For some time now I've been considering solutions for organizing random makeup. I've accumulated so much over the years for costuming that my bag/basket is out of control! I'm constantly digging for hard to find things in the bottom. Well, not long ago someone posted a product on Facebook that was actually pretty clever and totally DIY-able. It inspired me to try constructing my own upcycled version. (However, at $10-13 each velcro palette, the "Beauty Butler" (http://getbeautybutler.com) product is reasonable enough for the more lazy non-Do-It-Yourself-ers.) But, this post is not about how to make those. I have another idea that would work really well in conjunction with a "Beauty Butler" type system.
The one thing I don't like about this velcro method, is that I still have to lug around all those plastic cases for each color of eyeshadow, blush, powder, lipstick, etc... I usually end up with many multi-color sets that I only like one color in, anyway. Don't get me started on the almost empty containers of colors I can no longer find. So, I got to thinking, and came up with a fairly easy down and dirty and absolutely FREE version using stuff I had around, of course. I used clear acrylic DVD cases and sheet magnets.
I turned all of these:
Into these two cases:
Concealer, powder, blush and lipstick in one, while eyeshadows are in the other. How I did it was pretty easy, though I won't lie, it is not for all makeup. Some brands do not use the same metal pots as most do. And, some can be near impossible to remove from the cases. It did work well with about 98% of my compressed cake makeups. I chose to try this with my older used makeup (Hence the half empty pots and worn out cases in the pics.)
I started by removing the metal pots from the containers. This is probably the trickiest part. Some are glued in better than others. Cover Girl, Maybeline, MaxFactor, Almay, Clinique and Este Lauder all seemed fairly easy to pry out with a razorblade or thin palette knife. But, they could change their packaging at any time. Please be careful if you try this, especially with expensive makeup. Be patient. The glue will need time to release slowly in some. (If you crack or crumble some of the powder content, it is easy enough to fix them. I use the lid on a chapstick or any clean flat object I could find to tamp the powder back into the pot., But, it really only happens when the powder is almost gone or in a flimsy pot.) Don't forget to remove the mirrors, too. You can stick those right in with the pots, or glue them to the case lid.
I removed the disc holder liner from a DVD case and cut the part with the hinge off and put it back in the case to use as a brush holder (I cut it using my trusty jeweler's saw. I can't stress how handy these saws are for crafters and DIYers.). If you cut it just after the hinge, the narrow compartment should open up when the case is open.
I lined the flat side of the case with a large magnet sheet I happened to have. You can also tile the smaller business size magnets. A little spray adhesive should hold them in place. You can cover the back with some paper or other material to hide the back of the magnet in the clear acrylic case.
Now, I arranged all the various makeup onto the magnets. The little tin pots normally contain iron and will stick to magnets with no need to alter. However, you can use another piece of magnet and some adhesive to back the pots that won't stick. (I only had one off brand set that was aluminum.) The great part is that being magnetic, you can rearrange them endlessly. I also had a couple almost empty lipsticks, so I scooped out what was left in the tube and squished it into a clean empty pot using a palette knife. (Waste not, want not! Hehe )
I even added some magnet sheet to one of the larger blush containers, so I could travel lighter when needed. This whole thing also works with the smaller CD cases.
TIP: If you remove the fronts of another DVD/CD cases, you can use them lined with magnet sheets or velcro compatible fabric for a DIY Beauty Butler to hold your brushes, tube lipstick, mascara, eyeliners, etc... (The black protector cover pictured in the 1st pic is actually an old Samsung tablet cover. They make some really nice cover s these days that could work really well for this.)
Hope you find these tips useful! Until next time be craftabulous!