I often wonder about taking a year off makeup buying. I know I could manage as I have so much stuff already but the thought of it is scary. I would still have plenty to blog about but I'm not sure how interesting it would be to read. Plus, no purchases at all might be a little too extreme to stick to. So, after some discussion with fellow makeup lovers on Twitter, I have decided to compromise and put myself on an eyeshadow no-buy. I can't decide whether to say 6 month or a year, so for now I will commit to reviewing my progress in July.
In a bid to kick start my no-buy, I thought it would be useful to work out exactly how many eyeshadows I have. It was actually worse than I had imagined! Adding up every single pan from my singles to my quints and also my creams, I have a total of 193 eyeshadows. That figure includes 55 singles, 11 loose eyeshadows and 15 quads. I have only hit pan on 1 eyeshadow in the whole of my collection.
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| My Eyeshadow Palette |
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| My NARS Collection |
I'm hoping that not buying any more eyeshadow will enable me to more imaginative with the ones I already have. It would be nice to re-kindle my love for more colourful eyeshadow looks and experiment with some different combinations.
As well as an eyeshadow no-buy, I intend to hold off buying anymore nail varnish in 2012. My addiction to buying nail varnish isn't quite as bad as my eyeshadow problem but considering the fact that I can't wear it daily because of the poor condition of my nails, I think I have quite enough to be going on with. I'm not sure I can face counting up my collection. The shock of the eyeshadows was quite enough for one day! I'm hoping that my pledge to avoid new purchases isn't too grueling. I guess it will all depend on what limited edition collection come out this year. I feel quite lucky that most of my favourite brands don't really go in for special releases.
Do you ever feel guilty about your makeup habit? Have you gone on a self-imposed no-buy and found it useful? Feel free to join me if you fancy being more makeup frugal in 2012.
193? Whoa! I had around a 100, after which I downsized to about 60 - I haven't bought any eyeshadow since last April! :P it has really motivated me to use what I have and frankly, it is nowhere close to getting over!
ReplyDeleteHi Ki! It's good to hear that it's helped motivate you to use what you have. I think it's going to take a long time before I start seeing any pan!
ReplyDeleteHey Claire! The Sleek pans are quite small so don't feel too bad ;). Where do you store it all? One idea I did have with regard to me keeping going is that I could do some swapping if I wanted to try something new. I'd be happy with that as it wouldn't involve my collection growing further. Maybe that's something you could consider? Also, showing lots of different looks using the Sleek palettes would be interesting.
Jane x
I am also mortified by the amount of make up I have accumulated! I am joining you! Like you, I have 3 kaleidoscopes and 6 NARS e/s duos, 2 Guerlain 6-shadow palettes. I just thought I'd share the similarity! I don't want to count the rest of the e/s.
ReplyDeleteIt will be good to use all that I have. I expect I have enough to last me the next 2 years.
Great idea, think I'll do it myself!! I'm afraid to count how many I have!!!
ReplyDeletedone a massive #binbagoperation over xmas and i am at the stage before yours which means I have finally bought some storage to put it all in. It is scary. Beauty blogging has changed my life: I have never been as broke and as untidy ever in my life. Something has got to go. Eyeshadow is also my problem, it's my worst problem area in my makeup collection. I need to regain control x
ReplyDeleteLike Claire I'm mortified! A coworker asked me a while back how many eyeshadows I have so I decided it might be fun to count. I was wrong. Not fun! At that time I had 463 and have added more since so I would estimate at least 500.
ReplyDeleteI'm worried about my blog too as currently I'm on a no buy until at least March 1st at which time I will reevaluate. I figure with reviews and some EOTD posts I can at least make it until then.
Good luck everyone!
Hi! I'm also on a no-buy of everything, the amount of eyeshadow I have is ridiculous, if counted individually I think maybe 300? I have loads of UD palettes, Sleek palettes, trios and quads as well as single eyeshadows. Mine will last until I feel I need something new, but officially until my birthday. Good luck with this! :) xx
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Huge collection. I don't have that much but my entire MU collection overwhelms me! Why do I need 20 red lipsticks?? And why did I just order three new lipbalms when I have about 30 untouched or not even3/4 of the way through? I recently made some MU purchases but that's going to be it until I get halfway through my stash. I've never hit pan on any MU item except for my MAC MSF Natural...just writing this makes me feel bad...geez:( Good luck with your journey! <3
ReplyDeleteWell done Jane. I've been deciding on what I will refrain from buying in the year 2012. I must admit I'm getting quite a large list! I had a big of a make-up sort out yesterday and was literally overwhelmed at how much I actually have! I'm on a mission to shop my stash more this year and appreciate what I actually have - well for some products anyway!! I can't ban myself from buying everything. Good luck. Looking forward to hearing your progress x
ReplyDeleteI haven't counted my stash in a while, but last time it was around 170, and I know I would like to reduce it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with this, I think for me eyeshadow is a bit easier to no-buy as I have a lot of colours so it's likely I will have something similar if I'm tempted by something new. Now nail polish I find a bit harder!
That's exactly what I did!!!! It's been good though because some of the brighter looks I have come up with have been so pretty and flattering that they made me wonder why I'd been thinking I needed to buy more in the first place!!
ReplyDeleteIt's horrifying at first but then it becomes fun :)
well, it doesn't work for me, as long as I decide not to buy something, I would buy something else.
ReplyDeleteI don't have quite that much! But I limit myself to only buying one or two things a month.
ReplyDeleteI daren't count. Good luck with your mission... I can't stick to anything like this but I'd like to!
ReplyDeleteI think I may has gasped out loud when I read how long you were going to do the no buy for ;)
ReplyDeleteI think its a very good idea if you have the willpower, I alas don't but I have decided to go through my entire makeup collection and will only keep the stuff that I really love and I am going to "try" and be more careful with what I buy.
I wish you good luck and if I see any new lovely taupe eyeshadows this year I won't mention them to you ;) x
Like I said last night, I have intentions in the general direction......but can't actually promise anything....definitely want to explore what I have already more fully this year though. x
ReplyDeleteI've just counted and have in excess of 500!! I'll have to ask myself do I really need yet another taupe when I'm wasting time at the airport?? Admittedly there are colours that I continually repurchase after eeking out every last swipe, but they are always browbone highlights. Thankfully my blusher, lipstick and foundations amount to a much lesser number, but I am scared to count my make up brushes.. Good luck on the no buy
ReplyDeleteI will have to force myself to no buy at some point too. I cleaned out a bunch of old makeup and skincare last month and already replaced them with new ones, sigh...
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck. I'd have to give up reading everyone's blogs and possibly stop blogging myself. My two biggest weaknesses are eyeshadows and nail polishes.
ReplyDeleteI haven't counted my eyeshadows but I know I have too many considering that I always find something I forgot I have whenever I go through my collection. The good thing about eyeshadows is that they are sometimes a bit pricey and I can't afford them. My downfall is nail polish; I just organized and counted tonight and I have 407! And I already know of 3 China Glaze collections coming out that I *have* to have. And I'm not even a blogger! Eek! I'm not doing any official no-buys but I'm definitely making an effort to use more of the things I don't use a lot; or use something that's getting low so I can finish it. Anyways, great post and sorry for the mini novel. Lol. :)
ReplyDeleteRebecca
I am thinking of going on a eyeshadow no-buy. (though I have just bought the naked 2 palette) I am going to count mine, think it will shock me into it. I have probably about the same amount as you. Thanks for a great post. x
ReplyDeleteNooooooooooooooo! This is just too much for me to handle on a Monday morning lol. Kidding aside, good on you! I'll be very interested to see how you get on with that decision. Being too scared to actually sit down and count my own collection, I hope you will prove to be an inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Jane.
Nina x
I'm constantly on an eyeshadow no-buy, unless something REALLY catches my eye. Eyeshadow palettes are my crack, and now that I have so many I've tried to concentrate on using what I have. Good luck Jane!
ReplyDeleteWow...almost 200 xD
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea (your wallet will thank you in July)...it might seem a little bit scary at first but think about the satisfaction you'll have resisting the temptation for all these months!!
Update your progress on the blog...this can give you lots of support xD
An excellent way to start the new year. I believe that most shadows do not flatter me, yet after finding the blogosphere, I have more shadows than necessary. I'll never survive a no-buy, so I've imposed an "only when in NYC" motto. Since I only visit 2Xs per year, I am hoping this will help stem the buying flow. Here's to meeting our mutual goals.
ReplyDeleteI thought of decluttering my makeup and blogging about my no buy and purging at the same time. I will admire you for your willpower if you get through this and maybe blog about your helplessness against seeing all those new collections pop up...oh wait I was going to do this! :p
ReplyDeleteAny ways good luck! A good book is really better than buying more makeup you just look at right? (trying to convince myself)
Hum never count I have a lot of quads from Guerlain and Dior, less from Lancome, Le metier de beaute, chanel and MAC. I will say my husband been telling me for a year or two I have too much makeup, but recently it is more my credit card that speaking to me ( I DID purchase a little too much makeup recently) So for January and so one it is just a couple of item per month. Not a no buy yet but certainly a restraint approach. :(
ReplyDeleteHum never count I have a lot of quads from Guerlain and Dior, less from Lancome, Le metier de beaute, chanel and MAC. I will say my husband been telling me for a year or two I have too much makeup, but recently it is more my credit card that speaking to me ( I DID purchase a little too much makeup recently) So for January and so one it is just a couple of item per month. Not a no buy yet but certainly a restraint approach. :(
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much for your comments. It's interesting to see how many of you are in possession of large collections than me! So far so good but it's early days yet and Replica has already pointed out that I'm doing myself out of the new RBR eyeshadows that will be released with the palette....what an error! Good luck to all of you that are on a similar mission. We can all be streamlined together :D
ReplyDeleteJane x