The clear winner was the Sorbus Cosmetic Makeup and Jewelry Storage Case. It’s durable, has an aesthetically pleasing design, and holds plenty of products. Not to mention, the makeup organizer can withstand ample wear and tear. Here are the best makeup organizers, backed by our thorough testing. After weeks of testing, the Sorbus Cosmetic Makeup and Jewelry Storage Case was our clear winner. Its three larger drawers are perfect for eyeshadow palettes, while its four smaller drawers are the right size for blushes, bronzers, and powders. The design also includes 16 slots for lipsticks (glosses, too!) and a spot for products like foundations, which are best stored upright. Despite being made with an acrylic plastic material, this organizer feels high-quality, spacious enough for a medium-sized makeup collection, and elevated. This feeling is, in part, thanks to the addition of hardware to the drawers. While the drawers tend to stick when opening, the unit is incredibly sturdy and functional. Plus, if you want to make your experience more customized, the Sorbus organizer’s top component is detachable. So, you can have two functional storage pieces on your vanity or dresser. Now, you may find that some of the drawers are a bit shallow and that the organizer, measuring 9.25 x 6.25 x 14.25 inches, takes up a decent amount of room. However, in our experience, this wasn’t a dealbreaker and is a solution for those who currently have several types of products laying around their space. Additionally, we love that the organizer comes in several different colors and doesn’t require assembly, making it an easy and stylish piece to add to any home. Price at time of publish: $33 Glass is a more fragile material, so one should be careful not to drop it on the floor. Our tester made that mistake, but it thankfully survived the blow. She found the H&M organizer is slightly smaller in size, but each section varies in depth and width. This variance in size means anything from palettes to facial sprays will find a home inside. When cleaning the organizer, she did have trouble cleaning inside the compartments and noted that the piece really isn’t meant to hold a large collection of makeup. However, its minimalistic yet elevated aesthetic, price point, and still-thoughtful options for blushes, creams, and more make it worth every penny. You could easily set it up on a dresser or vanity and use it to keep even part of your collection tidy. Price at time of publish: $25 Assembly is required with this organizer, and while there are directions included, there were moments when our tester had to analyze which components went where. Once put together, the entire display had a slight sense of instability until the products were arranged. We recommend finding the perfect place on your vanity, keeping it there, and adjusting the shelves as necessary. The organizer only comes in a clear acrylic material but is sure to match a variety of spaces and make your getting-ready routine more streamlined. Price at time of publish: $50 In addition, the product was, unfortunately, a bit difficult to assemble. Since it contains several screws keeping each section in place, there is ample stability. But, our tester said twisting the screws with both a personal and provided screwdriver was time-consuming. This lead to a low score for assembly and was a little bit off-putting. However, the organizer became one of our tester’s top picks once put to use. It is easy to clean, works with any decor, and is of great quality for the price. Not to mention, it’s stable enough to hold bottles of lotion, soaps, and heavier products that may be in your bathroom, if you’d like. Price at time of publish: $31 The adjustable interior made from Oxford fabric makes this a flexible option, too. Our tester found that almost all cosmetics were swiftly removed when they tried cleaning it, except for some more pigmented eyeshadows. They also found it could withstand wear and tear. There were many instances where the case hit the ground, but none of the products inside sustained any damage. Whether you are a working makeup artist or not, this organizer stood out as one of the best for its price and functionality and is hard to beat if you’re looking for a spacious option. Just know: If your collection is really large—say, because you work weddings and events—you may want to consider sizing up. Price at time of publish: $30 What is quite special about this case is the durable and reliable hanging component that saves counter space while on your trip. In our testing, the weight of the products stored inside did not cause the travel organizer to come crashing to the ground. The organizer is water-resistant, lightweight, and easy to clean as well, with our tester only noting that there isn’t much space for large items. Overall, it is something we deem essential for any traveler to have alongside their luggage. Price at time of publish: $68 There is no color variation with the OXO Good Grips Set, and the white does tend to show makeup smudges or dust easily. Fortunately, our tester found them easy to clean during her testing. Simply wipe them down with your favorite cleanser or sanitizer wipe. Even a wet cloth may do the trick in some cases. Notably, the set has several different sizes and amount variations if you’re concerned about the four-piece set being enough or too much for your makeup collection. However, be prepared to play with the dividers a bit, as they can be tricky to put in place, according to our tester. With a lifetime warranty and no-slip grips, these bins are a no-brainer, though, and can be re-purposed in a kitchen, junk drawer, or home office. Price at time of publish: $33 However, the organizer won’t take up too much counter space, as it is only 10 inches in length and 6.5 inches in width. And while this does seem undersized for more seasoned skincare or makeup lovers, the organizer holds a notable amount of product, making it the ideal choice for your next organizer purchase. Plus, you don’t need to assemble it upon arrival. Our tester gave it great scores all around, only docking it for flexibility since it’s not customizable or adjustable at all. Price at time of publish: $39 The product also works in tandem with other iDesign products. You can stack this atop another organizer and expand your beauty storage. The matte white accents that cover the perimeter of each lipstick slot add a bit of personality to an otherwise mundane storage piece, as well. Just know: The organizer cannot fit into a shallow drawer, so you’ll want to plan to keep it on your countertop or in a deeper drawer. Price at time of publish: $13 The multiple tiers take up some length on your chosen surface. However, because they are slightly stacked, you save space in terms of width. While it does slide around without any product displayed, it stays put quite well when polishes start to collect on the surface. Our tester noted that it fit more polishes and bottle styles than they thought it would, meaning you are good to go with one organizer instead of several, as well. Overall, this product is a great buy at a low price. Price at time of publish: $18 Next, they evaluated the design of the organizer and noted whether it was aesthetic and quality or cheap and impractical. They used the makeup organizer for several days, unloading it and loading it back up while completing their daily routines, and rated its durability. Does the organizer wobble? Is it flimsy or easily dented if you drop it or bump into it? We answered these pressing questions. Next, our home tester tested the ease of cleaning each pick after sprinkling and smearing makeup on it. Lastly, we took our entire experience with the product into consideration when rating each product’s overall value and boiled all of our consistently applied testing data down to this list of the very best makeup organizers.
What to Look for in a Makeup Organizer
Material
One of the first things to consider when looking for a makeup organizer is the material and how it will make your organization experience easier and more stylish. Clear acrylic plastic is a popular material for makeup organizers since it is easy to clean and allows you to see everything you have. Often, you can choose between transparent acrylic and tinted or frosted acrylic. Choose a UV-resistant acrylic plastic to help protect your makeup from the fading effects of direct sunlight if you’re using it in an area with lots of natural light. Other materials you can choose from include bamboo, wood, nylon, and other fabrics. Bamboo can give your makeup a very natural-looking place to sit and may fit in with the style of your space. And nylon or fabric organizers are typically flexible and good for traveling with your collection. However, these materials may be harder to clean.
Capacity
When shopping, it’s key to also consider the size of your collection and how much makeup you use. If your collection is small or you’re taking a few favorite pieces on the go, a tiny makeup organizer with separate compartments or a sturdy makeup bag might be all you need. On the other hand, if you’re a makeup artist or aficionado with a large makeup collection that includes many shades of lipstick and palettes, you might want to consider a larger organizer with special compartments or a customized modular organizer that can be expanded over time.
Structure
Makeup organizers come in a range of formats. Choose the model that works best for your lifestyle, routine, and the products you reach for regularly. This might mean a simple little chest of drawers, drawer inserts, a multi-tiered rotating unit, a specialized lipstick caddy, or a modular and stacking organizer with room for a makeup artist’s large collection of products. Think about what is going to feel natural in your space, what your organizer needs to be able to hold and store, and what is also going to make getting ready that much easier.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Samantha Parsons has been a freelance writer for The Spruce since 2021 and has over seven years of experience in the beauty industry. She tested dozens of makeup organizers for several weeks for this piece, evaluating their material, capacity, design, and more to narrow down the best ones. When she is not spending her time writing, Samantha works for a skincare brand and stays up-to-date on the latest product launches and trends within the beauty and lifestyle industries. Be sure to do this regularly (at least once a month) to keep your makeup station clean and hygienic. In addition, be sure to consult any instructions that come with your product when it comes to care and maintenance.
