No spend beauty 2019

[Bellsandwhistle]

So after Liberty and M and S advent calanders plus a few presents I’m gonna attempt a no beauty spend 2019. Will eventually need deodorant and shampoo I guess but will see how far I can get before spending....

I try to pick one bottle and use it up- that way it's more satisfying as you get an empty quicker! I also sometimes decant things like shampoos together.

I try to alternate so I don’t get bored and I will use a l’occitane shower oil if I’m feeling dehydrated.Shampoo and conditioner is always used up because we all share,and there’s 5 of us.

Yeah could return the skirt but was about £5 delivery charge and not sure if return extra. Will see if it fits then decide. It’s funny though as I resisted once then broke on second email - willpower and the mind are interesting things! I did return a £200 Whistles’s skirt that I ordered before Christmas yesterday so I’m still up £150 but isn’t that funny the way you rationalise things. I do think the more you exercise will power the stronger you get. I am generally deleting emails and unsubscribing from others as looking is too much temptation!!

This is skirt....

On using up I’m picking a product and sticking with it so same body cream daily and actually getting through a big bottle. 2/3 lipsticks on the go - one on dresser, in handbag amd in car. Using toner amd serum twice a day to get through them. One hair product eg blow dry lotion, spray etc in the go. Just want to get through them!!

It's lovely. I think you could definitely dress that down with a poloneck or white t-shirt and get lots of wear out of it! Add a smart white shirt and you could potentially wear it for work?

Yeah am sure I could think of a few more times to wear. Not sure about work but maybe. I once worked a similar black and white striped skirt to work with a black fine knit (that cost about £35!) amd a girl said I looked like I was going to a wedding 😂😂😂

I’m also picking one if each thing to go through them quicker. I’ve finished quite a few things but that’s because they were already opened. The first few months will be like that I think until I start getting to my unopened things.
I must admit my skin is preferring the consistency but my hair will be happier when I can get back to my HG shampoo!

I got an awful shock yesterday when I went into my bank account and added up the debits and discovered that I'd actually spent 150 quid this year. None of which was on beauty or style.

If you'd asked me I'd have thought it was half that. And none of the purchases were silly - they were things like doctors and phone and petrol. But for the first time I'm starting to sense what my monthly baseline might be. I think historically I've grossly underestimated it.

And what beauty or style purchases may add on to it!

Makes me more keen than ever to follow this.

Hi all, joining a little bit late but so determined this year to cut right back. We've got exciting things to save for!

This is so true for me:

*got an awful shock yesterday when I went into my bank account and added up the debits and discovered that I'd actually spent 150 quid this year. None of which was on beauty or style.

If you'd asked me I'd have thought it was half that. And none of the purchases were silly - they were things like doctors and phone and petrol. But for the first time I'm starting to sense what my monthly baseline might be. I think historically I've grossly underestimated it*

I often underestimate what I've spent. I also underestimate how much I have... I have so. Much. Stuff.

I have been watching 'Consumed' on Netflix and am currently doing my own mini-version of this (for those of you who haven't watched it, families put most of their belongings into storage and live very minimally for two weeks). I've moved everything into a box in the guest bedroom except for one shampoo, conditioner, eyeshadow palette, mascara, etc. etc. and will really focus on using these rather than having five lying around and picking a different one every day so it takes forever to use everything up. Everything looks less cluttered, I've been forced to really see how much I've got () plus it's streamlined my mornings. I'm saving about ten minutes a day (that doesn't sound a lot, but to me every minute counts at 5.30am!). So that's my approach for now.

Oh, bold/quote fail. Sorry.

I really like that approach Daisy. I’m in midst of sorting my makeup and I think I will put away all extras and concentrate on using up one of each item. I will have a small make up bag with my every day stuff plus a smaller bag of stuff I would use for evening.

I’m trying to do the same with skincare but keep grabbing something different just as it’s there. Will put all the extras away and concentrate on using up one thing at a time. I’m almost there with a moisturiser.

I also underestimated how much I was spending. I don’t work and our accounts and credit cards were all joint. DH recently got fed up not know what was going in and out of th accounts - either what I was buying but also any returns. So I now have my own account and debit card and he transfers money each week. I’m much more aware of what I’m spending now!

I was on r/MakeupRehab this morning and a woman on there had finally decided to add up the cost of her products. It came to $21,000!

She felt absolutely sick. She knew she had a lot, but had no fucking clue it was that much.

Fair play to her for doing it though.

I think there's a lot of wilful blindness that has to go on to accumulate too much stuff.

I "only" have 6 foundations but I've just realised that they would probably tot up to 150 quid. It's not a nice awareness.

I have just had a bath and I was lying there thinking of all the body lotions, shampoos, conditioners, face scrubs and make up I have to use up. The sheer waste of money makes feel sick. I feel like getting a skip and ditching most of it so that I can start with a clean sheet and just stick to my tried and tested. But that would be counterproductive and wasteful so I will plough on.

We want our kitchen done so money will be tight. I think I may have spent a kitchen's worth on beauty products. That is so wrong.

Still onwards. Say no to stuff!

I was in Home Bargains the other day and nearly bought some shampoo/conditioner (IIRC Dead Sea big bottles 500ml)

I don't need any shampoo for me , DH/DS/DD have plenty .
Though it didn;t have Non Tested on the label, there was a tiny picture of a rabbit (not one I recognised like the Leaping Bunny or the Rabbit Triangle sign) so I was dubious
I really CBA carrying it
I remembered I was Low Spend and calmly returned it to the shelf.

I've just been sorting my makeup today and giving it all a clean. I've never really thought about how much I have really, but I reckon if it didn't go off I would never need to buy another eyeshadow, ever. I have about 10 palettes at least, some of them quite large- like a whole MAC refillable one which holds 15 shadows, and quite a few smaller palettes with 9 shadows etc. They are all expensive brands too like Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Viseart, etc. I get consumed by the idea that once I own the next one- it will be the holly grail and I'never need anymore, but then once I have it it doesn't live up to expectations, or change my life so I'm off researching the next one. It has to stop! I'm the same with lipstick- always after the perfect shade- just counted and I have 24! Most them are rarely worn and I end up replacing the favourites rather than using up other colours. Foundations are another thing I'm always trying to find- currently have 10- but don't really like any of them that much- I always feel there must be something better out there somewhere!

Anyway- I've spent the afternoon making a list of things I actually need in my beauty cabinet- I'm using up the things I like the least first and only going to replace things when there is no alternative left!

I’ve just had an idea inspired by the endless eyeshadow palette and 24 lipsticks above plus the 21,000 beauty spend.,,,
So each day starting tmw we pick an item
Eg eyeshadow, lipstick, foundation amd you have to go through your stash, your bag, your car, your drawer whatever and count how many you have of each item. (If you want you could then estimate the value but that could be tricky). This will be sobering I think - certainly for me.
So I nominate foundation for tmw....off you all go hunting!!

Foundations - I just counted. Oh fuck, it's 7, not 6. Well that includes 2 tinted moisturisers but it's all the same.

2 of them are ones which I never ever wear. The reason? They're too light or glowy for work and don't last the morning.

Why do I keep them?? Because the finish is very pretty on weekends. Except...... I don't wear foundation on weekends anymore!

So basically I'm keeping these two foundations around for the rarest of occasions, when only light and or glowy foundation will do. Meanwhile I've accumulated 2 tinted moisturisers that are, yep, you guessed it.... Light and glowy!

Omg I'm such an idiot.

Basically I'm keeping them because Fantasy Me is the sort of person who looks immaculate on days off. Real Me doesn't give a shiny shit what she looks like on days off and couldn't be arsed wearing makeup to go to Aldi.

Real Me is going to dump those 2 foundations tomorrow!

The rest can stay, they're good for work. I'll get through them.

Eventually......

OMG! my 24 lipsticks at approx £22 each add up to over £500!!!!!!!!!

I won't throw any out though- i'm one of those mingers that will wear makeup until I decide it's gone off- which is usually years! The only items I replace religiously by the sell by date are mascara and eyeliner.

Festa I’m worse I’ll wear anything so long and never check a date🙂 my view is if it hasn’t been opened how youcky could it be?!
I’m going to guesstimate I’ve 4 foundations but will home them all out tmw and now include tinted moisturiser.....

Perhaps use the good stuff first in case it goes off?

Ok so the good news is I made it through the weekend without buying anything and managed to have a good sort out of some clutter.

The bad news is I had to hide out at home all weekend to avoid the temptation to spend which resulted in me eating far too much crap as I wasn't keeping busy enough!

So my bank balance is better off but not my waistline lol

Foundations.......I think I probably have 3 or 4 so not too bad. 1 is my everyday foundation, 1 is my going out foundation and I have a tinted moisturiser I got in the summer when I had a great tan and didn't need a full foundation. Also got a matt foundation I tried last year but didnt like. Not counting concealer and powders in that.

I sorted some makeup. Have a make up bag of basics to use.

Have a lot of lipsticks!

Will sort foundations tomorrow. I did find a Bobbi Brown one I had forgotten I had. Other than that I don’t think I’m too bad. My favourite is Boots No 7 and I know I have a couple of those. Other than that I use Bare Minerals.