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

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 Pan: Back-to-MAC edition!

I like having goals to work towards.

I shop at Sephora for the points, instead of searching somewhere else to buy beauty products. I like seeing that one thing leads to another.

And when doing Project Pans, there is no goal of more stuff. The goal is to downsize! And that doesn't always work for me.

Few stores (that I know of anyway) have programs where you can trade in packaging for new products. Lush does this (5 containers= 1 free face mask). And MAC does. 7 products (note: I was told 7 by a MAC employee, but others have told me that you only need 6 products!) that fall under the specifications can be returned for a lipstick (or an eyeshadow or lip glass in-store).7 products go out, 1 goes in. That sounds pretty good to me! If Sephora offered something like that I feel like my panning would increase.

I like to try new things, but I don't want to have so many products sitting around that will eventually become expired.

Check out my intro video with five MAC products.

And don't forget to subscribe to follow me on my panning journey!

Project Pan- fourth times the charm;)

Happy Friday everyone!

Here is my last Project Pan set (for now). I’ve also decided to put myself on a total No Buy- except for necessary repurchases, and things that I don’t consider to fall in one of the major categories (makeup, skincare, hair care, and body care). 

I think my other exception will be Sephora’s Holiday special. I know they usually give a decent discount to VIBs, and now that I’m a VIB Rouge hopefully the discount will be even better. I need a new Beauty Blender, so maybe I’ll use that for beauty tools, which wouldn’t hurt Project Pan at all!

I’ve just been spending way too much money on unnecessary products, and it’s time for a cut back. I don’t have a particular deadline for this either. I think I’ll just try to hold on for as long as I can! 

Today’s post focuses on BODY CARE! Take a peak at the 7 items on my list:

Lush Bohemian soap