Saturday, May 21, 2016

Where I Am with Makeup Right Now

You may have seen this meme on Instagram or Twitter:


Obviously, it's a bit tongue-in-cheek since it's not like if one stopped buying makeup, they would suddenly be able to afford a house or secure that perfect partner, but as in any joke, there's always an element of truth.

It gave me a moment to reflect on my relationship with makeup over the past few years, and more importantly, where I am right now.

Four years into the blog, it almost goes without saying I've accumulated a large makeup collection. Even though I regularly go through it all to see if I can donate or cull anything, I know objectively I have enough colour makeup to last me the next 10+ years, with the possible exception of foundation, mascara, etc. with more stringent expiry dates.

I recently thought about how much money I've spent over the years on makeup, skin care, hair care, nail polish, makeup brushes, perfumes, body care, candles, and everything else we categorise as “beauty”. The truth is, I have no idea. It's in the thousands of dollars, though how many thousands is the question.

It's not exactly that I feel that money was wasted, per se. I tremendously enjoy my makeup collection. Insofar as material things can generate happiness, I do get gratification from having and using makeup. Given the choice to do it all again, I don't know if I'd elect to spend my discretionary income any other way. At least that was true until perhaps the last half a year.

Don't get me wrong, I still really love makeup. I have fun playing around with it, I look forward to applying it in the morning, I continue to get a kick out of both the process and the end result. But I don't know if I can allow myself to spend on it as freely as before. Especially now, in my late 20s, needing to confront certain realities about my financial position and my future. This city I'm in ain't getting any cheaper. It's also about more considered consumerism, pardon the oxymoron. I need to think very carefully about anything I buy — makeup or otherwise. David Karp once said “liquidity is the new luxury”. It's a quote I resonate with but could do a lot better exemplifying. Stuff does weigh you down, though as humans, we also are comforted by the mere fact of having things. We identify with the things we own. We come to depend on them to maintain a certain standard of living, and often cannot imagine going without.

It's not so much deprivation that's the goal — but perhaps being satisfied increasingly with less, and appreciating what I do have more. Being mindful of and deriving greater utility from current possessions. For me, that means a big step towards actually finishing things before I buy replacements or alternatives. Really conceptualising how long it would take me to hit pan on an eyeshadow or blush before surrendering to that feeling of needing a new one.

What does that mean for the blog? There may be fewer posts about new stuff I've bought. There may be more posts on shopping my stash, or rediscovering underappreciated items, or finding connections or common themes between products I already have. There may be (as has actually been the case) more time in between posts in general. But it's all part of the natural progression of a live thing, and I'm still here (on the blog, on Twitter, on Instagram). Thanks as always for reading.

28 comments:

  1. I, too, just got my vanity set up lately and just "amazed" of how much $ I have spent on makeup over the years. Really should start cutting back and shop my stash instead of running out to get new products. But every time a new limited edition product surfaces, I feel the need to grab it while I can. Not a good habit at all :(

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    1. I think what helps curb that limited edition trap is really evaluating what it is you’re buying. In a large makeup collection, there is so much duplication and excess. There’s no way that we wouldn’t have anything similar already. I think only if we truly don’t, and the product is simply too beautiful or exceptional to pass up on (despite the fact what it actually *does* can be replicated with something we already have), then maybe we can allow ourselves the indulgence.

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  2. Well, you probably know that I'm with you on the 'considered consumerism'. I too have come to the conclusion that I don't want to be a slave to always looking for the next best thing, and instead would like to appreciate what I have a lot more. I'll be on the lookout for your 'shop my stash' posts!

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    1. I love your low buys and the fact you keep yourself in check! It makes the occasional purchases a lot more rewarding as well. I’m not looking to deprive myself completely (in terms of adopting that as the driving mindset), but just changing my perspective altogether. I have more than enough right now and should focus on the things I already own, rather than looking to pointlessly add more.

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  3. This definitely resonates! I'm attempting to save for a house so am giving myself a budget per month which seems fairly reasonable, but the first few months I just found myself running out of cash because I was spending it on random bits and bobs. Now I know I have to be a lot more selective with my purchases, and cliches abound it does force me to spend only when I really want to. In terms of the blog, I personally just enjoy your writing style, so no worries on shopping your stash or other topics :-)

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    1. Thanks Jodie! Budgeting is something I need to be more on top of – especially if/when I do move to house ownership and paying off a mortgage. The little things here and there that we don’t think will be a big deal certainly add up. Every bit counts when you’re saving or just generally trying to be more conscious of your spending.

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  4. It is so hard to keep up the mind out of the things we enjoy the most even when they involve saving up. I honestly tried a spending ban and failed miserably, I think one of the reasons to that is the fact I was not completely keen that I would actually be able to stop entering a shop without bringing something. What that thought me thou is that now I think a lot about the product before I give in, doesn't matter if it's 2£ or 200£ it's money still, do I really want to loose that money for that product that I will use 2/3 times? This post is brilliant and inspirational, it makes me give more value to what I actually own and look forward to a less cluttered life. Thank you for sharing your experience on the matter, I'm looking forward to your upcoming posts! xx

    Sara | www.marybloomy.com

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    1. Thanks Sara! You’re so right – even 2£ if it’s going towards something you might not use or get any value from is 2£ wasted that could’ve been saved, or been spent towards something you really love and will use. The idea of a less cluttered life is understandably appealing, especially as it brings us closer to the mindset of not needing to own or have things in order to be fulfilled or happy.

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  5. I'm starting to feel the same way Lena! Especially after getting back from the US and having bought a butt load there, I've kind of stopped wanting a bunch of things? I'm content with what I have and I really don't need anything else. I also just bought a new car so I don't exactly have much disposable income to be buying makeup! Though, there will always be some products that I need to indulge in! Cough, sweet peach palette :P

    Tasha // shiwashiful.

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    1. Nothing like the ultimately reality check of basically running out of cashola after a big buy! :p Or not “running out”, but definitely feeling the squeeze. I think the reason why I’ve bought so much makeup over the years is because the individual spend is still relatively small. If you think about how many eyeshadow palettes or lipsticks it would take to buy something like a car (let alone a house), then the makeup seems to be a more appealing or at least achievable prospect, haha. It’s this very mindset that’s so bad, since everyone needs to start somewhere and every dollar counts. I was pretty dead set on getting the Sweet Peach palette but now I think I’ve convinced myself I could do without.

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  6. I reached that point a while back and everything you said resonates with me! Respect and admire you loads Lena xxx

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    1. I guess it took me a while to finally catch up! I therefore conclude you’re a lot more mature and enlightened than me :p Thanks for always being super sweet and supportive Cherie <3

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  7. Every beauty blogger can relate to this ! I also came to the realisation when the amount of things accumulating in my collection exceeded way beyond the amount of makeup I use on a regular basis... Especially since I was left with expired products which I had only touched a few times. I really enjoyed this post and pretty sure you've got loads of great ideas in mind :)
    ~Weng wengiful 

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    1. It’s easy to forget that makeup has an expiry date! It’s always incredible to see certain YouTube “beauty guru” makeup collections where they just have drawers and drawers of lipsticks, eyeshadows, foundations, eyeliners, mascaras, concealers, and everything else under the sun. I can’t imagine they a) know what’s all there b) could use 5% of it regularly c) can keep it all before getting rid of a chunk to make room for even more coming in!

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  9. im totally with you and in the same situation. i always feel a little pissed off at myself when i look at how much ive spent on make up, while others around me are saving for house deposits. But at the end of the day it brings me ACTUAL happiness buying new make up and trying it out, and i think sometimes that its ok to indulge. all about balance :)

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    1. Absolutely. Do what feels right for you at whatever point in life you’re at, short of reckless spending. None of us are perfect individuals when it comes to money or spending or buying things. Who is to say what’s right for someone at the end of the day? I think any kind of revolution in terms of thinking of habits has to ultimately be self-motivated. So long as we’re all acting and living out our lives in a way that we feel is best for us and not harming anyone.

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  10. I'm so with you! Just yesterday I gave a massive bag of products to my friends as part of "operation downsize". They came a point for me, last year sometime, that I finally realised that I'd need several lifetimes to get through all the beauty products I've accumulated. It seems so wasteful now. Well said and thanks for sharing!

    Claire Beauty&le Chic x

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    1. Several lifetimes indeed! There is certainly a point in each makeup enthusiast's journey where the practical use of a makeup product disappears and it's all about collecting more for the sake of variety and because you like makeup. The days of buying purely to use up or have more than 1-2 options are a distant memory :p Maybe it's the circle of life (or makeup consumption) - we come back in the end to downsizing and focusing on finishing up/using what we have.

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  11. I totally understand this feeling. I fluctuate quite a bit between buying a lot of makeup and beauty in a short period of time and then buying almost nothing for weeks or months. It's all a flux but it's also really important to be mindful and critical of your actions, even when they bring you happiness. Realising how much money I spent on beauty last year was soul-crushing but it was necessary to question what kind of priority this hobby has in my life, especially as a university student without a whole lot of disposable income.

    I really like this kind of discussion and I'm glad more people are talking about it because I think it's something that people think about but get a bit wary about sharing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

    xx Julia
    missjulziez.blogspot.com.au

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    1. I can see how it might not be a topic that all people would want to touch on - this is something of a different post for me in that I actually shared an opinion beyond the critical evaluation of a makeup product. But I definitely don't judge those that want to indulge in makeup purchases more often and to a greater extent than me - each to their own! This is just where I'm at now and I feel it's right for me to concentrate on the reality of how much makeup I actually have and keep that at the forefront when I consider making a new purchase.

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  12. You've articulated my current position on makeup spending--I still love buying new makeup occasionally, but I don't want to feel like I'm a slave to material goods. Plus, I get more fulfillment from refining my skills and figuring out new ways to wear makeup. Social media is so good at encouraging trend-following and mindless consumption (that backordered rainbow highlighter...), so it's great to see bloggers pushing back against those trends. Rest assured that I'll continue reading your blog no matter what you post!

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    1. Haha, funny you mention the rainbow highlighter. I definitely was on that company's website/Etsy page trying to suss out how much it would be to ship it to Australia. Of course it was out of stock anyway and even if it was available, would've cost a fortune. Still, it's the novelty that always appeals to me. But I do like the thinking that makeup is essentially a tool to play around with - something you use to paint your face or create an effect. So in a way, it's the experimentation and the refining of skills that makes makeup come alive and makes it something with possibility. It becomes part of creation, not just consumption.

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  13. That's okay! As long as you post reviews or your thoughts about beauty stuff I personally don't care if it's been in your possession for a decade. :))

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    1. Aw, thank you! Glad to have you as a reader :)

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  14. I've read every single one of your posts and have always loved your blog! I definitely know where you are coming from- I haven't really bought much makeup in the past year or so due to the same feelings. In no doubt I still enjoy makeup, but I get to a point where I go "do I really need this?" Would definitely love to still see posts from you, especially shopping your own stash or rediscovering old goodies. Will always be in touch through Instagram and Twitter though :)

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  15. I love your blog, and it does not matter how much you spend, you are one of the best bloggers in Australia. I like this post and its very motivating.I have seen that some other bloggers also feel the same and its great to read post about rediscovering products or shopping stash.

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  16. I can relate to this - I quite like the common phrase 'the things you own, end up owning you' and it's true for any consumer who consumes large amounts of anything, be it makeup, stamps, ornaments etc. I've been doing a project pan for makeup stuff for the past 6 months and it's been really eye opening as to what one actually gets through, and it has made me appreciate some neglected items that I had lingering at the back of a drawer! x

    Evelyn @ We Were Raised By Wolves

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