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Tidy Up Your Beauty Collection with the Best Makeup Organizers

Nicole Lund
Nicole Lund
Nicole is a contributing writer who started her career at Apartment Therapy nearly 8 years ago as the assistant to founder and CEO Maxwell Ryan. She ultimately joined the shopping team as Apartment Therapy's commerce editor, before moving on to MyDomaine's commerce team. She was…read more
updated Jan 9, 2022
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
White tiered organizer with beauty products, jewelry, and hairpins on a bathroom counter.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Target)

Even if you don’t consider yourself a makeup guru, chances are you’ve struggled when it comes to organizing all the tubes and brushes that make up your beauty collection. Instead of piling them all in a drawer or basket (as I’ve been guilty of doing in the past), using a handy makeup organizer is the best way to store cosmetics and all the assorted toiletries that come with basic self-care. We’ve rounded up our favorites here, from classic acrylic styles to more stylish, creative, and space-saving options below, all for under $50.

Tips for Organizing Makeup

  • Keep everything visible. Hiding away makeup is a surefire way to forget about it or lose it. While it is tempting to keep it out of sight in the name of clutter control, storing makeup in organizers will make everything visible without looking messy.
  • Get creative with household objects. If you don’t want to shell out money for a traditional organizer (or want to supplement one with something extra), there are many ways to DIY your own storage. Using empty candle vessels, spare tupperware, ice cube trays, spice racks, and traditional utensil dividers are just some of the many household objects that can be repurposed for makeup storage.
  • Throw a magnet on it. If you’re in desperate need of counter/drawer space, then magnets are your new best friend. Hang a magnetic board on the wall or on the side of a dresser or desk, attach small magnets onto your makeup (or a container to put the makeup in), and you’ve got a storage solution that won’t take up any valuable space.
Hinged Vanity Organizer
$30

When we polled AT staffers, there was one unanimous winner: the Threshold Hinged Vanity Organizer. "Despite many personal opinions, MOST folks here at AT chose the very simple, well-priced, non-fashion-forward Threshold Hinged Organizer as their top pick," shared Apartment Therapy's CEO Maxwell Ryan. "In fact, a number of them already owned it. Personally, if I had a choice, I'd go for the glass and the gold down below, but what do I know? :)"

$30 at Target
POKE A DOT Cosmetic Organizer
$22

Really not a fan of displaying products on your counter? Then you're going to love this drawer makeup organizer. The POKE A DOT Cosmetic Organizer is great for anyone looking to tidy up a messy makeup drawer. Durable and easy to clean, it comes with eight partitions that can be placed vertically, horizontally, and even diagonally, so you can customize your organizer to your needs.

$22 at Amazon
mDesign Bamboo Makeup Cosmetic Organizer
$20

A change from the classic acrylic style, this bamboo organizer will instantly elevate your bathroom's look. It might not be big enough for diehard makeup lovers, but it'll easily contain your everyday essentials while adding a nice natural element to your space.

$20 at Amazon
Threshold Glass & Metal Vanity Organizer
$20

Our top pick for the budget-conscious, this classy little vanity organizer is made of glass and comes from one of our favorite affordable Target brands. It’s bigger than it looks, too, so storing all your favorites (including eyeshadow palettes) won’t be a problem.

$20 at Target
Jerrybox Degree Rotation Makeup Organizer
$23$21

This rotating organizer is a great solution if you have a lot of makeup but little space. This lazy Susan-esque organizer claims to hold at least 30 brushes and 20 bottles, and we don’t doubt it. Plus, it’s incredibly functional — all the trays are adjustable, so you can create the perfect organizer for your specific products.

$21 at Amazon
Josep Joseph Large Cosmetic Organizer
$45$34

When it comes to makeup organizers, you can’t beat one that doubles as a vanity station. This Joseph Joseph pick includes a detachable mirror, a convenient drawer for all your larger items, and plenty of compartments in all shapes and sizes. The best part: it’s priced pretty low for all the perks you get.

$34 at Bed Bath & Beyond
Sorbus Acrylic Cosmetic Makeup Storage Case
$38

This Sorbus organizer comes in three stackable pieces, allowing you to arrange it as you like. With three different drawer styles, this is one of the best makeup organizers for those looking for something that can hold a variety of different types of products. Plus, with 15 compartments, you’re guaranteed lots of storage space.

$38 at Amazon
Luxe Acrylic Modular Makeup System
$35

This storage system is ideal for the ultra-particular people out there. With 12 different pieces to choose from, you can truly build the organizer of your dreams, plus you'll have the freedom to change it up (or add more pieces) as time goes on.

$35 at The Container Store
Faceted Vanity Organizer
$48

This vanity organizer from Anthropologie isn’t exactly practical for makeup hoarders, but it is beautiful to display. There’s a decent amount of space for brushes and liners, as well as eight spots for lipsticks, but our favorite part is the small dish for your go-to jewelry.

$48 at Anthropologie
Sorbus® Cosmetic Makeup and Jewelry Storage Case
$30

If you’re really looking for something heavy-duty, check out this extra-large acrylic organizer system that comes in two convenient pieces with seven drawers and 16 compartments. We love how minimalistic this one is despite its large size. The system comes in six chic colors, the material isn’t cheap (even though the price is low compared to other extra-large options), and the compartments are thoughtfully designed.

$30 at Amazon

Sarah M. Vazquez also contributed to reporting. 

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