The Best and Tested Makeup Organizers
The moment I transformed my makeup bag from a worn and worn cosmetic bag into an acrylic makeup organizer, my life changed forever. Hey my make up bag has no shade it lasted me a good few years but wow it had to retire. Now, when I’m wearing makeup or skincare, I know where every product is. My favorite gel eyeliners that I can’t find? Check. The lip gloss I forgot? Yes. Each of my too many tubes of moisturizer? Absolutely.
Seriously, these new makeup organizers make me wonder how I ever lived without them. They help keep my collection organized, make sure every product has its place, and look damn good in my makeup bag. And since I’m a beauty editor with an ever-expanding collection of makeup and skincare products, I’ve personally tested each of these makeup organizers and hand-picked the best ones. Here is a list of my favorites:
✔️ FYI: In January, we updated this article to bring you the most up-to-date makeup organizer info, including some we’ve personally tested and how to choose the best makeup organizer for you.
Our top pick for the best makeup organizers in:
THE BEST MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Sorbus cosmetics display
Available on AMAZON
THE BEST PALETTE FOR ORGANIZING MAKEUP
iDesign Makeup palette Makeup holder
Available on AMAZON
THE BEST ROTATING MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Etoile skincare collective rack
Available at ETOILECOLECTIVE.COM
THE BEST TRAVEL TRICK
Beis cosmetic bag
Available at BEISTRAVEL.COM
BEST PERFUME MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Moosy Life Rose Gold Perfume Organizer
Available on AMAZON
THE BEST MAKEUP ORGANIZER FOR BRUSHES
byAlegory Acrylic Makeup Beauty Brush Organizer
Available on AMAZON
THE BEST BAMBOO MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Subeho Bamboo Cosmetic Storage Organizer
Available on AMAZON
BEST EYELINER MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Hbl eyeliner stand
Available on AMAZON
THE BEST MAKEUP ORGANIZATION BAG
Dagne Dover Hunter Toiletry Bag
Available at DAGNE DOVER
THE BEST LEATHER MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Cuyana leather travel case
Available on KUYANA
Now, instead of stuffing all your makeup into old Diptyque candles like every other person on Instagram does, try one of these best makeup organizers below. You will never waste time searching for a product again, trust me.
THE BEST MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Stand for cosmetic cosmetics Sorbus
Available on AMAZON
Available at MACY’S
Narrow and tall, so it does not take up much space on the table.
Plastic could be a little thicker
If you are looking for a cosmetics organizer that can hold your essentials, check out the Sorbus cosmetics display case. The fact that this case will easily fit almost every item in my makeup collection earns it the award for best overall makeup organizer on our list this year, all at the expense of a couple of sharp markups.
REVIEW: “I love this organizer and I highly recommend you buy this product!” tester writes. “It fits every part of my makeup, as well as all my tools, brushes, sponges, etc. The drawers are very roomy and the whole case is very well made and durable.”
THE BEST MAKEUP PALETTE ORGANIZER
iDesign Makeup Palette Makeup Organizer
Available on AMAZON
Tiered design provides easy access
Spaces cannot be resized
Palettes can be difficult to keep in order, especially when they vary greatly in size (show A: this Morphe palette vs. this Nars palette). But don’t worry, this makeup organizer will help you. It’s essentially a filing cabinet for your eyeshadow palettes – there are nine separate tiered spaces designed to house your larger palettes at the back and smaller ones at the front.
REVIEW: “I have two of them; I bought these because I had an excess eyeshadow palette and they work great!” the reviewer writes. “They hold a lot of them and keep them front and center so I don’t neglect my kids! It’s nice to have them all in one place and watch me while I’m getting ready!”
THE BEST ROTATING MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Etoile Collective Skin Care Rack
Available at ETOILECOLECTIVE.COM
Suitable for my high products that are difficult to store
A bit expensive
If you want to get a little creative with your makeup organizer, check out this spinning tower. Not only does it rotate, which is great, but it also makes great use of space and gives you access to makeup from all angles. Plus, the tiers have plenty of space between each other, perfect for accommodating all your different sized products. This is one of my favorite makeup organizers because the quality of Etoile is second to none and I know it will last me forever.
REVIEW: “Love, love, love this organizer!” the reviewer notes. “I can honestly say that he has had a huge impact on our bathroom. Having this organizer means the sink doesn’t have a million things and everything is easy to store and find, especially with the lazy Susan feature.”
THE BEST TRAVEL MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Cosmetic bag Beis
Available at BEISTRAVEL.COM
Made to be sealed
Quite large so may be too bulky for some
Okay, I have to admit that this is one of the greatest makeup organizers of all time. It is not only perfect for every day, but also ideal for travel. As well as being chic, it’s also very stylish – the Beis cosmetic bag has room for your brushes and other products, as well as a handy mirror that you can remove for last-minute touch-ups on the go.
REVIEW: “Possessed!” watch the tester. “I had cosmetics, skin care, hair and nail care products scattered all over the place in random purses and shoeboxes. Now it’s all in two of these suitcases! Organization wins, and when it’s time to travel, just stop and close the essentials. business and go!”
THE BEST ORGANIZER FOR PERFUME MAKEUP
Moosy Life Rose Gold Perfume Organizer
Available on AMAZON
The tiered style provides excellent visibility for each fragrance.
The shelves are narrow
I love displaying my fragrances – they are so beautiful and luxurious – and this is the best makeup organizer for that. The stadium-shaped organizer allows you to see all the bottles clearly, doesn’t take up much space, and makes you look more fashionable than you actually are.
REVIEW: “Sturdy and well made!” writes a tester. “It currently sits on my dresser and holds all my perfumes. It doesn’t look cheap, I like the rose gold on the sides.”
THE BEST MAKEUP ORGANIZER FOR BRUSHES
byAlegory Acrylic Makeup Beauty Brush Organizer
Available on AMAZON
It can air dry properly
Might not fit a ton of thicker brushes
Sure, you can store your makeup brushes in a cup randomly… or you can keep them organized in this makeup organizer. It’s great for storing brushes of all shapes and sizes and doubles as a clothes dryer (because you need to wash your brushes regularly!!).
REVIEW: “This makeup brush dryer is by no means flimsy,” writes one tester. “It is very well made and very durable. I’m glad I finally have something to keep my brushes on so they can air dry properly instead of laying them flat.”
THE BEST BAMBOO MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Subeho Bamboo Cosmetic Storage Organizer
Available on AMAZON
It has a waterproof coating
You have to assemble it by yourself
Perhaps your vibe is more organic and down-to-earth — you know, the spa aesthetic. If that’s your thing, then this bamboo organizer is exactly what you need to declutter your makeup bag. This 2-tier organizer will easily house all of your skincare and makeup products.
REVIEW: “I ordered this to help organize my bathroom,” notes one tester. “The device is attractive, durable and comes with everything needed to put it together. It holds an incredible amount of items and looks like it will last a really long time!
BEST EYELINER MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Clear acrylic Hblife eyeliner holder
Available on AMAZON
Available at Walmart
The layered design makes it easy to see the nuances of the liner
Not suitable for non-traditional size earphones.
Because of their shape and size, eyeliners are damn hard to keep in shape. Instead of ripping through your makeup bag to find the liquid eyeliner you love, keep them all handy and easy to find in this beautiful makeup organizer. There are slots that give you enough space to add lip pencils.
REVIEW: “I bought three and they are worth the money!” writes a reviewer. “They are strong, durable and hold pencils both in height and length without compromising stability. I don’t know how I would work without them.”
THE BEST BAG FOR ORGANIZING MAKEUP
Dagne Dover Hunter Toiletry Bag
Available at DAGNE DOVER
Stretches to fit
While you can fix it, neoprene can roll and wrinkle.
Don’t let the size of this makeup bag put you off, trust me when I say you can fit a lot in it. With an ultra-flexible fabric, this little one stretches to accommodate all of my daily makeup essentials. In addition, inside the bag you will find an air mesh brush case, another square mesh pocket, three elastic loops and a mesh pocket. But the best part? The fabric can be washed by hand.
REVIEW: “What a wonderful cosmetic bag.” observe a tester. “It’s so roomy, easy to clean and I love the detachable bags. The best travel bag!
THE BEST LEATHER MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Cuyana leather travel case
Available on KUYANA
Micro-suede interior for easy cleaning
May not be suitable for long trips
This set from Cuyana, consisting of two handmade leather cosmetic bags, is made to last. Place all your large toiletries in the large one and small makeup products in the other. This set is perfect for small weekend getaways when you just want to pack your essentials.
REVIEW: “A friend of mine has this makeup bag set and loves it,” writes one tester. “She takes Lee with her on small trips and keeps her little one in her work bag to hide everything she might need during the day.”
THE BEST MAKEUP TROLLEY
Container Store Luxe Acrylic Tier Rolling Cart
Available at the CONTAINER SHOP
Great for when you need to move from bathroom to room
You may need to purchase separate smaller organizers to keep things organized.
Looking for something for makeup, skin care and hair care that you can carry around with plenty of storage space? Enter: This acrylic wheeled cart that floats about two and a half feet high. Put all your beauty arsenal into this little one and don’t worry about it looking bulky and out of place – the acrylic design is super stylish so it won’t look like it takes up a lot of space.
REVIEW: “This cart was easy to assemble, the trays are thick and have good depth,” notes one tester. “This cart is well made, not flimsy at all, very pleasing to the eye and quite tall.”
THE BEST CLEAR MAKEUP ORGANIZER
Daily Edited Large Clear Cream Saffiano Leather Case
Available at THEDAILYEDITED.COM
The clear design makes it easy to see what’s inside, especially if you have multiple bags.
Lighter skin colors can stain
My problem with makeup bags is that once you’ve collected all your products, it’s next to impossible to find what you’re looking for without throwing it all away. That’s why this Daily Edited translucent makeup bag is simply gorgeous. In addition, you can personalize it with your initials: super chic.
REVIEW: “Love that I can find exactly what I’m looking for, no need to throw everything away looking for that eyeliner!” tester writes.
THE BEST NAIL MAKEUP ORGANIZER
STORi Tiered Nail Polish Organizer
Available on AMAZON
Available on Walmart
Sufficiently large shelves
Depending on the brand of polish, less may suit you.
I used to keep all my nail polishes in a bag. Then, one night, when I was trying to find my favorite nail polish, which was stuck somewhere on the bottom, the whole bag fell out … it was a mess, to say the least. Since then, I have avoided any spills thanks to this makeup organizer. This acrylic case holds bottles (!!) and makes it easy to access your nail polish.
REVIEW: “This acrylic nail polish organizer is perfect!” the reviewer notes. “I ended up buying two. They fit perfectly on half of my closet shelf and I can see all the colors at a glance. Finding what I’m looking for is very easy.”
THE BEST MAKEUP ORGANIZER FOR COMPACT CASES
HBlife compact clear acrylic organizer
Available on AMAZON
Super cheap but still very good quality
It will not be able to accommodate very thick compact cases
The rounded shapes of your compact powders and blushes have been hard to come by…until now. This handy makeup organizer has eight places to store blush, powder and highlighter—just about everything in one compact bottle.
REVIEW: “It helps to separate my compact makeup and make it easier to get what you want,” writes one tester. “For the price, it’s not bad, packs up well and will last a while.”
THE BEST TRAVEL MAKEUP ORGANIZER IF YOU HAVE A LOT
Calpak Ambeur bag
Available on KALPAK
Includes a luggage trolley that slides over the suitcase.
You may want to add more storage solutions inside to keep things organized.
If you’re like me and love to take your entire makeup collection with you wherever you go (laughs), you need this makeup organizer. With two large zipped compartments, it can hold all your daily essentials. Plus, the case is durable yet lightweight, making it ideal for travel.
REVIEW: “This makeup bag is perfect,” notes one tester. “There’s a lot more space than I expected, so I can put everything I need in it and still have room in my suitcase. I need as much space as I can get since I’m a chronic packer. Great in size and helps keep everything tidy.
THE BEST MAKEUP ORGANIZER
M Design Stackable Drawer Organizer
Available at MDESIGNHOMEDECOR.COM
The retractable design is very convenient
Some testers note that the boxes can slip and slide.
Have a bunch of extras that are just sitting around and you just want to toss them somewhere and also make them look neat and organized? Get hold of these stackable drawers that are perfect for all your extra goodies.
OVERVIEW: Hi, I’m Siena Galliano, Beauty Specialist at Cosmo, I own these drawers, and as a person with a million and one products, I can fit all those extra products that there’s just no room for. My counter looks cleaner immediately.
BEST LIPSTICK MAKEUP
Hblife lipstick holder
Available on AMAZON
Available at Walmart
Suitable for most brands of lipstick
You really need to have a big collection of lipsticks for this to be worthwhile.
I mean, how cute would this lipstick makeup organizer look on your dressing table!? It’s very cheap and has a place for lipstick, perfect for those who are obsessed with choosing from so many different lip colors.
REVIEW: “I was looking to make my makeup look a little more organized rather than a mess, so I chose this one because I love different lipstick colors and types,” writes one tester. “I’ve found that it works well with cream, liquid, and pencil lipsticks and does exactly what I need.”
How to choose the best makeup organizer
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Check your makeup.
First things first: Find out what kind of makeup you have and what containers it’s in. Many makeup organizers have different styles of places to store different types of makeup. If you have a specific product that you seem to have a lot of (like palettes, compact cases, etc.), consider purchasing an organizer designed to hold your specific product.
It’s also important to consider your lifestyle. If you travel or travel often, you can store your items in a portable cosmetic bag. Or, if you’re the type of person who has tons of products and you want every one of them to be showcased, an acrylic organizer with lots of compartments might work better.
Consider the space
If you’re like me, the storage and counter areas are subpar. That’s why it’s important to consider how much space your makeup organizer will take up. My favorite trick if you’re short on space? Buy yourself a lazy Susan organizer or a narrow tall one with lots of compartments.
Why should you trust Cosmo?
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Siena Galliano is the beauty editor of Cosmopolitan magazine and she has three years of experience writing beauty, fashion and lifestyle news. She is an expert in researching and writing beauty stories like the best mascaras and cream blushes on the market. She regularly tests and analyzes the effectiveness of makeup organizers, she reads reviews and listens to feedback from other testers.
Ama Kwarteng has been the Associate Beauty Editor of Cosmopolitan for nearly three years and has many years of experience writing beauty, fashion and entertainment content for print and digital publications, including lip gloss and makeup remover. Her choice of makeup organizer was based on product reviews, ratings and her own tests.
