Why do we keep buying?

[cno64]

I am *trying* to get a handle on the amount of makeup I own, since the size of my cosmetics collection exceeded "massive" a looong time ago.
The thought occurred to me, "Since I have soo much makeup, what makes me keep on buying more?"
Then, this past Sunday, as I was applying my makeup, I put on my lid shade which was, incidentally, MAC's Arctic Grey, picked up my 224 brush so I could do my creases, and thought, "My eyes already look pretty; why am I automatically thinking that I 'need' to keep on going, and apply a crease color, highlight, liner and mascara?"

And, when I already own so many beautiful products, why do I still breathlessly anticipate those black boxes that come from MAC?
I'm a modern, intelligent, college educated woman, but is some part of me still harboring the notion that "maybe *this* product will be The One that finally makes me look Good Enough?
What the heck is Good Enough, anyway, and would looking that way really make me happier?
Is the entire cosmetics industry grounded on making women feel inadequate?
It's a rather disturbing thought, but I have to wonder ...
What do you all think?

 

[ginger9]

I have really curbed my makeup purchases. Although I still indulge the occasional drug store cosmetic sale (I figure it's cheap so I can justify it) but at one time it became an obsession. I wanted just to own, just to collect. Truthfully I don't used half or more of the makeup I own. I have stuff sitting around that I've only swatched a few times. I've come to grips that I'll likely end up throwing most of it away when it gets old and goes bad. So that's helped in stopping major hauls.

I get what you mean. For me I think it can become a search for perfection. Because sometimes I think I want a MORE polished flawless face, BETTER brows, more striking makeup to define and bring out my eyes, hotter lips etc. But I don't feel it's the cosmetic companies creating this per se because people seek perfection in many ways. Such as exercising and dieting for the perfect body, to seeking the perfect job with a big salary, or the perfect looking house, best car, biggest shoe collection, and the list goes on. I guess what I’m saying is only you can control how far you want to go with something. The truth is, if I had to I can be happy with just a few products for makeup. But since I don't have too, I'll keep what I have thank you very much.

 

[M.A.C. head.]

I think it really depends on how you view make up and what purpose it serves for you.

Personally, I like make up because it inspires creativity for me. Instead of painting, drawing, or sculpting, cosmetology is my art of choice. I spend a lot of money buying make up because I like to collect it, talk about it, experiment with it, and wear it!

I don't feel bad when I buy a lot of make up, it's something that I enjoy, and everyone needs to have their "feel good" vice.

 

[Beauty Mark]

For me personally, I don't feel that I wear makeup to look like perfection. I do believe I look better with mascara and some eyeliner, but I also am fine going without makeup (today I just have clear lip balm).

I think makeup industry is like a lot of other industries- they need to convince people that whatever is new is great, even if there's something similar available already. I am going to guess there is some aspect of trying to make women believe that they can and should look better, but there's a lot going on outside of the makeup industry that already feeds into it.

If you aren't happy and comfortable with yourself now, looking like perfection probably won't help. I don't know how you can find happiness with how you look, but I wish you luck in it.

 

[hawaii02]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.A.C. head. I think it really depends on how you view make up and what purpose it serves for you. Personally, I like make up because it inspires creativity for me. Instead of painting, drawing, or sculpting, cosmetology is my art of choice. I spend a lot of money buying make up because I like to collect it, talk about it, experiment with it, and wear it! I don't feel bad when I buy a lot of make up, it's something that I enjoy, and everyone needs to have their "feel good" vice.

This is exactly what i would have written. I started with the notion of really wanting to know how to apply makeup, just for myself. Now, it's just art. I like to be creative and think of my face as the canvas and work with colors to see what I can do. There are worse things out there to be addicted to, so if a person enjoys makeup, why not have fun with it??

 

[hello_kitty]

I keep buying because I like it, and I like seeing what I can create. I don't think I need it to look good, I think I look good with only mascara. It's more of something fun for me.

This can be said about anything... why do people keep buying shoes or clothes when they have "enough" already? An example for me is car stuff, since I race cars... people go "well, isn't it fast enough already?" But I get more, and go faster because it's what I like to do.

 

[MissMochaXOXO]

u should feel beautiful b4 u even touch ur face with makeup each day. girls who use makeup to feel better about themselves never truely will, because you still know in the back of your mind that once you go home and wash it all off, your still that same girl that you think isn't good looking enough. i go through days like that all the time.

 

[TISH1124]

I continue buying because it's the only selfish indulgence that I have...I do everything else for my family, son, and friends...My Makeup indulgence is the one thing that is just for me...and shoes!! I am not buying to look perfect, or for people to look at me and go ahhhh look how pretty she looks. I buy it because I like it and it makes me feel good. I do have friends and know people however that need or want compliments everytime they make their face up...I don't get that...some people just need or want the attention I think. They spend more time in front of the camera than behind it.

But to each their own...I know I over buy and I have seriously made a vow to curb the spending this year...but we will see as the year progresses.

 

[cno64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beauty Mark If you aren't happy and comfortable with yourself now, looking like perfection probably won't help. I don't know how you can find happiness with how you look, but I wish you luck in it.

While I, and probably every other sane woman in the world, realize that "perfection" is not a realistic goal, if you're actually happy with what you have, it's going to be difficult, if not downright impossible, to sell you on the idea that you need "improvement."
For example, while lip plumpers are, and have been for quite a while, an extremely "hot" item, I am completely satisfied with the natural fullness of my lips, so I feel absolutely no interest in buying a lip plumper or having collagen injections to make my lips look "better."
If I could somehow get to the point at which I feel that everything about me is "fine just the way it is," I'd be the world's worst consumer.
That said, I get what some of you are saying about makeup being a form of artistic expression, or even just harmless fun, and I agree. While I'm happy with the shape of my lips, as mentioned before, I still own an extensive lipstick "wardrobe," because it's fun, I feel more polished and put together when I'm wearing a flattering shade of lipstick, and I like to play up my pretty lips. I guess what concerns me is when women feel pressure to buy things out of a feeling of needing that One Magical Item that will finally push them over the top to "good enough."

 

[panda0410]

I dont think it has anything to do with "make-up". I feel this is part of many peoples psyche - *collecting* is NOT a new phenomena - it just happens that the items we collect are cosmetics.

I'll agree that there is pressure for women to look their best, but I dont think this is a critical issue is the cultism that MAC has enjoyed in its customer base - that issue is very broadly spread among all demographics and has nothing to do with collecting cosmetic items.

Looking for the "one" perfect item is not much more than a rationalisation for excessive purchases - in most peoples collection there will be favourites, but the search for the prefect item is endless, almost a myth, and in reality most people will never find it.

 

[Beauty Mark]

Quote:

I guess what concerns me is when women feel pressure to buy things out of a feeling of needing that One Magical Item that will finally push them over the top to "good enough."

People are like that with a lot of things. It isn't just makeup or women. Some guys think owning a certain car make their lives better. I even see it in education where people strive to go very far not because it is their passion or interest but because they want a certain prestige.

 

[Macnarsandlove]

I used to buy makeup an at the height od my "collecting" I would go twice weekey to a counter or sephora. Im so broke now its not an option. So I dont, really simple. When it occurred to me I have 12 pro palletes and a bunch of quads of colors I never wear didnt really care anymore.

And... I just realized collecting spam would be a better idea. Makeup expires/goes bad. Years from now all ill have are gross shadows and crayon smelling off colored lipsticks. Im over it.

 

[sayah]

There's a good tread about the hype of MAC here:

http://www.specktra.net/forum/f165/m...sumers-105942/

Maybe you've already seen it, but if not..

I read the part about you putting on Artic grey and realizing it looks good on its own. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut, could that be the case for you? Personally I like to do different looks through out the week. Somedays no makeup at all, others like yesterday I do a full on look with limegreen and blue and lots of eyeliner. Maybe try to find the fun in playing?

I like to get new nuances and colours and just play.

I also def. think that you have a point about the industry making money of people, esp. women not feeling good about themselves.

 

[QueenEmB]

I keep buying because so many beautiful and unique products keep getting released that I want to try out on my face!

For me, makeup is about fun and creativity nothing to do with a constant quest to look better. I'm comfortable with my looks and I'd go out with no makeup with no problems.

 

[cno64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sayah I read the part about you putting on Artic grey and realizing it looks good on its own. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut, could that be the case for you? Personally I like to do different looks through out the week.

On this particular day, a Sunday, I was going for a polished, "dressy" look.

I guess hat's why I automatically went for the lid,crease and highlight design when a simple one-color look would have been okay, even pretty.
I found myself thinking, "Carla, God gave you big beautiful eyes, so why do you think that you 'need' to put three colors of eyeshadow on them in order for them to look like they 'should'?"

Maybe I just need to make myself leave the house without a "full face," and see what happens.

 

[LMD84]

see i wear a full face of make up each day at work and only on my days off if i'm doing something sepcial with my hubby or friends. however i don't put make up on to make myself look perfect. i know that i'll never look prefect but i like making the best of what i have. that's why i wear foundation to cover my acne makes and discolouration around my mouth.

as far as eye make up goes i wear lots of different colours and stuff because i enjoy putting it on and creating new looks for myself! i'm terrible at drawing and rubbish at dressing myself in fashionable clothing so to me make up is something i'm good at and enjoy experimenting with. only the other day one of the guys at work loves how i'd put a mac glitter liner over some fluidline to make it sparkle. and i was really pleased that he'd noticed - not because he said that it made me look pretty but because he said it was funky and different to all the other girls!

so i will continue to buy make up but i've never been one to buy for the sake of it. i mean i love all teh shadows in bbr but when it's realsed in the uk all i'll be buying is 2 msf and only because i don't own any msf. all teh shadows i can eaily dupe.

 

[MzzRach]

I love makeup and experimenting with different looks. I have always had love for all things cosmetic, ever since I was a little girl.

That being said - I personally am at the point where I have hit my "saturation point" - for me, I can no longer keep justifying buying makeup at this point in time. I truly have everything I need to achieve a great variety of looks. My stash is large, to put it bluntly.

I think part of it for me is a sincere desire to move away from buying more "stuff" and being happier with what I have, and even less. Overall, my desire to collect things has really diminished. And that includes cosmetic items.

Of course, this is just my personal situation at this point in time. Everyone is coming from their own perspective.

 

[TISH1124]

^^ Rach I am really right there with you...I am so over it at this point...Not sure what took so long for me to get there...But you wake up one morning and realize...Enough already! I have a fabulous collection and I don't get to enjoy it for constantly adding more to it...I love makeup...But I have finally realized that I am not IN Love with makeup....I am going to enjoy what I have and not be pulled into the hype of having to have every new collection that MAC throws out there...which will be MANY for years and years to come. ..One face with a 1,000 collections does not make sense to me..so I have vowed to halt my cosmetic spending. I don't have to have everything everyone else has...not gonna look the same on me anyway...I might want it...But need it, NO!
I am going through my own personal Intervention! I am starting with HK!

 

[d n d]

I am not sure why I buy makeup that I know I don't need. I think I a lot of it comes from seeing how "pretty" this person or that person looks in a color that I don't have. Previously I would get a color that I saw someone else in, buy it, and end up taking it back, letting it sit, or selling it on here. With the way the economy is, I am re-evaluating my purchases. Most of the time when I do wear make up I reach for the same products while the others just sit unused.

And like some of you already mentioned, for me makeup is one of the things I "treat" myself with. I am a single mother who works hard 8 1/2 hours a day in the Social Services field. I spend so much time doing for others (not that I mind) sometimes buying one little eyeshadow or gloss gives me the little boost I need to thank myself once in a while.

 

[X4biddenxLustX]

I first started buying makeup because I had major self esteem issues and thought, "oh, this will make me look prettier and make everything better". I wont lie it did help a bit but instead of it being something I HAVE to do and put on, its become something I've come to actually enjoy because of the artistic aspect of it. Its so fun, I love it. It's become a hobby instead of a chore for me now.

Plus I also like every girl out there, I LOVE shopping lol! But I have noticed that I've been using it as a coping mechanism. Like whenever I'm feeling down and things are not looking so great that day for me, I'll run out and buy some makeup. Not good if this becomes and all the time thing though but for now it helps for those crummy days.