Kit condensing and reorganising - VERY satisfying, but can be quite daunting to start. So, let's dive into some easy and effective tips to help you streamline your collection and make the most of your IYKO HANA Pro Kit Backpack. (If you haven't taken advantage of our Introductory Price while it's still running what are you waiting for?!)
1. Assess and Declutter:
First things first—Get all of your makeup kit beauties and lay them out on a desk or table, split them into categories, as detailed as you want to be - Base products, cream products etc. Take a good look at each item and ask yourself: Do I actually use this often? Is this something I reach for over other products in my kit that serve a similar purpose? Is this product unique that I can't recreate with another product? If not, it might be time to say goodbye. Which moves us perfectly to our next step...
2. Prioritize Multi-Functional Products:
Look for products that do double duty. Think lip and cheek tints or palettes that mix eyeshadows with highlighters. This not only saves space but also lightens your load. My favourite product for Multi-use is the Danessa Myricks Color Fix paints in these specific shades:
- Primary Yellow
- Primary Red
- Primary Blue
- Lift (White)
- Exposed (Taupe)
- Blackout (Black)
- Chocolate
With these shades I can create quite a lot of different colours, in a formula that's waterproof and VERY long lasting, I use them mostly for blush, eyeshadow bases and even some contour colours (Chocolate is an AMAZING Base colour to create bronze/contour shades for deep skin tones).
They're also great for shifting foundation and concealer shades so you don't have to carry as many base products in my kit. I only have 5 shades of each formula and use DM Color Fix to tweak the shades to match my clients.
3. Don't forget to do the same for your brushes:
You might not realise how much space your brushes take up. I mean, it's understandable if we have a big day of back to back clients we need a constant supply of clean brushes. I am not however referring to the brushes you do use, I am talking about the ones that we actively avoid using if we can. I KNOW YOU KNOW WHICH BRUSHES I MEAN! The ones that you work around the whole day until you're forced to use them and then end up working harder to make work for you instead of it actually being useful, get rid.
Replace if you must... with a brush style you actually use. Also look for brushes with a skinnier tip on the end, they are easier to put in and out of your kit and don't take up as much space as the chunkier brush barrels.
4. Embrace Miniatures/depotting:
Travel-sized products are a lifesaver when it comes to saving space without losing variety. Consider swapping out full-sized items for mini versions, especially those you don't use daily, Buy these mini's once and then when they run empty, buy the full sized product to use to refill these minis. Keeping some things in your kit in it's original packaging is going to be desirable, especially if they are luxury (or the packaging is just pretty!) So keep on the hunt for these minis, they do them a lot around Holiday season or gifting seasons so take advantage of this when they come in your staple products.
DEPOT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. Not only does this mean you can fit much more in your kit, you can also streamline your kit in its appearance. Keeping as many of the bottles/packaging elements in your kit uniform makes your kit look more sleek and professional, on top of this, it also helps with keeping your kit neat and tidy during the application product, the less bottles and palettes lying around on the table, the better.
5. Regularly Refresh Your Kit:
Make it a habit to review and refresh your kit every few months. This keeps you up-to-date with the formulas in your kit as you organically reach for different formulas over others and ensures your kit stays clean and organized - I personally tweak the formulas I use depending on the season as the weather stresses of the season create new requirements of performance for your formulas which might need swapping out with better ones for the specific time of year.
6. Invest in Quality Over Quantity:
Choose products that deliver the best results, and pack the biggest punch in formula. Generally more artistry led brands/indie brands are very performance focused. These are less 'consumer friendly' and tricker formulas to manipulate, or need manipulating in the first place, but are generally more compact as you don't need to use as much per client, therefore the size doesn't take up as much space in your kit - for example, I have got myself very accustomed to these more performance based formulas which are generally more pigmented and drier in consistency to the point where I find them very easy to work with, if I daresay, easier to use then more day to day consumer friendly products which usually are quite emollient in consistency and don't pack as much punch pigment wise. Brands I love for this are the following:
Danessa Myricks - FULL of colour, and the right colours too. Their ColorFix range alone stands tall in my hall of fame.
LH Cosmetics - A brand with multi use at its core, these are a fine balance between consumer and artistry focused so you get the best of both worlds.
RCMA - They do amazing foundation palettes already built and designed for high performance HD/Theatre, I always have at least one RCMA Palette in my kit as a quick grab when I need it.
Kryolan - Same as the above, this is literally a PRO Makeup brand designed specifically for working MUA's in all sectors. The vastness of their formulas and colour ranges are top tier.
7. Utilize Kit Accessories:
Make the most of the compartments and pockets in your IYKO HANA Pro Kit Backpack. Use pouches and dividers to keep things tidy and prevent any spills or damage, If you're like me and prefer to have your kit organised with acrylic pots you can do this too. I get mine from MUJI.
Starting the year with a streamlined kit not only makes your routine more efficient but also sparks creativity and focus. Your kit is an extension of you and your hand, embracing a more streamlined and organised kit will set you up for a fresh start to 2025 and represents you as a professional. Let your makeup kit reflect the organized, vibrant energy you want to bring into the new year!
By following these tips, you'll be ready to rock 2025 with a kit that's as streamlined and efficient as you are. Happy New Year from all of us at IYKO Professional!
To get you off to a GREAT start to the New Year, we are giving you the chance to WIN your very own IYKO HANA Pro Kit Backpack FILLED with products generously gifted by Sculpted by Aimee, Rodial & LH Cosmetics!
TO WIN:
1. Follow us on Instagram @iykopro
2. Like our giveaway post and tag your MUA bestie in the comments.
4. Sign up to our mailing list (If you got this post in your inbox you have already done this step! Woo!).
Competition will run until 11:59pm on the 11th January to all territories we ship to (UK, USA, Canada, Europe, Australia & UAE excl. any potential custom/duty fees). The winner will be drawn and announced on the 12th January. If the winner hasn't completed all of the terms above to win the draw will be marked as invalid and be redrawn until a winner is drawn that has.
GOOD LUCK!
Natalie Rose Vella
