5 Expert-Approved Tips For Decluttering Your Skin-Care Collection

There comes a day when you glance at your bathroom cabinet or vanity and realize that you have an overwhelming amount of skin-care products. And trust us, we understand completely — our own cabinets are brimming with buzzy new serums, moisturizers, and face masks. But a little bit of spring cleaning could bring new life to your beauty routine.

Ready to embrace minimalism? Start by following these tips from dermatologists and an aesthetician for stripping your skin-care regimen down to its basics and using your products to the last drop — before they gather dust on your shelf.

According to Edyta Jarosz, a licensed aesthetician at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City, the first step in decluttering your skin-care collection is deciding which products are keepers. "Assess what your skin needs and what you want to achieve with your skin-care routine. Consider your skin type, concerns, and any specific issues you want to address," Jarosz tells PS.

According to cosmetic surgeon and board-certified dermatologist Bertha Baum, DO, your skin-care capsule wardrobe should always include three core products: "No matter what type of skin you have, you should always have a basic cleanser, a quality moisturizer, and sunscreen as part of your skin-care regimen."

Beyond that, keep the products that best suit your skin or your most persistent needs (such as acne or fine lines), and consider tossing the rest.

"Skin-care products have a shelf life, and using expired products can be ineffective or even harmful to your skin," Jarosz says. "Dispose of any products that are past their expiration date."

Some products' expiration dates are on their outer packaging, which gets trashed as soon as you get home from Sephora. So aesthetician Elizabeth Grace Hand, the founder of Ställe Studios, says she writes the date she starts using a new product right on the label with a Sharpie. "This way, I know when something has been open for too long and should be replaced," she says.

The expiration date is particularly important for natural products, which tend to be formulated without preservatives and thus expire quicker, Hand says.

Feeling like all your products spark joy? Hand limits herself to three products per category: three cleansers, serums, moisturizers, SPFs, exfoliants, lip products, toners, acne treatments, and masks. "Practically, I save space in my bathroom, and I'm also hyper-focused and ruthless about what products I keep as one of the three."

Dr. Baum emphasizes that storing skin-care products properly is essential for maintaining their efficacy, which will help you get the most of your product. (Be honest: how many half-full but neglected products are sitting on your vanity right now?) "Store your products in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight," she says.

Dr. Baum recommends avoiding storage in humid environments to prevent bacterial growth and emphasizes the importance of keeping product lids tightly closed to prevent air from getting inside.

"It's essential to seal containers tightly, refrain from using dirty fingers to apply products to your skin, and avoid diluting products with water, as these practices can potentially contaminate your skin-care products," adds Elizabeth Callahan, MD, a dermatologist at SkinSmart Dermatology in Sarasota, FL.

Now's the time for a little tough love. Dr. Baum recommends you identify a brand or specific products that suit your needs and use them consistently. "But this bottle is so pretty" is not a good enough reason to keep it sitting on your shelf if you're not using it on a regular basis. Happy decluttering!