I used to throw all my “every day” makeup in one big makeup bag and call it a day. And while I still 100% do that when I’m traveling, I found I needed a more organized way to store my cosmetics at home. After the MUJI store opened in Toronto earlier this year I came across this MUJI Acrylic 5 Drawer Box. It was the perfect solution!
*P.s. their website seems to be down due to maintenance but the Canadian site is here and the US site is here.
With its minimal, simplistic design I knew it would work in any space. I still have a box of makeup in my closet that houses all my blogging items that are still waiting to be reviewed. This is just to store the makeup I use on the regular, so I try to keep it as paired down as possible.
I’ve been using this for about 5 months now and it does an amazing job at keeping my makeup organized. Anytime I notice something has gone months without being used I tuck it away in my makeup bag for “items I only use occasionally”. Or if it’s old I’ll just toss it. Bye Felicia!
It’s been a great way to stay on top of purging makeup I no longer need and keeping my makeup collection at a reasonable size. If I can’t fit another lipstick in the drawer I have to wait until I’ve used one up before I buy a new one. My OCD and my wallet thanks me!
Pros:
- Because it’s made of clear acrylic I can easily see what’s in each drawer
- It matches with pretty much any decor
- It’s durable. I shipped this in a storage container from Toronto to Portland, Oregon. This baby still doesn’t have one scratch on it!
- It’s versatile. Beyond makeup it can be used to store and jewellery as well. You can even buy co-ordinating jewellery trays from MUJI to keep all your necklaces and rings neatly tucked away
Cons:
- The drawers aren’t very deep, so there are a few products that are too thick to fit and have to sit on top (usually foundations)
- Most makeup brushes don’t fit. Everyone I’ve seen using this as a makeup organizer has a separate container to store their brushes (like the mason jar I’m using – $2 from Dollarama!) You can also use one of the MUJI Acrylic Pots.
- There are no handles so the acrylic gets smudgy pretty quickly from pulling the drawers open. It’s nothing a quick wipe with glass cleaner can’t remedy, but if you get a lot of natural light it makes it more obvious
First Drawer – Lip Products
This isn’t all the lip products I own, but these are the majority as I’ve purged a ton of makeup in the last few months. These are the lippies that I reach for daily and keep coming back to. I love NYX lip products – thanks to Nancy from Spiffykerms for introducing me to them!
Second Drawer: Liners, Pencils & Mascaras
From left to right I have eyeliner, mascara, lip liner and brow pencils. The Dior Powder Eyebrow Pencil on the far right didn’t fit in the drawer until I sharpened it a few times but otherwise standard makeup pencils fit in here without issue.
Third Drawer: Eyeshadows
I have 3 eyeshadow palettes that don’t fit into these drawers so I just sit them on top. But here is where I store most of my individual eyeshadows. I’m not a huge eyeshadow lover so my collection is pretty small. The shining stars are the NUDESTIX Magnetic Eye Colour Pencils on the right, I use them quite a bit. They are longer than the average makeup pencil but they fit in the drawer – just barely though!
Fourth Drawer: Powders, Blush & Bronzer
I don’t know how it happened but my collection of makeup from theBalm fits perfectly in this drawer! In fact, there’s enough room for me to stack them two-high if I wanted. The HOOLA Bronzer from Benefit Cosmetics is almost too high to fit but it works!
Fifth Drawer: Primer, Concealer & Foundation
I usually have one powder and one liquid foundation in the rotation but I just ran out of my tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation (which was too high to fit into these drawers anyway). So right now I am just working through the rest of this Maybelline Dream Wonder Foundation which is the best drugstore foundation I’ve ever used.
I have to say, even I am impressed at how few products are in this drawer! I’m actually not a huge fan of the Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous concealer that I just bought so if you guys have a drugstore suggestion please let me know!
How do you store your makeup? Organized chaos or super organized? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to know : )
Colleen says
I love that product, I’m sure every woman would love that to keep things visual & organized.
Where are they available ? I think I’ll need to visit.
Megan Joy says
It’s available at the MUJI location in Toronto, it’s across from the Eaton Center. Normally you can purchase them online too but their website is currently under construction.
Jodi says
Oh my god Megan your collection is so paired down and refined! I feel like mine has gotten out of control in recent months again and I can’t seem to find anywhere to trim! (Especially lipsticks. Oof.)
Megan Joy says
I know how you feel! Moving is a great excuse to pair down and get rid of things you don’t use. If I didn’t move so much I wouldn’t be nearly as organized lol
Maddy S says
I love Muji! Their acrylic drawers are such good quality, and are a lot cheaper than any others I’ve seen.
Megan Joy says
Totally, the price is really decent on these! I’m super happy with it : )
Danielle says
I’ve been eyeballing some Muji stuff for managing my makeup for awhile, CONVINCED NOW. Thanks 😉
Megan Joy says
Haha yayyy I am an enabler! Hee hee ; )
Chantal says
I love this, it’s so clean and pretty! My makeup is all over the place, although I only use a small amount of items that I keep in the same spot. I plan to do a huge purge during my Christmas vacation – I will send Miss M to daycare for a day or two so I can tackle things like this.
Megan Joy says
I do the same thing. I have a makeup bag that stores all the makeup I love but only use every now and then. It’s nice having my every day makeup organized and I’m finding that I go through products so much faster now which is awesome!
Nancy says
Sigh. Megan. If you saw how I stored my makeup I think you’d unfriend me from your life. HAHAHA Joking. But honestly, it’s all spread around the house. Some of it are in these clear zipper bags that you get when you buy a new pair of bedding/sheets. Some of it are in baskets underneath my bathroom sink. Oh man. I need help organizing/purging! I mean, I purge all my makeup all the time, especially when I go home to Newfoundland – to share the love right? But still. It piles.
Megan Joy says
I definitely have a bin with all the brand samples that I still need to go through, so I totally get it lol Those don’t look nearly as nice and organized as my “every day” makeup. It’s so hard to purge makeup, especially expensive makeup but moving has made me do it!
MizzJ says
I’m so impressed with how compact and tailored this is! I feel like I’d need 2 or 3 of these for my regular rotation of items lol
Megan Joy says
It is a constant struggle to keep it this paired down lol
Jen says
I have the 3-drawer version of this one and love it for storing my most-used shadow palettes. Wish they were just a bit deeper, though! It’s nice you can stack them- I might buy another 3-level one and put it on top (cus, you know, I love lots of palettes ;)). Very nice how you’ve organized yours by product type 🙂
Megan Joy says
Stacking them is a good idea! I originally bought the 3-drawer on and then I was like “nope, I need more space!” lol