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.

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.

Project 10 Pan: FINALE

I have made the decision to end this Project 10 Pan.

While I did not finish every item, I did make some excellent progress.

Check out my previous update above, or keep reading for the finale!

Finish Six by Christmas | Update #2

It is hard to believe that one month from now is Christmas! Where does the time go?

I have made some great progress over the last couple of months with my Finish 6 by Xmas challenge.

Check out my video HERE or continue reading for more details on this challenge!

Sample Roulette!

To kick off #365daysofsamples I have decided to do a mini-challenge. This is a Sample Roulette.

What that means is that I chose 10 sample items at random to use up. The samples I have in my stash range from your classic foils to perfume vials to deluxe sized items (more than one or two uses!).

So check out the video here or read on to discover the items I randomly chose...

Plans for 2016!

While it may only be November, my heart is already with 2016!

I have been dreaming and scheming about what Projects, Challenges, and Goals I hope to accomplish during 2016.

So what am I planning on doing?

1) A Project 20 Pan (ROULETTE!) with all make-up items. A Project Pan Roulette is when you choose items at random. I will have a number of different categories (which I will share on this blog closer to my intro video) written on pieces of paper. I will draw 20 different slips of paper, and choose corresponding items. For example: "A drugstore foundation" or "Something from your favorite brand"

2) Pan That Palette! I am going to continue to pan my Naked Basics.

 I am also going to attempt to pan another full-size palette. Currently, I am intending to pan Stila's In The Light palette. However, if the majority of Panners decide to go with a different palette, I am going to challenge myself with my Vice 2 from Urban Decay!

There's still more! So read on...

Project 10 Pan UPDATE!

Missed my INTRO to this Project Pan? Check out the video!

One month into this Project, and I've finished one product and made some decent progress on the rest!

Keep reading for more info on the products in this Project, as well as the video update!

Advice for Project Panning!

Project Panning is oh so rewarding.

For those that are brand new to the concept- Project Panning can mean different things to different people. Essentially, Project Panning is a challenge using makeup (or other beauty products) in an attempt to finish them.

You may have already stumbled across a Project 10 Pan, a Project 20 Pan, or even seasonal challenges like Finish 6 by Christmas.

If you are interested in joining in- DO IT! If you are unsure how to start, I have some questions to help guide you.

If you are already doing a Project Pan, but need a little help going further, I hope my questions and advice can be of some assistance!

I have been participating in Project Pans and other various "use it up" challenges since 2013.

For the list of questions, read on...

Pan That Palette: Where do we go from here?

Panning (aka completely finishing an entire palette) is quite the challenge. And as you reach more milestones and goals, and see those shiny empty pans, you have to be a bit creative.

Long gone are the highlight shade/s, the lid colors, the blending shades. So what do you do? Reach for other palettes and shadows in your stash!

In my latest video, I swatch and discuss the shadows and liners I will be using to finish up my Naked palette from Urban Decay. With only 5 shadows left to finish up, they need a lot of help!

Check out the video on YouTube.

And don't forget to dive into the rest of this post to see the full list of products shown!

Weekly Makeup Basket| July 14, 2015

Have you ever put together a weekly makeup basket? When you're working on Project Pans, it's a brilliant way to rotate through products without being overwhelmed (especially if you have a fairly large stash).

Essentially, you look through your items and choose a small selection to use for the week. The exact quantity will vary based on your preferences, but the fewer the better. The more usage you get out of a product in a week, the quicker you can finish it! Alternatively, if it turns out after the week the product doesn't work for you- you can give it away, toss it, or even sell it (although that can be tricky).

Having a basket (or bag or box!) separate from your collection will simplify your routine as well. It has definitely helped me cut back on time getting ready for work in the morning!

You can check out my video on YouTube here:

But read on if you're interested in the full list of products I chose for the week.

30 Day Lipstick Challenge: Summer Edition

                                           Check out my latest YouTube video!

It's time to take on a beauty challenge!

The 30 Day Lipstick challenge is exactly what it sounds like- 30 days, 30 different lipstick shades. Every day is something different, and it gives you a good excuse to play around with shades you wouldn't normally reach for.

Do you normally rock a red lip? Try changing your makeup look with a more dramatic eye and a matte nude lip. Are you obsessed with pink lipsticks? Try a brighter or bolder version, like a fuchsia or hot pink. And if you're anything like me, who lives and dies by nude lippies, try a bright purple or even a coral!

You can learn so much about your makeup likes and dislikes by taking on this challenge. You may just surprise yourself and find a new favourite combination.

And if you have a lot of lipsticks, you might be able to decrease your collection by tossing (or giving away/selling) lippies you find don't work for you.

For a complete list of the 30 lipsticks I'm going to be rocking for the month of July, check out my YouTube video!

The Good and the Bad of Finishing Products

As many of you know, I've been on a journey to cut down on my beauty collection/stash. Sometimes, when I look at how much stuff I have I truly feel like a hoarder- I will keep everything and anything!

When I finish a product, or even hit pan on something, it can feel a little bit bittersweet. On one hand, I am excited to be moving that item out of my stash. On the other hand, I want to have all the things!

I am a beauty lover. I love to try new products, of all kinds- from new foundations to new eyeliners to new shampoo and face cleansers. There's something so fun about trying something new.

But I've been trying to wrangle those feelings in. I've been trying to be smart about my purchases, for many reasons. Gone are the days that I would finish a drugstore and leave with $100 grab bag of things to try out and play with. I shop with purpose. And something is missing.

My ultimate goal is to have a manageable stash of makeup and beauty products. I don't need to have 20 bottles of conditioner- I'm not going to run out tomorrow! But I also can allow myself to have more than one bottle. Variety, as they say, is the spice of life.

I think I am going to try something new, maybe three products (of the same type) out, one in. I will continue to downsize my collection, while still giving me some room to play. I don't like setting "rules" like this in stone though, as I immediately want to break them.

Check out my latest YouTube videos, where I talk about the products I've finished: