Resolution "LOW-BUY" 2015

[Maris Crane]

I confess...

I broke my no buy in Target today. I didn't buy a whole lot (the pixi shadow in apricot, pixi black cocoa liner and a rose tinted pixie balm) but it is more stuff I don't need. The ELF stuff was already cleared out and gone, so I guess I didn't want to miss out or something.

And god help me, for some unknown reason, I want a contour palette.

But I did go through my closet and threw out and put stuff into the donation bag. I feel A LOT better now that I can actually see all my clothes. And thankfully, I now have a closet of which 80% of the stuff in it I can actually wear to work.

 

[thefbomb]

I confess...  I broke my no buy in Target today. I didn't buy a whole lot (the pixi shadow in apricot, pixi black cocoa liner and a rose tinted pixie balm) but it is more stuff I don't need. The ELF stuff was already cleared out and gone, so I guess I didn't want to miss out or something.  And god help me, for some unknown reason, I want a contour palette.  But I did go through my closet and threw out and put stuff into the donation bag. I feel A LOT better now that I can actually see all my clothes. And thankfully, I now have a closet of which 80% of the stuff in it I can actually wear to work. 

Was a lot of the makeup on clearance yet? I kinda want to try Pixi but it's expensive for drugstore makeup. At least you're buying from somewhere that's closing so you may not get the chance again.

 

[GinghamDot]

Great to see so many new and returning faces. It's going to be a good year! I culled about 20 more lip products last night, mostly mini lipglosses. I'm down to 5 lipglosses now which I'm so happy about! I just kept my favourites and that's all I really need. Now the only areas that I'm still wanting to downsize a bit more are lipsticks and eyeshadows. I got some new notebooks to keep track of my projects in 2015. In one section I wrote out my makeup inventory and ideal inventory. I'm down to 92 makeup items total now. This month I'm working on using everything at least once and so far I've used 22 already! Most of the items are things I know I'll be keeping, so I don't think I'll be doing another large declutter until the 6 month mark. We'll see though. I also wrote out a list of everything I want to use up this year, either because it's expiring or because I want to downsize. I have 20 categories with 31 items total, including a palette of 9 eyeshadows. This is the year I really want to focus on making the most of my stash!

Well done! 92 pieces of makeup in my stash would be an amazing accomplishment, even though it sounds like such a huge stash to the small part of me that remembers being a sixth grader who us just starting to love makeup. That was back when I owned: Enlighten foundation, Pink Kiss blush (thank you to Grandma for taking me to the Lauder counter at Dayton's for my first fix...), a cover girl blush and gloss, a Naturistics lipstick and Rosa Rosa lipstick. I want to PURGE it. If my makeup pretty much fit in one beautiful drawer, that would be beautiful. Organizational fantasies... There are some blogs that I have got to stop reading, because for me their hoards normalize and enable what is an unsustainable habit. But I really have to think what a low buy means to me, because if I set the parameters wrong, I will bust out of my confines immediately!

 

[thefbomb]

I feel like I'm going to crack soon and get Fleur Power from MAC I've been eyeng it for a while and keep thinking about it the last week give or take

 

[Maris Crane]

At least you're buying from somewhere that's closing so you may not get the chance again.

NOTHING was on clearance. Except a few maternity tops from Liz Lange, random sweaters and a couple of pairs of combat boots. However, even with the lack of sales, it looked REALLY picked over - lots of swimsuits though in a good range of sizes and I thought the Boys and Girls kids stuff didn't look as picked over as the Women`s stuff.

Very little on sale in jewellrey and scarves. I did get two necklaces that look kind of JCrew-ish, but I can see why the store was pretty dead. I mean, with coupon codes and all you can find JCrew necklaces for the price Target Canada was selling there necklaces at. I still found stuff to buy (mostly basic v-neck tees and tanks) but pretty picked over.

As for makeup:
ELF has either been taken out or everything sold out as soon as they announced they were closing.
They were putting out L'Oreal stuff in it's place - all at full price. Might as well go to Shoppers next door and get points for them.
The new CG lipsticks and the Full Bloom mascara (bought the mascara) were on sale.
Some brushes were sold out in Sonia Kashuk. No blending sponges on the shelves, unfortunately.
Pixi was picked over. Sold out of some shades of everything but still full price.
No Beaver Canoe whatsoever, for my co-worker who asked.
And... the Starbucks was set to close by the weekend even if the store will be open.

I may go back closer to liquidation to see if It's a 10! leave in gets put out drastically reduced, but I wouldn't recommend anyone RUN to Target. This was the Danforth & Vic Park location for anyone wondering too

 

[thefbomb]

NOTHING was on clearance. Except a few maternity tops from Liz Lange, random sweaters and a couple of pairs of combat boots. However, even with the lack of sales, it looked REALLY picked over - lots of swimsuits though in a good range of sizes and I thought the Boys and Girls kids stuff didn't look as picked over as the Women`s stuff. Very little on sale in jewellrey and scarves. I did get two necklaces that look kind of JCrew-ish, but I can see why the store was pretty dead. I mean, with coupon codes and all you can find JCrew necklaces for the price Target Canada was selling there necklaces at. I still found stuff to buy (mostly basic v-neck tees and tanks) but pretty picked over.  As for makeup: ELF has either been taken out or everything sold out as soon as they announced they were closing.  They were putting out L'Oreal stuff in it's place - all at full price. Might as well go to Shoppers next door and get points for them. The new CG lipsticks and the Full Bloom mascara (bought the mascara) were on sale.  Some brushes were sold out in Sonia Kashuk. No blending sponges on the shelves, unfortunately.  Pixi was picked over. Sold out of some shades of everything but still full price. No Beaver Canoe whatsoever, for my co-worker who asked.  And... the Starbucks was set to close by the weekend even if the store will be open.  I may go back closer to liquidation to see if It's a 10! leave in gets put out drastically reduced, but I wouldn't recommend anyone RUN to Target. This was the Danforth & Vic Park location for anyone wondering too 

Hmm well it's good you still found some stuff. Guess I won't rush out, I'll wait and go closer to liquidation and hopefully I'll be able to get some NYX stuff and what not. Yeah if I can get free points and the price isn't much different than there's no use going somewhere else! Thanks for all the info!

 

[kerry-jane88]

I decided to do a challenge! I pulled out some items that I must kind of like as I've kept hold of them, but I don't seem to reach for all that often:

I have two Mac 15 palettes so the one above is filled with shadows that didn't make my top 15 shades that I put in the other palette! Seems like I'm not so keen on brights and oranges on the cheeks too? Well I played around with some of the purple eyeshadows from Mac and so I've decided that the Rebecca Moses palette and some of the single pan eyeshadows are keepers:

I used Mac lithe spirit, pincurl, swelter, quarry and romance me eyeshadows

It's very purple and smoky IRL but you get the jist right? My plan for the rest of the peices I've pulled is that if I don't find myself reaching for them, and loving the looks I'm making with them , say within the next month or so, then they gotta go!

 

[GinghamDot]

I decided to do a challenge! I pulled out some items that I must kind of like as I've kept hold of them, but I don't seem to reach for all that often:

I have two Mac 15 palettes so the one above is filled with shadows that didn't make my top 15 shades that I put in the other palette! Seems like I'm not so keen on brights and oranges on the cheeks too? Well I played around with some of the purple eyeshadows from Mac and so I've decided that the Rebecca Moses palette and some of the single pan eyeshadows are keepers:

I used Mac lithe spirit, pincurl, swelter, quarry and romance me eyeshadows

It's very purple and smoky IRL but you get the jist right? My plan for the rest of the peices I've pulled is that if I don't find myself reaching for them, and loving the looks I'm making with them , say within the next month or so, then they gotta go!

Looks really pretty! I'm always impressed by people who use more than, you know, one eyeshadow per look. I love makeup and buy eyeshadow like I bathe in it, but when I am trying to slap on makeup in the morning, it's usually one or none at all. I was at Sephora and Nordstrom today as I have gift cards to both, but I am flexing my resolve and despite wanting much (am I the only one who covets at least trying the Little Black Primer?) and having a few dollars to spend, I bought nothing.

 

[kerry-jane88]

Looks really pretty! I'm always impressed by people who use more than, you know, one eyeshadow per look. I love makeup and buy eyeshadow like I bathe in it, but when I am trying to slap on makeup in the morning, it's usually one or none at all. I was at Sephora and Nordstrom today as I have gift cards to both, but I am flexing my resolve and despite wanting much (am I the only one who covets at least trying the Little Black Primer?) and having a few dollars to spend, I bought nothing.

Thank you! Yes I'm the same I'm usually just set with putting eyeshadow around my lash line like an eyeliner, it did take me a while because I suppose a purple smokey eye was new territory but I don't have anywhere to be so i could take as long as I wanted and that helped me stick with it, as you know you can get half way through doing it and be like 'woah this looks stupid' and stick to wearing Mac kid and wedge for the rest of my life haha! Well done for not letting your gift cards burn a hole in your pocket, I know they can be particularly hard to resist spending at the first opportunity! I do fancy the look of the little black primer but I don't think its out in the uk yet, if probably want to try it on counter too as I can't afford to be buying a potentially hyped up product and not have it be good.

 

[Buffy89]

My plan for the rest of the peices I've pulled is that if I don't find myself reaching for them, and loving the looks I'm making with them , say within the next month or so, then they gotta go!

Super pretty! And the plan you got is really good, I think. Too often, I forget about great things I own and I always reach for the same items in the morning.
Today I've made a major step towards "success", I think. I picked 20 lipsticks I didn't wear as often (because they were bright and not suitable for my everyday life, or I got similar ones with a nicer texture or finish) and gave them all to my mom. Many of them were pristine or have been swatched just once. They were all right and I really liked them, most of them were Mac or even luxury brands, but I felt it was right to let them go. I feels kinda weird though (this tells me that I've still got a long way to go towards change, but it's okay I think) and somehow I'm afraid I will miss them, but on the other hand, I'm feeling kinda free because of it. I still own more lipsticks than the average lady, so I definitely needn't be afraid that I'll have "nothing to wear". Finally, I can see a tiny chance that I might actually finish some lip products one fine day. Lately, reading all the stuff about rancid lipglasses on the Toledo thread, I got so afraid my lip products might expire so I'd have to throw everything into the garbage. This way, I could make someone a little happy AND I can concentrate on some of my favorites now. I mostly kept nudes and my Chanel lippies (around ten. didn't dare to say goodbye to them) and some of the matte lipsticks Mac has done in the last year.

 

[kerry-jane88]

Super pretty! And the plan you got is really good, I think. Too often, I forget about great things I own and I always reach for the same items in the morning. Today I've made a major step towards "success", I think. I picked 20 lipsticks I didn't wear as often (because they were bright and not suitable for my everyday life, or I got similar ones with a nicer texture or finish) and gave them all to my mom. Many of them were pristine or have been swatched just once. They were all right and I really liked them, most of them were Mac or even luxury brands, but I felt it was right to let them go. I feels kinda weird though (this tells me that I've still got a long way to go towards change, but it's okay I think) and somehow I'm afraid I will miss them, but on the other hand, I'm feeling kinda free because of it. I still own more lipsticks than the average lady, so I definitely needn't be afraid that I'll have "nothing to wear". Finally, I can see a tiny chance that I might actually finish some lip products one fine day. Lately, reading all the stuff about rancid lipglasses on the Toledo thread, I got so afraid my lip products might expire so I'd have to throw everything into the garbage. This way, I could make someone a little happy AND I can concentrate on some of my favorites now. I mostly kept nudes and my Chanel lippies (around ten. didn't dare to say goodbye to them) and some of the matte lipsticks Mac has done in the last year.

Well done! You know its strange how some people around me act when I destash, my friends might even be like, don't destash when you're feeling stressed or you'll regret giving stuff away, which I see their point of view as they've obviously seen that makeup is a hobby of mine and that I enjoy makeup. But I can't let the fear of potentially missing something I've let go make me keep what is ultimately too much for me to use alone. Plus I rationalise: if I do miss something, it's just a colour, just a plastic compact... I will be able to get something similar at another time So yeah enjoy that free feeling! As that's what keeps me going, headed towards a select stash that works for me. I know when I started my low buy last year and started to read up on what ingredients are in most of my cosmetics I was shocked, plus I learned a lot about shelf life. Well it wasn't all scaremongering, as I found I'd got to the point where a lot of my makeup was starting to go off! So then you do feel silly throwing illamasqua and chanel in the bin all because I simply had too much to ever put a dent in one product. At least now you can enjoy what you have more yay!!!

 

[Buffy89]

At least now you can enjoy what you have more

yay!!!

Yeah I think the whole internet community with all those HG products tends to make many people over-emphasize certain products, so it makes us feel as we were missing something important in our lives. But it's just lipstick, not health or family or other substancial things.
I've watched some decluttering videos today and read some comments and it was astonishing. Some people were like "nooooo, you can't throw all your stuff away, gotta collect even more!" (I'm happy I don't share their opinion any more) and others followed the approach all the great low-buy girls here got. I watched some videos by pinksofoxy, who's really inspiring for me when it comes to downsizing my stash, and one by a really quirky girl who was so much fun to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gqq6deESXo Decluttering needn't be frightening or bad or causing a "lack" of something, it can be sooo much fun indeed!

 

[veronikawithak]

But I really have to think what a low buy means to me, because if I set the parameters wrong, I will bust out of my confines immediately!

Thank you!! Since I posted that I'm down to 62 makeup pieces, 5 nail polishes, and 11 perfume oils = 78 total. I now have 3 eyeshadow palettes (I count the individual shades though): a custom z-palette from Red Apple Lipsticks with 9 shades I can use to create a variety of looks on an everyday basis using only that palette; Naked 2 Basics for extra depth if I want it; and my new Hourglass palette if I want to go more intense with color. I also have one loose mineral eyeshadow that's a matte neutral I can use for the crease or as an eyebrow shade. That's really all I need for eyeshadow.. I might get a few more loose minerals over time but I want to keep it around 25 eyeshadows total. I'm trying to keep it simple these days, because when I have too many options everything just sits there. I got a new travel makeup bag with a brush roll from an Etsy shop called Moody and Sanguine recently so I could get my makeup brushes off my desk, and my goal over the next couple years is to get the majority of my makeup to fit in the pouch. Plus a few seasonal things in another little bag that I can rotate in. It can hold a surprising amount actually.. so I think I'll be able to do it! If my last few years in the makeup world has taught me anything, it's that I'm a one makeup bag woman at heart! I love seeing all of the editorial makeup looks but I do a really intense eye look like once every few months? Not enough to keep around a lot of different eyeshadows. Here's a pic of the bag style if anyone's interested (image credit to their shop):

I totally agree that YouTube and blogs normalize hoarding! I remember first watching collection videos when it was only a few people who had done them, and thinking that it was super rare to have that much (it probably was, for the average person). Now there are dozens of collection videos going up every day with that amount.. and it definitely changes the perception of what is usual to own. Even the smaller collection videos still have probably 10x the amount people used to.

"But I really have to think what a low buy means to me, because if I set the parameters wrong, I will bust out of my confines immediately!"

Loved this quote of yours too.. that's exactly what I did last year and I failed miserably for the first 6 months.. I set an unrealistic goal and when I realized I was failing I pretty much gave up altogether. Fortunately I re-assessed in July and made a change, but it just goes to show how easy it is to slip back into old habits. I love your goal of one beautiful drawer of makeup!! Keep striving towards that!

It definitely gets easier as you go. At one point I had a couple of Muji drawers stuffed full of makeup.. probably close to 200 items.. but now everything fits comfortably in an old Glossybox and I'm still working to downsize the lip products. Realizing what your daily needs are and how long it takes to use things up definitely puts things in perspective. Just take it one day at a time, and you'll eventually get to where you want to be!

 

[veronikawithak]

@kerry-jane88 love your plan to go through your items! Awesome idea for downsizing but also maybe finding hidden gems that you forget about! Beautiful eyeshadow look too! I love purples.

@Buffy89 great job letting go of 20 lipsticks! That must feel like such a huge weight lifted, and now you can concentrate on the things that you love! The comments on decluttering videos always surprises me too.. I remember watching some of Pinksofoxy's videos where she gets rid of some NARS products that are like 3-5 years old and talks about how she hates the packaging because the coating rubs off and gets everywhere.. people were trying to get her to depot them and keep trying to use them up. Even though she had newer products she loved that would expire while she was trying to use up an old, expired product with packaging that was falling apart. It makes no sense to me whatsoever!

Agree with you ladies on being more mindful of expiration.. companies and people with large collections tend to say that they keep their products forever with no problems, but I've definitely noticed a quality difference after a few years. I've never had a lipstick go rancid on me but I tend to purge them after 2-3 years just in case. One time I used lipglasses from MAC that were only a year old and they gave me cold sores. Ick. So I'm pretty careful now about regularly getting rid of those and only keeping a few. I think I have 4 left now and the oldest is like 6-7 months. I've also had powder products either go hard and lose pigmentation or go really powdery. Plus now that I'm buying more natural products I know I'll have to buy fewer items and toss them more regularly anyway - the expiration date on a couple of my lipsticks is 6-12 months instead of 2-3 years. Ultimately I just don't think trying to use up old products is worth someone's vision or skin health!

Anyway.. It's been 2 weeks since I bought any makeup, and only 2 items so far this year. The only thing on my list right now is a new mascara in April, maybe when the VIB sale happens, because I just opened my last backup and mascara is an essential for me. I can't remember the last time I wasn't coveting any makeup!!

I might get a lipstick from MAC's summer collection if there are any shades I like, but I'm going to try not to look at that thread until we get closer to the date. I don't want to waste time stalking for months anymore. Life's too short to spend it pining for a lipstick lol!

 

[Buffy89]

Thank you!! Since I posted that I'm down to 62 makeup pieces, 5 nail polishes, and 11 perfume oils = 78 total. I now have 3 eyeshadow palettes (I count the individual shades though): a custom z-palette from Red Apple Lipsticks with 9 shades I can use to create a variety of looks on an everyday basis using only that palette; Naked 2 Basics for extra depth if I want it; and my new Hourglass palette if I want to go more intense with color. I also have one loose mineral eyeshadow that's a matte neutral I can use for the crease or as an eyebrow shade. That's really all I need for eyeshadow.. I might get a few more loose minerals over time but I want to keep it around 25 eyeshadows total. I'm trying to keep it simple these days, because when I have too many options everything just sits there. I got a new travel makeup bag with a brush roll from an Etsy shop called Moody and Sanguine recently so I could get my makeup brushes off my desk, and my goal over the next couple years is to get the majority of my makeup to fit in the pouch. Plus a few seasonal things in another little bag that I can rotate in. It can hold a surprising amount actually.. so I think I'll be able to do it! If my last few years in the makeup world has taught me anything, it's that I'm a one makeup bag woman at heart! I love seeing all of the editorial makeup looks but I do a really intense eye look like once every few months? Not enough to keep around a lot of different eyeshadows. Here's a pic of the bag style if anyone's interested (image credit to their shop):

I totally agree that YouTube and blogs normalize hoarding! I remember first watching collection videos when it was only a few people who had done them, and thinking that it was super rare to have that much (it probably was, for the average person). Now there are dozens of collection videos going up every day with that amount.. and it definitely changes the perception of what is usual to own. Even the smaller collection videos still have probably 10x the amount people used to.

"But I really have to think what a low buy means to me, because if I set the parameters wrong, I will bust out of my confines immediately!"

Loved this quote of yours too.. that's exactly what I did last year and I failed miserably for the first 6 months.. I set an unrealistic goal and when I realized I was failing I pretty much gave up altogether. Fortunately I re-assessed in July and made a change, but it just goes to show how easy it is to slip back into old habits. I love your goal of one beautiful drawer of makeup!! Keep striving towards that!

It definitely gets easier as you go. At one point I had a couple of Muji drawers stuffed full of makeup.. probably close to 200 items.. but now everything fits comfortably in an old Glossybox and I'm still working to downsize the lip products. Realizing what your daily needs are and how long it takes to use things up definitely puts things in perspective. Just take it one day at a time, and you'll eventually get to where you want to be!

I love that brush roll! I just came to my mind that nice and pretty storage opportunities can be really helpful when it comes to maintaining a small stash. About five years ago, all my stuff (both makeup and nailpolishes) fit into one tiny vanity drawer and a small vanity case. Now, a metal IKEA Helmer drawer-thingy which is originally meant for office desks isn't enough. It's not really the prettiest piece of furniture I could imagine next to my bed and hopefully, it will leave my bedroom again sooner or later 'cause it really bothers me.
Before I got into reading blogs, I was super picky about my makeup and quite critical about people who had hundreds of nailpolishes or so. And then I turned into one of them because buying more and more on a regular base seemed to be normal, even good. Lately I've often thought that I don't wanna have to think about storage solutions for my makeup, as if my makeup was part of my job or part of my furniture (like having to store household items) or as if I was a retailer. Those collection videos promote the opposite and watching them changed my perception. Luckily, I've worked towards a different perception again. (Side note: I don't wanna be judgemental on people who enjoy having those huge collections, when it makes them happy, I'm not allowed to judge what they spend their money on. I've been there, too. It's simply not what I'd prefer for myself in the future.)

 

[GinghamDot]

Thank you! Yes I'm the same I'm usually just set with putting eyeshadow around my lash line like an eyeliner, it did take me a while because I suppose a purple smokey eye was new territory but I don't have anywhere to be so i could take as long as I wanted and that helped me stick with it, as you know you can get half way through doing it and be like 'woah this looks stupid' and stick to wearing Mac kid and wedge for the rest of my life haha! Well done for not letting your gift cards burn a hole in your pocket, I know they can be particularly hard to resist spending at the first opportunity! I do fancy the look of the little black primer but I don't think its out in the uk yet, if probably want to try it on counter too as I can't afford to be buying a potentially hyped up product and not have it be good.

And since I am attempting a low buy, this is such a good way of approaching things: I need not get every new thing. Reviews will come out and I will get a picture clearer than adspeak as to how a thing works. @veronikawithak - 78, including perfume?! That is amazing. And you've got me thinking how many eyeshadows I have versus how many I use, which is basically zero lately. I went through a MAC phase a few years ago, so many Nars, several one-offs of Stila, Estee... my wheels are turning. Thank you! But before I do that I have to start on the art I was commissioned to do for a friend's business! I just keep thinking about how my grandma had one old tray of makeup and how much use, pleasure and confidence she got from those twenty or so items. I can't get that low, but I can clean. That would make her very proud. : )

 

[Buffy89]

@kerry-jane88 love your plan to go through your items! Awesome idea for downsizing but also maybe finding hidden gems that you forget about! Beautiful eyeshadow look too! I love purples.

@Buffy89 great job letting go of 20 lipsticks! That must feel like such a huge weight lifted, and now you can concentrate on the things that you love! The comments on decluttering videos always surprises me too.. I remember watching some of Pinksofoxy's videos where she gets rid of some NARS products that are like 3-5 years old and talks about how she hates the packaging because the coating rubs off and gets everywhere.. people were trying to get her to depot them and keep trying to use them up. Even though she had newer products she loved that would expire while she was trying to use up an old, expired product with packaging that was falling apart. It makes no sense to me whatsoever!

Agree with you ladies on being more mindful of expiration.. companies and people with large collections tend to say that they keep their products forever with no problems, but I've definitely noticed a quality difference after a few years. I've never had a lipstick go rancid on me but I tend to purge them after 2-3 years just in case. One time I used lipglasses from MAC that were only a year old and they gave me cold sores. Ick. So I'm pretty careful now about regularly getting rid of those and only keeping a few. I think I have 4 left now and the oldest is like 6-7 months. I've also had powder products either go hard and lose pigmentation or go really powdery. Plus now that I'm buying more natural products I know I'll have to buy fewer items and toss them more regularly anyway - the expiration date on a couple of my lipsticks is 6-12 months instead of 2-3 years. Ultimately I just don't think trying to use up old products is worth someone's vision or skin health!

Anyway.. It's been 2 weeks since I bought any makeup, and only 2 items so far this year. The only thing on my list right now is a new mascara in April, maybe when the VIB sale happens, because I just opened my last backup and mascara is an essential for me. I can't remember the last time I wasn't coveting any makeup!!

I might get a lipstick from MAC's summer collection if there are any shades I like, but I'm going to try not to look at that thread until we get closer to the date. I don't want to waste time stalking for months anymore. Life's too short to spend it pining for a lipstick lol!

Well done!

concerning the expiration of products, I guess one tends to forget about this when turning into a serious "collection" mode. And that might be a reason those people told pinksofoxy to depot instead of just throw those things away.
I mean, those lipsticks are on my mouth, right where the food goes. I wouldn't eat anything that's beyond its expiration date, so I should treat my body nicely and avoid those groce old lipsticks.

 

[Buffy89]

I just keep thinking about how my grandma had one old tray of makeup and how much use, pleasure and confidence she got from those twenty or so items. I can't get that low, but I can clean. That would make her very proud. : )

Such a sweet story, I guess my granny would totally rant at me seeing all that stuff.

By the way, sorry for all those single posts. Your posts are just popping up and I don't know how to connect the stuff I've already written.

 

[Glitteryvegas]

@burghchick - so sorry to hear about kitty! Hope things look up for you soon, I can relate to how difficult that is and the stress that you feel. Sending you hugs!

@kerry-jane88 - good for you girl! Destashing in full effect! People are so strange - "Let's hang on to something I hate just so I can say I hung on to it, even though I never use it and loathe it every time I look at it!" Fantastic, air tight logic, eh? I can relate to the 'weird' feeling you are speaking about I think - I did a big destash a few weeks ago and when I saw everyone rummaging through things it made me feel strange. Almost like I was possessive over my things - like seeing people touch them, etc. made me feel uncomfortable. It was so, so strange. Recognizing that I felt that way and acknowledging it made me feel even weirder, if that makes sense. But honestly, I felt so free after and now I don't have to deal with all of those things that I knew were expired and I just couldn't let go of, or things that I didn't like at all, or wouldn't wear. Good for you, keep up the progress!

I have Trax MAC shadow and honestly, it just looks like a brown mess on me. I should probably just get rid of it. I swatched it the other day and it kind of works if you layer it, but HONESTLY who has time for that shit? Like if it doesn't work in a swipe (max 3 layers for me), then let's just give it up.

@veronikawithak - WOW! Love the brush pouch, very functional and easy to use. I have my brushes in a tin jar thing and sometimes it's like "WHERE IS IT???" to find a particular brush. That probably means I have too many brushes lol. Good for you for having a number in mind and going for it. I have a few powder shadows from the Hello Kitty collection and I'm trying to decide what to do...the powder is a bit tough on them, so maybe it's time....*SAD FACE*. I would keep the packaging though because I truly love it and could use it again by popping in other shadows that I use all the time.

@Buffy89 - I totally agree - we overemphasize the importance of material things in an effort to distract us from the difficult things (because often those are the great things, too). I hope that makes sense. I will watch that video that you linked - she looks adorable! And I love when a girl has a collection that I can relate to (brand wise) because then I feel like I can do what she's doing (destashing).

I'm honestly so proud of all of us and our little community. We are progressing and getting to where we want to be. For me, it's slowly and surely. Obviously due to my no buy I haven't bought any makeup or fun things this year. I'm maximizing product use and being conscious of that. I have more makeup that I'll ever need I think. It's crazy and I can't believe how out of hand it's gotten. I honestly don't miss anything that I've given away, so there's a big lesson there. One day this makeup hoarding will be a distant memory!

I'm looking for alternatives for my 'activities' - for example, each year I go to a writer's/reader's festival and buy tix - this year I'm looking at volunteer opportunities at the festival so I don't have to pay to see the events. Slowly I'm getting somewhere! And I'm still working out constantly and I love it. YAY for ALL OF US!!

 

[kerry-jane88]

there's some really good vibes on here, i think us lot that tried to low buy last year are being very considered after what we have learned from last years highs and lows, and on recently reflecting on that has got us determined to do what's right by our standards now.

go team and welcome all newbies!