I was getting tired of my makeup and brushes sort of being sort of loosely scattered across my bathroom counter. I needed something to organize it. I had tried a plastic, pull-out drawer, but that was not fitting my needs. I do own makeup, not a ton, but enough to warrant some organization. I went on the hunt for something and ran across this Caboodles Black Lace Case (12) inches at Target for $25. It seemed pricey at the time, but I went ahead and splurged. Now, I'm glad I did! Keep in mind they come in an array of colors/styles and sizes, I just happened to choose the Black Lace (style), it also comes in plain black (as shown in the picture), which is the same exact case, but different material on the outside.

First off, I notice plenty of makeup train (cases) in the $50 to $150 range (youch), so Caboodles is a great way to get one without making you go broke. I realize now that $25 was well worth it (it sells anywhere from $25-$35). It has lasted me a very long time of daily use (opening and closing), and it is just WONDERFUL to have. My bathroom always looks organized in one small little package. You can, of course, get different "looks" and different sizes, but I suggest the 12" for anyone with a medium amount of makeup. You need a bigger one if you really collect and wear a lot of makeup. This would make an EXCELLENT GIFT for any woman or teen...trust me! I'm sure you could use it for more than just makeup, like jewelry, painting, beading, art, who knows?!

So it comes with two small keys, which I have most likely lost. I do not use this feature, but it does make it so you can LOCK it. Great if you are TRAVELING. I never take it to travel, I could NEVER use that much makeup, so I just grab bare minimums and put them into a smaller travel case. This could be great for someone who sells makeup and does facials/makeup lessons for a living (or maybe you'd want a slightly larger size). That's the best part is they do offer smaller and larger sizes at Target (target.com) and Amazon.com for very good prices. This also comes with a handle, so that makes it great for carrying. I've had mine for quite awhile, so it LASTS and holds up well (It hasn't broken and I was really worried about quality!). It is just as good as the high-quality ones in my opinion. I just flip open the latch (lock) and then the top part will divide. As I open it, 3 tiers (pop out on each side), via some metal bars that bend in and out. Before you close it, you take each side (top tier) and push them inward with your hand, then you close the lid and lock it. I never leave it open. I find that by doing so (closing it daily) it keeps my makeup free of dust and things, plus keeps the bathroom looking straightened. So I will store makeup on the three top tiers on each side (so you get 6 compartments to store stuff) and then the bottom of the case as well (so really 1 large area to store and 6 tiered compartments). It stores a good 10 or more eyeshadows, plenty of blushes, blush and makeup brushes, several eyeliners, highlighters, bronzers and so on. You can stack the tiers with 1 to 2 items depending on the size (if you do too much, it won't close properly). I was surprised HOW MUCH it fit, pretty much my whole makeup collection and then some room still! It's an excellent way to organize makeup; I'll put blush in one section, eyeshadows in another, and so on. It doesn't fit my foundation bottle well, so I keep that out. It has two areas on both sides with about 5 stretchy loops to hold eyeliners and/or eyeshadow brushes (they are pencil-sized). This is a great addition to the case. The "look" of it is beautiful. It looks high-end and people ask me where I get it all the time. If anyone collects little mineral makeup containers, those fit perfectly. The case is made of plastic, with durable material over top (as in my case, I have beautiful, black lace). The lace (much to my surprise), has not ripped. The inside is made of cardboard-type material, but a little stronger and it is covered with some thick paper in a pattern. I was worried about quality, but I have wiped it out with a damp cloth several times, only to find out it wipes up well! It only takes up a good foot or less of counter space and when I'm done using it, I can either just leave against the wall on the counter, or pick it up and hide it under a sink.

I haven't traveled with it, so I cannot comment on that and I'm not sure if it is durable enough (or cushioned) enough for traveling. I prefer this over those plastic, pull-out mini drawers for makeup organization you get at the store. For one, it looks better. It also keeps the makeup all in one spot and I can see everything all at once. The makeup does not slide around and it's all right there, so I do not have to dig around looking for something.

Overall: This is an EXCELLENT way to store your makeup. If you are looking for a present for a teenage girl or woman, this is not only affordable, but a great way to have them organize and store makeup. I picked a winner with this one!

Recommended: Yes