In January this year, I decided to make myself go on a 'low-buy/no-buy'...in the world of the makeup junkie, that means to STOP getting new makeup/cosmetics every time I'm in a store. That might sound easy to most people, but believe me---it's not! All fabric-aholics or yarn hoarders out there can relate, I'm sure.
I've been a makeup junkie for fifty years. From the gift of an Avon colorless lip pomade when I was a little girl to that nubby, worn down lipstick my sister gave me at age 12, I've been hooked. There is something so inexplicable about the pleasure of getting new makeup. There's a euphoria, that intense dose of dopamine that floods the system and turns a new eyeshadow or lipstick into the cosmetic addict's heroin. My fellow lipstick queens, you know of which I speak...
One of the YouTube ladies I watch pretty regularly is heroic about not buying every single new thing that comes down the pike. She encourages us to 'shop our stash', use what we have, and stop buying every new bit of sparkle or dash of color that makes it to the makeup counters. Not only that, but she has roped in some of her fellow BeautyTubers to sing in her choir, i.e. hop on the Use-It-Up bandwagon.
I applaud all this and find it very motivating and inspiring. There is even a Facebook page for those of us who want to stop being spendthrifts, control our addiction and stop wasting space hoarding 749 eyeshadow palettes, etc. (Click here to find that page and/or join.)
So at the beginning of the year, I became determined to stop this insane habit of mine. So far, not too bad but I have fallen a few times. Temptation is a beautiful, but evil angel that sits on my shoulder waving a pixie-dusted mascara wand in one hand and proffering a flashy basket full of blush, perfumes, and lipstick in the other. Get thee behind me, Satin (finish)!
Of course, I had EXCELLENT reasons to jump, I mean fall off that wagon. Firstly, my husband's birthday was coming up, and though I'd already gotten him a couple of things, I wanted to get him a copy of the last season of Downton Abbey so he'd have the entire set. Off to Amazon I went and put it in my cart. Well, obviously that wasn't enough for free shipping, so I had to pad out that order. Pad! Ha, ha! I padded it alright...with a Lorac Pink Champagne palette which I thought was a great buy. I had to get it, right?
Then that darn Ulta! Another 21 Days of Beauty promo! I could have gotten past that ok, except...on the 29th of March, they had Laura Geller Blush n' Brighten on sale! I'm a collector of those! And she had just introduced 3 new shades earlier this year! NEW SHADES OF BLUSH N BRIGHTEN! Do you get what I'm saying? Like a legendary, mythic bass or trout, I steadfastly ignored the lure when these new colors were announced; simply added them to my wish list for the day my ship would come in. But at the Ulta sale price, I could get two for the price of one. How could I ignore that? I even consulted my patient, understanding husband on this dilemma. He said, "Oh, just get them." I did not have to be talked into that any further. So now Peach Delight and Fruit Punch are nestled in my ever expanding stash.
I could forgive myself those 2 slip-ups. These were extenuating circumstances, right? But I really am beating myself with the guilty stick over my latest fall from grace. Though I know I shouldn't EVER cruise the online makeup stores to keep myself from weakening, I went to All Cosmetics Wholesale yesterday. Bad move. Bad, bad, bad. Do you know what they had?? European L'Oreal Chrome Intensity, Color Infallible and Color Appeal eyeshadows and highlighters! There was no use telling myself these were most likely the same colors we have in the U.S. just with different names and packaging. At least I believe some of them are the same, but most were different and I didn't have them. Who could resist Cream Lame', Sepia Sparkle, Naughty Strawberry, Tender Caramel, or Rose Insolence? Among others...
Certainly not I.
So now I start all over and climb back on that no-fun wagon once more. Fingers crossed that in coming months I resist looking to see what's new on QVC, Sephora, et al. Prayers for the weak are appreciated.
Just like being on a strict diet, if one limits one's self to lettuce and two dry crackers day after day, that inevitable Snickers bar will eventually skip by, crook a finger and off we will saunter with it into the sunset, licking the chocolate from our fingers.
Till next time,
"Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is; we'll find it." ~ Sam Levenson
P.S. Don't forget to enter the drawing for one of my handmade necklaces--see previous post from 3/21/16 for information. Drawing takes place 4/6/16--don't miss out!
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