MEnimalist: Makeup

Watching a youtube "beauty gurus" with drawers and closets full of clothes, makeup and just more stuff, really had me envious. At one point, I asked myself "How do I earn money so that I could get all those stuff? I want to be like them." I wanted what they had because to me at that time, acquiring more stuff equals to how successful you are. When in reality it really isn't. This was when I realised, I was worshipping materialistic things that doesn't take a value of someone to acquire, but rather money.

Wayne Goss recently put up a video about how he has not changed with success, yes he doesn't have buy pound shop makeup now but he is still the same person. He doesn't have the glittery/glamory life with Pradas and Tom Ford clothes. From my point of view, I think its truly inspiring that someone does not put success as the same shelf of expensive things.

In reality, do we really need drawers of eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks that cost $50 each or even multiples of things which are really similar?

1. Find the right ITEM.
   Throughout my teen years (I'm 21 this year), I always liked the idea that there could always be a drugstore 'dupe' for high-end cosmetics and skincare. As I experimented with drugstores, I would compare it with the sample/tester I got high end. Frankly speaking, some things are quite different between these two spectrums. Most recently I dabbled into the world of higher end foundations and I must say i regret buying copious amount of drugstore versions. So if i had saved my money and bought something that would satisfy my every need in a product, I would not have to buy multiples and reason with it. For example, the drugstore version, I would have to use a specific primer/brush/base for it; the high end, could work with anything. I am saving time and effort, most importantly, money.
2. Invest in Skincare
   Base is so so important, your foundation simply wouldn't look good without a moisturised/supply skin beneath. Invest in a moisturiser that actually does the job.
   Piggybacking on my point with the foundations, some times more expensive products do the job better because they:
   i. More refined, the process of getting serums is extremely expensive
   ii. Research are sunk costs for a company. This cost would be transferred to consumers like you and me
   iii. Marketing/expensive ambassadors/ gifts for PR purposes/ etc. all these are most cost to the product.
   (However, there are some exceptions. The Ordinary by the DECIEM group does a really good job in delivering products with no frills packaging and fancy marketing. What you are really buying are pure ingredients which are usually found in skincare items. There is a variety of treatments for different concerns.)
3. Full Price vs Sales
   Mid Season sale/ Labour Day sale/ EOFY sale... Companies would make up any occasion to sell you something. The question you want to ask yourself is:
   i. Do I need it?
   You have a drawer full of half used skincare/makeup, do you really need another? Why do you need this? Did someone raved about it?
   ii. Will I use it?
   The festival themed really spiked the sales of unicorn inspired makeup (teal lips and purple eyes). In reality most of us who have normal jobs, wouldn't require us to dress up as fairies for work. Maybe you will use it once or twice for a dress up thing, then its going to be left in a container with other "used once never again"s.
   iii. Is it worth it?
   What was the lowest price you saw online/other stores? Online shopping is getting more traffic than brick and mortar stores these days. There are reasons for brick and mortar to be more expensive, such as rent, staff, tax, and other overhead costs.
   There isn't an urge to buy something when the item is still going to be there next month. So think about it and come back in 2 weeks, if you really need it, you can buy it then.
4. Use it or Sell it (or even donate it!)
   I am sure all girls would agree when it comes to that miscellaneous-I-have-no-idea-what-i-was-thinking box of cosmetics. Its quite economical to buy/sell second hand goods. You can sell of what you don't need and get some money for it. Apps like Carousell and eBay makes it so easy to sign up and clear the sh*t you don't need.
   The stigma of "second hand" is still present for some people but some don't see why they need to buy at full price when things sold on these sites are 'brand new, was a gift, don't need' or 'swatched, wrong shade'
   Or why not do a little good and donate them to charities or women's shelter? Not only you would be decluttering, you could be  helping others. There is always that feeling when I get gifts, "wow, you thought of me when you bought this? thats so nice of you". Same would go to the less-fortunate people in these shelters. They too, would feel really grateful, to them a $10 palette would feel like a real luxury.
5. YOU DON'T NEED IT (FULL STOP)
   There are always raves and hypes on social media, especially YouTube where beauty channels would rave about the latest "Holy Grail". When you have something that works for you, why get another. Don't fix it if it doesn't need fixing. You have a routine that works, you found the right products, you know how to troubleshoot issues, why change that?

I am quite a strong advocate for minimising our lifestyles, most of us buy things not because we need it, but rather to satisfy a need to fit in or to feel good. Makeup is one of those things where it feels like a "collection". I am not judging anyone who likes collecting it but rather question why do we need so much?

Xx

LiAnn