How did my 2021-no-buy year go?

Hi everyone!

I am in an organizing mood again, so I am cleaning up physical and virtual space around me. I was organizing my make up spread sheet (yup, I have one of those for make up) and looking at the numbers from this and the past years. Lots of make up products got used, as you may have seen in my last post. I passed on some things to my friends and family due to the fact that I would not have been able to use up the products before they expire and I didn’t want them to slowly go bad in a drawer. In the beginning of the year, I have put myself on a no buy for 2021. You may be wondering how it went? Well, it went kind of well. I am really pleased with the make up collection I have right now. I have not purchased anything in the first half of the year. One product found its way to my collection due to Sephora’s mix up and a Tarte creamy bronzer showed up at my doorstep. I notified them that they have sent me the wrong product (I don’t know how you mix up the hair mask with a bronzer), so I got that full sized product for free in May. Not mad about it, but didn’t really need it.

In the end of June, while browsing Walgreens shelves for skincare, I have somehow found myself in front of the Milani stand. I have heard great things about their face BFF primer, so knowing my primer collection is not out of hand, and the fact that this new primer has SPF, I bought it in the store with the idea that I won’t open it yet, but after I use up one of my primers. It is December and it is still unopened, so I didn’t really need to break my no buy there.

I have not been thinking about buying new make up til September came along. Ulta posted their 21 days of beauty. I caved when I saw Nabla’s skin glaze marked down to 50% as I was thinking I will get it since it was one of those products I would like to try in 2022. (new years apparently came sooner than expected). The same goes for Buxom wonderlust blush in Seychelles (I actually messed up and bought at the full price in store-only online was marked down to half of the price. However no regrets, as I really love that blush). Since I was at Ulta, I also got an Essence blush in a new color. I have a weak spot for blushes, and this one set me back for less than 3$ so it is part of my collection now. Kopari lip glosses came in a set of 3 so they also came home with me. In my defense, I did not pay full price for that. They are all really nice and I have been using them a lot.

Flower beauty concealer crossed my path as I was intentionally rewarding myself for being a brave girl (not sharing my embarrassing story), and it came from a quick stop to the CVS.

Lisa Eldrigde came out with some new products this year, so I used that opportunity to get a couple of long awaited things. She is a true artist and her products never disappoint. Plus, I got to try the sample of her new foundation. So far I am loving all of the products, just as I have imagined.

And along came Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I have unsubscribed from all the mailing lists prior to the date and tried not to browse much. However, some sale items were just too good to pass. I have bought only the things I have been eyeing for the longest times. I did not impulse shop. It was all the things from my long standing wish list. Finally, I got to try BH cosmetics eyeshadow formula. With a big sale, I got some of these eye shadow palettes for less than 6$! Such a great formula and I can’t believe I have waited so long to try it out. Lime Crime Venus XL 2 was always intriguing me with its beautiful color story, but being so pricey and having mixed reviews, I waited for a perfect timing to get my hands on it. I am loving it, shades are so beautiful and soft and earthy and spring like. They truly deserve a blog post of its own. I have also had my eyes on Sydney Grace Tiny Marvels. I wanted to honor the memory of Mel Thompson and her artistry.

Some of the these items came from Sephora, some from Ulta and I am enjoying them all so far. Some were gifts with purchases, some point perks, some were a great deal (like It cosmetics Super hero mascara which I got for 7$ instead of full retail price of 23$.) I discovered a great new mascara from Bite beauty (finally a non smudging mascara), Tarte juicy lip balm are fantastic (very reminiscent of EM cosmetics cushion balm, but more affordable). First time purchase of Lawless lip balm trio. Testing them out as we speak. I have realized I am definitely a lip gloss/balm girl, so I have stopped buying lipsticks for now (not a single lipstick entered my collection this year). I have my go to lipsticks and that is enough. I am wearing a mask in those rare public outings, so the only lip products I get to wear are those for around the house. It is still a lot of fun.

I have learned that I honestly have more than enough products in my collection to keep me busy for the next year. I am waiting for one NYX concealer to arrive in mail and one Essence blush, and then I am calling it done for the make up shopping. With the items I have purchased and got as gifts with purchases, I have brought 42 new items to my collection. A big number for a little “here and there small purchase”. or point perk products. I have exactly 200 items in my current collection (this number is including 44 single eye shadow pans). I have some cream products I want to use up before they are really too old to use on the face. I also realized that I love lighter coverage products, so two base face products I currently have will surely keep me covered (pun intended!) for the whole year. I have a good variety of colors to be able to dupe and/or recreate any potentially alluring eye shadow palette. Also, it takes a freaking long time to use up a product. I want to consume and enjoy my well thought products and make the most of them and not be wasteful.

So are you slowing down or just starting to build your make up stash? Either way, hope you are having a fantastic time and let me know if you need any advice to talk you out of unnecessary purchases. I have a good grasp on it now, hopefully. So here’s to another year of no buy. Cheers!

Talk to you soon! XOXO Iva