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

[Glitteryvegas]

I ended up with 3 Venus lipsticks. And I probably wouldn't have done that now, but I AM on my 2nd tube already and happy that I had a BU. Lustres go quickly. You'll get a little more wear out of Mystical with it being a Cremesheen.

Thanks lady! Always a voice of reason in this chaotic world of makeup!!!! xo

 

[mel33t]

I've never set myself a no-buy. Simply because it's always been a case of if I don't have the money, I don't try to find a way to get it. I don't sell things to make up the money, etc. If I know I'll want something, I save for it. I have found the biggest way for me to not purchase things though is to avoid Specktra, which sounds bad as a mod - but the enabling on here and the hype of so many things makes me remember things and then I start browsing websites which is when I end up purchasing. I completely missed the release of the Osbourne collection. By the time I remembered, everything was sold out. I felt a little left out, but not enough to look on other websites to see if they had anything in stock. The other big thing - unsubscribe from newsletters. % off and "big summer savings" etc will reel you in to buy because you'll think to yourself "oh I'm saving money because it's % off." when in reality, you're still spending it and likely will buy double the amount just because of said % off. I hope that makes sense.

That's the best advice I could offer anyone!! Thank you!! If I don't have the cash for it - I won't ever buy it. Even when I wasn't on my no buy. I never used my credit card for beauty products. I don't want to be paying a loan on a lipstick...

Specktra actually is helping me because of this forum. Anytime I feel the urge I come on here and see how amazing all you ladies are doing and it gives me strength to say, "No, you really don't need Deep Fixation - you probably have a color just like it". I did unsubscribe from a number of promotional emails which is a big help as well.

I think my biggest challenge will be, after a really aggrivating day at work being able to go into Sephora and buying a few things that are new and in pristine conditions waiting for me to use them. I will have to learn to move my frustrations into something else, something proactive that doesn't involve me buying anything.



Thank you guys for your kind words - feeling the love here

I'll keep you updated on how this goes!

 

[shellygrrl]

I'll confess/join in. I've been on a supposed no-buy since January of this year. I actually managed a good three months until I fell off the wagon for the Sephora VIB sale. I had always known that I would be allowed to break a no-buy when I went on vacation (it's cruel to tease someone with a full Tom Ford beauty counter and expect them not to buy!) but the VIB sale turned into several MAC hauls, an embarrasing amount in Boston, an UO Beauty haul right before leaving, and has continued for the last 2 months.  I'm absolutely ashamed and overwhelmed. I buy all this stuff and then it takes me a good month to actually use it the first time because I have so much other stuff. I managed to keep my actual makeup purchases at Shoppers today (20x the points, what I can say) down to under $30 not including like, skincare and shampoo/conditioner, so I'm telling myself no more.

:welcome: Don't feel ashamed. What's done is done. You can use this to assess what you've accumulated and begin to use it! :nods:

I'm thinking of going on a no buy for the rest of the summer - most likely until September. I've never successfully completed one before and I'm doing so-so on my low buy currently. But I'd like to challenge myself to see if I can do it. Have any of you successfully completed a no-buy? What was the hardest thing? What's your best tip? Thanks in advance for your advice 

I think the ability to complete a no-buy depends on one's resolve and determination, first, and I think some people may need more help in that regard than others. So if you're someone who needs to avoid collection or brand threads for a while, do that. If you have to unsubscribe from store and brand emails, do that. That said, as Pixie noted, given you're doing alright on your low-buy at the moment, completing a summer no-buy may be easier for you. Just don't throw any low-buy principles out the window afterwards. I have done short spurts of no-buys here and there, particularly when saving up for something or if I want to or have to focus on other things for the month (clothes, skincare, eye or dentist appointments). In my case, if I have the determination to do something, I will do it. I also have a decent grasp of my buying habits (moreso these days, I think!), which helps.

 

[Maris Crane]

Ladies! I'm so sorry; I'd Multi-Quote you all but I'm useless at it. Thank you so much for your encouragement.

Maybe it would help to go on a low buy instead of a no buy. I've heard a lot of people say that, when they end the no-buy, they go crazy and buy a LOT which sometimes ends up canceling out the no buy in the first place. With a low buy, you're still getting a few things but not spending as much.

Thank you You know, I feel like a Low Buy might actually even be a bit more difficult. It was allowing myself a *small* VIB Haul that got me into this mess. Even on my No Buy, I was still allowing myself to Spend My Points at Murale & Shoppers for makeup, so it made it a bit eassier to have a reward at the end of all of my Points hoarding, lol.

 

[Maris Crane]

30 Day Lip Challenge Day 1: MAC Big Bow Glaze Lipstick

May I ask what you paired with Big Bow? I'm at a loss - I have this in my Lipstick Box for the month and haven't used it yet.

 

[shellygrrl]

FOTD... * Becca RSSF - Shell * MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer - NW15 * MAC Paint Pot - Painterly (under the eyes before applying foundation) * NARS ProPrime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base * UD Naked Palette - mix of Half Baked and Smog all over the lid and blended upwards (Half Baked is a colour in that palette I never use! Mixing it with Smog gave me something that maybe, possibly, resembles MAC Woodwinked (I don't have it to compare, sooo...)) * Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Mascara - Black (I am really loving this mascara; will definitely repurchase later on) * Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - Translucent * NARS Blush - Sex Fantasy * NYX MegaShine Lipgloss - Beige I realise that I don't always note what I do for brows! For this look I did nothing, because i didn't have time. For my previous look I just used a bit of Maybelline Great Lash in Clear to set them. Most times I use MAC Mystery. Sometimes I'll use MAC Smut.

 

[kait0]

Thank you

You know, I feel like a Low Buy might actually even be a bit more difficult. It was allowing myself a *small* VIB Haul that got me into this mess. Even on my No Buy, I was still allowing myself to Spend My Points at Murale & Shoppers for makeup, so it made it a bit eassier to have a reward at the end of all of my Points hoarding, lol.

God how amazing is murale/shopper's point system? Makes sephora's reward program look very very lame haha.

I'm eyeing MUG's new blushes and one of the new eyeshadow shades. But I just bought two new blushes from the osbourne collection, so I need to just enjoy my new items and next month I can place a reasonable order on makeupgeek.

 

[Jaymuhlee]

Just caught up and you all are so great, truly! So encouraging and just as sweet and kind as can be.

 

[katred]

May I ask what you paired with Big Bow? I'm at a loss - I have this in my Lipstick Box for the month and haven't used it yet.

This is another tricky one for me, so I'd love to hear some suggestions as well. I find it either looks too bright or kind of faded, never just right.

God how amazing is murale/shopper's point system? Makes sephora's reward program look very very lame haha. I'm eyeing MUG's new blushes and one of the new eyeshadow shades. But I just bought two new blushes from the osbourne collection, so I need to just enjoy my new items and next month I can place a reasonable order on makeupgeek.

I plan purchases around Optimum bonus weekends. It's a truly amazing program and it really does make me a loyal customer.

 

[PixieDancer]

"30 Lipsticks In 30 Days" Challenge - Cycle 2 "30 Eyeshadows In 30 Days Challenge" Day 1: MAC Sheen Supreme in Bare Again w/ NYX Mauve Lip Pencil Jete Eyeshadow Day 2: MAC Sushi Kiss w/ MAC Lasting Sensation Lip Pencil & Fold And Tuck Lipglass Loreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush Day 3: MAC Huggable Lipcolour in Fresh & Frisky (THANKS @Debbs! I LOVE IT!!) w/ MAC Have to Have It Lip Pencil Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream #15 as a base w/ Sable Day 4: MAC Viva Glam II Lipstick w/ MAC Underage Lipglass Urban Decay Eyeshadows in Vigin, Naked, and Sin Day 5: Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm in Vivacious Loreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Tender Caramel Day 6: MAC Sail La Vie w/ MAC Lasting Sensation Lip Pencil MAC Eyeshadows: Shroom, Texture, & Beautyburst Day 7: MAC Hibiscus w/ MAC Lasting Sensation Anastasia Lavish Palette: Cream, Ballet, Orange Soda, Sienna Day 8: MAC Mineralize Lipstick Bold Spring w/ MAC Just Wonderful Lip Pencil No Eyeshadow today - just a wash of Orb from lid to browbone & LOTS of mascara Day 9: MAC Daddy's Little Girl w/ MAC Just Wonderful Lip Pencil Too Faced Heaven & Push-up (shades from Natural Eyes Palette) Day 10: MAC Kinda Sexy (B2M'd for this yesterday!) w/ MAC Dervish Lip Pencil MAC Eyeshadows: Next To Nothing, Dark Edge, & Tempting (from MAC's Tempting Quad) Day 11: Bite Beauty Musk Lipstick No Eyeshadow today Day 12: NARS Satin Lip Pencil Villa Lante No Eyeshadow Day 13: MAC Sheer Seduction w/ Make Up For Ever Lab Shine Lip Gloss S2 (pearly light beige) No Eyeshadow... AGAIN! I know... UGH Day 14: PURPLE DAY for Lupus Awareness! MAC Heroine w/ Heroine Lip Pencil MAC Eyeshadows: All That Glitters, Trax, Soft Brown, Woodwinked, Blanc Type Day 15: OCC Lip Tar Hush w/ MAC Have to Have It Lip Pencil MAC Eyeshadows: Antiqued, Swiss Chocolate, Brun Day 16: Urban Decay Native Lipstick w/ Have to Have It Lip Pencil MAC Eyeshadows: Vellum, Naval Inglot Eyeshadow: 344 (MAC Malt dupe) Day 17: MAC Bad Girl RiRi w/ MAC Spice Lip Pencil Inglot Eyeshadows: 390, 363, 352, and 11 Day 18: MAC Divine Choice Mineralize Lipstick w/ MAC Soar Lip Pencil Lorac PRO Palette Day 19: MAC Lady Danger w/ MAC Cherry Lip Pencil Anastasia Lavish Palette Day 20: MAC Embrace Me with Embrace Me Lip Pencil Some repeated shadows cause I needed some neutrals for the bright lips... UD Shadows: Sin, Virgin, Naked, but added new shadow UD Secret Service Day 21: Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien (got in the 500 Point Nars perk from Sephora) Day 22: MAC Moxie w/ MAC Embrace Me Lip Pencil (then reapplied with Cherry Lip Pencil in the evening) Day 23: MAC Tendertone in Hush Day 24: MAC Ravishing w/ Lasting Sensation Lip Pencil Lorac PRO Palette: Lt. Bronze (lid), Nude (inner corner), Taupe (crease), Sable (outer v), Gold (lower lashline) Day 25: MAC Lavender Whip Day 26: Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Descanso MAC Electric Cool Eyeshadow in Pure Flash (lid), Lorac PRO Palette Mauve (crease) Day 27: MAC Viva Glam Nicki 1 w/ MAC Have to Have It Lip Pencil and Fold & Tuck Lipglass MAC Fresco Rose PP, UD Naked, Sin, Virgin, & Sidecar Day 28: Sephora Rouge Lipstick in Samba w/ MAC Lasting Sensation Lip Pencil and MAC Strange Potion Lipglass Lorac PRO Palette: Lt. Pink (lid), Taupe & Mauve (crease), Cream (browbone), Lt. Bronze (lower lashline) Day 29: MAC Cranberry Lip Pencil, MAC Mystical Lipstick w/ MAC Pet Me, Please layered on top MAC Lorelei (lid), UD Naked (crease), MAC Saffron (deeped crease & outer v), UD Sidecar (lower lashline)

 

[kait0]

I plan purchases around Optimum bonus weekends. It's a truly amazing program and it really does make me a loyal customer.

Yes me too. Just redeemed last week for bobbi brown CC cream, new estee lauder lipstick and stocked up on bioderma!

 

[Maris Crane]

God how amazing is murale/shopper's point system? Makes sephora's reward program look very very lame haha.

I'm eyeing MUG's new blushes and one of the new eyeshadow shades. But I just bought two new blushes from the osbourne collection, so I need to just enjoy my new items and next month I can place a reasonable order on makeupgeek.

No kidding, haha

The only thing that could improve Murale for me would be more access online to some of the brands - it's a shame they don't sell YSL or Bobbi Brown online. I'm using my Kelly O Brow Duo (but as actual eyeshadow!) tomorrow. Enjoy the blushes!

 

[singer82]

Lol yeah I will get a real vanity someday haha. Think I'm going to pass on Deep Fixation. The Pedro quad is more than enough right now. Plus I want both quads from Simpsons (I know it's bad) That's all I'll get from that though. Unless the quality is horrid.

I think it was just the way you explained the photo... like then there's THIS... That "all over the place" counter looks all too familiar to me and made me laugh. We all know the feeling of things coming in quicker than we can organize or find places to store it all! I literally had boxes everywhere. Several train cases. Even a tackle box which I used for makeup storage! It felt overwhelming and I'm glad that's behind me. Low-buying has given me the time to redirect my attention away from every new collection and more towards organizing and using the stuff I already have. As for DF... I have it and like it a lot. If I didn't have it, and I was only allowing myself 1 shadow from MB's, it would be the one I would get. However, if I never had it, I wouldn't be at a loss of neutrals to use in its place. If that makes any sense. If you feel you are already overwhelmed by the stuff you have, I think you're fine to skip it. If you "need" it later I'm sure it will be easy to find at a decent price, seeing as this is a repromotion of the color. And we will probably even see it again especially if it sells well with MB's. And seeing as it's a staple color, I'm sure it will sell well. Hope that didn't just confuse you more. VENUS!! Oh how I love it... On my 2nd BU with only 1 more left. It's just the perfect face brightening pink!

Ohhhh the amazing Venus! Wish I had more then 1 bu. It's my go to lippy. No matter what condition my lips are in I can just slap it on and go. And it goes with every makeup look!

 

[Glitteryvegas]

@PixieDancer - Took your advice and purchased a BU of Mystical. Loving it. Digging it!

On a no buy for July until IMATS which I'm undecided on if I should go....Do I really need anything? Just had a big AA haul and purchased 2 items from Specktraites, plus did a tradesy. So no, probably not. Might go just for a lookey loo with Mumsy and only bring a set amount of cash. I think the key with tradeshows is to examine first, purchase after. Last year I bought bought bought and then saw things that I would've rather had. Gotta make smarter purchases this year!

 

[DarylandCarole]

  God how amazing is murale/shopper's point system? Makes sephora's reward program look very very lame haha. I'm eyeing MUG's new blushes and one of the new eyeshadow shades. But I just bought two new blushes from the osbourne collection, so I need to just enjoy my new items and next month I can place a reasonable order on makeupgeek.

No kidding, haha :eyelove:  The only thing that could improve Murale for me would be more access online to some of the brands - it's a shame they don't sell YSL or Bobbi Brown online. I'm using my Kelly O Brow Duo (but as actual eyeshadow!) tomorrow. Enjoy the blushes! 

Your screen name made me laugh. I love Frasier re-runs.

 

[DarylandCarole]

I applaud everyone who is successful on a no-buy. That just doesn't work for me. I'd rather do a low-buy and I'm really successful with it. The last time I bought something 'unnescessary' was during the Alluring Aquatic launch at the beginning of May. Now I just couldn't take it anymore and ordered the new Benefit eyeliner (gonna give it a try; maybe I can pull it off) and Rebel, which I've wanted for a long, long time.

I just read an article about the Benefit eye liner. I, curious to know if you like it. And Rebel is a HG lippie for me. Well worth the money.

 

[charlotte366]

Fell off the wagon on Friday, so I need to be relegated to the Chair! I don't know why but I ordered 4 things, none of which I needed and it went against my low buy goals right before I re-do my inventory at the end of the month! I picked up the Laura Mercier Portfolio Case for an organised make up travelling solution, I also picked up a Laura Mercier Gel Lip Colour in Heartbreaker and my first Tom Ford Lipstick in Indian Rose. I also grabbed a Hourglass Blush in Mood Exposure. There is no real excuse for my spending spree, the Tom Ford Lipstick has been on my list for ages, now I have it I am glad I bought it, I like the formula and the colour and I know I will use this one right up, however I wouldn't purchase other shades and I am not sure I would repurchase Indian Rose either. Mood Exposure is love and I knew it would be, I have 4 other colours of the hourglass blush and they are my most reached for formula this year. Now i need to try to move on from my lapse and re-focus back on the low buy. I am tempted to make July a No-Buy month, just to test myself and see if it is possible!

 

[awickedshape]

Your screen name made me laugh. I love Frasier re-runs.

David Hyde Pierce was hilarious! I liked John Mahoney, too. He had such a twinkle in his eyes

 

[SleepingBeauty]

I just read an article about the Benefit eye liner. I, curious to know if you like it. And Rebel is a HG lippie for me. Well worth the money.

I'll make sure to let you know about the eyeliner as soon as I'll have used it a couple of times! That's making me even more excited for Rebel! Can't wait to try it.

 

[mel33t]

Alright guys, so I decided to do a no buy from today, July 16th until August 31st. I cannot buy any makeup (except for a mascara because surprisingly I only have one), or extra skincare. To keep myself on track, I'll be on here , and staying away from beauty emails. I unsubscribed to all of them last night. I'm also going to limit my YouTube watching and not watch hauls. Those are a big enabler for me. At the end, I'm going to allow myself to spend $200 at Sephora/MAC/wherever. I think I can do this!! If anyone wants to join me you're more than welcome to