A Long and Winding Road...

December is a difficult month when it comes to consumption- or rather, over consumption.

I find that I need to constantly remind myself that new purchases aren't necessary.

A lot of people take advantage of the holiday sales to make new purchases. Sometimes, these are long sought-after items. It's easy to compare your journey to somebody else's. DON'T.

The choices other people make are not your choices.

Just because it's right for somebody else doesn't mean it's right for you.

It's easier said than done, I know.

I see other people buying all the new releases and I'm jealous. I see some content creators I love receiving PR and I'm jealous. I admit that openly. It's not that I'm not happy for other people, but it's wanting what they have. And why?

I'll also admit to struggling recently with my definition of success as it comes to social media. I was absent for a good portion of the year (2019) and now that I've been making an effort to post regularly again I see a decrease in numbers each time. It's disheartening because I don't know what I did wrong, if anything.

Perhaps people are just growing in different ways.

I'm trying to focus less on the numbers in all areas of my life. But unfortunately with a no buy and a beauty budget, that's simply not possible.

I have to track everything- every single cent.

And I'm trying not to be overwhelmed. But sometimes it feels like I'm a browser with too many tabs open. And where is that music coming from?

 If you have any advice please share!

XOXO

ELLE

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

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?

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. 

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.

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...

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!