The moment I upgraded my makeup storage from a beat-up, worn-out cosmetic bag to an acrylic makeup organizer, my life forever changed. Hey, no shade to my cosmetic bag, it lasted me a few good years, but wow, was it in need of retirement. Now when I do my makeup or skincare routine, I know where every product lives. My favorite gel eyeliners that I can never find? Check. Lip glosses I forgot I had? Yup. Every single one of my way too many tubs 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 that every product is in the right place, and look really damn good on my makeup vanity too. And because I’m a beauty editor with an ever-expanding makeup and skincare collection, I personally tested each of these makeup organizers myself and rounded up the best. Here’s a list of my top favorites:
✔️ FYI: We updated this article in January 2023 to give you the most up-to-date info on makeup organizers, including several we personally tested, and how to choose the best makeup organizer for yourself.
Our top picks for the best makeup organizers in 2023:
Now, instead of shoving all your makeup into old Diptyque candles like every other human on Instagram does, try out one of these 17 best makeup organizers below. You’ll never waste time looking for a product again, trust.
best overall makeup organizer
Sorbus Cosmetic Makeup Storage Case Display
best palette makeup organizer
iDesign Makeup Palette Cosmetic Organizer
Best Makeup Organizer for travel
Beis Cosmetic Case
Best Rotating Makeup Organizer
Etoile Collective Skincare Holder
Best Makeup Organizer for Perfumes
Moosy Life Rose Gold Perfume Organizer
Best Makeup Organizer bag
Dagne Dover Hunter Toiletry Bag
Best Bamboo Makeup Organizer
Subeho Makeup Storage Organizer Bamboo
Best Makeup Organizer for Brushes
byAlegory Acrylic Makeup Beauty Brush Organizer
Best Makeup Organizer for Nail Polish
STORi Multi-Level Nail Polish Organizer
best leather makeup organizer
Cuyana Leather Travel Case Set
best makeup organizer cart
The Container Store Luxe Acrylic 3-Tier Rolling Cart
best clear makeup organizer
The Daily Edited Large Clear Cosmetic Case Cream Saffiano Leather
Best Makeup Organizer for Lipstick
Hblife Lipstick Holder
Best Makeup Organizer for Eyeliners
Hblife Clear Acrylic Makeup Eyeliner Holder
Best Makeup Organizer for Travel if you’ve got a lot
Calpak Ambeur Vanity Case
Best pull-out makeup organizer
M Design Stackable Pull-Out Drawer Organizer
Best makeup organizer for compact cases
HBlife Clear Acrylic Compact Organizer
How to choose the best makeup organizer
Evaluate your makeup
First things first: Figure out what type of makeup you have, and what kind of containers they’re in. Many makeup organizers have different styles of storage spaces for different types of makeup. If you have a particular product that you seem to have a lot of (i.e., palettes, compact cases, etc.), consider buying an organizer that’s designed to store your specific product.
It’s also important to consider your lifestyle. If you’re someone who is on-the-go, or who travels frequently, you may opt to keep your stuff in a transportable makeup bag. Or if you’re the type of person who has a ton of products, and wants every one of them on display, an acrylic organizer with a ton of compartments may work best.
Consider the space
If you’re anything like me, storage and counter space run on the low end. That’s why it’s super important to consider how much space your makeup organizer will be taking up. My favorite trick if you’re low on space? Get yourself a lazy susan organizer, or a narrow one that’s tall and has a bunch of compartments.
Siena Gagliano is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing beauty stories, like the best tubing mascaras and the greatest cream blushes on the market. She regularly tests and analyzes makeup organizers for efficacy, while also reading reviews and listening to feedback from other testers.
Ama Kwarteng was the associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly three years, and has years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and entertainment across print and digital, including lip glosses and makeup removers. Her makeup organizer picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and testing them herself.
Siena Gagliano
Contributing Editor
Siena Gagliano is a contributing editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces.
Ama Kwarteng
Ama Kwarteng was previously the associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan.