Thoughts on Purchasing and Panning

Hello friends!

I feel terrible that I don't use this blog as much as I should.

I've been posting more on my Instagram recently, and it's been an enlightening way to look at my makeup stash. I don't like calling it a collection, because then it sounds like something I'm building upon when in reality I'm trying to get rid of or use products up.

Showcasing products new and old has helped me feel inspired.

I'm not an expert photographer, but I'm learning. And I'm learning to be okay with not having all the newest things.

Don't get me wrong, I love makeup. Right now, at this point in my life, if I could have any job in the world it would be in the beauty industry. Something that allowed me to play with makeup.

But that's not the case. And I don't have the financial ability to keep buying. I'm the mother of a 15-month old boy, for one. A homeowner, for two. Life is expensive. And luxuries are not always something I can indulge in. Although, I have been. And I know it needs to stop. Seeing the bills add up is quite the reality check.

So I'm making due. I'm working with what I have. And I'm more motivated than ever to pan. I want to finish things up that I don't love so I can move them out. Too much clutter weighs me down. It's hard to find inspiration when you're staring at a box full of more than 200 lipsticks. And many that look vaguely the same.

I want to work on improving my skills- from makeup application, to photography, to video editing. And I don't need the newest products to do that.

So my Instagram and my YouTube channel, and yes, this blog, won't showcase the newest shiny things it will showcase my hard work and determination. The newest highlighter won't be seen on my feed, but I will shine a light on my focus. You won't see new eyeliners or blushes. No new creams, powders, or liquids. But maybe you will find some inspiration. Maybe you will find the desire to shop your own stash instead of shopping the shelves at Sephora or Wal*Mart. And maybe, just maybe, you will start your own makeup rehabilitation journey.

So what do you say? Are you with me?

XOXO

Elle

Elle's On A No Buy

 It's only been two days since I officially started my no buy.

I have been on the Sephora website three times. Watched about 10 makeup hauls. And read countless reviews on products I have no interest in purchasing.

WHY?

I have enough makeup. No amount of makeup is going to make me feel better about myself.
I'm not going to look like a Supermodel because I buy a new foundation. A new eyeshadow palette is not going to make my eyes larger. A new lipstick isn't going to make my teeth straight.

So why do I want to believe it will? That I will find the perfect products and my life will be forever changed?

There is no hair product that will give me thicker hair.

                                            Have you seen my Influenster unboxing? 

There is no skin product that will thin my face. No brow product to give me flawless eyebrows.

So many of us search for these 'unicorn' products to change our world. No product can do that. But we can change ourselves. We can change our attitudes and behaviors and begin to believe in ourselves.

So that's it for now. I'm beginning to believe.

Attempting a No Buy (for real this time!)

I need to do a no buy.

A real no buy. Not one where I keep making excuses and find reasons to buy new items. But a financially motivated no buy with real, firm goals in place.

Financially, I need to take a purchasing hiatus. I am still on maternity leave, which means my pay is currently less than half of what it normally is, and will be until I return to work in September.

I have a large furniture payment due in September.

And...Wait for it... I'm going to IMATS in Toronto, which is October 1-2.

So buying things I don't REALLY need, like the Sweet Peach palette above, has to stop.

And I am prepared to do so.

So starting now, the month of my birthday, and after a few 'treat yo self' treats from Sephora. I vow to begin my Beauty No Buy.

Wish me luck!

Project 100 Pan: ALL MAKEUP (INTRO)

I've finally done it.










I've gone mad.

No, not quite. But I am taking on a massive Project Pan challenge- a Project 100 Pan. That's no typo! 100 makeup items.

Now, they are not all full-size items. That would be a whole different kind of madness. In fact, most of the items in this Project Pan are "deluxe size" items.. But as anyone who has used these sized items before can tell you, it can take weeks (if not months) to finish something of that size!

One of my goals with my makeup collection is to have a majority of full-size items. This is mostly for aesthetic reasons. I just like the way full-size products look. But deluxe products have their benefits. They are frequently available as samples, gift-with-purchases, gift sets, and more. A great way to try a product (or two or ten!) for a fraction of the cost of the retail item.


I'm also counting individual pans as separate items. So for example, I have a contour palette in this challenge. That is 6 different pans of face powder. So each pan counts as one item, as opposed to counting the palette as a whole as one item. 

I've also decided to give myself little "prizes" at the end of finishing certain categories. I will have all of those listed with my full product list.

Interested in knowing what I've chosen?

Makeup Inventory 2016

Tallying up all the products in your makeup stash can be terrifying- truly.

It can be easy to deny the amount you have ("it's not that much!") when you are an addict. And there are always excuses.

But when you sit down and surround yourself with nearly 200 lipsticks, over 20 liquid foundations, almost 50 powder blushes...Well, things become a lot more clear.

My name is Elle, and I'm a Makeup Addict.

Here are my numbers...

Decluttering: The Struggle Is Real

Some of my lipsticks...Pre-decluttering

I do not like decluttering. There, I said it.

I love watching other people do it- have you ever fallen down that YouTube rabbit hole? There are many videos of people decluttering their makeup stashes. From the reasonable amounts to the massive collections... Most are ruthless with their choices too.

There is something about that I can't do myself- be ruthless, that is. I may very well have thirty various shades of nude lipsticks (actually, I'm pretty sure out of my now 173 lipstick stash, I have much more than that), but there's no way you can convince me they're not different! I haven't reached that point yet. Some are matte, some are satin, some are glossy! Some have sparkles and some shimmer. Some lean peachy, or brown, or pink.

Yes, I can admit it now, I am a makeup addict. I have a lipstick junkie. An honest-to-goodness lip product hoarder. Somewhere between my first MAC lipstick (Lady Gaga's first Viva Glam) and the dangers of drugstore sales, I collected almost 200 coloured lip products. That does not included glosses or balms either!

YIKES. 

Project 20 Pan ROULETTE: intro

I was a little crazy when I thought of this project!

This project involves writing categories down on little slips of paper, and then drawing them at random. The category chosen is how you will make the choice of which item to pan.

One of my panning mottos for 2016 is definitely GO BIG OR GO HOME!

The full list of all 60 categories can be found below. Have fun if you decide to try this too!

Pan That Palette FINALE + 2016 INTRO

I have conquered the Naked palette from Urban Decay. It feels pretty good to say that!

In 2016 I am going to be taking on another Urban Decay- this time the VICE LTD palette. A gorgeous limited edition palette with neutrals and colorful shades.