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I have done more makeup declutters than I can count. And for years, every single one of them ended the same way, drawers that felt lighter for about a week before gradually filling back up again.
The problem was never motivation. It was that I was making decisions based on feeling instead of any actual criteria. A lipstick with beautiful packaging and sentimental value stayed. A foundation that made me look grey left. Neither of those calls had anything to do with whether the product actually worked on me.
It took a combination of colour analysis and, honestly, some AI tools I tested on camera to finally give my decluttering a real filter. What I found surprised me enough that I made a whole video about it. The written version is below, with everything you need to try it yourself.
The Real Reason Decluttering Isn’t Sticking
The problem isn’t you. It’s the lack of a system. Decluttering makeup without a framework is like trying to clean out your fridge while you’re starving. It gets chaotic real fast. You need filters, not feelings.
And trust me, I had a lot of feelings. Especially about products I bought, or things I inherited after my mom passed away. I wasn’t just decluttering eyeshadow — I was processing memories, money spent, and hype I fell for.
What Actually Changed Things for Me
Two words: Color analysis. Add in a little AI help, and my decluttering finally had a method.
Once I figured out I was a Deep Winter (no shock there), I suddenly had clarity. Bronzers that looked orange? Gone. Lipsticks too soft or warm-toned? Easy pass. Anything that made me look “muddy” instead of fresh? Bye.
Here’s what I did:
- Took a photo of myself in natural light (no makeup)
- Uploaded it into ChatGPT or Gemini
- Asked: “What season am I?” (Deep Winter, for me)
- Then I started inventorying my collection by color compatibility
Just that one filter eliminated at least a third of my collection. No second-guessing. No emotional tug-of-war.
Create a Visual Inventory (Not Just a Pile)
I used AI to help me cross-check my products by undertone and season. I asked it things like:
“Is MAC Velvet Teddy too warm for Deep Winter?”
Then I built a spreadsheet:
- Column 1: Product name
- Column 2: Shade
- Column 3: Too warm/cool/neutral?
- Column 4: Keep, test, or declutter
You can make this on Google Sheets and even link it to your phone. It’s like having a personal shopper with a memory.
Rotate Instead of Rebuy
After the big declutter, I built a habit of monthly rotations. No more drawers of forgotten backups. I keep my makeup in a single bag now. Want variety? I swap out a lipstick or palette — not buy something new.
This way, I’m using what I have on purpose, and I don’t feel the itch to shop as much. Shopping my stash is now just as satisfying as browsing Sephora.
Your Brain Wants the Dopamine — Give It Another Way
Let’s keep it real: makeup shopping is fun. The thrill of a new launch? The cute packaging? It’s a whole experience.
But your bank account is over it and the drawer of unused cream blushes isn’t going to use itself up.
Here’s what I do instead:
- Track usage goals (not just empties)
- Try Project Pan — but focus on using, not finishing
- Repurpose: lipstick as blush, shadow as liner, etc.
- Reward progress with non-shopping treats (podcasts, walks, better coffee)
You don’t have to shop to feel good. You just have to use your stuff and see the difference it makes.
Still Buying While Decluttering?
If you declutter a product and then immediately add one to your cart, you’re not editing. You’re just rearranging your overconsumption.
Try this:
- Create a wish list spreadsheet
- Add the price, and why you want it
- Revisit it once a month — 9 times out of 10, you won’t even care about it anymore
New products drop every five minutes. You don’t need to keep up. You just need to stay grounded.
My Wake-Up Call: The Perfume Math
Apply this principal to other categories of beauty! I had 92 bottles of perfume. Ninety-two. I asked ChatGPT how long it would take to finish them at 10 sprays a day. Decades. Literal decades!
You could age wine in the time it takes to use up that much fragrance.
Maybe don’t buy another one “just because it’s cute on TikTok.” Want to learn about how to curate your current makeup collection, check out this post.
Final Thoughts
Decluttering isn’t just about what you toss. It’s about how you live with what you keep:
- Figure out your colors
- Build an inventory
- Rotate your stash
- Stop shopping “just because”
- Start tracking what you actually use
Your collection should serve you, not stress you out. If you’re ready to stop decluttering on repeat, this is your sign.
TL;DR (for the skim-readers)
- Use AI + color analysis to filter what flatters you
- Track your collection in a spreadsheet or notes app
- Declutter with logic, not just emotion
- Stop buying new stuff during a declutter (seriously)
- Rotate products monthly to keep things fresh
- Swap dopamine from shopping to usage tracking or goals
- Project Pan is your best friend
Watch the Full Video
👇 Tap to play or save it for your next commute
