Resolution "LOW-BUY" 2014! Who wants to play?

[Naynadine]

I received my Clinique blush today. It's loose in the pan and is spinning around when I try to apply it, so I contacted CS, waiting to hear back. I think all I can do is send it back. Not a big deal, but it takes a little of the fun and ''reward'' feeling away, since I'm on the low-buy and wanted this to be my only makeup purchase this month and was looking forward to it for a while.


OK, I have a little question... I had splurged on a Jil Sander clutch. It was listed as a handbag on the site I had bought it from, but now I see it on the JS site listed as a makeup bag. I don't know much about fashion, so I was wondering if I looked stupid if I would walk around using it as a clutch??

Kosmetiktäschchen Für Sie - Accessoires Für Sie auf Jil Sander Online Store

I mean, there's a model holding it like a clutch, but then maybe it's just to show the size of it. I could still return it (I paid way less than the price on the JS site, I could NOT afford that! But still it was a lot of $$$ for me.) I don't own any designer bags and can't afford a big leather one, so since I've been liking this zip top clutch style for a while I thought I'd invest in this one hoping I could use it for a long time. But if it really is a makeup bag I guess I would feel weird carrying around all the time. I am really liking it though and it was a good deal (compared to the original price).
Someone help a fashion noob out, lol.

 

[Rainbunny]

I received my Clinique blush today. It's loose in the pan and is spinning around when I try to apply it, so I contacted CS, waiting to hear back. I think all I can do is send it back. Not a big deal, but it takes a little of the fun and ''reward'' feeling away, since I'm on the low-buy and wanted this to be my only makeup purchase this month and was looking forward to it for a while. OK, I have a little question... I had splurged on a Jil Sander clutch. It was listed as a handbag on the site I had bought it from, but now I see it on the JS site listed as a makeup bag. I don't know much about fashion, so I was wondering if I looked stupid if I would walk around using it as a clutch?? Kosmetiktäschchen Für Sie - Accessoires Für Sie auf Jil Sander Online Store I mean, there's a model holding it like a clutch, but then maybe it's just to show the size of it. I could still return it (I paid way less than the price on the JS site, I could NOT afford that! But still it was a lot of $$$ for me.) I don't own any designer bags and can't afford a big leather one, so since I've been liking this zip top clutch style for a while I thought I'd invest in this one hoping I could use it for a long time. But if it really is a makeup bag I guess I would feel weird carrying around all the time. I am really liking it though and it was a good deal (compared to the original price). Someone help a fashion noob out, lol.

It looks pretty big on the model, so I don't think anyone would know it is a makeup bag. It seems to be regular clutch size, and has that trademark Jil Sander minimalist look. You should be fine!

 

[shellygrrl]

Yeah, that's clutch size. :nods:

 

[lipstickaddict]

Hello all!

'Finally had a chance to peek in on this thread and although there's probably no chance I'll catch up from beginning to end, I'll have to say it feels really lively in here! Extra stimulating discussions about many different things.

As to whether I'm ready for low-buying or not, well….on one hand, I've always been good about deciding on a brand or two and sticking with it, rather than flitting between many brands all the time. On the other hand, where I used to hold back based on some tight ideas about what worked and what didn't work for me, I'm more open to trying a lot of different colors and looks and that opens me up for more stuff (hello, vampy lips - I used to avoid those like the plague and now I've figured out ways to make them work for me, so voila - suddenly more vampy lipsticks in the 'ole stash). I try to be a voice of reason when it comes to things that just don't work for me, but then again, I get really enthusiastic about what I love.

I am definitely at the point where I've got older products (mostly powders and lipsticks, I'd say) that just aren't as good as the newest ones down the pike. I could keep them for a rainy day, but why bother? So here I am, to get inspired and to do a little inspiring too, in full anti-enabling mode!

 

[lipstickaddict]

I am lurking and I want to use what I have already. I am normally picky, but now I want to save money for future plans. Hello all.

 

[Ajigglin]

Not sure if this is on topic but I think it is kind of related. I have an issue with using some beautiful things I own (not make up). I try and talk myself into using/wearing them more but I am so worried they will get damaged they just sit in my cupboard collecting dust, which is silly, I know. Anyone else overcome this problem? Where is a good place to start? Thanks for your help.

I hear ya. Try not to thing of those items as collectibles. Think of it as food-it'll go bad at some point, so better use it before it does.

 

[Ajigglin]

I am lurking and I want to use what I have already. I am normally picky, but now I want to save money for future plans. Hello all.

Hey boo hey!

 

[MissTania]

Haha! I bought two, and then tried it on at home, fell head over heels and literally was a blue streak into my car and back to Mac for more! It didn't help that my hubby was like--do it! It is the only time I went that crazy with backups, but I still love it just as much as I did when I first bought it, so all is good!

We must be drawn to the same lipstick shades, because I LOVE L'Eclatante

It is probably my favorite bright pink lipstick ( Force of Love is far more coral on me too). It is such a wearable bright pink, I even wear it to work! With my low buy goals, I'm really trying not to back up any more lipsticks if possible, but I try to be pretty discerning when it comes to what I do back up, which is very important. If it is absolutely THE ONE, as liba would say, I find that I don't tire of wearing it (I may take a break and try something new, but I will always come back to it again). Glad that you have re-discovered FOL!

FOL is one of the few back ups that was a good idea lol

I am trying to avoid back ups too (unless I will definitely use them), but am worried about Playland. Toying Around lipstick is described as a hot coral pink, am curious to see how it compares to FOL and L'ecletante. I'm pretty sure once it goes up online, if I am up at the time when everything is still available, some serious damage will be done!
Keep enjoying your FOL, it's truly unique!

 

[janette9687]

So because i am getting a few items in some swaps i decided to purge some more, since im getting the two temp rising quads i cut my mufe 10 pan e/s palette to a 6 pan instead, not the same but these e/s are a lot bigger. I also took out 2 nars blushes and a lippie since im getting caliente soon! i really feel better about my stash, not that it looks any smaller but I know it is ! lol trying to slim down brushes tho is hard, i have a lot that i love.

 

[PixieDancer]

I started organizing my collection last night... I started w lipsticks. I have over 30 lipsticks I've never even tried! What was I thinking?? Every one was from a collection I bought a lot from. So there were multiple lipsticks purchased from each collection. Some got used immediately and others just never made it past the "oooooo" "aaaahhhhh" stage! I'm so glad I have decided to really analyze each collection haul! Less products purchased not only means LESS going into my stash, but definitely ensures I'll actually USE the new stuff coming in right away. Since the new stuff isn't competing w a box full of other new stuff! I also have about 5 lipsticks that are super old and although they don't smell old, they def don't have that new vanilla scent. Going to focus on using these this week to see if I even like them... If not, they'll be in the B2M box by the end of next week. I did lose a Brave lipstick in my organization project. Poor guy smells like clay. Although Brave has always been a staple, he's been really neglected for other everyday colors. I won't repurchase him right away. Sad to see him go though. Moving on to glosses today... I've still got a long way to go... Glad to see everyone working so hard! I read EVERY post... But sometimes you guys move along so fast, I can't always comment when I want to. But I'm just happy to see all the bonding and growing we are doing as a group AND individually!!

 

[kerry-jane88]

I hear ya. Try not to thing of those items as collectibles. Think of it as food-it'll go bad at some point, so better use it before it does.

Makeup is face food lol!

 

[MissTania]

Glad to see everyone working so hard! I read EVERY post... But sometimes you guys move along so fast, I can't always comment when I want to. But I'm just happy to see all the bonding and growing we are doing as a group AND individually!!

Nice work! I was actually getting to know my lipstick stash tonight too. Someone mentioned a YSL Rouge Volupte shade in another thread and I thought to myself "I have that colour, but haven't even glanced at it forever"...so I then swatched a few lipsticks from YSL, MAC and Chanel on my hand and it was like going shopping but I already had them.

So I am going to wear neglected shades and the ones that work will stay. It's amazing at how many very pretty shades are lying around.

The more you swatch and shop your stash, the more you realize how long it will take to actually make a dent in it.

Next up will be eyeshadows. Unfortunately, years ago my eyes became increasingly sensitive and I had to stop wearing eye makeup altogether for months. I have not been able to wear any brand of mascara and don't wear eyeshadows most days, however I have a few which I know are safe and I can use Almay liquid liners thankfully.

However, many more need to be tested out and given away to a good friend if they are unsafe for me. It's awful to have to part with so many Dior 5 colours and Chanel quads which I adore and allowed me to create so many different looks, but at least I will know which I can handle and use them regularly.

I can definitely say I have overcompensated with lipsticks since my eye issues, as they became the stand out of my make up looks.

So if you haven't already, I advise y'all to go through your stashes and spend some serious time doing so, particularly to gals like me with way over 100 lipsticks.
PixieDancer, you have helped alot of people come to terms with reality and wake up in this thread, including me. Thank you

It's so destructive to put ourselves in debt and lose out on better ways to spend our money on actual experiences such as travel.

Smarter buying is the key- today I bought my first BB cream ever (from Bobbi Brown) and I love it so far, no regrets, as I know things I can use daily are ok!

Keep it up everyone

 

[janette9687]

Nice work! I was actually getting to know my lipstick stash tonight too. Someone mentioned a YSL Rouge Volupte shade in another thread and I thought to myself "I have that colour, but haven't even glanced at it forever"...so I then swatched a few lipsticks from YSL, MAC and Chanel on my hand and it was like going shopping but I already had them.

So I am going to wear neglected shades and the ones that work will stay. It's amazing at how many very pretty shades are lying around.

The more you swatch and shop your stash, the more you realize how long it will take to actually make a dent in it.

Next up will be eyeshadows. Unfortunately, years ago my eyes became increasingly sensitive and I had to stop wearing eye makeup altogether for months. I have not been able to wear any brand of mascara and don't wear eyeshadows most days, however I have a few which I know are safe and I can use Almay liquid liners thankfully.

However, many more need to be tested out and given away to a good friend if they are unsafe for me. It's awful to have to part with so many Dior 5 colours and Chanel quads which I adore and allowed me to create so many different looks, but at least I will know which I can handle and use them regularly.

I can definitely say I have overcompensated with lipsticks since my eye issues, as they became the stand out of my make up looks.

So if you haven't already, I advise y'all to go through your stashes and spend some serious time doing so, particularly to gals like me with way over 100 lipsticks.
PixieDancer, you have helped alot of people come to terms with reality and wake up in this thread, including me. Thank you

It's so destructive to put ourselves in debt and lose out on better ways to spend our money on actual experiences such as travel.

Smarter buying is the key- today I bought my first BB cream ever (from Bobbi Brown) and I love it so far, no regrets, as I know things I can use daily are ok!

Keep it up everyone

this is exactly how i felt, I had so many mac lippies that i tried to tell myself that if i had it in YSL it was a "better formula" but didnt touch either of them! I was super nice to my sister and dumped lots of YSL, Givanchy and MAC lippies, since destashing started im down to 63, i think a good 12-20 went on my sale/swap thread or gave away. It really makes you think, i do not need 7 versions of red. Absoulte power, charmed im sure and melt belladonna 2 all swatched the same on my lips so i just kept CIS. It took a lot to get rid of AP since I bought above retail price.

Oh well better to it find a happy home and i feel so much better with a smaller stash, I got rid of a whole blush palette, mac eyeshadows palette worth, all kinds of msf blushes and lots of singles... now if only i can get rid of the box that hold all this... and i tell you i dont miss them one bit since i started this!

I love that BB cream its so expensive but so easy and great formula i love the spf in it. I bought it once and used it up, now i have 5 foundations in rotation!

 

[veronikawithak]

Glad to see everyone working so hard! I read EVERY post... But sometimes you guys move along so fast, I can't always comment when I want to. But I'm just happy to see all the bonding and growing we are doing as a group AND individually!!

Go Pixie Go!!

Glad to see you're finally getting time to go through and organize! I bought a small glass snack serving dish with two compartments to put on my desk. One side I'm using for mini nail polishes, and the other has a blush and powder as well as my 5 oldest lippies.. keeps them right in my line of sight so I can work on using them up.

 

[Faith05Hope07]

So I've been doing really well on my low buy. I only want to purchase items I know I need and will work for me. I don't get sucked in by hyped up items anymore unless I go in person and try them out on myself.kudos to me! Lol So now a question... There are lots if things I want that's coming out in spring collections.(even polish) especially some Mac collections in April. Even if I save, would spending $500 on makeup in April make me crazy?

 

[SleepingBeauty]

Ugh - I just saw that my Syrup has snow on it even though it's just 1 1/2 years old! Thank God there's not much left of it, so I can put it in my drawer for B2M without feeling guilty.

I'm a lot on my computer right now as I've got two exams coming up that I need to study for, so I rarely leave the house - this is always bad for my money because that's how I order most of my stuff. However, I'll start stalking a German onlineshop in the evening and tomorrow morning because Viva Glam Rihanna is coming out on the 13th and since I can't leave the house to buy it at the counter, I'll probably order it. I just don't know if I want the lipstick and the lipglass or just the lipglass.

 

[Knope2012]

Ugh - I just saw that my Syrup has snow on it even though it's just 1 1/2 years old! Thank God there's not much left of it, so I can put it in my drawer for B2M without feeling guilty.

I'm a lot on my computer right now as I've got two exams coming up that I need to study for, so I rarely leave the house - this is always bad for my money because that's how I order most of my stuff. However, I'll start stalking a German onlineshop in the evening and tomorrow morning because Viva Glam Rihanna is coming out on the 13th and since I can't leave the house to buy it at the counter, I'll probably order it. I just don't know if I want the lipstick and the lipglass or just the lipglass.

I feel your pain, I have an exam this week and next week. Being home a lot is bad for me too, as I spend a lot of time online

 

[Beautybuyer]

So I've been doing really well on my low buy. I only want to purchase items I know I need and will work for me. I don't get sucked in by hyped up items anymore unless I go in person and try them out on myself.kudos to me! Lol So now a question... There are lots if things I want that's coming out in spring collections.(even polish) especially some Mac collections in April. Even if I save, would spending $500 on makeup in April make me crazy?

It wouldn't make you crazy but would you really use all those things? There's LOTS of good collections coming out this year. Maybe you should try everything in person first. Don't worry I still want to buy up whole collections because I feel I really want it but I try to buy just my top favorites! I will admit I've been doing good on my smart buy but now I just want to buy other stuff :| (looking at you VS pink clothes collection) I need help lol

 

[princessjest]

Thanks for the kind words! Can you get to a store to test the Hourglass powders before you place your order with your American friend? I don't think you would ever see me buy face products without seeing them in person first. Hourglass is quite expensive, too. I tried a couple of lip products from them years ago and felt like they were overpriced for what they were. I know everyone has spoken so highly of the HD powders and blushes, though, so I can understand your interest - try before buy, though - they're expensive even at US prices.

Nope, they aren't sold here so it's buy blind or not at all, its a purchase I have been planning for some months so fingers crossed I can buy wisely!

 

[macnc50diva]

Omg thanks so much pixie dancer for starting this low buy thing! It had gotten to the point where I would not buy certain thing for saving up for Mac collections and that was horrible. (Long rant coming lol) I realized how bad things had gotten when I let my phone bill go past due over a collection. Sad. So I decided one day when I was minimizing my kit that if I couldn't use it or felt bad about using it, and it wasn't a complete collectible that I cared about, I didn't need it. So first I sold all my extra/unloved eyeshadows, then my skinfinishe collection that I wasn't using at all, then extra brushes I didn't use, and now im scaling down on pencils and lipsticks. I realized I had 96 plus 59 lipsticks that I had not once even tried on! So I decided like many others to shop my stash, and created a palette with half the tubes, and I'm selling the other ones in palette form too so I can back to Mac if I get the urge to splurge rather than spending my cash. I also sold the colors I know I'm not going to use EVER. I mean seriously how much hot pink and red lipstick does a person need in one kit? So...now I've come back after traveling for work for some months and that clearance bin is sooo tempting for me since I was missing collections. It was a good thing though because I was out of control. I was buying in triples everything from each collection. And I get no pro discount because I refuse to pay Mac for a discount, so it was crazy. Anyway, thanks. I hope the team welcomes me, and I look forward to not buying much lol