Wednesday, November 28, 2012

"What do you think?" Wednesdays - How much is too much makeup?

With beauty blogging comes a bigger make-up drawer. With a bigger make-up drawer comes more make-up. With more make-up, comes an empty bank account. Whilst this is a very well known and accepted fact amongst beauty bloggers, does there become a point where you simply have too much make-up? Is there a line that you can cross to enter 'excessive and unnecessary' territory or can you literally never have enough makeup?

The size of one's makeup collection is relative - it cannot be labelled big or small unless there is something for it to be compared to. My make-up collection, for instance, is absolutely huge in comparison to my Mum's which consists of the absolute basics. However, when I compare it to most other beauty bloggers, I find myself muttering about how tiny it is and how lacking in shade selection it is. Is it a big or a small collection? To be honest I really do not know, but it doesn't stop me from feeling both hungry for more and guilty for 'wasting' money on products I will never use up.

"How does that even make sense?" you may be thinking. It puzzles me quite a bit too. On one hand I'm thinking about all the people who could really do with the money I am spending on yet another lipstick in a similar shade to the ten I already have, but on the other hand that lipstick (which is coincidentally on sale for $10) is really calling out my name.

I try to justify my purchases with any excuse that I can, but it doesn't really change the fact that I really do not need it. Some of the excuses I have come up with include "I don't have anything like this!" (lie), "It's only $5 so it's not like I'm wasting that much money," (true, except for the 5 other things priced at $5 too) and "It's my hobby, other people have obsessions with comic books or model aeroplanes, mine is make-up," (true, but I could always put it safely away in the bank).

When writing this post it really forced me to think about whether I had actually stepped over the line of having too much makeup, and if I'm honest with you, I think I probably have. Yes, I may only have two foundations whereas others have eight, and yes I may only own two highlighters and three bronzers when others dedicate a whole shelf to such products, but in the end one of each product would probably be sufficient. Not nearly as much fun, but sufficient.

Instead of feeling all guilty about it and vowing never to purchase anything ever again, I have decided to really think about my purchases beforehand in order to eliminate any silly purchases. I feel better about my collection when I think about how often I use all the products and how much fun I get from using them.I think this is what you need to think about when weighing up your make-up collection:
- Do you use the majority of the products?
- Can you actually afford your collection, or do your big purchases continually leave you in an awkward financial position?
- Have you got any other products like this?
- Is there anything that you actually need that you could spend this money more sensibly on?
- How much does it bother you when you think of other things you could have spent the money on?

Basically, with no real answers to give, I think the key point here is balance. Everyone's idea of balance will be different but as long as you feel comfortable about it all, that is the main thing. I also think judging other people about their choices when it comes to their make-up collection is also important to avoid. I, for example, spend my spare change on make-up so it would appear as I 'waste' a lot, however I spend almost nothing on my mobile phone bill and I consider it to be a waste when others spend $400 on theirs! Everyone has different choices which allow them to justify their purchases.

What do you think about all of this? Is there a clear cut line for you when it comes to having a make-up collection too big, or do you think there is no such thing as too much?!

20 comments:

  1. This is actually a lot to think about, but I agree with you on balance. I try to have a rough budget every month and if sometimes I spend a little more on makeup I make sure to spend less on other luxuries.
    Great question! xx

    http://makeupandmockmeat.blogspot.com.au/

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    1. A budget is a good idea, I don't have one but I probably should! I find that one month I might spend loads, and then I might go two or three months without actually wanting anything at all! Thanks for commenting!
      xx

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  2. I know I have too much and I have to acknowledge that I have an addiction when it comes to makeup. For example, when I'm stressed I buy more makeup, so I know it's an emotional, and not necessarily rational thing with me. Still, I don't beat myself up about it as there are worse addictions out there and as long as I have the budget the only harm I'm doing is to my bathroom storage! xo

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    1. I totally know what you mean about it being an emotional thing...it's like emotional eating but emotional makeup purchasing! There absolutely are worse make-up addictions, at least this isn't bad for your health and is so much fun!
      xx

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  3. I'm definitely agreeing with the last thing you said, about what you consider to be wasteful spending. I consider my phone bill to be a waste, even though it's hardly anything, I just think it's unncessary and won't be renewing my plan! I'm happier to have an old phone and minimum benefits to spend, yet with make-up, yes I like to splurge a little more!
    I'm happy with my spending habits though, I know when too much is really too much for me, and I never, ever leave myself high and dry! People I know have judged me previously to say I spend my money on crap, well, my response was: "I can afford it." I don't just scrape by. I have a great job, don't live with my parents, I'm a well established adult who pays her bills on time, etc and so I can spend the remainder of my money, after I put money away for savings, on make-up!

    I love your Wednesdays Candice, it's so great thinking outside the box! It's made me think about when you do see girls with smaller collections and almost think "Why are they beauty bloggers?" Well because they love beauty, no matter how much they own, the love is still there!

    Eeep sorry, long comment again! :D
    xx

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    1. I love your long comments! I really, really appreciate your (and everyone else's) involvement in these posts!

      As for the wasteful spending, I think you can't judge someone on their spending choices until you are aware of their choices and views on it all. When it comes down to it, like you said, if you can afford it and you feel good about it then it really isn't a problem.

      I'm so pleased to hear that you enjoy my Wednesday series. I agree with your beauty blogging comment - as long as you love it, the size of your collection means nothing.

      xxxxx

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  4. I totally agree with everything you said - I feel like at the moment my collection is getting a bit overwhelming, yet my "massive" collection of 30 lipsticks is like the blink of an eye to someone else!
    x

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    1. Absolutely, it is all relative and in the end it is about what you feel comfortable with.
      xx

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  5. Way to make me feel guilty after a massive splurge! :P But I do agree with you - you need balance. I try to set budgets for myself which end up failing; I always end up reallocating my budget. For example, I may allocated $50 for food, but choose not to eat in order to buy a new lipstick. I know its a bad thing, but I can't stop myself! I find I tend to have those months where I splurge endlessly, and other months where I hardly buy anything! I justified signing up to two beauty boxes with the argument that I wouldn't need to spend anymore on cosmetics (but I think we both know thats a lie) and I have a ton of products on my shelf that make me feel guilty because I barely use them! Thanks for asking this question though, really made me stop and think!
    xo

    http://bubblybabblings.blogspot.com.au/

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    1. Oh sorry about that! Well I suppose it doesn't really matter that much if you reallocate within the budget, as long as you don't go over the total amount that you are meant to be sticking to.

      I'm glad this post provoked a bit of thought, I think it is good to do that sometimes (even though we might come to realisations that aren't very nice!)

      xx

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  6. Interesting post, I always try and set myself a budget on makeup and always ask myself the questions 'do I really need it?' and 'will I actually use it?' before I purchase anything. I try not to get stuck in the trap of purchasing beauty products for the sake of purchasing it (and reviewing it). I don't like the idea of buying something to test out for my blog, I want everything I have bought to be because I love it and want to use it! :) xx

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    1. So true, it's really important that you don't get into the habit of purchasing things just to blog about, rather because you actually want it and will use it. Thanks for commenting!
      xx

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  7. Interesting point! I have a lot of stuff, and have made a conscious choice the past year to curb my spending, and really try to use up some of all the things I have first. And the bank balance is definitely a lot healthier! But I do splurge from time to time (especially on shoes!), but then save else where, like you, my monthly mobile bill is very small!

    http://beautyandlifestylehunter.blogspot.com.au/

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    1. I think you really do need to splurge every now and again, it makes life a lot more enjoyable! As long as it is balanced and healthy, all is fine!
      xx

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  8. I am like you Candice. I think deeply about some of my makeup purchases and whether I will actually use it and/or think I will use it up. Things like bronzers and foundation I also keep to bare minimum. Lipsticks and eyeliners on the other hand....hehe
    I like to keep a wishlist too for the more luxurious makeup items I lust for. If I find I still want it a couple months down the track I buy it :)
    My makeup collection looks miserable compared to some beauty bloggers! Sometimes I think they are just hoarders and not really making the most of the items they have. I hate realising a fantastic product that I have neglected in my collection!

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    1. Totally know what you mean about keeping some products to a minimum but going crazy on others (like products are my weakness!). I love wishlists, and they are really good because if you go a couple of months and you still want it then you know the product is for you, but if you lose interest in it then you can be pleased that you didn't waste a heap of money on products you don't actually want. I agree with you about the hoarding, sometimes they have so much it would be physically impossible to use the products regularly.
      xxx

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  9. I have been spending a little too much on make up recently, but I have gone from having hardly anything (and mostly quite old products) to having a small but decent collection relatively quickly. I find writing lists works for me to not spend too much money on make up. If I want something, I write it down after looking at reviews of it. If after a few weeks I still really want it, I'll buy it, or wait till a sale. I don't usually buy expensive products either and take advantage of sales as much as I can.

    It is all relative though. As long as you aren't struggling because of your spending, and you're using everything you're buying then I see nothing wrong with it :)

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    1. Lists are the best because it allows you to track what you are purchasing too. Sales are good for saving money too.
      That's right, as long as you can afford it and feel okay about it then it is fine1
      xxx

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  10. Great post! I have been thinking I spend too much on makeup and feeling a bit guilty that I have not been able to love them all yet! But I guess, at the end of the day, I am within my means, I am not harming anyone and I find it enjoyable. :)

    I like your views on balance as well. I spend way less on other things, and splurge on makeup. Some people are so quick to judge though and think that I splurge on everything - which would be financially impossible!!

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    1. Thanks for commenting! That's exactly right - it's not harming anyone so it doesn't really matter. I think all beauty bloggers have to have a balance where they spend a heap less on one thing, otherwise they really wouldn't be able to afford spending the extra on beauty!

      xx

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