What did I buy in 2024?
Hi everyone,
Did you survive the Black Friday frenzy? I didn’t make a lot of makeup purchases and I am really happy about it. Previously I would use the discounts to try out all the things that intrigued me during the year and justified my purchases by all these discounts. However, I am getting better. I stocked up on some of my staples and replacements, as well as got a few really coveted products that happened to have been discounted. So, in this blog I wanted to talk about what I actually brought into my collection from January to Black Friday sale day.
I have bought 25 products that stayed in my collection and 9 that I have either used up during the year or decluttered due to poor shade choices, being freebies or not being suitable for my skin. I have already talked about those 9 products but I will list them again here:
Mango people lip balm: used it up
Elf lash ‘n roll mascara (deep brown): used it up
Elf lash extndr mascara (deep brown): used it up
Tarte amazonian clay (white peach): decluttered
Saie glowy super gel mini (sunglow): too deep (it was gift with purchase)
Milani fruit fetish lip oil (coco cacao): too cooltoned
Jane Iredale Lip and cheek stain (forever peach): too orange
Lawless forget the filler definer lip liner (nude honey): too dark and brown
Covergirl Simply Ageless skin perfector essence (20 light): too light
Here are the rest of 25 products that are coming into the 2025 with me. (forgot to include the two lip pencils in this overview, but you will see them when I get to the lip section)
Elf was a free gift with purchase and while I like it, I will not be bringing new primers in my collections for now. Both of the concealers are fresh tubes from this year and they are my tried and true products. Lisa Eldridge Skin tint is the best purchase in the year and like I have mentioned, the best base product I have and need in my life. Huda powder is good as well. It is the only loose powder I have and I am really happy with it.
I got two fresh new tubes of Elf mascara to cover me for the first 6 months of 2025. I bought them off the Elf website and with discounts, each one cost me 1$!! Best purchase ever and it is one of the best mascaras I have tried. I have two Lisa’s liquid shadows: Daphne and Phoebe and I also brought two Colourpop shadows in Amaze and Honey BB. I missed having the shade Amaze as I had it in the past, so I used the opportunity of BOGO sale they had. And Kosas brow pencil is a want that I also found at half price at the time.
I have a few new cheek products. Mini rare beauty blush in my perfect shade Virtue, Merit blush in Persimmon and Rose Inc in shade Wisteria that was a part of a Sephora bag a while ago. I got Victoria Beckham contour stylus in the lightest shade as it was so raved about and I do really like it. The last purchase of the year was French Vanilla highlighter from Laura Geller as I wanted a really subtle highlighter that is not too dark on my skin. Essence Pure tends to be visible on my skin in certain light so this is supposed to be the perfect shade for my skin now.
I am really proud of myself for buying only three eyeshadow palettes this year. I was tempted by Natasha Denona Golden palette, but when I saw I need a warm, I knew that would be a great palette for me. I am over dark looking eyeshadows, so these shadows work really well on me. Dasique was intriguing as it is really light and I am super happy with this purchase for very subtle looks. I still have to play with EM cosmetics palette. I decluttered the Magic hour knowing I would probably get Rodin version at some point, so this Black Friday was the good time to get some palettes. I really like all of these and they are perfect for my skintone and my level of contrast.
I did well also with lip products. I have used up so many this year and I was very mindful of what I am bringing in my life this year, so here they are. Elf lip oil, two lip balms from Lisa Eldridge and two lip pencils that are in almost exact same shades. Super happy with all of these.
The retail price of these 25 products sums up to 629$ which is crazy. However, I have spent 429.68$ due to discounts during the year which makes me feel a bit better. It is also a reminder that you can save money, if you plan your shopping and don’t buy unnecessary products. Some of these were replacements, but some of these were definitely splurges. I am OK with that since I will use them up and get my money’s worth for sure. And hopefully next year I will reduce the size of my collection even more. I am sure I will end up trying some new products, but with this mindset, they really have to intrigue me to bring them in my collection and have to have a good price tag.
Did your make up collection grow or shrink this year?
Catch you soon and in the meantime hope you are having wonderful holidays!
XOXO, Iva
P.S. I did place an order also for Laura Geller Baked balance n glow color correcting foundation in the shade fair. I figured since I like the Balance n brighten baked foundation, I would like to try this glowy one too. Normally it is 32 $, but it was on sale and with additional 15$ coupon off, I got it for whopping total of 4.80$. (and that is how I shop for make up :))) It is still in the mail so it is not in the photos.