Quote: Originally Posted by
aradhana
i've been wondering why i can't stop myself, not only from buying makeup, but for wanting so much in the first place! i think i really need to be strategic about any further acquisitions...LOL...
I found it's a great help to make an organized inventory of what products i have, along with the month and year each was purchased. That way i can see if i have a lot of a certain color and hold off buying more unless it's something really special. Or if there's a gap that needs to be filled. Or i can see that i accidentally bought multiples of exactly the same item and not make the same mistake a 3rd time - I don't generally get back-ups, because i like a lot of variety in what i wear.
Mascaras, for example, are supposed to be tossed after 4 to 6 months. I confess i'm still using one 2-year-old brown-black mascara (a hard to find color), but it also means i rarely buy mascara, because i have a clear idea of what i have. I am not tempted to get every new wonder-mascara that gets written up until i throw out some of the older ones i have.
Powder eyeshadows and blushes (hi-liters/bronzers) last for years as long as one uses clean brushes on them. I have some e/s from the 1970s that are still fine, although back then e/s were awfully chalky / talc-y.
On the other hand, lipsticks and other creme products go rancid and liquid products (like foundation) go bad. So there's no real use not wearing a beloved lipstick after a year or so of hoarding it in your stash, because you need to get your best wear of it before it spoils. Most liquid products are supposed to be chucked out in a year, although if you keep it in a cool dark place and don't put dirty fingers or brushes into it, it can last a bit longer.
With my inventory i can go through my stash and pull out old stuff to wear before it spoils, or toss what's getting rancid or going bad or likely full of bacteria.