Instagram’s Beautiful Organization Hacks Don’t Work for Me. But These Do.

A caddy for daily essentials

This two-tiered mesh-wire organizer holds an impressive amount of items without obscuring them from view, but it may be too big for some bathroom counters.

Personally, if I couldn’t see my skin-care items, I wouldn’t use them—mainly because I forgot they existed. And even when I did remember, any barrier, such as opening a cabinet door, was enough to deter me from doing this self-care routine entirely.

Displaying the things I need to use daily has been a game changer. If your bathroom doesn’t have open shelving, consider a countertop caddy, such as the two-tiered Lemikkle Countertop Organizer, which is made of see-through mesh wire and can comfortably hold a staggering number of things, although its large footprint (12.2 by 7 by 13.4 inches) may not be suitable for use in smaller bathrooms.

See-through catch-all containers

Transparent containers keep loose essentials like floss, hair ties, cotton swabs, and cotton rounds organized and visible. I use these clear, lidded containers on the top shelf of my countertop caddy, and below, I store bits and bobs that I use less often.

A pill box for supplements and medicines

Also on my counter, right in front of the caddy, is my pill box. Having each pill stored in its own bottle makes it hard for me to remember whether I’ve taken my daily medication. But with a pill box, I can keep track of my meds with a quick glance. I use the Auvon Weekly Pill Organizer, a Wirecutter pick that has day-of-the-week labels and roomy compartments with push-button lids that spring open easily.

A spinning turntable

If you have the space for it, a turntable with built-in storage compartments can be useful for everyday items. My cosmetics, makeup brushes, and sponges are much easier to access when I don’t have to dig through an overstuffed makeup bag. I keep my makeup in a clear, spinning turntable that sits on the other side of my counter.

A hanging basket organizer

And to ensure I always have a clean face towel nearby, I took advantage of vertical space in my bathroom by hanging a mesh basket on the side of the vanity cabinet. I almost never wanted to wash my face when I didn’t have a fresh towel to dry off with—I’d sometimes use my T-shirt to pat my face dry—but now that towels are within reach, I relish the task. My skin has never been glowier.