Operation "Use it up"! All welcome!!

[Elba]

Quote:Originally Posted by Elba


I recently finished a Plushglass in Ample Pink. Really liked it, but it had to go. Next thing I need to work on is my Slimshine Lippie in Scant. Love the color and the formula, but it's getting really old.


Don't forget to put that item in your back to mac bin. I already have about 7 items sitting in my bin waiting for me to back to Mac. Nothing moves me right now at the Mac store so I sit and wait for that day to come.

Yeah, totally forgot about that. I just tossed it. Stupid me. Well, I'll just have to concentrate on finishing more stuff...

 

[NaomiH]

This is such a great idea! I definitely have too many things going unused (especially pigment wise) and should really crack down on myself and use more of what I have.

 

[matchachoco]

Way to go on finishing a lipstick and that's nice of you to b2m for your friend! Great way to control your stash and do something nice

Thanks! It feels like she's doing me a favor.

 

[veronikawithak]

How's everyone doing on the "use it up" front?

I've been mostly using the items I picked every day except for special occasions like interviews or to switch it up once in a while. So far I've used Flatter Me 10 times this month..and Painterly 13 - hit the pan finally! I'm going to use the next week or so as a challenge to use those products as many times as I can and then do a January update at the end of the month.

 

[kerry-jane88]

How's everyone doing on the "use it up" front? I've been mostly using the items I picked every day except for special occasions like interviews or to switch it up once in a while. So far I've used Flatter Me 10 times this month..and Painterly 13 - hit the pan finally! I'm going to use the next week or so as a challenge to use those products as many times as I can and then do a January update at the end of the month.

Hitting pan, woo! I've not managed to use up any makeup yet, but now I've seen the new collections I really want to focus on getting some more mac empties! So the mac items that havent much left in im hoping to have finished: Nude rose lipstick Lightful spf35 moisture lotion Careblends lavender & sweet orange oil. I have single back ups for each anyway. I think it's realistic that I can get these finished by march

 

[veronikawithak]

I think it's realistic that I can get these finished by march

That sounds like a solid goal. I have 5 MAC empties right now and I'm about to finish my MSFN so I'll be able to get a lippie soon! Makeup takes so long to use up.. If only it was half the size and half the price.

 

[matchachoco]

How's everyone doing on the "use it up" front? I've been mostly using the items I picked every day except for special occasions like interviews or to switch it up once in a while. So far I've used Flatter Me 10 times this month..and Painterly 13 - hit the pan finally! I'm going to use the next week or so as a challenge to use those products as many times as I can and then do a January update at the end of the month.

Hitting pan, woo! I've not managed to use up any makeup yet, but now I've seen the new collections I really want to focus on getting some more mac empties! So the mac items that havent much left in im hoping to have finished: Nude rose lipstick Lightful spf35 moisture lotion Careblends lavender & sweet orange oil. I have single back ups for each anyway. I think it's realistic that I can get these finished by march

Nice progress! All those new collections are definitely good motivation to get moving! I have yet to hit pan on a MAC eyeshadow. Here's what I'm working on.

Ravishing is such a pain...but it's coming along. And then Fast Friends, a barely there kind of gloss. One of my first MAC purchases, before I knew what I was doing.

 

[veronikawithak]

Ravishing is such a pain...but it's coming along. And then Fast Friends, a barely there kind of gloss. One of my first MAC purchases, before I knew what I was doing.

Yay! Both of those are looking pretty good! Keep it up. I haven't hit pan on an eyeshadow either! I need to get on that.. been working mostly on Dazzlelight this month - it has a noticeable dip but probably nowhere near pan.

 

[kerry-jane88]

A cautionary tale! I'd decided to use up the last bit of my mac careblend sweet orange and lavender oil. I used to use a tiny bit with my moisturiser in the morn, or a bigger amount at night. Id stopped using it as much because I'd got decleor oils. So I put it on at night. When I woke I had a few whiteheads around my mouth. No big deal, I have acne and that usually happens when I apply a tad too much oil/cream. So the next night I just applied the oil on my forehead and across my nose and cheeks. Uh oh! In the morn my lower face was COVERED in tiny tiny whiteheads! After exfoliating they turned into painful tiny wounds, like I'd been in an ice storm! Even today my skin is very painful and will take a little while to rebalance So even though we want to use our stuff up, don't forget your common sense like I did and use an oil you've had open since summer 2011 without caution! :/ if you've not used something in a long time, patch test! B2m that bottle goes!

 

[charlotte366]

Quote:Originally Posted by kerry-jane88

A cautionary tale!

I'd decided to use up the last bit of my mac careblend sweet orange and lavender oil.
I used to use a tiny bit with my moisturiser in the morn, or a bigger amount at night.
Id stopped using it as much because I'd got decleor oils.
So I put it on at night. When I woke I had a few whiteheads around my mouth. No big deal, I have acne and that usually happens when I apply a tad too much oil/cream. So the next night I just applied the oil on my forehead and across my nose and cheeks. Uh oh!
In the morn my lower face was COVERED in tiny tiny whiteheads! After exfoliating they turned into painful tiny wounds, like I'd been in an ice storm! Even today my skin is very painful and will take a little while to rebalance

So even though we want to use our stuff up, don't forget your common sense like I did and use an oil you've had open since summer 2011 without caution! :/ if you've not used something in a long time, patch test! B2m that bottle goes!


OUCH!!! I hope if calms down soon!! I know what you mean by commen sense, I found my mini sized strobe cream the other day 50% left so decided to focus on trying to finish it up by using it as a primer under my double wear foundation which I am also trying to finish, the double wear can be a bit mask like, the strobe cream as a primer stops it being too matte and I am applying with a beauty blender using fix+ to dampen to use that baby up too. I was nervous that the strobe cream may be passed its best so I sniffed carefully, tested it out on my inner elbow and checked that back which said 24 months once opened. I would have had it for 24 months next month! Luckily it has been fine, no reactions and it is helping me to finish off 2 other products! I have been concentrating hard on using up stuff in January and I have had a lot of success, all the things that were pretty much done have been finished off and I am hoping to finish the foundation this week. I have found it easier to focus if I put other stuff out of the way for example, I have nearly used a whole charcoal brown shadow on my brows but i was neglecting it in favour of my new anastacia powder. i put the anastacia away because I only have a tiny rim of powder to finish so hoping that it will be done by march so I can use my new one. I will empty out my empties bag at the weekend and post a picture/update.

 

[veronikawithak]

So even though we want to use our stuff up, don't forget your common sense like I did and use an oil you've had open since summer 2011 without caution! :/ if you've not used something in a long time, patch test! B2m that bottle goes!

Oh no!! That's awful.. I hope your skin goes back to normal soon! I learned my lesson with lip glosses earlier.. even though they were only a year old I got a cold sore while using one - taking them B2M. Lipsticks I feel better about because I can sanitize them but I still would like to get into a routine of regularly finishing up products so they're not sitting there degrading.. Which means I have to start buying way less and eventually tossing some products that aren't completely used.. or growing 2 extra heads so I have more faces to apply makeup to!

 

[User38]

omg that's awful! sorry to hear this..

 

[Audrey C]

I finished two items this week - Mineralize Concealer and the final bit that was left in my blot powder. I have three glosses with tiny amounts left, but two are spring colours and I probably won't finish those until I start to transition seasons.

I actually finish products all the time; I easily BTM four times a year. I've finished a lot fairly recently, so I don't know what else I'm likely to get through in the immediate future. I only have a bit left of Oh, Oh, Oh and my first Glamourdaze; they'll probably both be done by the end of the winter. One of my liners is down to the final dregs, so another few sharpenings will be the end of it. Hm...I'm going to say five more empties by the end of April since I just replaced two staples.

I finished my MAC Translucent Powder (it just had a rim around the outside and it didn't survive this morning's drop onto the bathroom floor) and finally finished my first Star Quality today. I have two other glosses that are about done (Meteoric, On the Scene) and I've been making an effort to wear those around the house in the evening instead of reapplying lipstick to get them gone. I like them all but they're all at 18+ months so I'd rather turn them over. I also finished my first fluidline (Dipdown) last week; I forgot how low I was on that. It was also a couple of years old and I wore it daily for a long time before I expanded my collection.


With an empty wipes container and the two empties above, I've got yet another BTM. I'm about done a Tendertone (I wear them overnight) and a brush cleaner as well. With the two gloss (less than 1/5 left in each), I think I'll finish four more products by the end of March. Oh, Oh, Oh is just a nub, but I think it might survive a bit longer since I've been wearing the new Huggables a lot in this cold weather.

 

[veronikawithak]

January Update

Empties/B2M

Vichy Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 Calming Cleansing Solution - already on another bottle with a backup waiting
MAC brush cleanser - not repurchasing, trying out baby shampoo instead
Josie Maran Argan Oil - purchased another brand at half the price for twice the product and haven't noticed a difference..
MAC Lingering - using a new one with a backup waiting
MAC lipglass x2 - not empty, but worried they might be expired
MAC Ronnie Red - not empty, but I have other reds I like more so I just don't wear it

Makeup Bag/Project Pan

*number in brackets is how many times I used it in January

These were my original items:
MAC Flatter Me (11) - the end is nowhere in sight.. lol
MAC Painterly (21) - HIT PAN.. FINALLY!
MAC Dazzlelight (11)
MUFE 19L (8)
MAC Plumful (1) - I really need to work on using up lippies.. but I did wear all the ones I have at least once this month

Added these to the bag so I could use it as an everyday makeup bag:
MAC Patisserie (4)
Kat Von D Light 44 (9) - can't see it in this photo, but the ridges for the rings are just starting to show!
MAC MSFN (13) - PAN!
+ mascara, brow pencil and P+P highlighter

 

[Lisianthus]

I love reading about everyone's progress. It's so motivating!

Here's my January update on the things I want to finish.

MSF in Medium - Done! Substituting in All the Glitters. I've already hit pan and I want to finish it just because I've never finished an eye shadow before.

Used my Nars Concealer 18x and Dolce Vita 16x but they still look pretty much the same as they did at the beginning of the month. Will be slow going with these 2 products.

 

[matchachoco]

January Update

Empties/B2M

Vichy Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 Calming Cleansing Solution - already on another bottle with a backup waiting
MAC brush cleanser - not repurchasing, trying out baby shampoo instead
Josie Maran Argan Oil - purchased another brand at half the price for twice the product and haven't noticed a difference..
MAC Lingering - using a new one with a backup waiting
MAC lipglass x2 - not empty, but worried they might be expired
MAC Ronnie Red - not empty, but I have other reds I like more so I just don't wear it

Makeup Bag/Project Pan

*number in brackets is how many times I used it in January

These were my original items:
MAC Flatter Me (11) - the end is nowhere in sight.. lol
MAC Painterly (21) - HIT PAN.. FINALLY!
MAC Dazzlelight (11)
MUFE 19L (8)
MAC Plumful (1) - I really need to work on using up lippies.. but I did wear all the ones I have at least once this month

Added these to the bag so I could use it as an everyday makeup bag:
MAC Patisserie (4)
Kat Von D Light 44 (9) - can't see it in this photo, but the ridges for the rings are just starting to show!
MAC MSFN (13) - PAN!
+ mascara, brow pencil and P+P highlighter

Nice work on the empties! And I commend you on your ability to B2M products that are past their prime. This is so hard for me!

I feel your pain on Flatter Me! I am sort of trying to use up Veronica's Blush and it is going nowhere!

 

[veronikawithak]

Nice work on the empties! And I commend you on your ability to B2M products that are past their prime. This is so hard for me!

I feel your pain on Flatter Me! I am sort of trying to use up Veronica's Blush and it is going nowhere!

Yeah, it's so tough. After using it almost every day for 2 weeks I'm also kind of bored of it.. lol.

In the low buy thread we were talking about how many applications are in each blush, tube of lipstick, etc.: http://www.brightestbulbinthebox.com/2013/07/how-many-applications-are-in-pan-of.html For blush it's like 300-500 applications! I'm going to start reapplying throughout the day to make things go faster.. lol. Definitely keeps me in check as far as not wanting to hoard too much though. I might still downsize a bit. I can't justify using anything but my favorites when things take that long to use up.

 

[charlotte366]

Now looking at my empty bag for January! I made a real effort to use some bits up and had a productive month, I somehow don't think they will all be like this! Eucerin in 10% urea body lotion, I get through 1 a month keeping my eczema under control! REN Moroccan rose Otto body wash 100ml Elemental her biology cell plumping moisturiser 15ml Emma hardie face balm 100ml a absolute staple! 50ml bottle of polish remover Mac lip conditioner tube 15ml Decleor hydra floral eye gel cream 15ml Make up wise I have been both finishing up and taking out what might be past it's best, I am b2m 3 super slick liquid liners from mac which have been well loved but I now think they may be past there best! Finished a Lancôme hypnose mascara sample Clinique bottom lash mascara Mac mini pigment in museum bronze Mac lipstick in creme cup Cargo mini cheek activator blush Too faced sample size shadow insurance Benefit that gal sample size Lancôme art liner Loreal super liner Guerlain rouge g in Beatrix - that's my last one, I love it but not replacing as working on slimming down the number of lip products I own Clinique high length mascara sample On the whole happy to have finished so much particularly make up. I am currently concentrating on finishing up my double wear foundation which has about 1 week left, my mini strobe cream and mini fix plus. I am also working on my charcoal brown shadow which is showing lot if pan, may try to use it for eye looks as well as my eyebrows!

 

[matchachoco]

Yeah, it's so tough. After using it almost every day for 2 weeks I'm also kind of bored of it.. lol.

In the low buy thread we were talking about how many applications are in each blush, tube of lipstick, etc.: http://www.brightestbulbinthebox.com/2013/07/how-many-applications-are-in-pan-of.html For blush it's like 300-500 applications! I'm going to start reapplying throughout the day to make things go faster.. lol. Definitely keeps me in check as far as not wanting to hoard too much though. I might still downsize a bit. I can't justify using anything but my favorites when things take that long to use up.

If I'm really working on a gloss or a lipstick, I'll reapply several times a day, but it does get boring to wear the same colors all the time... Maybe I should start packing my face powders for work so I can reapply those, too.

Quote: Originally Posted by charlotte366

Now looking at my empty bag for January!

I made a real effort to use some bits up and had a productive month, I somehow don't think they will all be like this!

Eucerin in 10% urea body lotion, I get through 1 a month keeping my eczema under control!

REN Moroccan rose Otto body wash 100ml

Elemental her biology cell plumping moisturiser 15ml

Emma hardie face balm 100ml a absolute staple!

50ml bottle of polish remover

Mac lip conditioner tube 15ml

Decleor hydra floral eye gel cream 15ml

Make up wise I have been both finishing up and taking out what might be past it's best,

I am b2m 3 super slick liquid liners from mac which have been well loved but I now think they may be past there best!

Finished a
Lancôme hypnose mascara sample
Clinique bottom lash mascara
Mac mini pigment in museum bronze
Mac lipstick in creme cup
Cargo mini cheek activator blush
Too faced sample size shadow insurance
Benefit that gal sample size
Lancôme art liner
Loreal super liner
Guerlain rouge g in Beatrix - that's my last one, I love it but not replacing as working on slimming down the number of lip products I own
Clinique high length mascara sample

On the whole happy to have finished so much particularly make up. I am currently concentrating on finishing up my double wear foundation which has about 1 week left, my mini strobe cream and mini fix plus. I am also working on my charcoal brown shadow which is showing lot if pan, may try to use it for eye looks as well as my eyebrows!

Wow, sounds like a really productive month!! Good luck in February!

 

[veronikawithak]

Quote: Originally Posted by matchachoco
If I'm really working on a gloss or a lipstick, I'll reapply several times a day, but it does get boring to wear the same colors all the time... Maybe I should start packing my face powders for work so I can reapply those, too.


My new plan for Feb is to use every item of color products in each category, including lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, and liner. That will probably take me about two weeks. Then I'll go back to my project pan items for the last two weeks. If I find anything I really don't like, I'll give it a second or third chance with different looks but if it still doesn't work I'll get rid of it.