Mom finally discovers where her missing makeup went—and parents can’t stop laughing at the culprit

When Mississippi mom of two, India Collins, noticed her favorite MAC lipliner suddenly vanish, she thought maybe she’d misplaced it. But when more makeup started disappearing, she realized there was a mystery in her own home.

The “makeup bandit” turned out to be none other than her 2-year-old son—who had been quietly stashing her beauty products inside a tall decorative vase.

“I was in shock,” Collins told Newsweek. “How long had he been the vase bandit? How did we not notice this was his stash spot? A couple of weeks ago my makeup started going missing. I realized my lipliner was gone and started looking all over the house. Then I saw my son put something in the vase, and when we checked, there was an abundance of my makeup.”

Her husband pulled out the vase’s decorative sticks, and sure enough—there was a treasure trove of stolen makeup, carefully tucked away.

Related: Mom thought her toddler was playing quietly—then he did the ‘unthinkable’

TikTok parents can relate

Collins shared the discovery on TikTok (@indy.cree), where the video has already racked up more than 316,000 views and hundreds of hilarious comments from parents who know this brand of toddler chaos all too well.

e.l.f. Cosmetics: “this may be a unique experience mama 🥺😭”

naturallyjonails: “I’m glad u got it back and it wasn’t in the trash or something 😂”

ambermarshpund2: “i’m dead we lost the remote for days turns out my daughter did the same thing”

Collins said she just wanted other parents to feel seen: “I honestly just wanted to let other parents know you’re not alone in the toddler trenches—and to keep an eye on your makeup!”

Why toddlers hide things

As funny as this discovery was, according to Pampers, it’s also perfectly normal. Around 18–24 months, toddlers begin to understand object permanence—the concept that something still exists even if they can’t see it. That’s why your kid suddenly gets a kick out of hiding toys in the trash, remotes in the couch cushions, or, in this case, lipliner in a vase.

It’s a small but important milestone in cognitive development, helping toddlers practice memory, problem-solving, and playful independence.

Related: Boy moms: Raising a body-positive child applies to us, too

Parenting takeaway

Yes, it’s frustrating when your $30 lipliner vanishes into thin air, but it’s also a reminder that toddlerhood is full of these bizarre, exhausting, and hilarious moments. The “makeup bandit” stage won’t last forever—and one day, you may even miss it.