tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88161685786858638702024-03-07T23:16:18.565-08:00Simple ShuffleKKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-11691513585908708492019-12-30T21:20:00.000-08:002019-12-30T21:20:44.910-08:00My Challenge For 2020: 5-10-15-20I started 2019 with a Focus Four project where I chose four products each week to focus on. That project really helped me become more comfortable with having a small collection, and cycling through four different products a week meant that I learned a lot about what I owned. However, those of you who have been reading this blog throughout the year likely know that my interest in makeup has greatly diminished since the start of the year. This situation calls for a different kind of challenge, one that encourages me to use something, anything.<br />
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In 2020, I will be doing a new activity where I will pick four products or actions and challenge myself to do them 5, 10, 15, and 20 times. I'll still be picking four items, but it'll be changing on a monthly basis, not weekly. For January, my list will look like this:<br />
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5 - paint nails.<br />
10 - use Urban Decay Rockstar eyeliner.<br />
15 - wear eyeshadow.<br />
20 - wear lipstick.<br />
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To specify, for paint nails I will count fingers and toes separately, so I might paint my fingers four times and my toes once, or three and two... You get the idea.<br />
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For the first month I've kept it fairly easy and vague. I'm still getting accustomed to applying makeup as much as I used to in previous years, and right now I just want the encouragement to do something, anything. As the year progresses, however, I look forward to my challenge getting more specific. Perhaps I'll choose to use a certain palette twenty times, or even a specific eyeshadow.<br />
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I'm excited to start this new challenge, and I'm ready to embrace more things that are "for me" this year. It's time for a change, so here we go </div>
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KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-76343587796113258412019-12-23T21:07:00.000-08:002019-12-23T21:07:15.806-08:00Comparing Collections 2014 YouTube was my introduction to the makeup world. That was a special time for YouTube. It was when everyone felt like your friend. Sponsorships and PR happened, but they weren't as well known as they are now. It seemed like buying everything in a collection was the norm.<br />
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You needed to have at least one in each category to be considered a true beauty lover, and the more categories you could come up with the more "in" it felt you were. It wasn't enough to just have a few blushes that worked for you. You needed something hot pink, soft pink, plum, nude, peachy pink. You needed them to be matte and shimmery, drugstore and high end.<br />
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Before watching YouTube, the only makeup collection I had ever seen was a family member's that easily fit into a single makeup bag. On YouTube though people had huge collections of makeup. And it wasn't just one person either; lots of people had these collections, and they were still buying more every month. Surely, this had to be the norm for those interested in makeup. Or so I thought.<br />
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It would take a few years to realize this wasn't the case. Plenty of people who wore makeup had small collections. But after so long of comparing my small correction to the big ones on YouTube, it was only natural for me to compare mine to the minimalistic ones on Reddit.<br />
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Whichever way it went, it was not a healthy relationship to have with stuff. What someone else owns shouldn't factor into how much I have or even want. It's not about who has the most or even the least. Or at least it shouldn't be. Makeup collections are such a personal thing. Not every color works for every person, and not every formula works for every person either.<br />
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So why do I still watch collection videos from my favorite YouTubers? I no longer seek them out, but if they show up in my subscription feed, I'm usually at least watch the beginning. Is it human nature to just be curious of others? Is there still some part of me that aspires to have what someone else does? I'm not really sure.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-62290113965790646392019-12-16T19:53:00.000-08:002019-12-17T20:01:03.007-08:00How Much Did I Spend This Year?This year on makeup and skincare I spent $78.61 out of pocket, and without considering gift cards the total was $116.31. (The MSRP plus my local tax would have been $218.41.) I'm so proud of that, not necessarily because the amount is so small, but because of the reason why it is so small.<br />
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Everything I bought, with the exception of one item, was on sale or bought with a coupon. But here's the kicker: I waited for those sales and only bought items that I had wanted for some time. I passed on so many sales because I knew they weren't right for me in that moment. I let so many Ulta and Sephora coupons expire because I knew that I would only be buying because of the coupon, not that the coupon would help me out.<br />
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For most of the year I wasn't as enthusiastic as I was in years past. The grind of being a SAHM has been getting to me, and I'm slowly coming out of that funk. (Yay toddlers.) Before I would have bought more items to try to reinvigorate my interest. But this year, I instead tried focusing on what I already owned. I took the mindset of if I liked it enough to buy it before, surely I can find some way it excites me now. Were there items that were released this year that piqued my interest, sure. But I can't tell you what they were now. I stopped watching Will I Buy It? videos when I realized that I would have no clue about all these things if it weren't for those videos. Out of sight, out of mind. When I realized there was a hole in my collection I would go in search of something to fill it. I didn't need to be told what my holes were; I needed to figure it out on my own.<br />
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Another thing to consider about this total is the state of my collection. I've been interested in makeup (having discovered it through YouTube) for about seven years and have been a member of this subreddit since its inception. Though I rarely post anymore, I still read it constantly, and basically all the YouTubers I watch nowadays align more with this sub than with, say, makeupaddiction. For the past five years I've really been pinpointing what I buy and why. Before I would definitely buy because there was a sale. ("What?! Drugstore brand is BOGO 50% off. I gotta find something to buy!" and "Oooh the Sephora sale is happening soon. I need to watch all ten of these "What to Buy at the Sephora sale videos, so I can get some ideas!") Over the last two years especially the size of my collection has shrunk considerably. I tossed a bunch of expired stuff and things that I just never wore because it wasn't my style. (I tried a few times, but it never felt right. I'm looking at you, blue eyeliner.)<br />
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This year I replaced all my eyeliners. I went from maybe 8 to 2. I could have easily bought more, but I learned that I don't go through eyeliner as quickly as I had anticipated, so I chose the two colors I wore the most and could pair with the most of my daily looks. Those two I bought when they were half off. (I figured there was going to be a 30% sale sometime this year but hadn't been expecting 50%. I was so glad I waited and didn't jump on a 20% coupon I had had.)<br />
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Instead of buying an eyeshadow palette, I bought four single shadows. It was a gamble because it was from a brand that I had never tried and couldn't swatch in person. I narrowed my wishlist down to the ones I wanted the most and were the most unique to my collection then again waited for a sale to come along. Because it was a new-to-me brand, I looked up sales trends online, and then when I expected a sale would come soon started following them on Facebook.<br />
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Other items this year included a new eyeshadow brush trio (This one was like a perfect combination for me. It was on sale, and I had a coupon, and it was from a brand I liked, and I knew I would use every single brush.), a nail polish top coat (I only buy this brand now and had a coupon that made it basically free.), a new nail polish (Yes, it was from that same brand and in a color I've been hoping would be released all year. This one was also free thanks to some Kohl's cash.), three of the same cleansing balms (This alone was $45, but I'm so happy about it. I received this last year as a gift but couldn't justify paying full price this year. I was waiting for a 25% sale that I expected to happen for Cyber Monday, but then another site surprised me by having them 50% off instead.), and a cute brush cleaning set (This was the only thing I bought at full price, but it was only $15 and paid for entirely with a gift card I had been holding onto since Christmas 2017. The theme still makes me smile, and I had been wanting a scrub pad thing for quite a while.)<br />
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There are still two weeks left in the year, but I highly doubt I'll buy anything else. There are a handful of things on my mental wishlist, but I know I either can't commit to them right now... Or they just don't exist yet.<br />
<br />KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-88439470368596821972019-12-09T21:53:00.000-08:002019-12-09T21:53:03.236-08:00Going on a No-Buy After Black Friday ShoppingIt seems like the popular thing this week has been to start a year-long no-buy because of what was spent during the Black Friday weekend. Many of the comments I've seen about starting a no-buy have stemmed from regret about spending so much money. And while I can see where these people are coming from with feeling overwhelmed about their spending habits, I feel like for the majority of them they're only going to be frustrated for failing their no-buy in a few months (or weeks).<div>
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I've been on a no-buy before. I totally get that participating in one can help you reset your spending habits. But I feel like people who start their no-buys directly as a result of Black Friday shopping are looking for a miracle pill that doesn't exist. If you're considering going on a no-buy (or have already declared yourself on one) as the result of your Black Friday shopping, there's a good chance you just bought a bunch of new stuff. You might like some, you might not. But you still have new things to play with in addition to what you already own. What is going to happen in a few months when you're bored of what you have or when a new product is released that matches your ideal? A year is a long time.</div>
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If you don't know why or how you want to change your spending habits declaring a year-long spending fast is likely not going to magically solve the problem. Instead of abstaining from purchases I would recommend monitoring them, at least at first. I realize that not everyone is the same, but this is truly what worked the best for me. I did go on a no-buy initially; I challenged myself to go a whole month without buying anything. I knew that I was spending too much money on makeup and too much time looking for something to buy. (What a time suck that used to be.) </div>
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In my mind deciding to go on a no-buy shouldn't stem from a moment of frustration after one big shopping excursion. Instead, reflect on <i>why </i>you bought so much stuff. What drew you in to purchase it? If you're aware of what caused it this time, maybe that can help you avoid it next time. What do you know about yourself as a spender? What are your triggers when it comes to making a purchase? Are you swayed by corporate marketing? by YouTubers you consider friends? by having a bad day and needing a cheer-me-up purchase? (Mine were wanting to participate in a sale and feeling like I needed to have something in each category that someone else told me existed. Blush topper? But of course I need one of those.) </div>
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Challenge yourself to use something X amount of times before you move on to the next product. At one point I had a rule that whenever I bought something new I could only use that product in that category for 30 days, so if I brought a new lipstick in, was I both willing to use only that one lipstick for an entire month <i>and</i> not use any of my other lipsticks including my most cherished favorite? That rule sure curbed a lot of mindless spending for me.</div>
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If you want to go on a no-buy, fine. I can't stop you. But I do suggest that you reconsider your reasoning for going on one. </div>
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KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-71089742634193953912019-12-02T21:36:00.000-08:002019-12-02T21:36:52.558-08:00I Stuck to My ListIt feels like my interest in makeup is finally starting to return, and I'm so happy about that. I think that making my Black Friday wishlist early was one of the best decisions I could have made.<br />
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I ended up buying only the Clinique cleansing balm, just like I had mentioned wanting, and I even got it for half off, which was a far better deal than I was expecting. Because of deciding early on in the month what my gameplan was going to be, I found it so much easier to stick to my list.<br />
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So how does this relate to me getting interested in makeup again? Oddly enough, it was from reading about people who were stressed out about their Black Friday purchases. It made me appreciate the items I already own even more.<br />
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I was so proud of myself for not getting caught up in the sales hype and instead sticking to what I knew in my gut was right for me. I started looking at the container of makeup again, and that's when I realized that what I still own is entirely me. Sure, there are brands and products that are well-known, but I don't have the specific items that YouTubers consider "must haves."<br />
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A few years ago I would have been scouring ads and watching countless wishlist and favorites videos to find the "best" deals. I would have been so excited to post a haul list on Reddit and compare it to others.<br />
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Nowadays though I see haul posts that seem like bigger than whole inventory, and I'm just shocked. Shocked at how much my mindset on makeup has changed. I don't need a lot to be happy. In fact, I actually prefer fewer choices.<br />
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But my favorite thing I've learned this week is that the "best deal" is all subjective, and that's okay.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-76980582217260983762019-11-25T21:23:00.000-08:002019-11-25T21:23:01.699-08:00Monday is the new FridayBlack Friday has already started, and it's only Monday. Over the years the sales have inched earlier and earlier, with the lines blurring between what's actually a Black Friday deal and what's not. There's such a buildup leading into Black Friday nowadays that it's easy to feel obligated to buy something, anything.<br />
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I found myself today idly scrolling through the Ulta Black Friday ad. I would zoom in to look at a product description more closely and google the names of products I didn't know to make sure I was matching the caption to the correct product. It was easily a process that I did not need to be doing, especially considering I had already told myself earlier this month that there was only one product I wanted: the Clinique cleansing balm for at least 25% off and free shipping.<br />
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So why was I staring intently at Real Techniques brushes and looking up other stores' discounts on the Temptalia master list? Sydney Grace doesn't sell Clinique, so why do I care what sales that company is having?<br />
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Today Lauren Mae Beauty posted a YouTube video about abstaining from the Black Friday sales and touched on how much time is spent on looking up multiple sales because one little thing interested you. This is exactly what happened to me today. I could have easily keyboard searched the Ulta ad for Clinique and see if anything popped up. But instead, I was half-heartedly enjoying the hunt for something I was never going to find.<br />
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I highly recommend you check out Lauren's video. She makes some really good points about the Black Friday sale and other sales in general.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-1970008666837663112019-11-18T19:47:00.000-08:002019-11-18T19:47:12.857-08:00Tired of This, Tired of ThatSometimes it feels like the more I try to get involved in the makeup community the less I'm interested in it. There are days when I check Reddit repeatedly, hoping that an interesting discussion will be posted, but then nothing will feel worth reading.<br />
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I'm tired of posts asking about favorite products. I'm tired of posts "antihauling" new releases. I'm tired of posts bashing YouTubers. When you take away those three categories there aren't many left.<br />
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I've stopped seeking out new YouTube channels to watch. The number that I do watch has dwindled over this last year. I've stopped trying to learn about makeup from YouTube and instead treat it as catching up with friends (who have no clue who I am or that I'm there, but that's another issue for another day).KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-33204476073573030352019-11-11T20:58:00.000-08:002019-11-11T20:58:52.396-08:00My Sephora Coupon ExpiredToday I let my Sephora sale coupon expire.<br />
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I could have gone to a Sephora where I'm currently vacationing, but I decided against it. A few years ago I would have been so excited to "remember" a vacation by buying a lipstick or some other small makeup item. I even remember buying my Hourglass mini blush in Mood Exposure last time I was here. My, how things have changed.<br />
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I don't need to buy makeup to remember something. A picture frame maybe but definitely not something that's going to expire in a few years.<br />
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When I first got here, I thought the Sephora sale would tempt me to make a purchase. But I feel like it had the opposite effect. A 10% discount just feels like nothing, so lackluster.<br />
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So today I'm happy, and I will be tomorrow too. Even though I didn't buy anything. And I'll still remember the fun I've had on this vacation.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-49418298715284651982019-11-04T20:53:00.000-08:002019-11-04T20:53:10.339-08:00How I Prepare For Black FridayNovember is finally here, so that means Black Friday and other holiday sales are right around the corner. Even the latest Sephora sale has already started for Rouge members.<br />
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Just a few years ago I would have been eagerly anticipating multiple Black Friday ad leaks, wondering where the best beauty deals would be found. But here's the thing I've learned over the years, not just with Black Friday but other expected sales as well: I don't want to be told what to want, whether it be from a company meticulously designing print circular or even a YouTuber listing their holiday wish list or current favorites. No, instead, I want to choose what I want.<br />
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So instead of waiting to see what is going on sale during the next two months I'm going to go ahead and list the ones I'm willing to participate in:<br />
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<li>Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm with at least 25% off and free shipping.</li>
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And that's it. Seriously. Even I expected there to be more on this list, but after a 30-second Google search I was able to narrow it down to just that one item. (Turns out I am once again not interested in the annual Lorac palette; I haven't been interested in it for at least four years, so I'm not sure why I eagerly look it up every year.)<br />
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Now that I have my list, if any company announces say a 40% off sale on Thanksgiving, I already know that I'm not going to participate and it. (Unless they sell that Clinique cleansing balm, of course.) I have found that it is so much easier to avoid a sale when it doesn't adhere to your standards. I'll check the ads to see if the balm is going on sale anywhere, but skimming the ads for a circular purple container will be so much easier than combing each one meticulously for each cosmetic product.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-80584802002864219902019-10-28T21:27:00.001-07:002019-10-28T21:27:34.371-07:00Losing Interest I keep trying to get back into makeup, but it feels like I've just moved on from the hobby. It seems so silly to be disappointed in losing interest in a hobby, especially one that took me so long to admit was my hobby.<br />
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Maybe it's just a rut. After all, I do still get excited to stumble across new (to me) products that interest me. I bought a new eyeshadow brush trio at Ulta a few days ago and have enjoyed using them lately. It was a mostly impulse purchase. I don't remember how I discovered them. Maybe an ad somewhere? I definitely wasn't seeking them out. But once I saw them I knew I wanted them. They were pretty, a decent price, made by a brand I already loved using eyeshadow brushes from, and brush shapes that I really enjoyed using. It was like the perfect culmination of things. (Oh, and I had a 20% off coupon.)<br />
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I don't remember the last time I was excited about a product like this. Yes, I've still been buying products throughout this year, but it feels like all those purchases have been thoroughly and exhaustingly thought out. "Do I really need this?" "How does it fit into my collection?" "Am I really going to wear this as much I think I am?" "Can't you wait for this to go on sale? You just have to wait two more months, and then it will probably be $4 cheaper." I mean, seriously? Why am I beating myself up over $4 when I no longer have the unhealthy shopping habits I had a few years ago.<br />
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Maybe I've just become wiser to the marketing tactics makeup companies have been perfecting in this age of social media. Instead of scrambling to check Temptalia every morning for new releases, I log in once every week or so just to check out the discussion posts. With Youtube, I don't care about reviews or whether or not some person I've never actually met is going to buy something. That doesn't affect me and my tastes, or at least it shouldn't.<br />
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I'm tired of feeling like I don't have a place in the beauty community if I don't know about new or trendy products. Looking back now I think that having that current knowledge was what made me feel more connected to the online beauty community. I was also excited to use products back then because so much was still so new to me. I was still exploring my makeup preferences and hadn't yet settled into my makeup style.<br />
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So maybe it's not so much being in a rut as it is just being comfortable with where I'm at in this journey.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-60545657691500781122019-10-21T22:00:00.002-07:002019-10-21T22:00:50.797-07:00Capturing My AttentionI've noticed a lot of talk in the beauty community this year about being fatigued with all the new releases. Trying to keep up with the number of items that are released each month is overwhelming, and I gave up that endeavor long ago. A few weeks ago Temptalia posed the question "How would a new brand or product capture your attention?" When I first saw that prompt, I found it intriguing and thought that answering it could help me solidify even further what I look for when purchasing a new makeup product. But here I am nearly a month later, and I'm still not much closer to answering the question.<br />
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Minis, or smaller sizes in general, would definitely catch my attention. I don't even look at big palettes anymore, so if I saw singles or a quad I would be more likely to take a closer look. Pencil eyeliners as minis would be even better. And if a product line had mini lipsticks that did not require you to buy a set and were in basic colors, that would definitely pique my interest.<br />
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The colors I'm most drawn to are typically neutral, boring colors. If a brand were known for their bright, out-there shades I probably wouldn't look more into them. I'm not in that stage of makeup development anymore where I want to try all the new things. I like my safe, boring neutrals now and know how to jazz them up in my own way.<br />
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If I saw the product in person in a store like Sephora where I could swatch it, I would be more likely to buy it than if I saw it online. Perhaps the packaging would catch my eye too as I walked by in search for something else. Packaging does, after all, play a significant role in my value of a product.<br />
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Other than that, I'm really not sure how I would be captured by a brand. I don't typically seek out new brands to try anymore. I wait until I feel like I need something and then go from there.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-40071601500063932662019-10-14T21:02:00.001-07:002019-10-14T21:02:08.294-07:00The Siren Call of Mini SetsWith the holidays quickly approaching my mind seems to be shifting its focus onto one thing: mini sets. For quite some time now I haven't really cared about all the palettes that get released, but there's something about the end of the year that makes me seek out new mini sets.<br />
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But here's the thing: I don't really need anything, especially not the types of things that typically come in mini sets. I think blush palettes can look gorgeous, but I'm already content with number and colors of singles I own. And while I love seeing what lipstick colors are released in cute little trios, I rarely like all the colors that come in a set. (And of course as soon as I said that I had to go check if NARS had a set of Velvet Matte Lip Pencils again this year. They do. But I already own one of the four in the set. and at least two of the others are permanents that I hadn't previously considered buying. It's a easy skip for me, but that just further proves my point of how intrigued I am by mini sets this time of year.)<br />
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Even skincare is the same this year. As much as I love getting minis to test out new skincare, I don't want to try anything new right now. I love the products I'm already using and instead have been seeking out sales to buy the full size versions.<br />
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The only thing I can even think about considering as far as mini sets go is an eye pencil trio from Nudestix. But even then, I honestly don't know how much I would use them. I don't use cream shadows now as is, so I wonder how and how often I would incorporate them into my routine. I've been wanting to try them for months now though, but I know there's likely an underlying reason why I just haven't bought any yet. I've definitely had the opportunity to purchase them; I just haven't yet.<br />
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So why do I keep browsing through all the sets? Why do I want to know what's available if I know I'm not going to buy anything? I have nobody to buy makeup for, so it's not even like I'm buying them for gifts. I need to be more mindful of the time I spend browsing. My time could be better spent doing other things like completing a Duolingo lesson. Actually, I think that will be a goal of mine now. When I realize I'm spending too much time idly scrolling I'll learn some more Italian instead. That's a much better habit to form, right?KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-56718126412920913732019-10-07T21:56:00.000-07:002019-10-07T21:56:20.546-07:00How Much Have I Spent This Year?A couple of weeks ago Samantha Ravandahl posted a video about how much she had bought so far this year. Truthfully, I haven't watched her video, but I did witness the discussion it sparked on the Makeup Rehab subreddit.<br />
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At first, I was excited to participate in mentioning how little I've purchased this year. Looking back now though, I feel silly for wanting to seek validation from random people on the internet. I know that my spending habits have significantly changed for the better over the past few years. Isn't that personal knowledge enough?<br />
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I never ended up responding to that Reddit discussion. Not only did I realize that I didn't need that anonymous validation, but I also realized that I didn't know how much I had spent. And I see that as huge progress.<br />
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The first two years I started paying attention to my spending I tracked every purchase and had a spreadsheet cataloguing things like purchase date, first date of use, discount. I had gone from buying frivolously to tracking obsessively. And neither of those behaviors was healthy.<br />
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If I think now about my purchases from this year so far, I know I'm going to forget something. And that's okay. I know I've bought less than a dozen items, even with counting my four Sydney Grace shadows separately. But here's the thing, I can't remember everything I've bought and when, not because I've bought so much, but because I'm not obsessing over makeup anymore. If that's not progress, I don't know what is.<br />
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KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-75604953095993459692019-09-30T21:03:00.000-07:002019-12-09T22:03:36.985-08:00Saying GoodbyeIn the past week the number of blogs that I follow has significantly decreased. Three blogs said goodbye to their readers: Auxiliary Beauty, Bad Outfit Great Lipstick, and Faceonomics. With the shift to YouTube, it can be difficult to find makeup blogs nowadays, especially ones that don't focus on reviews. I found all three of these blogs thanks to the blog authors posting on Reddit. And while they did review posts here and there, the blogs weren't solely about cataloging and swatching the new releases, and that felt like a breath of fresh air.<br />
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When I started my own blog earlier this year, I had three rules for myself that I've managed to stick to thus far. (1) I would be posting once every week on Monday. This was to get myself in the habit of writing. For the past few years I've been telling myself I wanted to get back into creative writing, and knowing I had a weekly deadline has helped me immensely. I still haven't started writing that novel, but I do feel like I'm finding my voice again.<br />
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(2) My blog would never have any pictures. That one seems silly; a makeup blog with no pictures of makeup?! Were there times when I wanted to include a picture in a post? Sure. I think it would be cool to show you my custom palette or help you visualize how my eyeliner collection changed in September. But I know that I would focus too much on getting the right Instagrammy picture and not enough on the prose that was the whole reason I started my blog. Besides, I'm a big proponent of swatching for yourself before buying a product, and there are a plethora of blogs out there on the internet who supply swatches for those who can't or don't wish to swatch things themselves.<br />
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(3) I wouldn't be posting reviews. Makeup is so subjective, and even after being interested in it for nearly five years, I still don't feel confident giving my opinion on a product. I can't often verbalize the reasons I like a product; I just know that it makes me happy. I'll talk about why I want to buy a product because of how it fits into what I already own. But I won't tell you how it drying it is or how its opacity compares to another product. I feel like there are plenty of people who already give out that information, and that's not what I want to be known for.<br />
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Will you see another post from me next Monday? Yes I'm not going anywhere yet. My goal is still to make it at least a whole year before calling it quits. Truthfully, I'm not as interested in makeup as I was when I started this blog. But I do enjoy writing about my journey weekly. So see you next week.<br />
<br />KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-16606754909267679262019-09-23T21:32:00.002-07:002019-09-23T21:32:32.728-07:00Choices, Not CollectionWell, I did it. On Saturday, I bought the two eyeliners I was considering to restart my eyeliner choices. I started to write collection, but I really think choices is a better way to put it. I don't want to have a collection again. I don't want to feel the need to have a wide array of colors because someone tells me I should. Why should it affect me if someone online has a cup full of eyeliners? Maybe she doesn't even like the ones I do.<div>
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It's funny how that drive to participate in the beauty community can affect you. Even though I told myself before Saturday that I was only going to buy Rockstar and Lucky I still found myself wanting to consider other colors. I didn't really catch myself doing it either until I started considering Mainline. Mainline. That tealish-blue color that I sometimes thought about wearing but basically never did. It's a pretty color, but it's totally not my style. I had owned it for about 800 days and had likely worn it less than ten times. </div>
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That's one of the reasons I decided to only buy two eyeliners this time. I want to use them, like really use them. Even though I loved Rockstar and easily called it my favorite eyeliner, I only used half of my previous one in the nearly four years that I owned it. Putting the old and new side by side today totally shocked me; I seriously thought I had used much more than I had. </div>
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So that's why I'm moving from a collection to just having choices. I'm the kind of person who only wants a few choices. So many of my makeup categories only have one or two choices already, and it was time to make that switch with my eyeliners as well. </div>
KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-38281758818896651042019-09-16T20:45:00.001-07:002019-09-16T20:45:35.034-07:00To Replace or NotTruth be told, I haven't been wearing makeup much recently. I've thought about it a few times, but the desire hasn't been strong enough to actually go pick up my basket and start the process. The few times I <i>have</i> worn makeup recently it almost always has lacked eyeliner. It feels weird because a few years ago eyeliner was easily my favorite makeup category. It was the first category that I truly cared about enough to specifically choose colors and formulas before purchasing.<br />
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So, why am I telling you this? Because this upcoming Saturday, my favorite eyeliners will be on sale for half off. If you've been reading this blog for some time, you probably already know how long I've been wanting to buy Urban Decay's Lucky. When I first saw the Urban Decay eyeliners were going to be on sale, I decided that I would buy Lucky and no others. I do not need any other colors, and I love the colors that I already own.<br />
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But then I started thinking about how much I enjoy my eyeliners but how little I use them nowadays. I realized I haven't worn them much lately because when I do my eyes often hurt. It seems silly to admit it now, but it took that realization to recognize how long I've had my eyeliners. In fact, I just pulled up my purchase history, and I'm shocked:<br />
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<li>Lancome Lamé - April 2018</li>
<li>UD Anatomy - June 2017</li>
<li>UD Mainline - April 2017</li>
<li>MUFE M-60 - November 2016</li>
<li>UD Invasion - December 2015</li>
<li>UD Rockstar - not listed, but it's my oldest eyeliner... November 2015?</li>
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No wonder I've been having issues when I wear eyeliner lately! It's high time that I replace my eyeliners. I can't believe I've had some for almost five years. This just solidifies my decision to chuck them all and just buy Lucky and a replacement Rockstar. Eventually I may replace Lamé and M-60, but I really want to see how I handle having only two eyeliners. I know I'm not going to miss Mainline or Invasion; I barely wore them, and they were definitely aspirational items. Lucky can basically act as a replacement for Anatomy, so I'm not concerned about missing that one either. </div>
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In fact, the only thing that I really worry about it is that I'm not going to wear these either. I don't want to buy more makeup just to cling onto the idea that it's still my hobby. But perhaps that is a reflection for another post...</div>
KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-20672592412488370692019-09-09T21:39:00.003-07:002019-09-09T21:39:36.933-07:00The No Buy/Low Buy Makeup TagA few days ago I saw a new makeup-related tag on Angelia Nyqvist's YouTube channel. Even though I'm not technically on a low buy/ no buy (since I don't have specific start and stop dates), I thought it may be interesting to answer these questions.<br />
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<b>1. How long have you been on your low buy/ no buy?</b><br />
It's been roughly three years since I started becoming more conscious of my spending habits. I remember going on different variations of a low buy/ no buy in 2016. I started the year convinced I didn't spend that much but decided to document every purchase I made. And yes, I didn't spend <i>that</i> much, especially compared to the YouTubers I watched, but I quickly realized how often I was buying makeup at the drugstore. I didn't buy anything other than makeup at CVS or Walgreens, so every time I went it was specifically to buy makeup that was on sale, which, spoiler alert, was basically every week. That was before I learned how sales cycles worked and before I recognized that Buy One Get One Half Off is a horrible "deal."<br />
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<b>2. What motivated you to try a low buy/ no buy?</b><br />
The Makeup Rehab subreddit was definitely the biggest factor for me. I joined it around the time it originated, and back then it felt like a small community who were around the same stage in their makeup journey. Barely anyone had already done a yearlong no buy. Instead, we were all learning together.<br />
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<b>3. Are there any YouTubers who motivated/ inspired you on your low buy/no buy journey?</b><br />
When I was in the midst of changing my habits Jacquelyn Lovene was definitely one of my biggest motivators. She was one of the first YouTubers I watched who purposefully decluttered to a smaller collection. Other panners I watched would talk about how they felt overwhelmed by the amount of makeup they owned, but then they would continually buy new makeup while barely making a dent in the items they already possessed. Jacquelyn helped me feel okay about not having multiples in different categories, that it was fine to have a few favorites and call it a day.<br />
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<b>4. What is a positive aspect that you’ve experienced in your low buy/ no buy?</b><br />
I've definitely become more comfortable with the products I own. I don't feel the need anymore to constantly seek out new or "better" products. I mean, do I think their might be a better eyeliner out there than my trusty Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil? Sure, I'm not discounting that notion. But I also know that I don't want to spend that energy researching new products when I'm content with what I'm already using.<br />
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<b>5. What is a negative aspect that you’ve experienced in your low buy/ no buy?</b><br />
I still enjoy makeup, but it doesn't have as big of a wow factor for me as it once did. Maybe it's just because I'm no longer a newbie where every release is exciting. Also, I know I'm not going to be buying certain categories anytime soon, so I stopped seeking out information on those things. Sometimes it's disappointing not being able to discuss opinions on products or being able to compare products I do own to releases that others may be able to relate to.<br />
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<b>6. Do you think a low buy/no buy is beneficial for everyone? Why or why not?</b><br />
Yes, but I think they need to be in the right mindset for it to actually be beneficial. I've seen some people who say they're on a month-long no buy until the next Sephora sale but then end up spending hundreds of dollars at the sale. I think when people use no buys to prolong a purchase it's not as meaningful as others who say "I like this, but I don't need it. Let me use something I already own instead."<br />
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<b>7. What is some advice that you have to people starting a low buy/ no buy?</b><br />
If you're just starting I think it can be really beneficial not to completely avoid the makeup aisle. I know that feels counter-intuitive, but I really feel like it's important to recognize that you have control over your spending habits. You can like something and appreciate something without owning it. It's okay to go into Sephora and swatch items that catch your interest. If you have to leave your wallet elsewhere while you do so, just to ensure you don't come home with new items, so be it. But you have to realize that you're the one who can change the cycle.<br />
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<b>8. What have you learned from this experience?</b><br />
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I've learned that it's okay to have a small collection, that I don't need to keep up with the size I see all around social media. I get more enjoyment from specifically choosing the products that work for me than I do from owning things others told me I should like. </div>
KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-8274746608285164462019-09-02T21:50:00.003-07:002019-09-02T21:50:47.094-07:00The Obsession With PalettesI don't understand the obsession with pre-made palettes. They are constantly released, and so many people seem to jump on them each time. If a YouTuber isn't buying it, they're probably doing an antihaul on why they're not. Often the reason for not buying a palette is because it is too similar to ones they already own, which I feel like just reinforces my idea that there are too many palettes released throughout the year. <div>
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It reminds me of when I first became interested in Mac and there were constant "limited edition" releases month after month. However, now it's on a multi-brand level. So even the brands that rarely seem to release palettes are grouped into the same category as brands like Too Faced, which constantly puts out gimmicky palettes that are easily talked about throughout YouTube. By the time Urban Decay came out with Naked Heat (and especially Petite Heat) it was considered too late by many YouTubers who had already acquired multiple warm-toned/orange palettes. </div>
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It seems like a rite of passage sometimes to own so many palettes, like your rank in the beauty community is determined by how many you own. I find it interesting too to look at makeup flatlays and be able to tell fairly quickly when someone started buying makeup based on which popular eyeshadow palettes they own. </div>
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Over the past two years there has been a shift to talking about a palette's "color story." Nowadays it seems to matter more that the colors in a palette are unique and appear harmoniously together in their pans. Swatches neatly grouped together are sometimes more important than how likely someone is to actually wear those colors. I can appreciate a piece of art with blue and green, but I know I'm not going to wear that. Similarly, while the monochromatic 9-pan Colourpop palettes are quite appealing to look at, I know that I don't need 9 similar shadows. </div>
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I also feel like prettiness is more important than function sometimes. I remember reading posts on Reddit about how someone bought a new palette and was so afraid to use it (or even swatch it) because they didn't want to ruin its pristine appearance. The first thing I did when I received my Sydney Grace shadows a few weeks back was to swatch them and start pairing them with other singles I already had. </div>
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My custom palette does not have a color story; it's just colors I like that pair well together. There are browns, creams, yellows, mauves, and more. The silver looks out of place, but it actually works quite well with many of the shades in there. It seems like a jumbled mess and probably is, but that's fine with me. I feel like some people expect too much out of pre-made palettes. They want so much variety and uniqueness from a palette while still expecting it to fulfill their every want. But then they get mad at palettes for containing boring colors or yet another cream shade. </div>
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I think people forget that single shadows exist sometimes. Maybe they're too afraid of creating their own palette because they expect it to be this beautiful work of art from the get-go. They want everything to look harmonious when it really doesn't need to be. I would love to see a shift happen back to single shadows. But if that happens, I really don't want it to be like receiving deconstructed palettes. I want to see people choose the one or two shadows that speak to them most, not the whole collection. </div>
KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-16705719530616823042019-08-26T21:49:00.001-07:002019-08-26T21:49:57.920-07:00Makeup Packing for a Quick Weekend TripThis weekend we went on a roadtrip to visit my husband's family six hours away (though it was more like seven with all the stops). We left Saturday morning and returned Sunday night, so it really was a quick trip. As I haven't been wearing makeup that much lately, I probably wouldn't have packed a makeup bag normally. However, we were having family pictures taken since everyone was finally going to be in town at the same time for once.<br />
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I'm generally a minimalist when it comes to packing makeup, even before I stopped wearing it consistently. For example, I remember when my husband and I went to Miami a few years ago for half a week I only brought a face primer, a small face trio that doubled as eyeshadow, two eye liners, and two lipsticks. Now my "necessities" have shifted away from the eyes and more onto the face though. I know it may not seem that way considering I didn't pack an eyeshadow palette before, but that combination of the face palette and the eye liners gave me just enough possible creativity to not feel stifled during that trip.<br />
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Now though I'm more likely to even out my complexion than to play around with eyeshadow if I'm just throwing on some makeup before I head out. My current complexion routine consists of applying a combination of the Urban Decay Optical Illusion Primer and the Becca Backlight Priming Filter with the Urban Decay Optical Illusion Brush and setting it with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light using a mini Elf brush I got in some set a few years ago. Those five items right there already took up the majority of my makeup bag, so there wasn't much real estate left.<br />
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I would have loved bringing my new Sydney Grace shadows or some Mac shadows. I thought that a simple mauve eye would look good for the pictures. But my only options for transporting my single shadows currently is my large Z-Palette or my 12-pan Mac palette. Neither would fit into my makeup bag, and I didn't want to pack something that large separately if I was barely going to use it. (A weeklong trip would be different, but not for a quick weekend one. I should probably purchase an empty 4-pan palette next time I'm at a Mac store.) In fact, the only palette that could fit in my makeup bag at that point was Petite Heat, and considering my love for that palette I was fine with that.<br />
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Add in the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita and three eyeshadow brushes, and that was all I packed for this short trip. So my total comes to five products and five brushes. Our next trip is in November and will be a week long. I'm curious to see what changes and what stays the same.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-80906371312677048412019-08-19T20:55:00.000-07:002019-08-19T20:58:33.685-07:00"New Makeup Releases" VideosI've been inadvertently developing a habit lately of listening to "new makeup releases" videos to fall asleep. At first I would just turn on something from my Watch Later playlist, but after a while I realized I was still trying to pay attention to the content instead of going to sleep. (Now, I know the best answer to this dilemma would be to listen to something like white noise instead of speech, but that's not relaxing to me right now.) With the makeup releases videos though, I rarely am interested in the content, but I'm familiar enough with the YouTuber's voice to tune it out. It reminds me of when I was in high school and used to fall asleep listening to <i>Aladdin </i>or<i> Hercules.</i><br />
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Part of me feels weird using these videos to fall asleep though. Makeup isn't nearly as big of a hobby of mine as it was a few years ago, but I feel like I'm still trying to cling on to that last bit. I still read Reddit, and I still watch YouTube videos, though the type of content I've been watching has changed drastically over the last few years. I remember a time when I was so excited to watch a video discussing new releases. But now? It seems like barely anything interests me. Maybe it's because I tend to like safe and boring makeup, and that's rarely the type that's discussed on the channels I watch. (I'm okay with that though, because I know I don't need constant encouragement to go buy things. I watch much more for the people than I do for the product reviews.)<br />
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But as someone who participates in the beauty community, how do you stay involved when it feels like the majority of people just want to talk about what's new? I feel like so many YouTubers fall into this trap of rushing to get new products to review to grow their channel. Even Hannah Louise Poston, who built her channel last year on not buying things, has shifted in reviewing products that are both new and new-to-her. It's almost like you can't be fully accepted into the community unless you have opinions on what everyone else is talking about.<br />
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I've never tried Colourpop, or Modern Renaissance, or Morphe, or Shape Tape, or so many others that have appeared to be must-have products according to beauty YouTube. And, you know what? I don't have any interest in trying them. I think sometimes people in the community get so caught up in what others are buying or what others want to see reviewed that they lose part of the fun of makeup in the process.<br />
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I would so much rather watch someone talk about the two things they bought during the Sephora sale than the twelve that are the most popular on YouTube at the moment. I want to hear someone talk about the stuff they use everyday because they love it that much, not just the stuff that they were sent to review. To me, a monthly favorites video should be three items, not ten. So many products are being released now that's it hard to keep up. So why do so many people keep trying?KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-76424500146399347312019-08-12T21:25:00.001-07:002019-08-12T21:25:12.731-07:00One Little Spark of InspirationI haven't worn much makeup in the last few weeks. It seems odd to say that, considering I've managed to still post consistently. But looking back on my last few blog posts, there has definitely been a theme of discouragement.<br />
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It's been hard to find the time to put on makeup lately. I used to do it in the morning, sitting on the floor with my toddler. I love how excited she gets when I bring out my makeup bin, but she's reached the stage now where she knows how to open and destroy things quickly. It used to be our special bonding time, but after having a few items ruined, I've been more cautious with doing my makeup in front of her.<br />
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That said, I received my Sydney Grace shadows in the mail late last week and have thoroughly been enjoying them. It's almost like they've reignited my interest in makeup. I'm not sure how much of it is getting something new in general and how much is getting something I've been wanting for quite a while. I'd like to think it's more of the latter, but it's also been a few months since I've bought a makeup item.<br />
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I bought four shadows: Haystack, Geese A Laying, French Hens, and Embrace. These colors are basically the ones I fell in love with thanks to ABH Subculture. I have been waiting to find the perfect yellow for me, and both Haystack and Geese a Laying have answered that challenge. French Hens is reminiscent of Subculture's Roxy, a shade I never thought I would like but quickly became one of my favorites when I was exploring Subculture as a palette two years ago. Embrace doesn't have a Subculture equivalent, but it works splendidly well with the rest of my single shadows.<br />
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So far, I've only paired the shadows with Petite Heat, but it's so interesting how both the yellows (Haystack and Geese a Laying) and the pinks (French Hens and Embrace) are complemented so well by that palette. I'm looking forward to exploring them more and pairing them with my Mac and Urban Decay singles.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-75465912547986534302019-08-05T21:26:00.002-07:002019-08-05T21:26:46.988-07:00Struggling to Use a CouponAbout a week ago I was emailed a $5 off $10 coupon that was valid for anything Ulta sold. It had been ages since I had received an offer from Ulta, as I never get the 20% off prestige coupon that is supposedly so frequent. (Seriously, the last time I think I got one was spring 2017.) When I got the email my mind immediately went to the Nudestix eye pencils that have been lingering back there for a few months now. I was so excited to finally get one.<br />
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I was finally able to drive out to Ulta on the last day the coupon was valid, and I happily made my way over to the Nudestix display. But when I got there it was like my mood suddenly shifted. I swatched a couple of eye pencils that I had been interested in, hoping one would jump out at me as the one to buy. Instead, all I could think about was how I didn't really want one. At least, not for just $5 off. $21 was still a lot of money to spend on something that felt lackluster in the moment.<br />
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It feels strange to reflect on it now, but if I had used that coupon on a Nudestix eye pencil like I had originally planned it would've been almost like using a 20% off coupon on it (just a 20¢ difference). For some reason though knowing it was a solid amount of money off instead of a percentage made me more cautious in how I spent it. I think if it had been a trio of eye pencils like the one that had initially drawn me to the brand those few months ago I would have purchased it that day.<br />
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I wandered around Ulta for a bit, trying to find something a bit more practical. I had been wanting the OPI Matte Top Coat, but I always seem to miss when it's on sale. "Perfect," I thought. "This has got to be more than $10." And yes, I was right, but the $10.50 top coat was also sold out. Figures.<br />
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I walked around some more, enjoying my me-time but also wanting it to end. I saw some banana-scented Body Shop products, including the shampoo and conditioner I had so badly wanted to try three or four years ago. It amused me to finally see it in person after all this time. Back then, I never bought it because I didn't want to make an online order from Body Shop's website. Now that it was here in front of me though I still couldn't purchase it. Before I would've jumped at the opportunity, even without a coupon. I would say that's when I realized how far I've come in my makeup journey thanks to the shift in the online makeup communities I frequent.<br />
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Rarely now do I feel the urge to shop just because I have a coupon. I'm not sure what sparked that urge with this Ulta coupon. Maybe it's because $5 off $10 seems like such a good deal, until you start realizing that what you actually want is likely much more than $10. I probably would have been quite content with the matte top coat, but I'm also satisfied with what I ended up buying.<br />
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Truthfully, I was so close to walking out empty-handed. I didn't want to buy something just to buy something. Then I saw it. It was like a spotlight was directing me straight to its awkward spot near the bottom of the gondola. At $6 ($11 sans coupon) it felt like the perfect price, and it was something I really did actually need. So that's the story of how I went into Ulta to buy a frivolous makeup item and ended up with a new pair of fingernail and toenail clippers. Practical, right?KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-44301068096227542992019-07-29T21:29:00.000-07:002019-07-29T21:29:32.707-07:00National Lipstick Day: A ReflectionToday was National Lipstick Day. When I first started seeing articles and social media posts about it this weekend I did not care one bit. There are no lipsticks I seriously want right now, and I feel comfortable with the variety of lipsticks I do own. But after the tenth time of being reminded of this bogus holiday I felt a sudden urge to search out a new lipstick or two.<br />
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When I learned (thanks to a Facebook ad) that Target was having 25% off lipsticks, my memory cycled back to a YouTube video where Hannah from Smokey Glow mentioned liking a certain Milani lipstick. I remember looking up that lipstick after watching the video and really liking one of the colors. I don't remember though if the one I liked was the same one she did or a different one. Either way, it didn't stick in my mind well enough to be <i>that</i> memorable, and I wasn't about to go back through the last month or two of her videos to rediscover which one it was.<br />
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I don't even remember how I find out that Ulta had certain lipsticks buy one get one free, but somehow I found myself scrolling through the options, searching for two lipsticks that I maybe possibly wanted. Honestly, if I didn't have a toddler I probably would have just driven to Ulta today and swatched around until I found two I liked. In the five minutes I had spent scrolling on Ulta's site I had already convinced myself that I needed to repurchase a Lorac Pro Matte Lip Color in Mauve, even though I had replaced its role in my collection with Stila Papillon.<br />
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Once I saw these two stores had decent sales I wanted to explore what other options were out there for purchasing lipstick today. But here's the thing: until today I had little to no desire to purchase a lipstick any time soon. Why was I seeking out these deals when I didn't care about the products? It's the complete opposite of the Sydney Grace sale, where I found what I wanted, waited patiently for a sale, and then whittled down my wishlist even further before purchasing something. (Side note: I'm so glad that I waited until the mystery final day to get 25% off; it's exactly the kind of sale I was hoping for.)<br />
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And you know what frustrates me the most about this day? I didn't even wear lipstick today and have probably only worn it six or so times in the last month or two. Lipstick has not been my mind at all lately - until the internet told me it should be.KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-83241146716597538842019-07-22T20:35:00.001-07:002019-07-22T20:35:19.126-07:00A Small Annoyance of My Small CollectionWhen you have a smaller collection, I feel like it's more impactful when a product isn't currently on your good side. Don't like something? Just let it roll into the back of a drawer as you use other products instead. But when you only have around ten lipsticks it's hard to forget about that... one.<br />
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I spent weeks researching pink lipsticks before I purchased Stila Papillon. I lost count of how many lipsticks I swatched before I decided that Papillon was the right pink for me. And when I got it, it was. Just the right amount of pink with the right neutral tone with the right matte formula. I was so ecstatic, and I wore it so much. But now, months later, it's no longer my perfect pink. At least not right now.<br />
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I have one other pink, Revlon Blushed. It's about as opposite from Papillon as I can get while still adhering to my makeup preferences. Blushed is a beautiful light pink pearl lipstick. But here's the thing: it doesn't fill that desire that my currently dislike for Papillon has created.<br />
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If I had a larger collection I could easily play around with different pink lipsticks. I could have a week- or a month-long project of wearing a different one every day. But I don't have that luxury, nor do I want it. I purposefully chose all my lipsticks (though technically Blushed was much more of an impulse purchase), and I know that they're the ones I decided on for a reason.<br />
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Even though Papillon is not on my favorites list right now doesn't mean it won't be in a few months. I keep telling myself that I'll get excited about Papillon again once the weather gets cooler, when I'm wearing more mauves and purples and less oranges and coppers. In my mind, Papillon just doesn't pair with Petite Heat. And that's okay. I'm learning to play with different colors instead.<br />
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<br />KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816168578685863870.post-40647392258926690992019-07-15T20:51:00.003-07:002019-07-15T20:51:52.233-07:00Favorite Shade vs Most Used ShadeI thought it would be interesting today to compare shadows within palettes, particularly figuring out if my favorite pan is also the one with the most usage. I have three pre-made palettes, so I'll be focusing on those.<br />
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<b>Lorac Nude Skinny</b><br />
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Nude Skinny is easily my oldest palette, and I think its usage reflects on my journey with color and eyshadow in general. In the early days I used to use my pans up as evenly as possible. This meant that if something had pan showing it had gone through significant use. The only pan in this palette that reached this status is the first one from the left. It makes sense though, as this is the only cream color in the palette and the only one I would have used with every single look.<br />
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Ignoring that one, my most used shade is just one over. A few years ago I absolutely loved subtle gold eyeshadow. I had not yet ventured into the world of color and was still gaining confidence in applying makeup in general, so the less obvious something was the better I usually felt. Nowadays though my favorite would be the copper shade, the fifth one in the palette.<br />
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<b>ABH Subculture</b><br />
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For subculture, we also need to distinguish the "used for blending" outliers. Cube is basically gone, and Dawn is halfway there. Both of these shades were used to blend out shadows, so I'm not really counting them. I do really like Cube since its color-shifting quality is not something I would generally think to use. I'm also somewhat interested in seeing what it would look like as a face highlight; I've been eyeing Nyx Snow Rose lately, which I think is similar, and find it so interesting that Temptalia gave Cube an F but Snow Rose an A-.<br />
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So, if I'm disregarding these blending shadows my most used shades in Subculture are actually my three most favorites: Roxy, Edge, and New Wave, with the latter barely beating out the other two for the title of most used. Roxy definitely surprised me the most because I was not at all interested in even that type of color when I bought Subculture. Once I realized how beautiful it looked in the crease, I've been enjoying experimenting pairing it with different colors.<br />
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New Wave and Edge though were basically my favorites from the get-go. Initially I thought I would love the blues (Axis and Untamed), but I keep going back to the yellows instead. Both Edge and New Wave work wonderfully in the crease or on the lid, and it is so much fun combining them with oranges and others in that family.<br />
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<b>Urban Decay Petite Heat</b><br />
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Speaking of oranges, let's move on to Petite Heat. Like with the other two my most used shade is technically the leftmost, Inhale. It's the lightest shade and the one I use to blend out edges, so it's understandable that it would have the biggest dip. Besides that one though, Heist is definitely the most used. At first I thought that Heist, Wild Thing, and Hot Spell would show similar usage, but after closer inspection it's quite obvious that Heist has been used much more. Between Heist and Wild Thing I'm not sure which I love more. They are basically my favorite types of colors to use around my eyes, and I absolutely love having an entire palette based around that.<br />
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<br />KKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361782892990266816noreply@blogger.com0