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

[PixieDancer]

Heehee emoji'd like a true makeup addict!

 

[veronikawithak]

Heehee emoji'd like a true makeup addict!

Yep! Haha I just pictured rolling into MAC with enough empties for 7 items.. my eyes went glazed over for a second there. I usually only get enough for 3-4 before I take them in. My store only lets me do 3 sets at a time though (not sure if it's the same everywhere) so that wouldn't happen.. but it's nice to dream.

 

[PixieDancer]

Yep! Haha I just pictured rolling into MAC with enough empties for 7 items.. my eyes went glazed over for a second there. I usually only get enough for 3-4 before I take them in. My store only lets me do 3 sets at a time though (not sure if it's the same everywhere) so that wouldn't happen.. but it's nice to dream.

Oh, I know that eyes glazed over feeling! LOL
I think ours has a limit too... it's either 3 or 4 at a time.

 

[awickedshape]

I have actually been enjoying giving away so much stuff and being more careful (for the most part) with my recent makeup purchases. I am, however, little concerned about the upcoming holiday season. I want some items but I don’t want to be seduced by any holiday collections that pop up. I've gone over my list and made sacrifices elsewhere for it but I don’t want to do that next year because I have stuff to get for the new house. Aye.

 

[shellygrrl]

It is but I don't have a MAC store near me so I can only get lipsticks and I am running out of ideas. A few shadows and glosses would be nice.

It would be nice if B2M online wasn’t limited to lippies; I agree. It’d also be nice if the selection of what you can mail back wasn’t so limited. (Anything in glass, metal, or plastic packaging is eligible, but not everything in said packaging is listed in the dropdown menus on the B2M page. Which is absolutely ridiculous, IMO.)

 

[veronikawithak]

Oh, I know that eyes glazed over feeling! LOL
I think ours has a limit too... it's either 3 or 4 at a time.

Haha don't we all!

I've been mostly "window shopping" lately.. I kind of just go through new releases and try to visualize owning all the things I'm interested in. Then I imagine still owning them a year later and I ask myself if I'll still love them as much. Usually the answer is no.. Plus by the time I'm done looking over everything I feel so overwhelmed that it's a relief coming back to reality and realizing I didn't actually buy anything! It's a weird feeling, but I'm gradually training myself to appreciate things without needing to OWN them.

 

[Alysse011]

Haha don't we all! I've been mostly "window shopping" lately.. I kind of just go through new releases and try to visualize owning all the things I'm interested in. Then I imagine still owning them a year later and I ask myself if I'll still love them as much. Usually the answer is no.. Plus by the time I'm done looking over everything I feel so overwhelmed that it's a relief coming back to reality and realizing I didn't actually buy anything! It's a weird feeling, but I'm gradually training myself to appreciate things without needing to OWN them.

I totally get that haha. It's like when I tried out orange lipsticks last year and realized that just because they looked great on other people didn't mean I should wear them. It was definite clown on this face.

 

[PixieDancer]

Haha don't we all!

I've been mostly "window shopping" lately.. I kind of just go through new releases and try to visualize owning all the things I'm interested in. Then I imagine still owning them a year later and I ask myself if I'll still love them as much. Usually the answer is no.. Plus by the time I'm done looking over everything I feel so overwhelmed that it's a relief coming back to reality and realizing I didn't actually buy anything! It's a weird feeling, but I'm gradually training myself to appreciate things without needing to OWN them.
"Appreciating things without needing to own them!" GREAT advice and perspective!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Alysse011


I totally get that haha. It's like when I tried out orange lipsticks last year and realized that just because they looked great on other people didn't mean I should wear them. It was definite clown on this face.

That's awesome you have made that evaluation. Sometimes little things like that can translate into lots of money saved instead of wasted! Purging my stash has taught me some lessons like this as well! Like... I DON'T need one more red/orange lipstick! I adore the shade, but I don't need every slight variation they release!! Money saved in 2 recent collection releases with that discovery (Pedro and RHPS!)!! Plus I found that I LOVE Lady Danger, and despite all the other red/oranges that I have and enjoy... she's my most used. So I let go of all the LE BU's I had of those other colors. How could I keep them when LD is perm and a staple for me now!? I love self discovery that saves me $$$$! Thanks for pointing out this important step @Alysse011!

 

[tirurit]

I've been a bad bad girl :X I have curbed some impulses but I have caved on the matte lippies. And KIKO is like my kriptonite! Seriously! I have not been able to resist some cream shadows that they have released that remind me of the chanel ones >.< And some jumbo shadows, and some Make Up Store lip liners...

So here I am, trying once more to be strong in the upcoming collection madness!

 

[PixieDancer]

I've been a bad bad girl :X I have curbed some impulses but I have caved on the matte lippies. And KIKO is like my kriptonite! Seriously! I have not been able to resist some cream shadows that they have released that remind me of the chanel ones >.< And some jumbo shadows, and some Make Up Store lip liners...

So here I am, trying once more to be strong in the upcoming collection madness!

We aren't like a scorned lover here... we will ALWAYS take you back! HeeHee

Just let us know if you need any specific advice. We are here to support your goals!

 

[PixieDancer]

Hey! I'm not sure when this happened, but how did I become a Specktra "DEAN"?? @shellygrrl do you know? Does it have something to do with Post Count like the other levels?
I feel so special! HeeHee wink (I need to get my tight bun and ruler out now!)

 

[awickedshape]

We feel your pain! Just think about what you already own. And also remember all that stuff you just gave away! Those could both be useful bits of info in helping you move forward in making any decisions on future purchases. What do you have that you love? You don't need dupes if you already LOVE something you have, right!? What didn't work that you parted with? You don't need to repeat that mistake again, right!? Try to look for clues like this. @Alysse011 gave a great example about her with Orange lipsticks... that's great info to know about your style and what works for you. Try to think of those points when making any holiday lists. And PLEASE remember that just because it is a good value doesn't mean it will be a good value for you personally!
We want to help keep you on the right path so you can have all those new home goodies you'll be desiring after the New Year with no regrets!! You can do it sweetie!!

I have never B2M online cause of the confusion! You think they'd make it easier. But I guess I just try to be happy they have the program at all, but sometimes it's like pulling teeth. Imagine MAC making things confusing!? LOL

"Appreciating things without needing to own them!" GREAT advice and perspective!!

That's awesome you have made that evaluation. Sometimes little things like that can translate into lots of money saved instead of wasted! Purging my stash has taught me some lessons like this as well! Like... I DON'T need one more red/orange lipstick! I adore the shade, but I don't need every slight variation they release!! Money saved in 2 recent collection releases with that discovery (Pedro and RHPS!)!! Plus I found that I LOVE Lady Danger, and despite all the other red/oranges that I have and enjoy... she's my most used. So I let go of all the LE BU's I had of those other colors. How could I keep them when LD is perm and a staple for me now!? I love self discovery that saves me $$$$! Thanks for pointing out this important step @Alysse011!

Hi @PixieDancer

I am usually very adamant against (consciously) buying something in a shade I already have. I take special care with red lipsticks.

However, the mistake I keep making is usually related to nude lipsticks; I'm always trying to find the "right one" and it's usually either just so-so or a downright disappointment!

So, I hope I can decide to make do with what I have (and I am lucky to be able to have some very nice things) and stop looking for this dream nude.

I have already decided that I don't need another blush at all ever in life (even if I do like the idea of a plum blush, I don't need one, I will make my Milani Berry Amore work lol)

I have made sure to give away lots of things that I have never used or were sitting unused or underused.

I have curated my eyeshadow stash so that I don't feel the need for another eyeshadow palette at all.

I want to try to skip LE collections because sometimes the timing is all wrong and you're compelled to get these things now or they'll be "lost" forever. I want to be able to get these things in the right timing for me, not because they are only available now.
And I am not stressing out about missing anything at all.

I also have to be careful with sales because they might encourage you to get things that you may not have even really wanted to get just because you think you are getting a good deal. Just because I may be able to afford something I don't necessarily have to get it.

I am also trying to take care to learn what works with my skin tone and try not to waste money on unflattering items. I hate being wasteful.

So much more to learn and be aware of.



"Appreciating things without needing to own them!"
This, so much @veronikawithak.
I do have compulsive feelings sometimes that are hard to override.
A recent example: skipping RHPS was a big deal for me, because I loved the packaging so much even though I didn't care for the actual products. I'll just save a pic to remember the packaging by.



There are some things I'm quite happy with eg the NARS Audacious lipsticks (though they were totally unexpected/unplanned!).

And I am glad to be able to share pictures and swatches here so I can help in some small way, and because I appreciate all the helpful information and swatches I have gotten.

There are a few things I regret getting eg Charlotte Tilbury's Hepburn Honey.

But, did I need any of those things? Apart from skincare-related items, no. I have some conflicting feelings here...

There are a few more things I want, though, some things I want to try out, and some things I need for my skin, as I've been under so much stress and have been having quite a breakout.

Skincare is serious. Makeup should be fun and I want to ensure it stays that way. Enjoyable and guilt-free.

Food for thought!

 

[Alysse011]

Skincare is serious. Makeup should be fun and I want to ensure it stays that way. Enjoyable and guilt-free. Yeah! I like this a lot! Everyone should be able to pull out their products and look forward to using them, not feel guilty over buying the products in the first place. I need to do some kind of makeup challenge like y'all, but I just don't know what I want to do yet.

 

[awickedshape]

Skincare is serious. Makeup should be fun and I want to ensure it stays that way. Enjoyable and guilt-free. Yeah! I like this a lot! Everyone should be able to pull out their products and look forward to using them, not feel guilty over buying the products in the first place. I need to do some kind of makeup challenge like y'all, but I just don't know what I want to do yet.

I hope you find one that piques your interest

 

[tirurit]

You ladies got me thinking about things I had invested money on and are dead weight.

Remember the face and body fall 2012 collection? I got three of the pro sculpting creams and if they have been used three times it might be a miracle! They totally do not work for me: greasy! I am going to ditch those

And I too need to start enjoying my make up! I did not buy it to sit pretty and be admired. So what if some of them are LE, they deserve some love too! I need to cycle through what I already have and get rid of cheap dupes that I got fearing the day that that coveted LE item was finished. The industry is constantly throwing new and better things at us, so I am refusing to cling to past ones. Let new things come!

 

[awickedshape]

You ladies got me thinking about things I had invested money on and are dead weight.  Remember the face and body fall 2012 collection? I got three of the pro sculpting creams and if they have been used three times it might be a miracle! They totally do not work for me: greasy! I am going to ditch those And I too need to start enjoying my make up! I did not buy it to sit pretty and be admired. So what if some of them are LE, they deserve some love too! I need to cycle through what I already have and get rid of cheap dupes that I got fearing the day that that coveted LE item was finished. The industry is constantly throwing new and better things at us, so I am refusing to cling to past ones. Let new things come!

:-D

 

[DarylandCarole]

Yes, they are such loves. My old girl has been with me for 17 years now. I have a little boy cat who is 4, and now the stray. He started coming around last winter for food. It took 9 months to get him to let me touch him. Now he LOVES being petted, purrs, rubs against my legs... He's come so far! The only problem is he's not fixed and can be aggressive toward the other cats. I'm hoping getting neutered will help so he can come inside this winter.

Awwww! You're a kitty angel! 

  Thank you for the welcomes, jennifae and PixieDancer!   Happy to be here. This thread gives me some much needed inspiration to continue my low-buy.  Lately I've been trying to use a lot of bright, cheery pinks. I want to get as much use as possible out of them before I dig out my fall-appropriate muted reds. Really not feeling vampy lips yet, which I guess is helpful when it comes to resisting the new fall collections and launches. Anyone else feel the same way?

Of course hun... we are all happy you're here! The weather slowly got crappy this week here in the Midwest... so I went from Hibiscus on Wednesday to Mystical yesterday and Sin today! So I tend to go vamy as the weather gets crappy. So I guess I choose my lippie based on the color of the sky! HeeHee

Ditto, trying to resist! The packaging is just right up my alley. I did have a good low buy moment yesterday.. Had time to kill and ended up at outlet mall with a CCO. Talked myself out of soar lipliner by literally swatching similar ones that were in my handbag already. Also walked away from at dusk blush. It was $17.50, which is really not that cheap, and I'm trying to not get glittery blushes and this one did have some sparkle. It was gorgeous though... But I walked away. Go me! Ironically I told myself I was going into the cco because I'm getting low on my foundation and was hoping they would have it. They had it but not my shade. Irony! Unfortunately I did go overboard at NYX sale at ulta this week. I had run out of my concealer by them so i replaced it and picked up their yellow corrector shade. Two colorful eyeliners also made their way into my bag. I only spent like $10 but it's the principle of it. also bought two Maybelline mattes at target, again only $10 but not needed. I do love all the things I picked up at least, and I tossed an old foundation that's way too dark as well as an under eye corrector that was getting gross. I hit pan on a color tattoo majorly. Also chucked a few nail polishes that were poor formulas or colors that I didn't like on myself at all. Some colors I have I feel like "oh that might come back in style" like some neons that I'm not crazy about. But I should probably toss them, right ???

Good job at the CCO... and use those drugstore products so it wasn't money poorly spent. The little bit here and there can add up quickly. Don't get too sucked into that trap. Those drugstore makeup companies sure know what they're doing with their pricing and B1G1 deals! They do them to bait us. I try to make lists of drugstore products I need (or want) and only get from the sales once my purchase is warranted. Those sales come around too often to fall for them all the time. And when I wait, I inevitably trim and cut it. And I agree... chuck the polishes. Once they do (if ever) come back in fashion, you won't want to reach for them anyways cause they'll be all separated and even worse (formula-wise) than they are now. HTH

Okay, I've never done a makeup challenge before, so I hope I'm doing this right. I LOVE my lipsticks, and I have a LOT, so I started a 31-day lipstick challenge this month where I'll wear 2 similar lipstick shades a day. (Not at the same time! Haha!) I'll apply the 1st one in the morning and the 2nd one after lunch. At the end of each day, I have to decide whether to keep or toss one or both. My only rules are: 1. No repeats of course. 2. Similar but not necessarily dupes. Hopefully, this will help me in purging lipsticks I no longer want or need... and I get to wear 62 lipsticks in 31 days! I'll post an update at the end of the month to let you know how much I've kept and purged.

Oh gawd that's a hard core challenge! I applaud and support it 100%! I'd love to get weekly updates if you could!? That might help me get motivated to move out some more dupes and do some serious comparisons myself!! I love your ambition with this one! VERY motivating!!

  HELP!!! The fact the matte lipsticks arent sold out aremaking me second guess myself and want to go back fro Fashion Revival. I love the berry tone in it but i also have Moxie Quick Sizle Heaux  Rebel  Narss Damned I love mattes, but do i really need this in a different formula, I love the versatility in Rebel

Don't second guess. I was starting to do that with LL but slapped myself back to reality. The blot and powder trick is a great idea for your Rebel! Don't through anymore $ at MAC for that. Sometimes their are unique products, but most of the times they are just slight variations. Don't fall for the "LE" hype. You have great alternatives in that color family!!

  also if you want matte you could try applying rebel, blotting, reaply and then add a touch of transulcent powder to de-shine it, might be worth a test run to see if that gives you a matt effect maybe ? I don't know if it would be work, but its worth a test run in my opinion!

BRAVO idea!!! I actually used Nightmoth with Sin today and it kept me from going back for LL. There are always combos and tricks that can get a shade to pull more the way we want! 

Good advice! I love colors like LL but how many can you use? I bought LK from A Novel Romance, I have Sin, too (had it long before RHPS). And then there's Instigator, which is similar. For as often as I wear those dark colors I know that's plenty. Now if I could apply that logic to the more common shades. It's so easy to keep buying the pinks, nudes, and berry reds, because I know I'll wear those a lot. But there still is a limit to how many you can wear. You guys just helped me figure out one of my weak spots!

 

[shellygrrl]

FOTD... * Maybelline Fit Me Foundation - #110 + MAC Face & Body - White * MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer - NW15 * OCC Skin Conceal - Y0 * Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - Transparent * MAC Eyeshadows - Copperplate and Smut (brows) * NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base * Makeup Geek Eyeshadow - Barcelona Beach * Makeup Geek Eyeshadow - Moondust * Makeup Geek Eyeshadow - Rockstar * Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner Pencil - Bold Brown * BareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara - Black * MAC Blush - Next to Skin (contour) * NYX Slim Line Lip Pencil - Plum * Victoria's Secret Perfect Lipstick - Stiletto

 

[PixieDancer]

You ladies got me thinking about things I had invested money on and are dead weight.  Remember the face and body fall 2012 collection? I got three of the pro sculpting creams and if they have been used three times it might be a miracle! They totally do not work for me: greasy! I am going to ditch those And I too need to start enjoying my make up! I did not buy it to sit pretty and be admired. So what if some of them are LE, they deserve some love too! I need to cycle through what I already have and get rid of cheap dupes that I got fearing the day that that coveted LE item was finished. The industry is constantly throwing new and better things at us, so I am refusing to cling to past ones. Let new things come!

All of this is SO true!! If we want to keep indulging in new LE collections we can't hoard everything... Or else we end up w the same practically unused product over & over! That's why I know I need to relax. Or else there will come a time QUICKLY that I won't be able to justify even 1 lippie!

 

[veronikawithak]

Checking in. It's been 17 days since my last makeup purchase (sounds like confessional or addiction group meetings.. and well it kind of is). Trying another month of very minimal spending to make up for over-indulgence at points this year. The first week went really well.. right on track and very happy with myself! I have a planned shopping trip with one of my friends this weekend and so I want to lay out my strategy in advance. She's not into makeup so that won't be a temptation fortunately. Here's what I need to focus on: 1. I don't need to buy any clothes whatsoever. Period! No exceptions, no excuses. 2. I basically don't need anything! I honestly can't think of a single thing that I should be buying. 3. I want to test myself to see if I can go shopping and enjoy my time with a friend and not buy for myself. If not, that's something that I need to work on. Exceptions will be food or other consumables, and possibly a shampoo and conditioner if I see one I'm interested in. I'm just finishing the last of my current bottles and then I have 2 travel sets to get through. So if I don't find something I'll be okay for a little while. On that note, does anyone have a more natural shampoo/conditioner they love? Minimal ingredients, good for fine straight hair, doesn't make your hair oily right away.. bonus points if it does the dishes and/or laundry for you. I know I have unrealistic standards but a girl can dream..