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

[novocainedreams]

I strayed far from low-buy this year(very very far) but will be back on track in 2015. I have already started getting rid of my HUGE assortment of indie pigments, I started selling them and whatever is leftover(minus the few I use, like and will keep) I plan on donating to a women's shelter.

I did manage to save money this year, but with what I spent, I could easily save twice as much next year.

 

[awickedshape]

I strayed far from low-buy this year(very very far) but will be back on track in 2015. I have already started getting rid of my HUGE assortment of indie pigments, I started selling them and whatever is leftover(minus the few I use, like and will keep) I plan on donating to a women's shelter. I did manage to save money this year, but with what I spent, I could easily save twice as much next year.

Good plan!

I'm going to continue my same goals in 2015 because I'm not where I want to be just yet.

Me, either.

 

[awickedshape]

Oh, I'd have to say I went off it completely for a couple of months! I got rid of a lot of old things I was keeping for no good reason but my MAC stuff, like the lip glasses I wouldn't give away because I don’t feel it's sanitary at all are harder to part with for some sentimental reason :/ I did enjoy makeup these past few months, I just did it at the expense of my low-buy. I got some great stuff and the great majority worked well for me so hopefully the "need" will be lower in 2015.

 

[veronikawithak]

Finally got my brushes washed. I think the last time I did an eyeshadow look was Halloween? Yikes. Going to play with my N2Basics tomorrow. I also just saw the preview for the NARS dual intensity palette.. and ugh I kind of want it. I wish Dione was in it instead of Himalaya.. I seem to have a knack for picking singles of things that end up in palettes later. But I also still want the Hourglass palette. 3 eyeshadow palettes in 2 months though? I don't know about that.

 

[kait0]

Finally got my brushes washed. I think the last time I did an eyeshadow look was Halloween? Yikes. Going to play with my N2Basics tomorrow. I also just saw the preview for the NARS dual intensity palette.. and ugh I kind of want it. I wish Dione was in it instead of Himalaya.. I seem to have a knack for picking singles of things that end up in palettes later. But I also still want the Hourglass palette. 3 eyeshadow palettes in 2 months though? I don't know about that.

Well I'm under the impression the HG will be perm, so you could put that off! The nars once will end up being pretty pricey for Canadians thought, i think it's 79 American dollars so it could be $85-90 here!

 

[veronikawithak]

Well I'm under the impression the HG will be perm, so you could put that off! The nars once will end up being pretty pricey for Canadians thought, i think it's 79 American dollars so it could be $85-90 here!

Oh nice! I thought the HG ones were LE but it would be great if they were perm. And you're right, I assume the NARS palette will be pretty pricey. At least I have a few weeks to mull it over so it won't be an impulse buy. I was planning on getting one of the HG ones for my birthday but we'll see.

 

[shellygrrl]

Oh, I'd have to say I went off it completely for a couple of months! I got rid of a lot of old things I was keeping for no good reason but my MAC stuff, like the lip glasses I wouldn't give away because I don’t feel it's sanitary at all are harder to part with for some sentimental reason :/ I did enjoy makeup these past few months, I just did it at the expense of my low-buy. I got some great stuff and the great majority worked well for me so hopefully the "need" will be lower in 2015.

Is it the colours of the lipglasses? Were they in special packaging? Do you think you can zero in on a more precise reason why you're keeping them? You can bounce back! :cheer: ompom:

 

[shellygrrl]

And now for my own end-of-year Low Buy assessment. Categories That Had Limitations of Some Kind

• Eyeshadow palettes - I went from five to two! And aside from an earlier lemming for the NARSissist palette from near the beginning of the year, I've not wanted to add any more. And I haven't.
• Mascara - I had four or five in rotation near the start of the year. I'm down to two now that I really enjoy, and I think that's a good rotation for me.
• Eye Liner - I got rid of only one eyeliner. I still need to use my existing ones more.
• Lipstick - Quite a few went out, and one came in to fill in a gap.
• Lipgloss - Now here's a part of my stash that went way down in quantity. I don't remember how many I started with (close to a dozen, I think); I'm now down to five! I think that's okay. And I've not added any.
• Foundation/CC Cream/Tinted Moisturizer - I had a tinted moisturizer fail earlier in the year when trying to fill the gap for a lighter coverage product, then got a CC cream that I ended up prefering, and I added a white foundation for mixing. Also had to toss a foundation because ickiness. I'm at three colour base products right now, plus the white for mixing when needed.
• Concealer - Added one, got rid of it, then bought two of the same kind (one for mixing).
• Lipliner - No new ones have come in this year. I did notice one gap that I'll fill eventually.
• Single Eyeshadows - I got rid of three and bought six -- all unique to my stash.
• Blushes - Bought only two, both unique to my stash.
• Brushes - Bought only one this year.

Unaddressed Categories in 2014

• Bronzer - Bought one.
• Brow Products - Bought a brow pencil that had to be tossed because broken (dear MAC, please let your brow pencils twist both ways!). Will be looking for something new in 2015 -- either new pencil or brow powder. Similar with brow gel. (Maybelline Great Lash in Clear was okay; I'm not a huge fan of Sonia Kashuk's.)
• Highlighter/Luminizer - The one I had I wasn't in love with, so I ditched it. There are a few I've been looking at for a while.
• Setting or Finishing Powders - None added this year.
• Foundation Primer - I've been using my little sample of POREfessional, and it's not bad, but I'm not over the moon with it. (I'd reintroduce LM Oil-Free but same thing. Not 100% happy with it.)
• Eyeshadow Primer - Love my NARS one, will be repurchasing next year.
• Pigments - I didn't buy any more. There are a couple that I have that could still do with some more love, though.
• Cream Eyeshadows/Paint Pots - I tossed one, am down to three now. I miss the colour of the one I got rid of but not the formula (Maybelline Tough as Taupe).

* * * And now for 2015... Where To Stop (No Buy)

• Pre-Made Eyeshadow Palettes - Don't want or need any more.
• Bronzers - Need to work through the two I have, not to mention I've got one blush that practically is a bronzer on me!
• Concealer - I'm okay with the ones I have at the moment.
• Eye Liners - The ones I have need to be used more.
• Blushes - Going to focus on the ones I have.
• Setting and Finishing Powders - Don't need either/or right now.

Where To Slow Down (Proceed with Caution)

• Single Eyeshadows - Although I added several shades to my stash this past year, I did notice a gap (this includes within pre-made palettes): matte transition(ish) shades. Even with my eye shape I think I can do with some. So I'd like to focus primarily on those sorts of colours. That said, I won't smack myself (much) if I buy a shade I'm lemming. And I'd like to complete the eyeshadow side of my MAC palette; I have five spots remaining. (I'm still wanting to separate it, and the blush side, into two singles.)
• Lipliner - I spotted a gap here, too (I don't have a true purple lipliner). I can fill that.
• Brow Products
• Eyeshadow Primer - Replace/repurchase my NARS primer.
• Lipgloss - If I run out of a colour I have, or if it goes bad, I can replace it. But I don't think I'll be adding any more.
• Mascara - Two is a good number for me, and the ones I have are loves. Just repurchase when the time comes.
• Cream Eyeshadows/Paint Pots - I'm looking at Tailor Grey to round out this part of my stash.
• Lipstick - There are some shades I need to use a bit more (namely my reds!), and I still want to come up with additional lipliner/lipstick combos. I still want a few NARS Audacious lippies, but I'm not in much of a hurry to buy them.

Points of Focus

• Pigments - Use the ones I have even more. I likely won't add to the number I have, but I'm not going to restrict myself from buying more, either.
• Highlighter/Luminizer - I've got two (one liquid, one powder) I've been looking at.
• Foundation Primer - There is one I have my eye on: Hourglass Veil Mineral. I'll get the little one to try out and see if I like it. Then I'll go from there.
• Foundation - I'll likely be in the market for at least one new one next year. My CC cream has got to be nearing its end; my NARS one is aging; and the less said about my Maybelline, the better. I've got a few that I'm looking at, and at least one in particular that my radar is on.
• Brushes - There is at least one gap I want to fill. Otherwise it's to look for better shapes to serve various purposes, or to supplement existing brushes, so I have a collection I love.

Miscellaneous

• False Lashes - I don't wear them much, but they're something I'd like to delve into/play with a little bit more.

 

[DarylandCarole]

And now for my own end-of-year Low Buy assessment. Categories That Had Limitations of Some Kind

• Eyeshadow palettes - I went from five to two! And aside from an earlier lemming for the NARSissist palette from near the beginning of the year, I've not wanted to add any more. And I haven't.
• Mascara - I had four or five in rotation near the start of the year. I'm down to two now that I really enjoy, and I think that's a good rotation for me.
• Eye Liner - I got rid of only one eyeliner. I still need to use my existing ones more.
• Lipstick - Quite a few went out, and one came in to fill in a gap.
• Lipgloss - Now here's a part of my stash that went way down in quantity. I don't remember how many I started with (close to a dozen, I think); I'm now down to five! I think that's okay. And I've not added any.
• Foundation/CC Cream/Tinted Moisturizer - I had a tinted moisturizer fail earlier in the year when trying to fill the gap for a lighter coverage product, then got a CC cream that I ended up prefering, and I added a white foundation for mixing. Also had to toss a foundation because ickiness. I'm at three colour base products right now, plus the white for mixing when needed.
• Concealer - Added one, got rid of it, then bought two of the same kind (one for mixing).
• Lipliner - No new ones have come in this year. I did notice one gap that I'll fill eventually.
• Single Eyeshadows - I got rid of three and bought six -- all unique to my stash.
• Blushes - Bought only two, both unique to my stash.
• Brushes - Bought only one this year.

Unaddressed Categories in 2014

• Bronzer - Bought one.
• Brow Products - Bought a brow pencil that had to be tossed because broken (dear MAC, please let your brow pencils twist both ways!). Will be looking for something new in 2015 -- either new pencil or brow powder. Similar with brow gel. (Maybelline Great Lash in Clear was okay; I'm not a huge fan of Sonia Kashuk's.)
• Highlighter/Luminizer - The one I had I wasn't in love with, so I ditched it. There are a few I've been looking at for a while.
• Setting or Finishing Powders - None added this year.
• Foundation Primer - I've been using my little sample of POREfessional, and it's not bad, but I'm not over the moon with it. (I'd reintroduce LM Oil-Free but same thing. Not 100% happy with it.)
• Eyeshadow Primer - Love my NARS one, will be repurchasing next year.
• Pigments - I didn't buy any more. There are a couple that I have that could still do with some more love, though.
• Cream Eyeshadows/Paint Pots - I tossed one, am down to three now. I miss the colour of the one I got rid of but not the formula (Maybelline Tough as Taupe).

* * * And now for 2015... Where To Stop (No Buy)

• Pre-Made Eyeshadow Palettes - Don't want or need any more.
• Bronzers - Need to work through the two I have, not to mention I've got one blush that practically is a bronzer on me!
• Concealer - I'm okay with the ones I have at the moment.
• Eye Liners - The ones I have need to be used more.
• Blushes - Going to focus on the ones I have.
• Setting and Finishing Powders - Don't need either/or right now.

Where To Slow Down (Proceed with Caution)

• Single Eyeshadows - Although I added several shades to my stash this past year, I did notice a gap (this includes within pre-made palettes): matte transition(ish) shades. Even with my eye shape I think I can do with some. So I'd like to focus primarily on those sorts of colours. That said, I won't smack myself (much) if I buy a shade I'm lemming. And I'd like to complete the eyeshadow side of my MAC palette; I have five spots remaining. (I'm still wanting to separate it, and the blush side, into two singles.)
• Lipliner - I spotted a gap here, too (I don't have a true purple lipliner). I can fill that.
• Brow Products
• Eyeshadow Primer - Replace/repurchase my NARS primer.
• Lipgloss - If I run out of a colour I have, or if it goes bad, I can replace it. But I don't think I'll be adding any more.
• Mascara - Two is a good number for me, and the ones I have are loves. Just repurchase when the time comes.
• Cream Eyeshadows/Paint Pots - I'm looking at Tailor Grey to round out this part of my stash.
• Lipstick - There are some shades I need to use a bit more (namely my reds!), and I still want to come up with additional lipliner/lipstick combos. I still want a few NARS Audacious lippies, but I'm not in much of a hurry to buy them.

Points of Focus

• Pigments - Use the ones I have even more. I likely won't add to the number I have, but I'm not going to restrict myself from buying more, either.
• Highlighter/Luminizer - I've got two (one liquid, one powder) I've been looking at.
• Foundation Primer - There is one I have my eye on: Hourglass Veil Mineral. I'll get the little one to try out and see if I like it. Then I'll go from there.
• Foundation - I'll likely be in the market for at least one new one next year. My CC cream has got to be nearing its end; my NARS one is aging; and the less said about my Maybelline, the better. I've got a few that I'm looking at, and at least one in particular that my radar is on.
• Brushes - There is at least one gap I want to fill. Otherwise it's to look for better shapes to serve various purposes, or to supplement existing brushes, so I have a collection I love.

Miscellaneous

• False Lashes - I don't wear them much, but they're something I'd like to delve into/play with a little bit more.

Wow! Very thorough and well thought out. You've inspired me to think about my past year, Shelly. It sounds like you're doing great.

 

[DarylandCarole]

I strayed far from low-buy this year(very very far) but will be back on track in 2015. I have already started getting rid of my HUGE assortment of indie pigments, I started selling them and whatever is leftover(minus the few I use, like and will keep) I plan on donating to a women's shelter. I did manage to save money this year, but with what I spent, I could easily save twice as much next year.

I love the idea of donating to a woman's shelter. I'm going to remember that.

 

[awickedshape]

Is it the colours of the lipglasses? Were they in special packaging? Do you think you can zero in on a more precise reason why you're keeping them? You can bounce back! :cheer: ompom:

Well, thank you for saying so! I might tell myself that I'll want to use Lust or Lychee Luxe or something one day but I think it's just sentimental, because they're MAC, and the first non-drugstore makeup I bought after I started working and taking care of myself.

 

[Maris Crane]

I'm currently drinking an Ice Capp (gawd, I missed Timmy's! and Ice Capps along with Starbucks, Smoke's Poutinerie, and brie cheese are my kryptonite. I'm interested in joining a Fitness Thread but I know each page would feature a True Confession from yours truly. I diegress...) and catching up on everything! Well done ladies and gents!

Even with Heirloom Artifacts or whatever it was called in full at CdG Duty Free, I managed to buy very little makeup on vacation. Chanel VA, Lancome Erika F. (I justified it because you can't get Erika F. here AFAIK), a Clarins Lip Perfecter set (I gave the pink one to my mom; kept the nude for myself); a couple of Bourjois things, Nivea Bb cream, and some Miss Den stuff in the grocery stores in Mauritius. BUT I did have a big haul at Murale RIGHT before I went and then bought some things with the VIB coupon (LM Secret Camouflage & LoveMarc lipstick in Role Play).

But... I bought three handbags for myself just in duty free - so I swapped one addiction for another. But two of the three would've been impossible to find here; one of those two would've been at a huge markup on say, eBay and then... the last ended up being 1/2 the price it would've been at home. But my CC is still smokin'.

I'm really going to concentrate on not buying anymore makeup until the Spring - I want to purchase an investment piece for myself, and it makes me sick that all the money I spent on makeup could've gone towards my RRSP or something.

I hope everyone is doing well. I think the Holidays can be a real trigger - it's hard to shop for other people and not take note of all the sales that are going on.

 

[Maris Crane]

Miscellaneous

• False Lashes - I don't wear them much, but they're something I'd like to delve into/play with a little bit more.

I don't know if this could be a trigger, or what brands you're interested in, but in the last 3-6 months I've been finding lots of Ardell lashes at my local dollar store. I know Ardell in the grand scheme of things aren't priced as high as like, Esquido lashes but $1 is better than $5 or $6 CDN.

 

[tirurit]

@shellygrrl Taylor Grey is love! It is one of my go to shades for a lazy day. Put some ochre paint pot on the arch of your eye and some Taylor grey, Camel coat or Stormy pink and you are ready to go!

 

[shellygrrl]

FOTD... * mix of Maybelline Fit Me - #110 + MAC Face & Body - White * MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer - NW15 * OCC Skin Conceal - Y0 * Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - Transparent * MAC Eyeshadows - Brun and a tiny bit of Copperplate through the brows * NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base * Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - Foxy as a base, Tease as a transitionish shade (didn't quite work out), Busted in the outer and inner corners & through crease, YDK in the center of lid * Marc Jacobs O!Mega Lash Mascara - Blacquer * NARS Blush - Sex Fantasy * NYX Round Lipstick - Thalia

 

[Mimi702]

Apple Cider Vinegar in water!

Try it!

I found out I was prediabetic 5 months ago and changed my eating habits immediately. I have little indulgences and a ''fat'' day but ACV in combination with cutting carbs, soda, juice and dairy milk with dancing and walking really helped me, I was 160 before, I'm 135 now and a size 25 in jeans, OMG, I have cerebral palsy too! I was diagnosed at 5. If you need help being motivated feel free to message me whenever. How I walk used to bother me more when I was litte. I really wanted to be ''normal'' I was like this all the way till I started junior college but you can't let your illnesses or disibilites define you as a person because you're so much more than that. Makeup is something I recently got into like 5 years ago. Skincare too but Specktra really is te reason I have all the lipsticks I do. I officially looove this forum. I went from owning like, 4 lipsticks or occasionally buying makeup to stalking MAC launches and having a lipstick holder. lmao
You can totally meet your goals. used to walk on my toes till I got pushed off a slide when I was about 10 and broke my knee, I still walk frunny but one of my legs is straighter than the other.

Hey hun, how do you do the whole Apple cider vinegar water thing..? I would really like to try this. Do you just add a few drops into ur water intake per day or is it more like a cleasing routine..?
I am also prediabetic so I've been trying to change my eating habits and fitness routine but it was a little harder b4 when I wasn't able to exercise for a bit but now that I can really want to boost up what Ive been doing to help reach my goals. Is this just for dieting or was this to help with the diaebetic thing..?

 

[veronikawithak]

I can't believe it's December already! Time for an end of the year update.

I'll start with my inventory:

Item	2013	2014 (Ideal)
eyeshadow	31	43 (50)
lipstick	13	18 (10)
lipgloss	3	8 + 7 mini = 15 (5)
blush	10	5 + 3 mini = 8 (5)
eyeliner	4	3 (5)
lipliner	1	3 (5)
powder	4	4 (1)

I only listed the areas I want to work on next year since I've mostly cut down to one of each for everything else. For eyeshadow, 50 is the upper limit I set for myself and includes individual shades in palettes - I don't wear eyeshadow too often so that should work for me. Lipsticks and glosses are the main areas I need some work in. I've been using things up slowly, it just takes some time and it kind of feels like you're going backwards when you're still purchasing. This is something I need to really focus on next year. I ended up with way more glosses than I should have. I have two blushes in mind that I want to use up next year so I'll be working on those. Same with powders, a couple are almost finished. Eyeliner and lipliner I'm allowing myself a little room to grow.

My plan is to implement a 1 in 2 out rule for new purchases if they're in a category that's already full. I can either use them up or pass them on, but I still want to be mindful rather than having a constant rotation of products coming in and out. That was probably my biggest problem this year, I had no trouble keeping my stash down in size but I tended to purchase and then get rid of other things I like less. I feel like I have some real quality pieces now so my goal is to stop getting distracted by the "new and improved" and focus on the "sitting in my drawer unused."

Looking at my list of all of my purchases for the year it's clear that May-June are my worst months. I'm thinking boredom combined with the release of stress from the academic year. January and July were No Buy months but February is my birthday month so that was on the higher end. I did really well with an item limit during August-November so I'm going to have to re-instate that for next year as well and stick to it year-round. Something that helped this year was directing my energy from shopping to something more productive. For me that was my fitness classes, and I'm looking forward to starting those again in January.

Some things I need to keep in mind for 2015:
1. Makeup is not a collectible and will eventually expire.
2. I almost always wear neutral, minimal makeup.
3. I'm lazy. See #2.
4. I don't want to hoard. I want to use.
5. I can spend $ and time better by focusing on other things.

 

[Buffy89]

Great inventories and resolutions!!!

Although I've already written down some resolutions here, I might want to make more precise ones. This weekend, I'll finally have enough time to make an inventory list, too.
I've splurged in a non-makeup related way and finally got the expensive handbag I've been wanting for so long. Totally love it! It was on sale so I almost saved 50% (it was 150 euros, now 80 Euros...totally worth the wait). Being someone who's always bought those fake leather bags at H&M and similar stores, I've never owned such an expensive bag before and it feels sooo luxurious (I know, this is not even a designer brand and cheap in comparison to other brands...but you know what I mean I guess).

For 80 Euros, I could have bought 4 lipsticks that might be ignored most of the time, sitting next to their neglected almost-twins in my makeup drawer and expiring, so I guess I've set my priorities right.

 

[veronikawithak]

Part II of my plans for next year:

Makeup I Want To Use Up In 2015

Powders
MAC MSFN x 2 - one is almost finished so I want to get through that and my backup
Hourglass Ethereal or Hourglass Diffused - would like to finish one additional powder so either of these
Blushes
Chanel blush - expires at the end of 2015
Hourglass blush - I have the palette with this in it so I want to use up my full size
Eyeshadow
MAC x 4 - I think I might pick a quad of neutral shadows and do a challenge to finish them
Lipstick
MAC x 8 - I want to focus on finishing two lipsticks every 3 months.. this will probably be the biggest challenge but I have a few that are close to used up and I also have a couple older ones that I might downsize at the end of the year if I don't end up using them
Lipgloss
7 minis + 4 full size - I think I can do this.. I've finished about 10 minis and 1 full size in the past 6 months
Eyeliner
MUFE 24L + Marc Jacobs mini

If I get through all of that I should be well positioned to be at my ideal inventory size either at the end of next year or shortly after. I'm going to keep track of everything I finish and see what I can accomplish in a year.

 

[veronikawithak]

Great inventories and resolutions!!!

Although I've already written down some resolutions here, I might want to make more precise ones. This weekend, I'll finally have enough time to make an inventory list, too.
I've splurged in a non-makeup related way and finally got the expensive handbag I've been wanting for so long. Totally love it! It was on sale so I almost saved 50% (it was 150 euros, now 80 Euros...totally worth the wait). Being someone who's always bought those fake leather bags at H&M and similar stores, I've never owned such an expensive bag before and it feels sooo luxurious (I know, this is not even a designer brand and cheap in comparison to other brands...but you know what I mean I guess).

For 80 Euros, I could have bought 4 lipsticks that might be ignored most of the time, sitting next to their neglected almost-twins in my makeup drawer and expiring, so I guess I've set my priorities right.

Yay!

I totally agree about priorities. Glad you're enjoying your new handbag! One of mine is pretty worn out after 5+ years of constant use (I only have 2) but I think I may be getting a new one for Christmas so I haven't replaced it yet. I used to buy the fake cheap ones too but something always broke or ripped on them within a few weeks. I don't like most designer brands but there's one designer in Canada called Matt and Nat that I love so whenever I need to replace a bag I always check there first now. They range from $100-150 so they're quality but much more affordable than the high end luxury designer brands. I splurged recently on 8 5ml perfume oils now that I've finished all of the samples I liked of the ones I got in September. The process of buying sample sizes and wearing them for a couple of months before deciding to buy the full sizes was really great for me.. by the time I got them I was so excited and they were all ones I loved. So different than buying makeup. I was also able to give away all of the ones that didn't work for me to friends.

I've shifted my process for shopping for clothing recently as well, largely due to Project 333 I think. I've really enjoyed doing that the past couple of months. Now when I purchase something I don't think about the individual pieces, I think about how they fit in my wardrobe. My new rule is that I have to be able to think of 3 different outfits I could make with it or I don't get it. Occasionally I'll buy a piece that I might need to buy something else to make it work, but I'm okay with that as long as it's not often. For example, I just purchased some burgundy jeans and most of my tops are colored as well so I'll have to get a couple more neutral shirts to go with them. That kind of benefits my whole closet though since I can make sure the shirts will match my other bottoms too.