Are you drowning in a sea of nail polish bottles, struggling to choose a shade for your next manicure? This post details my recent nail polish declutter journey, a process that transformed a chaotic collection into a curated and practical selection. I'll walk you through my decision-making process, highlighting the brands and specific polishes I kept, discarded, and even relegated to a "maybe" pile. From assessing bottle design and formula quality to evaluating color similarity and usage frequency, I'll share the key criteria that guided my choices. Get ready to learn how to streamline your own nail polish collection and create a more organized, enjoyable beauty routine.This personal declutter experience serves as a helpful guide for anyone looking to tackle their own overflowing makeup stash. Discover the surprising factors that influenced my choices, from the unexpected awkwardness of certain bottle designs to the realization that even high-end polishes can fall victim to infrequent use. My journey showcases the importance of honestly evaluating each product based on its practical value and personal preference, ultimately leading to a more satisfying and efficient makeup collection. You’ll find tips and insights applicable to your own beauty routine, whatever your brand loyalty or preferred nail polish formula.
Pros And Cons
- Pretty
- Gray color not frequently used
- Pale nudes not frequently used
- Natural brand
- Good price
- Beautiful colors
- Yummy Mummy
- Pretty glitters
- Blackish purple
- Yellow and orange colors not frequently used
- Metallic colors not frequently used
- Favorite nail polish (glittery red)
- Favorite nail polish (copper metallic)
- Bright orange color not frequently used
- Weird grayish color
Read more: 10 Must-Have China Glaze Nail Polish Shades
Flower Nail Polishes by Drew Barrymore
I started with a trio of Flower nail polishes by Drew Barrymore. The colors were appealing, but the bottle design wasn't my favorite. The handles felt awkward in my hand, deterring me from using them regularly. As a result, I decided to give them away.
Ultimately, the impracticality of the bottle overshadowed the attractiveness of the shades. While the colors were nice, the user experience was poor enough to warrant their removal from my collection.
Unique Nail Polish Finds
Next, I tackled some unique polishes I only owned one of. I kept a pretty yellow Pacifica polish and a coppery Sally Hansen. A grayish Sally Hansen and a Wet n Wild polish were discarded due to infrequent use and goopiness.
The Sally Hansen triple shine in a coppery shade was a standout and remains in my collection. The other polishes, while individually nice, were ultimately not essential to my current palette.
Berry L, American Apparel & Colores de Carol
My Berry L polishes were kept; a natural brand I appreciate. American Apparel polishes, purchased on sale, were deemed expired and removed. Some Colores de Carol polishes, acquired in a box, were partially kept; a beautiful blue stayed, but a silver one was removed.
The Berry L polishes, being a natural brand, fit my preference for healthier nail care options. The American Apparel ones highlight the importance of checking expiration dates. The Colores de Carol selection showcases how personal preference influences choices within a brand.
Rimmel, Orly & L'Oreal
Rimmel polishes offered a good drugstore formula; one similar green was removed, while a burgundy shade stayed. Orly polishes, known for their excellent formula, were mostly kept, with a neon shade placed in a 'maybe' pile.
The Orly polishes, including a favorite glitter red, demonstrate a higher quality that justifies keeping. The Rimmel polishes show how even good drugstore brands can be thinned out in favor of existing similar colors.
OPI, Zoya & Butter London
My OPI and Zoya polishes (known for their quality formulas) were mostly kept. A few less-used shades were removed. Butter London polishes, while beautiful, had some shades removed due to infrequent use and metallic finishes.
The high quality of OPI and Zoya nail polishes make them worthwhile keeps, demonstrating that sometimes investment in higher-end brands pays off. Butter London polishes highlight the importance of considering usage frequency when decluttering.
Other Brands & Final Thoughts
Various other brands, like Wet 'n Wild, Revlon, Maybelline, and China Glaze, were reviewed, with some kept and others discarded based on usage, formula quality, and color similarity. The final declutter resulted in a significant reduction of nail polish, achieving the goal of removing around 20.
The decluttering process showed how important it is to evaluate each product based on quality, usage frequency, and personal preference. The final result is a more streamlined and useful collection of nail polishes.