Tons of makeup but never wear it anyone else

[Pixiedust3x]

Not much point of this thread other than I wonder if there are other people like me who keep buying makeup excessively but never wear it. I know it's wasteful but something that makes me happy.
Most people I know who don't wear makeup are the ones who dont own so much and the ones who do own a lot wear a lot. Im too lazy and think will wear it when I go somewhere nice or when I have proper time to do a nice look but never happens. I don't even wear mascara or a lipstick. Then I go through this phase of regret that I shouldn't have bought so much. Am I the only one or other people do this also?

Wanted to say @OP that I go through phases. I buy a few items, try them and then if I really like them, i seek them out and try to buy a few more in bulk before they disappear. I have had so many products become discontinued in my lifetime, that I have learned to stock up. I wish that i could wear more of my make up most weeks, but with a 10mo, and two school children, the office parties and adult world has been largely made redundant. Sometimes I pop on a full smokey eye just to get wear out of the pan. The past few weeks have allowed me to use the Christmas glitzy colours with wanton abandon. I hoped that some of the nursery kids would think that I was Ms Claus.

My big sister has one of those fold out make up boxes (like a toolbox) and she lugs it about when we meet up. She doesn't wear make up at work at all as she is a doctor. But Sundays for church make up for the working week.

@Pixiedust3x I have a shamefully extensive hair products collection.

@TeaAddict235 aww thanks! I believe in using the good stuff, and not saving it for best/when I go out/when someone might see me!

@TeaAddict235 that's great that u used some fun glitzy colours those are so fun and I feel like always get neglected in a palette. On Christmas I managed to wear some shimmer on the eyes and a dark pink lipstick. DH family were looking at me like I was a clown. They don't wear makeup at all which is fine its people's own choice but I always feel the odd one out. Doesn't bother me I love makeup and feel great in it when I do bother to put it on. I think having any sort of collection is fun it's part of your personality but sometimes I do feel overwhelmed.

I don't anymore. I used to have a massive collection and I cringe at how many thousands I've spent over the year only to give the products away.

All of the makeup I own now I use regularly, I have around 60 things maybe?! Which is crazy as I whittled my collection down to less than 20 things. That's my goal this year, to use up the makeup I have until I'm left with absolute staples.

Thousands over the YEARS, not year. Sheesh

I love makeup and have been collecting it for years.
I do regular clean outs, but I do have a lot. Enough to fill many drawers. Think YouTube guru level of collection! I shudder to think how much I've spent.

I do wear it almost every day. I tend to wear more neutral colours, so some things get a lot of use but there are plenty of things that go unworn (e.g. brightly coloured lipsticks).

I have way too much make up for someone who rarely leaves the house and has no make up skills at all!

I also have way too much stationary for someone who thinks she's organised but is really a chaotic mess.

The two are definitely linked.

@astorsback

Ive got three drawers full of make-up.

I'm always so disappointed with it. All the dewy/glossy/radiant stuff just looks matt on me. Charlotte Tilbury, YSL, Sisley, Trinny London, Becca, Benefit, Laura Mercia, its all the same.

The problem is lack of samples. I dont live near a city, plus, all make up seems designed for people with a medium skin tone, brown hair and brown eyes. Its difficult to find suitable shades for natural blondes.

Hello!

Natural blonde here, pale skin, blonde eyelashes eyebrows always used to feel like no.. differentiation just whole face sort of same iyswim.

I'm pink- pale as well so much esp when growing up 80s etc, was however pale end of range, orange/brown on me.

Also for me again esp when young, anything that wasn't pretty subtle on most people, looked vv obvious and basically clown like on my pale skin!

The bronzer years, over a decade? Were tough. Most products seemed to involved. Nightmare!

I've found over years some things that I find good if you're interested can pm?

If the above is similar to you obv!

Oh and just remembered another reason which comments have mentioned-

-Can't test in shops anymore generally. Look at actual mascara brush. Often boots etc no mirrors. And often testers all missing so can't put on actual face like we did in 80s! Hand hopeless to tell. And doing that anyway just not done thing.

So loads of guesswork. Look on shelf. Buy. Take home. Apply. Jesus that's awful. Rinse and repeat.

General capitalism maximise profit get everyone to buy more.
Best way?
Change fashion constantly. Change products somehow so one used not available. Make up issues/ things to enhance face bits that were not on radar. Show zoomed in tiny 'problems' that really should be addressed. Use fashion models SM etc to push the new style...

Apply white mascara first then colour!
Blend! You need at least 4 different colours ooh palettes!
Look shiny! Look matte! Look unwell!
Pencil eyeliner dead!
Eyeshadow in a stick!
Pluck eyebrows aggressively! Stop! They should be big and coloured in!
Highlight this and lowlight that!
Wear false eyelashes!
Don't wear false eyelashes use megabodyhugewow mascara!
Put sparkles on tip of nose!
Glue your eyes half shut!
Invisiblise your chin!
Use green blusher on one side and blue on the other!
Blah blah.

And so we buy we try we go ugh.
We search buy things to use instead of the brilliant no longer available thing.
Etc etc.

@CheeseMmmm so true brands push new products on customers all the time, everytime its the new "most skin like foundation" or "real life photoshop primer". Before Youtube beauty gurus I didnt know I needed so many different serums and products for my skin to look good (the struggle and anxiety to remember what goes on 1st serum or oil and AM and the PM changes). Atleast 2 different primers to go under the foundation. Specific makeup brushes or it won't look good. Cream products, jelly highlighters all so fun but more things to purchase that aren't always necessary or suitable

That's a lot of stuff to do! Turns whole thing into a proper mission!

Dial it way back! Mascara bit of lippy or whatever you like putting on, the key things that you think make difference.

Make it one thing or two and won't feel like big effort, might mean do it more?

Hmm. Are you buying for a life you wish you had?

This doesn't sound healthy OP.

I'd step away from YT.

Make-up can be great and fun and life-enhancing when it's about playing with image or just trying to make the most of yourself.

Compulsive buying? Not so much.

Maybe question why you are watching YT and purchasing on their recommendations so frequently.

I'm all for women enjoying fashion and makeup, it does sound as though you're actually finding this quite stressful though.

Pangolin44 I'm not buying it for that reason, when I said that I wait for some occasion to wear it I meant I dont seem to be bothered to do the effort day to day.

Main reason is it that Ive always loved makeup and collecting things. When I was younger it was stationary. I got interested in Youtube videos as I loved watching reviews and find out about new brands/products that weren't on high street. For example I couldn't find a decent under eye concealer, always got shade matched wrong or picked a wrong one myself. I found my perfect one at Mac which I found out about from YouTube. Beacuse Mac wasn't in any stores near me at the time I wasn't familiar with it. Then I got into their neutral eyeshadows and wore those to work everyday. Interest grew into their limited Edition packaging and in a lot of other brands from US that are modern and fun and always coming out with limited Edition collections. The collector in me cant help but buy those. Over the years a lot of them have become available in UK as well on Beautybay, cult beauty etc which doesn't help the buying.

I don't watch YouTube near as much as before which has helped. But I already have a lot. I've given some away to family and friends. They ask me for advice as well. I just wish I was more motivated to use some myself.

I just try to wear what I buy and wear different combos out.

Things I don’t buy online much now are eyeshadow palettes (too much faff unless I use the colours like online videos) and foundation as the colour and finish is never what I want/expect.

I’ve definitely stopped wearing eye make up since 2020 - both because I’m not going anywhere and also because I have quite dry sensitive eyes, and they’re a lot better when I don’t use make up. I still want to though! There’s a couple of eye shadow palettes in the JL sale I REALLY want but I’m stopping myself because I have lots already that I don’t use anymore.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/4442035-I-threw-out-loads-of-make-up-today

I believe that all these FB , Style and Beauty beauty groups etc encourage people to buy excess products eg you hear about stuff eg Pillow Talk lipstick and people buy because it is the " in thing" or because some influencer who has got it for free promotes it. Learn to know what suits your face . I had a good chat with a Dior assistant recently - told her what I was looking for , my problem with eye shadow ( using only one colour in a palette) and yes bought another palette but it really works . I chucked out my old stuff bought because it was on sale or just to go on holiday . My life is so much easier now . Make up is fast and easy .

@SilverGlassHare

I’ve definitely stopped wearing eye make up since 2020 - both because I’m not going anywhere and also because I have quite dry sensitive eyes, and they’re a lot better when I don’t use make up. I still want to though! There’s a couple of eye shadow palettes in the JL sale I REALLY want but I’m stopping myself because I have lots already that I don’t use anymore.

Throw out the ones you don't use - bite that bullet . Maybe buy the new ones and use them ? Be more careful about what you buy going forward ?

Trouble is, I don’t use them because all eyeshadow makes my eyes hurt. So there’s not a huge deal of point getting more! I buy high quality brands, it’s not cheap stuff, but I like the more glittery eyeshadows and have read mattes would be better. But I don’t like matte eyeshadow!

My eyes are very sensitive too and I can't use glitter, shimmer is ok but still irritates my eyes somewhat if particles get in the eyes and the rubbing of eyes when taking it off even when done gently. So 1 thing I tend to buy less is eyeshadow palettes (did give in and bought a new one from sales). The thing that I'm obseessed with is lip and cheek products.

@IamGusFring agree that sometimes there's so much hype and anticipation created about the products that it feels like missing out if I didn't buy them.