If women can separate the necessities from the nonessentials, applying makeup should take only minutes.
Designate a spot » A drawer with dividers or a box lets you see everything you need — no digging around — but if you’re tight on space, a makeup bag works, too.
Part with the 10th-place lipstick » Dump makeup that’s expired, which includes products that you have had longer than 18 months, or six months for mascaras or other liquids near the eyes. Get rid of runner-up makeup, too.
Be an editor » If you still are attached to the 10 eye shadows or 20 lip colors you have used once each, put them in a covered box on your bathroom counter or toilet tank and apply a sticker dated three months from now. GH beauty experts recommend the Short Acrylic Box ($10, The Container Store), which keeps everything in sight.
Maximize space » Inventive storage puts every inch to work and tames bathroom chaos.
Use door space » This includes the bathroom door and the medicine-cabinet door. "That’s the perfect spot to install a blow-dryer holder and hang up [a] dryer," said organizer Morganstern. Or consider using a doorknob to suspend an attractive fabric-covered caddy.
On another matter » For a less-sneezy cold season, consider a daily dose of healthy bacteria. A recent review of 10 studies found that people who consumed probiotics were about 40 percent less likely to catch at least one cold (or to have a truly lousy season with three or more bouts of illness) than those taking a placebo. There’s no clear recipes for protection, so try whatever’s easiest for you: a supplement, yogurt or a fermented drink with plenty of good bacteria, said Mike Gleeson, a doctor at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. Consume daily, and the regimen may promote better health.
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