I Stopped Buying Makeup in 2018

Yup, you read that title correctly, I haven't purchased a single makeup product in 2018. If you love makeup and/or frequently watch beauty videos on YouTube, this may sound crazy to you, but I assure you it was the best decision I made in 2018.

Many beauty lovers have been conditioned by makeup brands and YouTubers to constantly purchase new products in hopes of finding life changing products. Thanks to the YouTube beauty community, I would find myself constantly purchasing new products on a weekly basis.

I was organizing my makeup collection last year, when I realized my makeup stash had outgrown my one drawer of storage and my dad built me a second drawer to store my makeup in. In December 2017, I realized that my collection had outgrown my two-drawer storage system. Instead of asking my dad to build another drawer, I decided that enough was enough- I needed a makeup detox.

I owned a disturbing number of products, I'm talking 19 foundations, 13 blushes, 7 single shadows..and the list could go on. Drugstore makeup was my weakness, as the low price tags meant I could purchase more items. Until I realized that I would probably never go through all this makeup before it expired, meaning my money would literally be going into the garbage (and I can think of a ton of better ways to use my money).

So, I decided I wouldn't buy any new makeup products in 2018. I also thought it would be a good idea to stick to only one foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer etc. for my daily routine - and honestly, I have only finished one foundation and concealer, and I haven't even made a dent in my everyday blush. With regular use, a single bottle of foundation or concealer can easily last me 6-7 months and my blush and bronzer will likely last over a year.

When you put into perspective the length of time it takes to finish up a product and the recommended expiration date, the idea of buying new makeup becomes idiotic for me. As much as I love makeup, I can't justify wasting my hard earned money on products I'll end up throwing out.

I'm not saying I will never buy makeup again, because I definitely will, but currently I would rather work to finish up a few products before they expire. I think once my collection becomes smaller, I'll use the "one in, one out" rule and only purchase new products once another is finished. But, I have to admit, after 7 months of not buying makeup I still have no desire to purchase any new products (and I'm loving the extra money I have in my bank account).

If you love makeup and you're perfectly happy having a large collection that will likely expire before you finish everything, then that's amazing and I'm happy for you! But if you feel overwhelmed by your makeup collection or want to save some extra cash, I strongly recommend a makeup detox - it's a lot easier than you think and it will totally change your perspective. I think it's important to always think twice before making any purchase, regardless if it's a $3 lip liner or a $40 blush.

xoxo,

Tay

.