As you pack up your bathroom and bedroom, remember that cosmetics require more care than just tossing them into a box. Beauty products are pricey, and many items are delicate and temperature-sensitive. If they’re not moved correctly, you could end up with crumbled eyeshadow palettes, cracked bottles of liquid foundation, or split serums.
Knowing how to pack makeup the right way can protect your investment and get your products to your new home safely. At HireAHelper, we’ve seen thousands of moves take place, so we know a thing or two about packing and transporting even the most delicate items. Follow these steps, and you can pack your makeup as securely as the pros.
Supplies Needed to Pack Makeup Safely
The right supplies can help you pack and transport your makeup safely. Here are some of the materials you’ll need:
- Plastic bags: Resealable plastic bags protect individual cream and liquid makeup products and prevent leaks from damaging other items.
- Packing paper: You can use packing paper to fill gaps in your boxes or cosmetic cases to prevent items from moving around in transit.
- Bubble wrap: Bubble wrap is useful for protecting delicate items, such as glass bottles or powder compacts. It can also help prevent scratches.
- Plastic totes: By using plastic totes instead of cardboard boxes, you can prevent moisture damage and keep your makeup safe.
- Labels: If your makeup is going into a moving truck, place labels on the outside of the box to mark it as fragile and temperature-sensitive.
- Tape: Even if you use plastic totes, you’ll still need tape to keep the bubble wrap or other wrapping material in place.
You can buy all of these supplies affordably online or at a shipping store. If you’re in a hurry, many big-box and discount stores sell packing supplies at reasonable prices.
Step-By-Step Guide for Packing Makeup
When you’re packing and moving makeup, your goal is to keep it clean and cushioned. It’s also important to limit exposure to moisture and temperature swings, which can cause beauty products to separate or encourage the growth of harmful bacteria. In some cases, hot or cold temperatures can ruin your cosmetics completely. Here’s how to pack your makeup safely in 6 easy steps:
Step 1: Clean makeup products and applicators
This is one of the most important packing tips for makeup. Giving it a quick clean helps keep dirt and bacteria at bay during the move. Wash and dry your makeup brushes, sponges, and tools such as eyelash curlers. Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol, and use it to wipe down the dispenser tops of foundation bottles. Wipe buildup off the surface of cream and pressed-powder products with a clean tissue, and spray the surface lightly with rubbing alcohol.
Step 2: Bag liquids and creams
To contain leaks, place each liquid or cream product into a small plastic bag and seal it up tightly. Avoid packing more than one item into a bag; the movement of the bottles can dislodge caps and cause damage.
Step 3: Wrap delicate containers
Use bubble wrap to wrap eyeshadow palettes, pressed finishing powder compacts, and glass bottles. You might need to use a small piece of tape to keep the wrap in place.
Step 4: Pack items securely
Slip your bubble-wrapped items into smaller cosmetics bags or cases, taking care to fill the available space without packing items too tightly.
When you shake the bag, the contents shouldn’t rattle around. If they do, stuff packing paper into the open spaces to reduce movement. Load the smaller cosmetics bags into a plastic tote, and fill the open spaces with towels, packing paper, or soft accessories.
Step 5: Secure makeup applicators
Put your brushes and sponges into a zippered cosmetics case, and zip it closed. This prevents dirt, dust, and debris from getting into your brushes and onto your face.
Step 6: Store makeup safely
Before you move, leave your packed totes in a cool, dry spot until you’re ready to load them onto a truck. This prevents moisture or extreme temperatures from affecting the formulas. You can put the totes in a bedroom closet or a linen closet, for example.
How to Transport Makeup Safely
If you’ve ever dropped a powder blush on the bathroom floor, you know that makeup products can be extremely delicate. To help avoid damage, consider taking it with you in your car. If that’s not possible, label each box clearly and add a “fragile” sticker or write it clearly in black marker. Ask your movers to load it last and unload it first to reduce the time it spends in a hot or cold moving truck. For long-distance moves, consider taking the most expensive or delicate items with you and packing the rest.
“It’s…important to limit exposure to moisture and temperature swings, which can cause beauty products to separate or encourage the growth of harmful bacteria.”
While all of this sounds pretty time-consuming, it’s more than worth the effort to keep your cosmetics safe. Taking the time to wrap your makeup carefully helps protect it and prevents you from having to replace anything expensive, rare, or in a limited color that breaks.
Learn more on our How to Pack Hub.
FAQs About Moving Makeup
What if my makeup is fragile?
If you have very fragile makeup items, wrap the containers in an extra layer of bubble wrap and place them inside a sturdy box. Then, you can put that box inside a tote for additional protection.
Can I move my makeup myself, or should I hire professionals?
Yes, you can move makeup yourself. But if your collection is very large or you’re moving a long distance, you might need to put it in a moving truck with the rest of your belongings. On the other hand, professionals have likely done hundreds and hundreds of moves, so as long as you label your makeup as “fragile”, they’ll load it with extra care.
How should I unpack makeup?
When you’re ready to unpack, remove items carefully. Set up your makeup organizers in your new bathroom or bedroom, then remove the bubble wrap from your items, and put them in their new places. This is a simple way to stay organized and keep your makeup safe until you’re ready to use it.
Do I need to clean makeup brushes after I move?
If you cleaned your makeup brushes before packing them, you may not need to clean them again. However, if they were exposed to dirt or hot, moist environments during the moving process, it’s a good idea to repeat the cleaning process. Because the brushes have direct contact with the delicate skin on your face, it’s important that they’re free of debris and bacteria. When in doubt, clean the brushes and allow them to dry completely before use.
Will moving companies transport makeup?
Most moving companies will transport makeup, but you should read the rules about hazardous substances. For example, many companies refuse to carry nail polish and nail polish remover because they’re highly flammable. If the moving truck warms up under the hot summer sun, these items could be dangerous. Instead, take them yourself, give them away, or dispose of them properly and buy replacements when you get to your new location.
