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Hello Internet,
Today's post is covering the highly ambitious products I want to finish in 2016. I am tired of having such a large collection of everything. I'm tired of worrying about when something is going to expire. I'm tired of looking at a cluttered mess of both things I love and things I'm guilty about not loving more. I'm tired of having so much furniture dedicated to storing my stockpile of beauty crap!
I knew one of my biggest challenges to being a minimalist was going to be when it came to makeup and skincare as both are passions and hobbies of mine, and why I originally started blogging back in highschool.
My ultimate goal for myself is to have all my makeup in ONE cute little(ish) makeup bag. I envision myself one day waking up, playing with my puppy (it's on my to do list for this year, to get a puppy), and putting on my face while sitting on my bed with a small makeup bag. And for it to only take 10 minutes tops.
Currently I have a desk, a drawer unit, and a box in the closet full of makeup. This is after finally throwing away the blue eyeshadows that didn't really go with my everyday look and giving some makeup away to my mom. Also, this does not include the cabinet under the bathroom sink that houses my skincare, hair care and body care items, nor does it include the giant tray of perfumes on top of my vanity. Lord help me.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." - It is going to take divine intervention for me to get through this list of things I want to finish up.
So on to the fun part! What did I choose for my mission?
I selected the products below based on age, texture, how much I had of them, and how much I like them.
Age - I chose the older items in my collection so I can try to use them before they go bad.
Texture - I chose a lot of cream products as they tend to dry out and expire faster than powder ones.
How many of them I had - Products I had several of, in particular, eyeliners, cream eyeshadows, foundations/BB creams, and lip products.
How much I like them - Things I felt meh about, I wanted to get them out of my collection so I wouldn't have to look at them anymore.
"Why not just get rid of these things?," one might ask. Well, here is my ideology on the whole concept. I don't like wasting. That goes for food, money, anything. But also, I really don't have anything that I truly detest. I believe you can make anything work, honestly. So I will do just that.
Here are the 60 items that I've selected for my mission. Some will take a miracle, others I actually could probably get through pretty quickly as they are already nearing their end. To be cheeky with myself, I also included 10 BONUS items, should I get through the 60. Say a prayer for me tonight before you go to bed.
1. MAC Lipglass "Rich and Ripe"
2. MAC Lipglass "Underage"
3. Tarte Lipgloss "Viv"
4. Tarte Lipgloss "Ro"
5. Urban Decay Lip Junkie "Naked"
6. Annabelle Le Gloss Stick #703
7. Annabelle Le Gloss Stick #707
8. Ulta Lipliner "Flesh"
9. ELF Matte Lip Color "Natural"
10. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain "Honey"
11. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick "Pink Please"
12. Rimmel Lipstick "Airy Fairy"
13. MAC Lipstick "Viva Glam Gaga"
14. MAC Lipstick "Speak Louder"
15. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick "Soft Nude"
16. Noyah Lipstick "Deeply in Mauve"
17. ELF Bronzer "Warm"
18. MAC Sculpt and Shape Powder "Lightsweep/Shadester"
19. Smashbox Cream Cheek Trio
20. Tarte Cheek Stain "Flush"
21. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Brightener
22. Cover Girl Trublend Concealer Stick
23. MAC Studio Finish Concealer
24. L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base
25. Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation
26. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup
27. Makeup Forever Mat Velvet +
28. Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation
29. Pure Beauty Soothing BB Cream
30. Garnier BB Cream
31. Pure Beauty Jasmine Water BB Cream
32. Too Faced BB Cream
33. Juice Beauty BB Cream
34. Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream
35. Essence All About Matte Powder
36. Be A Bombshell Smooth Criminal Powder
37. Wet and Wild Coverall Pressed Powder
38. ELF Eyebrow Kit
39. Essence Brow Gel
40. MAC Eyeshadow "Naked Lunch"
41. Maybelline 8 mini pan "Sunbaked Neutrals"
42. 15 Single Eyeshadows
43. Sephora Jumbo Waterproof Pencil "Taupe"
44. Chella Highlighter Pencil "Ivory Lace"
45. Jordana Shadow Pencil "Continuous Almond"
46. Pixi Shadow Pencil "Shell Sheen"
47. Sephora Jumbo Waterproof Pencil "Purple"
48. Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyeshadow Primer
49. NYX Eyeliner "White"
50. Bonne Belle Eyeliner "Raisin"
51. Anabelle Smudgeliner "Oh My Goth"
52. Gino McCray Eyeliner "White"
53. Bonne Belle Eyeliner "Hot Cocoa"
54. Rimmel Kohl Eyeliner "Nude"
55. Cosmagic Eyeliner "Black"
56. MAC Paint Pot "Blackground"
57. Maybelline Color Tattoo - Unknown Purple
58. Maybelline Color Tattoo "Precious Pearl"
59. Maybelline Color Tattoo "Tough as Taupe"
60. Revlon Lip Butter "Strawberry Shortcake"
BONUS ITEMS (I was apparently quite cocky when I made this list)
1. Lip Ice Sheer Color Balm
2. KA Magic Color Balm
3. Wet and Wild Coverall Cover Stick
4. Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter
5. Maybelline Eye Studio Cream Liner "Black"
6. Revlon Lip Gloss "Lilac Pastelle"
7. Nars Lipstick "Dolce Vita"
8. Revlon Lipstick "Pink Giggles"
9. Tarte Lipgloss "Spence"
10. Tarte Lipgloss "Finn"
I picked out 5 lip glosses, 11 lipsticks, 1 lipliner, 1 bronzer, 3 blushes, 1 highlighter, 3 concealers, 1 primer, 4 foundations, 6 BB creams, 3 powders, 2 brows, 16 single eyeshadows, 1 eyeshadow palette, 5 eyeshadow crayons, 1 eye primer, 7 eyeliner pencils, and 4 shadow pots. Now, some of these are almost finished, some are sample sized, some are pretty much unused.
What will be the easiest?
I think I can get through my foundations and BB creams quite easily because they are pretty much all at the tail end. I go through powders like candy too so I don't think that will be a challenge.
What will be the hardest?
The cream shadows and paint pots will probably be the biggest challenge for me and I doubt I will get through 4, but maybe I can start slapping the black on my cheeks as war paint.
I also don't wear pencil eyeliners very often anymore as well but I have so many I'm going to make it a point to wear them.
Why so many lip products?
I have so many! I hardly wear lip glosses so I am going to wear them this year and not buy any more. I got all of the little Tarte ones from a holiday set last year and I don't think they will be that hard since they are so small. I also picked colors that were neutral or sheer.
Going a whole year without buying new makeup? How??
As mentioned in my previous post, I did a no buy in 2015 (except for mascara) and was very successful. I found myself no longer craving new products or trying to justify making any new purchases. Yes, I went on Sephora's website and did some online window shopping, and especially during the holidays all the new makeup and kits were all so beautiful. But not beautiful enough for me to make a place for them in my life and backtrack on my progress.
I have this list written down in my Moleskine planner and will be ticking them off as I go along. I plan to update quarterly on my progress with before and after photos. I have also creating a new page that can be accessed at the top of my blog's main page with a running tally of what all I've finished.
If you're wanting to downsize or declutter, do it now! Put an end to mindless spending and love the things you have or get rid of them. Be happy!
- Jenny
Today's post is covering the highly ambitious products I want to finish in 2016. I am tired of having such a large collection of everything. I'm tired of worrying about when something is going to expire. I'm tired of looking at a cluttered mess of both things I love and things I'm guilty about not loving more. I'm tired of having so much furniture dedicated to storing my stockpile of beauty crap!
I knew one of my biggest challenges to being a minimalist was going to be when it came to makeup and skincare as both are passions and hobbies of mine, and why I originally started blogging back in highschool.
My ultimate goal for myself is to have all my makeup in ONE cute little(ish) makeup bag. I envision myself one day waking up, playing with my puppy (it's on my to do list for this year, to get a puppy), and putting on my face while sitting on my bed with a small makeup bag. And for it to only take 10 minutes tops.
Currently I have a desk, a drawer unit, and a box in the closet full of makeup. This is after finally throwing away the blue eyeshadows that didn't really go with my everyday look and giving some makeup away to my mom. Also, this does not include the cabinet under the bathroom sink that houses my skincare, hair care and body care items, nor does it include the giant tray of perfumes on top of my vanity. Lord help me.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." - It is going to take divine intervention for me to get through this list of things I want to finish up.
So on to the fun part! What did I choose for my mission?
I selected the products below based on age, texture, how much I had of them, and how much I like them.
Age - I chose the older items in my collection so I can try to use them before they go bad.
Texture - I chose a lot of cream products as they tend to dry out and expire faster than powder ones.
How many of them I had - Products I had several of, in particular, eyeliners, cream eyeshadows, foundations/BB creams, and lip products.
How much I like them - Things I felt meh about, I wanted to get them out of my collection so I wouldn't have to look at them anymore.
"Why not just get rid of these things?," one might ask. Well, here is my ideology on the whole concept. I don't like wasting. That goes for food, money, anything. But also, I really don't have anything that I truly detest. I believe you can make anything work, honestly. So I will do just that.
Here are the 60 items that I've selected for my mission. Some will take a miracle, others I actually could probably get through pretty quickly as they are already nearing their end. To be cheeky with myself, I also included 10 BONUS items, should I get through the 60. Say a prayer for me tonight before you go to bed.
1. MAC Lipglass "Rich and Ripe"
2. MAC Lipglass "Underage"
3. Tarte Lipgloss "Viv"
4. Tarte Lipgloss "Ro"
5. Urban Decay Lip Junkie "Naked"
6. Annabelle Le Gloss Stick #703
7. Annabelle Le Gloss Stick #707
8. Ulta Lipliner "Flesh"
9. ELF Matte Lip Color "Natural"
10. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain "Honey"
11. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick "Pink Please"
12. Rimmel Lipstick "Airy Fairy"
13. MAC Lipstick "Viva Glam Gaga"
14. MAC Lipstick "Speak Louder"
15. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick "Soft Nude"
16. Noyah Lipstick "Deeply in Mauve"
17. ELF Bronzer "Warm"
18. MAC Sculpt and Shape Powder "Lightsweep/Shadester"
19. Smashbox Cream Cheek Trio
20. Tarte Cheek Stain "Flush"
21. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Brightener
22. Cover Girl Trublend Concealer Stick
23. MAC Studio Finish Concealer
24. L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base
25. Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation
26. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup
27. Makeup Forever Mat Velvet +
28. Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation
29. Pure Beauty Soothing BB Cream
30. Garnier BB Cream
31. Pure Beauty Jasmine Water BB Cream
32. Too Faced BB Cream
33. Juice Beauty BB Cream
34. Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream
35. Essence All About Matte Powder
36. Be A Bombshell Smooth Criminal Powder
37. Wet and Wild Coverall Pressed Powder
38. ELF Eyebrow Kit
39. Essence Brow Gel
40. MAC Eyeshadow "Naked Lunch"
41. Maybelline 8 mini pan "Sunbaked Neutrals"
42. 15 Single Eyeshadows
43. Sephora Jumbo Waterproof Pencil "Taupe"
44. Chella Highlighter Pencil "Ivory Lace"
45. Jordana Shadow Pencil "Continuous Almond"
46. Pixi Shadow Pencil "Shell Sheen"
47. Sephora Jumbo Waterproof Pencil "Purple"
48. Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyeshadow Primer
49. NYX Eyeliner "White"
50. Bonne Belle Eyeliner "Raisin"
51. Anabelle Smudgeliner "Oh My Goth"
52. Gino McCray Eyeliner "White"
53. Bonne Belle Eyeliner "Hot Cocoa"
54. Rimmel Kohl Eyeliner "Nude"
55. Cosmagic Eyeliner "Black"
56. MAC Paint Pot "Blackground"
57. Maybelline Color Tattoo - Unknown Purple
58. Maybelline Color Tattoo "Precious Pearl"
59. Maybelline Color Tattoo "Tough as Taupe"
60. Revlon Lip Butter "Strawberry Shortcake"
BONUS ITEMS (I was apparently quite cocky when I made this list)
1. Lip Ice Sheer Color Balm
2. KA Magic Color Balm
3. Wet and Wild Coverall Cover Stick
4. Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter
5. Maybelline Eye Studio Cream Liner "Black"
6. Revlon Lip Gloss "Lilac Pastelle"
7. Nars Lipstick "Dolce Vita"
8. Revlon Lipstick "Pink Giggles"
9. Tarte Lipgloss "Spence"
10. Tarte Lipgloss "Finn"
I picked out 5 lip glosses, 11 lipsticks, 1 lipliner, 1 bronzer, 3 blushes, 1 highlighter, 3 concealers, 1 primer, 4 foundations, 6 BB creams, 3 powders, 2 brows, 16 single eyeshadows, 1 eyeshadow palette, 5 eyeshadow crayons, 1 eye primer, 7 eyeliner pencils, and 4 shadow pots. Now, some of these are almost finished, some are sample sized, some are pretty much unused.
What will be the easiest?
I think I can get through my foundations and BB creams quite easily because they are pretty much all at the tail end. I go through powders like candy too so I don't think that will be a challenge.
What will be the hardest?
The cream shadows and paint pots will probably be the biggest challenge for me and I doubt I will get through 4, but maybe I can start slapping the black on my cheeks as war paint.
I also don't wear pencil eyeliners very often anymore as well but I have so many I'm going to make it a point to wear them.
Why so many lip products?
I have so many! I hardly wear lip glosses so I am going to wear them this year and not buy any more. I got all of the little Tarte ones from a holiday set last year and I don't think they will be that hard since they are so small. I also picked colors that were neutral or sheer.
Going a whole year without buying new makeup? How??
As mentioned in my previous post, I did a no buy in 2015 (except for mascara) and was very successful. I found myself no longer craving new products or trying to justify making any new purchases. Yes, I went on Sephora's website and did some online window shopping, and especially during the holidays all the new makeup and kits were all so beautiful. But not beautiful enough for me to make a place for them in my life and backtrack on my progress.
I have this list written down in my Moleskine planner and will be ticking them off as I go along. I plan to update quarterly on my progress with before and after photos. I have also creating a new page that can be accessed at the top of my blog's main page with a running tally of what all I've finished.
If you're wanting to downsize or declutter, do it now! Put an end to mindless spending and love the things you have or get rid of them. Be happy!
- Jenny
Hello Internet!
The time has come!! My 2015 empties round up on the last day of the year! This has been a great year for empties for me. I really learned a lot about what I like, what I don't like, and discovered earlier this year that I no longer enjoy having a large collection of makeup, skincare, and the like. I was inspired by minimalism, decluttering, and tiny house living (which is so cool by the way). I read "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo and it has definitely changed the way I viewed my possessions. I got rid of a lot of clothes and purses this year that did not reflect the style I wanted for myself and am still working on building my my perfect wardrobe. I wouldn't say I'm a minimalist yet but my progress has been nothing but positive this year.
The empties in this post include makeup, hair, skin, perfume, nails, and even some stationary (weird, I know) that I finished this year. I also decided to add up the dollar value of each used product to give myself an idea of how much I really used (wait till you see the number *faints*). At the end of the post I'll attempt a "deep" self-reflection of my progress towards minimalism, what I would have done differently in 2015, and discuss my goals for the future.
The time has come!! My 2015 empties round up on the last day of the year! This has been a great year for empties for me. I really learned a lot about what I like, what I don't like, and discovered earlier this year that I no longer enjoy having a large collection of makeup, skincare, and the like. I was inspired by minimalism, decluttering, and tiny house living (which is so cool by the way). I read "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo and it has definitely changed the way I viewed my possessions. I got rid of a lot of clothes and purses this year that did not reflect the style I wanted for myself and am still working on building my my perfect wardrobe. I wouldn't say I'm a minimalist yet but my progress has been nothing but positive this year.
The empties in this post include makeup, hair, skin, perfume, nails, and even some stationary (weird, I know) that I finished this year. I also decided to add up the dollar value of each used product to give myself an idea of how much I really used (wait till you see the number *faints*). At the end of the post I'll attempt a "deep" self-reflection of my progress towards minimalism, what I would have done differently in 2015, and discuss my goals for the future.
First things first, the empties. I'm like a proud momma on Toddlers in Tiaras. The satisfaction from finishing a product that you spent money on and to be able to say, yes, I used it to its full potential. The joy we get is unparalleled for any beauty "collector" ;).
**Disclaimer: The products below were not necessarily started in 2015.
Body Care
Body Wash: 10
Bar Soap: 11
Deodorant: 1
Foot care: 1
Hand Cream: 2
Body Lotion/Creams: 6
Body Scrub: 1
Shave: 1
Total Value of Body Care Products: $211
Skin Care
Face Cleanser: 9
Sheet Masks: 8
Face Moisturizer: 4
Nose Strips: 3
Toner: 1
Treatments/Serums: 6
Total Value of Skin Care Products: $229
Hair Care
Shampoo: 2
Conditioner: 2
Hair Mask: 2
Dry Shampoo:2
Total Value of Hair Care Products: $75
Makeup
Concealer: 2
Foundation: 1
Lip Balm: 3
Oil Absorbing Sheets: 1
Powder: 3
Primer: 1
Makeup Samples: 9
Total Value of Makeup Products: $112.5
Fragrance
Full size: 1 (1.7 oz)
Roller/mini: 1
Samples: 1
Total Value of Fragrances: $86
Nail/Nail Care
Nail Polish: 1
Nail Dryer: 1
Total Value of Nail Products: $6
Miscellaneous
Hand Sanitizers: 2 (minis)
Travel sized shampoo/body wash: 4
Pens (Stationary): 6
Total Value of Miscellaneous Products: $5
Grand Total of Empties: $725
By the way, I keep an inventory of all of my empties on an excel spreadsheet and update it monthly. Its the easiest way for me to keep track of every product and be able to sort them categorically (it's the engineer in me). I also have inventoried my makeup in the same way and will make an inventory post in the near future.
So, how did I do?
I can't believe I went through an entire year without buying any new makeup or skincare or hair care products (snaps for Jenny!!). By not buying any new products, it allowed me to whittle down my vast hoard (I won't even glamorize it with the word collection) over the past year. I still have a little ways to go, but I hope I can get through the rest of my skincare, hair care, and body care by the end of 2016. My ultimate goal is to only have 1 of each and buy a replacement once I've used it up. No more collecting.
I had quite a large skincare pile, from face washes to treatments, a lot of which were from beauty box subscriptions or Sephora Favorites kits. I am proud to say I actually ran out of face wash until my boyfriend gifted me a new face wash for Christmas. I also succeeded in using up a lot of little sample serums and oils that were collecting dust and taking up precious space. I really enjoy skincare and will probably continue to purchase skincare in the future, but I am excited to try more natural or off brand skincare products in the coming year.
I've barely made a dent in my perfume collection. I wear perfume daily but perhaps I need to focus on specific perfumes to use in 2016. I used to be a "signature scent" type of gal (hello Burberry Original), but then I moved to a city with TJ Maxx and bam. I now own 20 little bottles of expensive scented water. We need to get that sorted next year. I want to get back to owning a maximum of 3 (2 if I can!) perfumes at any given time.
What are some things I could have done without?
In 2015 I subscribed to a couple beauty boxes such as Ipsy and Glossybox so a few of my empties came from those services. While the surprise boxes are quite fun, there were hit and miss products and I'm not convinced it's a great value. But I may try it once more in the future.
Notice I only finished shampoo, conditioner, and dry shampoo as part of my hair empties. I still have tons of hair products from when I thought I would do more with my hair (texturizing sprays, shine sprays, smoothers, volume boosters) but truth be told, all I do is wash and condition. Definitely don't need to be buying hair serums and heat protectors when I hardly ever use hair tools. I'm also considering getting rid of my hair tools (blow dryer and flat iron) in 2016 but I'm having trouble letting go for some reason.
I virtually spent $211 alone on body lotions and body washes! Not that I don't enjoy them and I can't afford them, but it's really not a necessity for me so I'd rather spend my money on something else and switch to cheaper alternatives. I want to explore multitasking products such as oils that I can use for a multitude of things, and simplify my bathroom routine.
Reflecting on the fact that I used over 700$ worth of beauty products in 1 year.
I am very happy that I went through $700 worth of beauty products, but I'm also ashamed of the fact that I spent that and more on these types of things. I could have bought a designer wallet by now! I could drastically cut down that expense in 2016 by using body oils instead of body lotions and bar soap instead of body wash and the most obvious; not buying things I don't need!
The crying shame is that I only used 10 makeup products out of my whole collection and makeup is my largest problem!! I have over 400 makeup items alone (yes I counted them) and I really need to do better next year. I have set a goal for myself to use 60 makeup products, which I will be writing about in a future post (ambitious, I know, but if I don't kick my butt in gear, I won't be able to buy new makeup until I'm 40).
What are my goals for next year?
This is something I will also elaborate on in a future post, but ideally my plan is to continue my makeup no buy for 2016 and only replace items once I have gone through that product type in my hoard. This will prevent me from stock piling. I also want to explore multitasking products for hair/skin/body to simplify my routine.
I will always love makeup and skincare and trying out new things, but what I don't love is the burden of having so much at one time. I want to live a clutter free life while still enjoying my hobbies. Minimalism is not about living without, but living with just the things you love. And that is so hot right now.
- Jenny
I will always love makeup and skincare and trying out new things, but what I don't love is the burden of having so much at one time. I want to live a clutter free life while still enjoying my hobbies. Minimalism is not about living without, but living with just the things you love. And that is so hot right now.
- Jenny
Hi Internet,
Onward to minimalism!
Today's empties post is a little over due. I promised myself I would only keep empties for 30 days and then let them go as last time I held onto them for almost 9 months. I feel shame. In my defense, I was trying to keep a whole year's worth of empties in an attempt to get a visual understand of how much I go through in a year. But then I had to move, and moving bags of empties across town and up 3 flights of stairs to my new apartment...I'm not about that life. I have limits.
However, I then started to find myself collecting empties again in my new apartment. So I decided today was going to be the day. A glorious new day in which I will cease hoarding empty packaging because frankly, I don't have the physical nor the mental space to hang on to these things. I'm trying to be a minimalist here! It doesn't help me if I'm trying to declutter and then just keep the exact stuff I was trying to get rid of. What is my life.
I have noticed that if I write down my "goals" for empties in my bullet journal, i.e. the products I want finished by the end of the month, I am very likely to achieve those goals, though they have to be realistic goals (writing down a full bottle of shampoo isn't going to make that shampoo go away by the 30th, but a small tube of face cream will). By keeping these products in the front of my mind and in my planner, I am more likely to be diligent in using them. Case in point, October was a great month for empties and I kept adding product goals throughout the month and finishing them. In November I didn't use my journal very much, so didn't make a list of empty goals...and not very much was accomplished. Just a thought for those of you trying to get through your pile of junk. A snapshot of December's empties goals are below:
So far this year I have not repurchased any skincare, beauty, body or hair item except for mascara. I can see progress in my bathroom cabinet, where all the skincare and body care items are, but I really haven't made much of a dent in my makeup collection. I'm going through foundation and powders slowly, but have yet to go through any other products. I may need to do a no buy for 2016 as well, sigh. Is there an end in sight?
First off, while we are on the topic of makeup:
Mistine Compact powder - I repressed it but its crumbling and not really worth the mess it's making everytime I use it. It was nothing special, will probably not buy it again.
CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara (Very Black) - This is probably "The One" for me, and I bought a replacement for it yesterday.
Kat Von D Lockit Tattoo Foundation - I had the shade 54 medium. It was slightly too dark for me but I made it work. Great coverage, blends really well with beauty blender but a little cakey with a brush. This stuff was bomb, I'd get it again for sure. But not anytime soon though...I'm looking at you, foundations left in my collection....I'm looking at you.
Chapstick Lip Balm in Cake Batter - picked this up last Christmas, its nice :) I love Chapstick.
Revlon Base and Top Coat - meh...this is my second one and I decided I'm going to try something else. It worked alright as a base coat but does not dry quickly enough for a top coat.
Next up, skincare:
SkinEffects by Dr Jeffry Dover 2 step 8% Glycolic Acid pads - I think it helped brighten my skin and fade acne scars...but I can't be sure. I'd be interested in other glycolic acid products in the future.
Borghese Fango body polish sample - I got this in a subscription box, it's got a good grit, I used it for my feet. Actually belongs in the body section of the empties but I'm not redoing the photo. Smelled weird. Would not buy.
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - This was not memorable and although I didn't have any problem with it, I won't be buying it again.
DDF Amplifying Elixir - This one also came in a sample box. It made my skin feel very soft, I used it twice a day before moisturizer and really liked it. Not sure if it really did anything else for my skin though. Would not buy.
Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum - same deal as the DDF, it felt nice but I'm not sure what all it did. Would not buy but am very interested in trying Jurlique products in the future.
SkinInc Brightening Serum - Not sure if it brightened. Would not buy this specific product but may consider buying SkinInc serums in the future.
Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel - not a fan of the smell or the texture. Did not see any positive effects after use. Would not buy.
Oxy Spot Treatment - has 10% Benzoyl Peroxide which is my acne ingredient of choice. It was good, but I prefer Clean and Clear's Persagel 10. Would not buy again.
GlamGlow Youth Mud - I prefer the SuperMud treatment (in the white tub). This didn't really do much for me, I would not buy this one.
Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream samples - figured I try to get these knocked out. I really don't see any effect on my undereyes unfortunately, so will not buy this product.
Hair:
Batiste Dry Shampoo - I love this stuff, but not the Tropical scent. Will buy again in a different scent. I'm trying to use up a bottle of baby powder as dry shampoo before I buy any more.
KMS Hair Play - WTF was this? It was terrible. It took half a can to get my hair to look somewhat decent and had a very strong scent. Will not buy this EVER.
Last up, Body:
The Body Shop Honeymania Shower Gel - I really love these shower gels, scent was great. Will repurchase this in any scent (especially mango and strawberry).
Victoria's Secret Moonlight Dream - Praise Jesus this is the last one. I bought seven of these in one go and have been working at them for almost 2 years. I don't like the foam they produce, they are not moisturizing, and I didn't like many of the scents I picked out. Will not be buying these ever again and I am so glad I'm done with that part of my life.
Dry Idea Advanced Dry Antiperspirant/Deodorant - yep...it does the job. Not much else to say. Somehow I've accumulated 4 deoderants so I won't be buying any for a while.
The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Spray - Let me preface by saying I love the Body Shop. I would rather shop there than at Bath and Body Works as I feel the Body Shop products are higher quality. But this is $16 mouthwash in a spray bottle. I appreciate the concept, my feet were tingled, but no. Just no.
Revive Detoxifying Foot Pads - I must say, I got sucked into buying these in TJMaxx in that checkout line of doom. I knew they wouldn't work but I was compelled to buy the pretty pink packet. They are "toxin absorbing" sticky pads that you wear on the bottom of your feet while you sleep and in the morning you take them off and they get all dark with "toxins". They smelled nasty and smeared on my sheets. Bruh. Naw.
Onward to minimalism!
Empties are my guilty pleasure. I love watching empties videos on youtube, empties posts on instagram. My empties are important to me because every item brings me one step closer to my minimalist goals. It also means I haven't wasted my money if I used something up ;)
Body Shop's Honey Mania Body Butter is not my favorite scent but I still really liked how good it made my skin feel.
One of my goals for achieving a more minimal lifestyle is to not own more than two of any item, ie body wash, lotion, skincare, and not buying any more until I do so. This will not reduce the amount of stock I have (therefore creating more space and less clutter) but also save me some money (less chances of things expiring before I get to use them). Since the beginning of this year I have not purchased any bodycare or haircare, and only replenished one skincare item that I used up.
So proud:
So proud:
I used up 3 body washes in the past 2 months. I tend to have 3-4 body washes in the shower at any given time and I really enjoy being able to choose my scent, makes each shower more exciting and enjoyable. Now that it's getting warmer out though, I tend not to use body wash (I just find bar soap more refreshing when it's hot out, am i weird?)
Bath and Body Works Sleep Body Wash in Warm Milk and Honey - smells really warm and relaxing. Not a memorable lather, I probably would not buy this again. I have a lotion in this scent too.
Victoria's Secret Love Spell Body Wash - I don't really like these body washes, but a younger me thought it was a brilliant idea to buy 7 body washes at one time and I've got 3 left. They don't feel moisturizing, the scents are a little weird, and basically I'm just trying to get through them all. Won't be repurchasing any. This scent is one the better ones from my collection.
The Body Shop Mango Shower Gel - now this one is a STAR. Creamy lather, moisturizing, an absolute joy to use. The mango scent in particular is divine. Smells like fresh, juicy mangos. I will definitely buy this guy again. I prefer Body Shop's products to Bath and Body Works. I currently have the scent Honeymania in my shower.
This brings my count of body washes to 7 (jeezzzz). So I need to use up 5 more by the end of the year.
Bath and Body Works body lotion in Vanilla Bean Noel, my favorite holiday scent. Pretty basic lotion, not super moisturizing in my opinion. But let's face it, who really buys Bath and Body Works for anything other than the scents.
Another BBW Triple Moisture cream in Secret Wonderland. Really love this scent, but again, not all that hydrating. I have 3 other body creams left, so I need to use up at least one more by the end of this year.
Body Shop's Honey Mania Body Butter is not my favorite scent but I still really liked how good it made my skin feel.
Last body care items: 3 bars of soap. 1 Dial (smells nice), 1 Body Shop in Brazil Nut (smells really nice, like chocolate, good lather), and a Parrot Botanicals soap in the green scent. I pick these up in Thailand whenever I go home to visit, and I love this soap.
Moving onto skincare!! Bored yet?
2 Sheet Masks from BioMiracle. These have been in empties before. I use these when my skin is feeling dry, I find them moisturizing, relaxing, and therapeutic. I recommend sheet masks in general.
HEB Cotton squares: pretty self explanatory. I have repurchased these, but they aren't my favorite. I prefer Asian cotton squares (such as the Shiseido ones).
Pure Rosehip Seed Oil, used this as a facial moisturizer for a few months, not sure if it really did much for my skin,and sometimes not very moisturizing. I will try more facial oils in the future but I don't think I'll be buying this again anytime soon.
Clean and Clear Persagel 10, probably my favorite acne treatment.
Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid toner sample - this stuff kind of burns, didn't really like it.
Lastly, makeup. I only truly used up 3 makeup items, the others I had to toss because they were old and unloved.
Lastly, makeup. I only truly used up 3 makeup items, the others I had to toss because they were old and unloved.
I'm getting rid of 7 tubes of mascara. Only used up 2; CoverGirl Clump Crusher and Urban Decay Perversion, both in black. Clump Crusher doesn't give me enough volume, and Perversion smears a bit. Won't repurchase either. The other ones I used a little here and there and either didn't like them or they dried out.
1 Peppermind Chapstick. Smells like toothpaste, feels moisturizing.I like it.
4 lip glosses I have to get rid of as they are old as f***. L'Oreal HIP Jelly Balm (yes we all know how old this is) in Plush; texture and scent hasn't really changed but I never liked it and will not force myself to use it. ELF Hypershine lip gloss in Fairy, glittery and gross. Annabelle Le Gloss in Super Sweet; sticky and old. Lastly, Clinique Glosswear sample in Cabana Crush, this smells like plastic. It was alright when it was newer, but nothing memorable.
2 eyeliners that dried out :(. ELF Cream Liner in coffee and Wet and Wild Mega Liner in Plum.
1 nail item: Seche Vite Top Coat. Got all gooey before I could finish it. Never repurchased, probably won't.
Miscellaneous empties. Almost done!
Kleenex Hand Sanitizer, had no alcohol smell, and moisturizing, I liked it.
Kleenex Hand and Face wipes, nothing special. It was free in a kleenex gift pack I got from work.
Flinstones Vitamins - taste good and look cute so they encourage me to take vitamins daily. Yes, adults can take them too.
Real Techniques face sponge - this was getting a little old so I replaced it. Then decided to cut it in half out of curiosity and found mold! Gross!! Replace your makeup sponges often ladies!!!!
2 pens (not shown). Pens are just as hard to use up as makeup and I have a fixation on finishing pens. I'm the type of person who uses the same pen until it runs out and I am really good at not losing them (I hardly ever lent pens in school and when I did I made sure I got them back). These two pens are from Thailand, I love Asian stationary and Asian pens write really well and are really skinny.
I'm posting this a little later than I wanted to, so I will probably have another empties post in a couple weeks.
One step closer to minimalist nirvana!!!
One step closer to minimalist nirvana!!!
To get perspective on what you need and areas you can minimize, it's helpful to know your inventory. This can be daunting if you have a lot of something (clothes...I can't even). So I find it helpful to start inventory on small collections and build my way up.
Today's inventory check is on hair products and tools. Very mundane...but as I am a hoarder of beauty products, this is an area that I am in excess. Which is odd since I hardly ever use any hair products. I wash and condition, and that's about it. Occasionally when I don't even wash and condition, I'll use dry shampoo. But that's as far as it goes. I don't even brush my hair. So why do I have so much other stuff? Because I like to buy things.
As of May 25, 2015 this is what I own:
1 Dry Shampoo
4 Hairsprays (albeit minis from beauty subscription boxes, none of which I am currently subscribed to)
1 Heat protectant
2 Volume boosters
4 Texturizers (salt sprays, etc)
3 Shine boosters
1 Detangler
1 Shampoo
3 Conditioners
2 Deep conditioners
4 Treatments (ie products that don't fit in the above categories)
3 Brushes/combs
1 Blowdryer
2 Flat irons (1 is for travel)
1 Curling iron
Bringing my total to 26 hair products and 7 hair tools.
Now, my general philosophy with minimizing my possessions is to use up (not get rid of) my products and to not replenish until I've whittled down to no more than 2 items of any particular product. With that said, although I hardly ever use the hair styling tools I have, I also don't want to get rid of them at this time should there be a need for it in the near future. This is something I intend to evaluate in 6 months to decide if they are worth holding on to.
Looking at the hair products that I have, and realizing how low maintenance I am with my styling routine, I do not need: hairspray, volume boosters, texturizers, detanglers, or special treatments. I admit I don't use shine boosting products often, but I probably should, so those are things I would ideally have in my collection.
I also use the blowdryer, but not on my hair haha. It comes in handy for other things.
So, after identifying my daily routine and what I really use, I've determined what my ideal hair collection would look like:
1 Dry Shampoo
1 Shampoo
1 Conditioner
1 Deep conditioner
but, as a true hoarder who can't completely give up everything for fear she will need it one day, I would also keep the following:
1 Shine booster
1 Hairspray
1 Heat protectant
1 Comb
1 Blowdryer
1 Flat iron (am still skeptical since I don't think I'll ever use it)
bringing my ideal hair collection to 7 products and 3 styling tools.
Theoretically, I can get rid of everything else. But as I'd rather use something than waste it, I will attempt to go through as much as I can until I reach my desired size. Now with all this talk, let's see if I can walk the walk :)
Today's inventory check is on hair products and tools. Very mundane...but as I am a hoarder of beauty products, this is an area that I am in excess. Which is odd since I hardly ever use any hair products. I wash and condition, and that's about it. Occasionally when I don't even wash and condition, I'll use dry shampoo. But that's as far as it goes. I don't even brush my hair. So why do I have so much other stuff? Because I like to buy things.
As of May 25, 2015 this is what I own:
1 Dry Shampoo
4 Hairsprays (albeit minis from beauty subscription boxes, none of which I am currently subscribed to)
1 Heat protectant
2 Volume boosters
4 Texturizers (salt sprays, etc)
3 Shine boosters
1 Detangler
1 Shampoo
3 Conditioners
2 Deep conditioners
4 Treatments (ie products that don't fit in the above categories)
3 Brushes/combs
1 Blowdryer
2 Flat irons (1 is for travel)
1 Curling iron
Bringing my total to 26 hair products and 7 hair tools.
Now, my general philosophy with minimizing my possessions is to use up (not get rid of) my products and to not replenish until I've whittled down to no more than 2 items of any particular product. With that said, although I hardly ever use the hair styling tools I have, I also don't want to get rid of them at this time should there be a need for it in the near future. This is something I intend to evaluate in 6 months to decide if they are worth holding on to.
Looking at the hair products that I have, and realizing how low maintenance I am with my styling routine, I do not need: hairspray, volume boosters, texturizers, detanglers, or special treatments. I admit I don't use shine boosting products often, but I probably should, so those are things I would ideally have in my collection.
I also use the blowdryer, but not on my hair haha. It comes in handy for other things.
So, after identifying my daily routine and what I really use, I've determined what my ideal hair collection would look like:
1 Dry Shampoo
1 Shampoo
1 Conditioner
1 Deep conditioner
but, as a true hoarder who can't completely give up everything for fear she will need it one day, I would also keep the following:
1 Shine booster
1 Hairspray
1 Heat protectant
1 Comb
1 Blowdryer
1 Flat iron (am still skeptical since I don't think I'll ever use it)
bringing my ideal hair collection to 7 products and 3 styling tools.
Theoretically, I can get rid of everything else. But as I'd rather use something than waste it, I will attempt to go through as much as I can until I reach my desired size. Now with all this talk, let's see if I can walk the walk :)
I've always been inspired by minimalists; from people who build their own seasonal capsule wardrobes to people who live in 200 square feet apartments. As much as I like those lifestyles though, I don't think that is something I can attain at the moment. But there are elements of minimalism that I would like to bring to my current life situation, such as decluttering.
In this post I wanted to identify the areas of clutter in my life and set goals to aim to reduce the clutter. This is not an overnight project but something that will probably take several months.
Makeup
Lord knows I have too much of this. I have already told myself that I would not buy any makeup until 2016 - so far so good. I even cancelled my ipsy subscription this month (yes, I did have it for 3 months of this year but I was too lazy to cancel it). This will allow me to reduce the space that my makeup takes, and also really appreciate the items I have and love them. (I plan to catalog my collection in upcoming posts).
Hair/Body/Skincare
These products take up A LOT of space. Even though I use it all and I know that I'll go through it, I do have too much at any given time (5 body butters, 3 body creams, 4 lotions, 5 deoderants, don't even get me started on skincare). My goal is to not buy any more until I have run out (which will probably be next year, let's be real). This will allow me more space in my home, essentially.
Clothes
This will be the hardest area to hit. My item count is probably over 300 and that does not include socks, underwear, and jewelry. But I have a very hard time getting rid of something I spent money on unless I've gotten the full benefit out of it or it is damaged (which is why I still have clothes from highschool, and since they still fit, I don't see any reason to get rid of them). After sorting through my clothes mildy, I noticed that I had too many multiples of items; ie 3 hoodies, 8 cardigans, 12 shirts, 10 sweaters, etc. And I really don't need that many, but my little brain can justify every single thing.
I would like to declutter significantly and only have the clothes I love. What I would love to do is build my own capsule wardrobe, but I feel like I'd have to actually shop to do that, so that's not something I want to jump into without thinking about it.
To help me decide on clothes I no longer want/need, I am going to do the reverse hanger trick: place all the hangers in the reverse direction from how you would normally hang your clothes. Return worn clothes in the correct direction and after a period of time determined by the person, consider giving aay the items with hangers that are still facing the other direction (ie the items that you have not reached for in x amount of time). I plan to do this until January 2016, so I can go through the summer and fall/winter seasons before getting rid of the clothes.
The areas that I am surprisingly good at not cluttering are the following: sheets (I only have 2 sets) and towels. Jeez.
