Resolution "LOW-BUY" 2014! Who wants to play?
- Thread starter PixieDancer
- Start date
veronikawithak
Well-known member
[@]mel33t[/@] I had the same problem when I first got mine.. but now I can easily get the insert out. I press down on one corner of the insert with my thumb while kind of prying the outer corner away on the opposite corner. Kind of like an ice cube tray twisting motion. Hard to explain.. but try YouTube I think I've seen some videos on how to do it! The whole insert will pop out and then you can poke out the shadows you want through the back. Hope that helps!
kerry-jane88
Well-known member
Been thinking about how many subliminal messages i take in each day about consumption, ownership, supposed empowerment - it's all BUY NOW REGRET LATER!
I'm not where I want to be on my low buy, but seeings how the first half of the year hasnt been much of a success i know that i have to make some more changes.
I'm still being influenced too much by bloggers, instagram, HERE!, youtube, magazines,
but the biggest influencer is the shops and companies direct
it's the discounts, promos, emails, exclusive offers, bonus events etc that push me to make purchases at random times
i cant partake in every offer and use every discount and i cant OWN ALL THE THINGS!
i need to let some things pass.
i also need to stop buying things on my mobile, as it normalises purchases and makes it as simple as firing off a text without any thought, it's a few clicks and caching - money gone!
which is why i'm trying to 'clean up' my bank statement and start paying for things with cash when im out and about, as we all know that faced with parting with tangible cash is so much harder than over zealously adding items to our online shopping baskets.
so back to me and getting my things to work for me,
i need to realise that i dont owe these brands anything, i have no need to be loyal and feel like i have to get the next and newest and shinest big thing.
i think the launch of benefits push up liner has really pushed me over the edge tbh, as it's been publisiced to death and from what i can gather its a tricky item that most are struggling with, but as no one wants to be honest and say 'it's crap' most reviews are trying to jusitify the struggle to use it? holla if you feel me on this and what im getting at!?
I'm not where I want to be on my low buy, but seeings how the first half of the year hasnt been much of a success i know that i have to make some more changes.
I'm still being influenced too much by bloggers, instagram, HERE!, youtube, magazines,
but the biggest influencer is the shops and companies direct
it's the discounts, promos, emails, exclusive offers, bonus events etc that push me to make purchases at random times
i cant partake in every offer and use every discount and i cant OWN ALL THE THINGS!
i need to let some things pass.
i also need to stop buying things on my mobile, as it normalises purchases and makes it as simple as firing off a text without any thought, it's a few clicks and caching - money gone!
which is why i'm trying to 'clean up' my bank statement and start paying for things with cash when im out and about, as we all know that faced with parting with tangible cash is so much harder than over zealously adding items to our online shopping baskets.
so back to me and getting my things to work for me,
i need to realise that i dont owe these brands anything, i have no need to be loyal and feel like i have to get the next and newest and shinest big thing.
i think the launch of benefits push up liner has really pushed me over the edge tbh, as it's been publisiced to death and from what i can gather its a tricky item that most are struggling with, but as no one wants to be honest and say 'it's crap' most reviews are trying to jusitify the struggle to use it? holla if you feel me on this and what im getting at!?
veronikawithak
Well-known member
[@]kerry-jane88[/@] HOLLA!!! X 1000 I can identify with everything you wrote above.. It's hard to overcome these messages but I always like to keep in mind that every product placement or promotion is there for one reason and one reason only: to make me buy something I likely don't need. Remembering that keeps me on my toes! People study for years to get university degrees in marketing so no wonder they're so good at what they do. It's almost impossible to resist forever when it's around you constantly so the best thing to do is tune it out! Unsubscribe so you're no longer their willing audience.
Glitteryvegas
Well-known member
I haven't looked into this liner that much because I'm more of a MAC/UD girl myself, but I'm a big believer in things being easy to use. If I have to fool around with it and do extra steps to make it work, I'm not in. A product should do what it is advertised to do, and if it can't, then I can find the exact same thing somewhere else. Too many steps = waste of time. We ALL have those products that are such high maintenance that we'd rather just let them go than work harder to use them. I suspect this might be one of those products, so it's best just to avoid it. I wonder if some bloggers want to justify it because they want to stay on a brands good side (not saying that they are being unethical - but a blogger's business is still beauty and promoting products). I guess they are trying to be impartial by pointing out the good and bad points, so that the viewer can make an informed decision. So, I always take the hint - if they have to work that hard to justify it, think about how hard the product will be to use? There's so many dupes out there. After all, isn't this thing just a black eyeliner/pencily thing? I have three of those already lol. You get what I'm saying girl!
Most of the time I just delete Sephora/MAC emails without even reading the subjects. I actually unsubscribed from the MAC ones altogether for the time being. I have points w/Sephora so I keep an eye on the 500 point sets that they release, but other than that I'm not really reading the emails fully. It's an advertisement being emailed directly to me with my consent. Crazy when you think of it that way, yes?
Good for you for looking at your habits, esp. with your phone. That can be killer. I would try your best to avoid using your phone for purchases - it seems like a crazy, slippery slope of buying! Also, paying in cash is so much better. I take out money that has to last for my expenses for the week and when that's gone, I try to not use any other form of payment. That means I have to remind myself about my actual expenses, which leaves less $$ for 'fun' expenses. If I have to get gas for my car but I spent that money on blush, I'm SOL. So it does curb temptation in a big way.
@mel33t and @veronikawithak - HAHAHA 'To the left, to the left'! You girls have me cracking up. Last night I watched American Pie 2 and all of these memories came flooding back of great songs from summers when I was a teen/young lady. Sum 41 anyone?! HAHA. I might look up songs from that time frame and put those in my purging play list! hehehe. Anything P!nk, No Doubt, or Christina Aguleria (? Never did figure out how to spell her last name..) usually works pretty good for any dreaded activity. haha.
Hope everyone is having a great Saturday!
kerry-jane88
Well-known member
I get what you're saying!
and yes when you point that out with emails it is crazy!
i'll do as veronika says and unsubscribe.
Maris Crane
Well-known member
Quote: Originally Posted by kerry-jane88
i think the launch of benefits push up liner has really pushed me over the edge tbh, as it's been publisiced to death and from what i can gather its a tricky item that most are struggling with, but as no one wants to be honest and say 'it's crap' most reviews are trying to jusitify the struggle to use it? holla if you feel me on this and what im getting at!?
Amen sista.
Do you know how difficult it was not to place a Sephora order to *POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING* get the mini Push Up with that dang code? (Rhetorical question, I'm sure everyone here could say Aie, Aie! here!) I even tried to justify it to myself by placing an order for skincare (new products, not even tried & true things) and lord knows, I would've had to add something makeup related to get Free Shipping too.
I don't. get. it. Or rather my behaviour. I use BB Gel Black Ink everyday for my wing, and then I have the Jordana Fabuliner for days I'm running late. Tried, tested, true and both damn near holy grail status. Why I need another black liquid liner when I've tried others (skin79 - transferred everywhere, Physicians - nice, but overpriced for drugstore, Maybelline and MAC gels - too dry, etc.) I do not know. But it was really hard to resist the Benefit promo. (I also find Benefit has really been pushing the last while, though on the 'tube - They're Real (I hate) or Rockateur, anyone?)
i think the launch of benefits push up liner has really pushed me over the edge tbh, as it's been publisiced to death and from what i can gather its a tricky item that most are struggling with, but as no one wants to be honest and say 'it's crap' most reviews are trying to jusitify the struggle to use it? holla if you feel me on this and what im getting at!?
Amen sista.
Do you know how difficult it was not to place a Sephora order to *POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING* get the mini Push Up with that dang code? (Rhetorical question, I'm sure everyone here could say Aie, Aie! here!) I even tried to justify it to myself by placing an order for skincare (new products, not even tried & true things) and lord knows, I would've had to add something makeup related to get Free Shipping too.
I don't. get. it. Or rather my behaviour. I use BB Gel Black Ink everyday for my wing, and then I have the Jordana Fabuliner for days I'm running late. Tried, tested, true and both damn near holy grail status. Why I need another black liquid liner when I've tried others (skin79 - transferred everywhere, Physicians - nice, but overpriced for drugstore, Maybelline and MAC gels - too dry, etc.) I do not know. But it was really hard to resist the Benefit promo. (I also find Benefit has really been pushing the last while, though on the 'tube - They're Real (I hate) or Rockateur, anyone?)
Maris Crane
Well-known member
lol @ glitteryvegas! On the sum 41 note, my 14 year old self was madly in love with Deryck.
Maris Crane
Well-known member
Stila has some nice products, but it's not really a line I'm drawn to first, KWIM? I don't understand why they took out UD - not selling? I noticed when they reno'd the one at the Eaton Centre, they managed to get a Chanel counter, but alas. I figured since Bayview has Chanel and UD, Eatons would have both.
kerry-jane88
Well-known member
I think it's made me realise just how much bigger the whole beauty selling system is and how much control marketing has.
I'm in the UK, but even here I feel like that stupid liner has been hailed as the next best thing as sliced bread.
And it's sold so well despite the fact that most people buying it probably alread have a black liner that they're comfortable using.
I was in Boots the other day, going to buy some hayfever stuff and I thought I'd stroll down the drugstore isle to see what the summer trends are (i've sworn off drugstore purchases so i was purely looking out of interest - honest!) and i must have been in the isle for about 30 seconds before an SA from Benefit asked me: 'hiya love have you heard of benefit?' lol ofc i fucking have. 'have you seen our new push up liner?' i said yes and i wasn't a fan (not in a rude way) but there you go, they are literally stalking for custom in other areas of the shop.
Glitteryvegas
Well-known member
HAHHAHAHA OMG YES. I dunno what it was about that guy - the persona? Bad-ass kind of thing going on?! Do you know who Serial Joe is? If you do, I'll die lol. Len Steal My Sunshine?lol @ glitteryvegas! On the sum 41 note, my 14 year old self was madly in love with Deryck.
And of course Blink 182?
TAKE ME BACK TO MY TEEEEEEENS!!!!
Glitteryvegas
Well-known member
That lady tracking you down sounds crazy aggressive!!! Wow!!! Sometimes I just like to browse and window shop and swatch in peace, ya know? I think most SAs assume that people don't have any makeup knowledge at all, at least that's what I find - they are always trying to sell me things that I don't want or need or already have. My favourite is when they recommend something I know won't work for me or is crap lol!
CrimsonQuill157
Well-known member
I was bad, and so I am here to confess my sins.
I've never been a polish girl and I tend not to associate polish with makeup. I've been on a make-up low buy and I've been successful with that. But I got my nails done and fell in love with the color, so I went on Amazon to get it... and ended up with two more polishes. Then someone posted on reddit that Zoya was having a special where you could get 3 polishes for free if you paid shipping ($12) so I hopped on it. So yeah I've been bad.
But at least I've caught myself and now will start thinking again.
I've never been a polish girl and I tend not to associate polish with makeup. I've been on a make-up low buy and I've been successful with that. But I got my nails done and fell in love with the color, so I went on Amazon to get it... and ended up with two more polishes. Then someone posted on reddit that Zoya was having a special where you could get 3 polishes for free if you paid shipping ($12) so I hopped on it. So yeah I've been bad.
veronikawithak
Well-known member
Lol @ Serial Joe.. I recorded their music video from Much Music on VHS so I could watch it anytime I wanted. I'm laughing out loud writing that sentence. It sounds ridiculous now. You're so right about aggressive marketing. Every time I see someone on YouTube bring up an older product and then 5 other people also happen to mention that product I get skeptical too. Or when someone changes their mind about something that they used to say they hated.. and now they just ended up figuring out how to make it work.. I have to wonder if they didn't get a talking to from the brand. I had about 4 Sephora girls approach me the other day.. you cannot shop in peace there. Part of the reason I like shopping online. And I have to laugh going into MAC a few days after collection releases.. they always want to tell me about it and I'm like yes I knew about that before most of you did because I spend way too much time creeping online. Just let me spend my money alone.
CrimsonQuill157
Well-known member
I hate going into Sephora for this reason - especially in the fragrance section, there's one lady and it's like she watches me test perfumes and I HATE it. The MAC counter by me is not too bad but it's usually packed so the SAs are always busy.
mel33t
Well-known member
I notice a real difference between the UK bloggers and US bloggers. I'm not exactly sure what it is... but there's a difference when they market products or are sponsored by a brand. It's interesting to watch and I guess I pick up on the marketing since I took all those business classes that @veronikawithak was mentioning. Advertising is everywhere and it's really difficult to avoid it. Even watching normal TV, I will see a makeup look I like and try to research what was used. Lately I've been trying to recreate looks with what I have, and that's been fun.
I personally have noticed that Benefit has been pushing products on people for the past year or so and they really haven't come out with anything that amazing. Hervana was the last new release I remember that I really do enjoy, and I do like Rockateur - it's a great fall blush that goes fantastic with the Naked 3 which released around the same time. But other than that, I think Benefit is barely staying a float and they know it. They know the only way to win is to use the social media channels and have the bloggers say that it's awesome. That's just how I feel. There's so many things that are pushed into our faces. There's one US youtuber who went so far as to promote a box of tissues...
I've never had a real issue in a Sephora, most of them just ask if you need help and if you say "no" they're content to leave you alone. Actually I've never had a sales associate in a beauty department pester me. I wouldn't mind it since I normally do have questions.
veronikawithak
Well-known member
July No Buy Week 1 Update Goal 1: Buy 0 items - going well, 4 days in and haven't purchased anything other than food or experience items. Goal 2: Get rid of 3 nail polishes (including minis) - SUCCESS. All 3 I tossed were minis but I went through all my full size and couldn't part with any. I thought it'd be easier but I'm happy I met my goal. Goal 3: Get rid of 3 eyeshadows - SUCCESS. This was really tough too. I realized I just need to use mine more since I'm pretty happy with what I have. Goal 4: Use up a lipstick - SUCCESS kind of. I used it a bunch of times but I'm ready to let it go.. I just have too many others I like more. It's in my B2M bag. Goal 5: Try a new eyeshadow look - going to do this tonight. I also decided to put my Soft & Gentle into B2M as well. I was giving myself some time to see if I'd enjoy using it this summer but if I do reach for a highlight it's Hourglass. I'm up to 14 items for B2M!
Maris Crane
Well-known member
If there's one thing I love about Sephora, it's that they leave you alone and let you add stuff to your basket. Sometimes, I just want to be left alone, and those days - I dread counters. I'll do it, but if I need something I can't just walk in, pay and walk out with, I have to be in the mood and I'll do it on a random weekday morning.
As for Benefit: I wouldn't want to see any brand fail, but I'd like to see them spend the $$$ they're sending to random bloggers/vloggers and do something about the kitschy and chinsy packaging. I doubt they care what little ol' me thinks, but when a $5 Hard Candy packaging is the exact same as yours (and the Benefit is 7 times more expensive), maybe you want to think about dropping the cardboard thing.
As for Benefit: I wouldn't want to see any brand fail, but I'd like to see them spend the $$$ they're sending to random bloggers/vloggers and do something about the kitschy and chinsy packaging. I doubt they care what little ol' me thinks, but when a $5 Hard Candy packaging is the exact same as yours (and the Benefit is 7 times more expensive), maybe you want to think about dropping the cardboard thing.
awickedshape
Well-known member
Made up my mind to just skip the MAC x Simpsons collection. #NoRegrets lol
DMcG9
Well-known member
Oh I understand now. Yeah, I try to buy pan refills when I can. Are you finding it tricky to get the inserts out of the palette even when twisting the opposite corners like you would an ice cube tray? I found it stiff the first couple of times but it's easier now so I am keeping my inserts in the new palettes.No I actually buy them in the pan form - it's cheaper and the new palettes aren't that expensive. But I recently got the inserts because I liked the way it would look. But it's really hard to get the inserts out of the palette. Every time I try to take a single shadow out to see what color it is or to move it into my Elf four pan palette for easy use I get frustrated and end up not using it. My MAC shadows have been untouched since I got the inserts... which is about a month ago now. I'm thinking I should just lose the inserts, even though they look really nice with them.
