By Phoebe Youl Wellness 08.10.2020

How to Consciously Spring Clean Your Beauty Routine

Your four-step guide to hit refresh.

Whether you're a beauty obsessive or more of a dabbler, you likely have a few more skincare products lying around that you simply don't use (and let's not forget about the almost-but-not-quite-empty bottles we can't seem to throw out).

The reality is neither our skin nor our bathroom cabinets need quite as many products as most of us have stashed away "just in case". In fact, little is needed for an effective skincare routine, and the rest is really just taking up space.

So, with spring around the corner, why not take the time to press reset on your regimen and clear out anything you don't need? And if you're looking for a little help to start, keep reading for our four-step guide to consciously spring-cleaning your beauty routine.

Step 1: Assess the situation and set your intentions

First things first, before you can jump into any actual organization, take some time to assess your current situation. What are you hoping to achieve? Do you already have a thoughtful edit of products but your organisation requires some work, or are your cupboards overflowing with things you never use?

All of this will dictate your plan of action and approach. Ensuring you set an intention about what you want to achieve with your beauty routine overall is the best way to think long-term and avoid any regretful decision-making.

Step 2: Mindfully declutter

As we touched on earlier, whether they were impulse purchases or things that just didn't work for your skin type, you're bound to have a few unfavorable products on hand.

Before you automatically throw them away, take a minute to think about an alternative use. Generally, unopened and unused products can be donated to women's shelters or other similar charities, or offered up to grateful family and friends.

For products you've used a handful of times but didn't get along with, think about how you could make use of them elsewhere in your routine. For example, a chemical exfoliant that didn't agree with your face could work wonders on your legs or bikini line at preventing ingrown hairs.

It's also important to consider how long you've had certain products and to check their expiry dates. Anything that smells or has changed in consistency or colour is probably out of date, and could be a breeding ground for bacteria, not exactly something you want to put on your skin—regardless of how chic that limited edition packaging is.

Take note of items you have in pots, glass jars or refillable travel sizes. Are you obsessed with the spray nozzle on a particular face mist? Does your body oil come in a beautiful glass bottle? Consider cleaning and keeping hold of these items, and investigate refillable options or use them to decant products for future travels.

Step 3: Refresh and reset

Although it can be tempting to rush out and buy all the organizational things, it's important to go back and consider the intentions you first set. There's no point spending big on boxes and bins to house hundreds of products when your goal is to have a tightly edited routine.

Instead, try to find a middle ground that allows you to keep the products you are currently using front-of-mind. This will go a long way in making your daily beauty routines more enjoyable and less overwhelming. It's also worth considering organizational items you've already got on hand that could be repurposed, such as empty shoeboxes.

If you want to cut back on buying new products, we recommend taking any opened or unused items and putting them aside so they are out of sight (and out of mind). Then, once a gap opens in your routine, you can shop your own stash to still enjoy that new-in product high.

Step 4: Break the cycle

Even the most minimalist of beauty lovers want to treat themselves from time to time; however, take a moment to reflect on the process you've just been through and the lessons you've learned.

If you were feeling overwhelmed with the sheer amount of stuff, consider introducing a one-in, one-out policy. Alternatively, you could limit yourself to a single makeup bag, so once it won't zip, you know you can't add anything new. If you uncovered your issue was more about feeling guilty for wasteful purchases, make a mental note about what went wrong or why you didn't enjoy that particular product so you can make more informed choices in the future.

Now for the fun part. Make a list of any gaps you found in your routine or of products you need or want – just don't forget to do your research as part of this process! Personally, we like to keep a secret Pinterest board to keep track of products we'd like to try in the future. There's something about pinning a product that satisfies the need to acquire something new, and practically it's an easy way to keep track of any cool finds.