November Check-In
I made three orders at Sephora (two during the VIB sale and a smaller order during the 3X points week), two orders during the MAC Select 25% off sale, and I bought some items at Target. This is the most I’ve spent on makeup, skin and haircare in one month ever. It’s overwhelming to list everything, though I’m justifying my purchases since everything was on sale. The majority of the purchases are items I’ve been eyeing for a while, with some items replacing old items I’ve tossed out or have used up.
Purchased
MAC:
Zoom Lash Mascara/ Little MAC- Beets Me
Prep+Prime Lip Primer
Brushstroke Liner- Brushbrown
Liquidlast Liner
Lip Scrubtious- Sweet Vanilla
Lipstick- Half n Half
Sephora:
Elizabeth & James Floral Rollerball Set (French Grey, White, Rose) and the Warm & Spicy Rollerball Set (Amethyst, Black, Bourbon)
Fresh Crème Ancienne (been eyeing this moisturizer for a year and can’t wait to start using it as I love the honey mask from the line)
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner
Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil
Ole Henriksen 3 Little Wonders Mini (Invigorating Night Transformation Gel, Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer, & Truth Serum)
Ole Henriksen A Brighter Truth Brightening Essentials Set (Face the Truth Gel Cleanser, Truth Advanced Moisturizing Crème, & Truth Serum)
Ole Henriksen Nurture Yourself Gentle Hydration Set (Hygge HydraClay Detox Mask, Nurture Me Moisturizing Creme, Wonderfeel Double Cleanser)
Ole Heniksen Three Glowing Scrubs Set (Pore-Balance Facial Sauna Scrub, Transforming Almond Facial Polish, Transforming Walnut Scrub)
Origins A Perfect World Creamy Body Cleanser with White Tea & A Perfect World Highly Hydrating Body Lotion with White Tea
Qhemet Biologics Aethiopika Hydrate & Twist Butter Burdock Root Butter Cream
Qhemet Biologics Castor & Moringa Softening Serum
Qhemet Biologics Egyptian Wheatgrass Cleansing Tea
Qhemet Biologics Moringa Tree Conditioning Ghee
Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette (my favorite purchase this month)
Target:
Burt’s Bees Moisturizing Lip Balm- Wild Cherry
Dr. Bronner's Baby-Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap (travel size; for cleaning my makeup brushes)
Real Techniques 3-in-1 Miracle Sponge (somehow, I lost my black Beauty Blender inside my dad’s house!)
Received
Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask with Echinacea GreenEnvy (Sephora point perk) (selected twice in two of my Sephora orders)
MAC Prep+Prime Natural Radiance Yellow (sample)
Used Up
Caudalíe Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet (part of the Sephora 2017 birthday gift)
CLEAN Reserve perfume (sample)
Fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Mask (travel size)
Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil Light (mini)
Nivea Care & Coconut Moisturizing Body Wash
Nivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion
Shea Moisture Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Styling Milk
TOCCA Cleopatra perfume (sample)
MAC Shadescents- Creme D’Nude (sample)
Tossed Out/Passed On
E.L.F. Expert Liquid Liner (dried out)
E.L.F. Kabuki Face Brush (no longer use)
Fresh Sugar Lip Polish (too old and lost interest in using)
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara- Dark Brown (dried out)
Caudalíe Vinoperfect Radiance Serum (part of the Sephora 2017 birthday gift. Lost interest in using)
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick- Lolita (Lost interest in using)
Observations
Since participating in Resolution Low-Buy 2017, I've gotten better at not buying items on impulse. I do as much research as possible on new products, get samples if possible, and the overall quality of my purchases have gotten better. I'm actually prouder of the purchases I've made this year, whether they were repeat purchases of staple items or products I've been eyeing for a while. I've also noticed I've gotten better on delaying my self gratification. For example, I typically would buy a UD Naked palette at launch, but I chose to wait until the VIB sale not only to save a few dollars but also because I knew I didn't need it in that moment.
I've also noticed that 1) there's really no point in holding on to products that don't work for me or I lose interest in, 2) I've gotten much better at making returns/exchanges and 3) I REALLY like using up my products. I feel like I got my money's worth, plus there's something gratifying about finishing something up. I like the whole "one in, one out" approach to buying so I don't get overwhelmed with tons of products. Given the VIB sale, I've decided to hold off on opening some products (i.e. moisturizers and cleansers) until I've used up the ones that are already open.
For December
Part of me wants to buy something when the Sephora $25-$20 coupon is emailed out, but there's really nothing I need. I'm tempted to buy the Fenty Beauty Stunna lip color or the Gloss Bomb, but I don't were red lipstick often (plus I love my Ruby Woo, my only red lip color) and I already have two MAC glosses that I'm enjoying (C-Thru and Spite).
Other than that, my focus for December will be on using up more of my products (I've already made a note of which products I'm getting close to finishing), updating my beauty inventory and setting my beauty goals for 2018.
this was a spendy month! 
