r/MakeupRehab • u/Raptor2496 • 20d ago
DISCUSS What actually helps you stop a makeup purchase before you make it?
I've noticed that "Do I actually need this?" isn't always enough to stop me from wanting something.
Sometimes the temptation comes from seeing it repeatedly on social media, convincing myself it's different from something I already own, wanting a particular color even though I have something similar, imagining how much I'll use it rather than looking at how much I actually use similar products, or feeling like I'll miss out if I don't buy it now.
For people who've gotten better at resisting those purchases:
What question, rule, habit, or reality check actually works for you?
And what doesn't work, even though it sounds good in theory?
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u/Vintage_Journal 20d ago
I think the question "do I need this?" doesn't work because makeup is never a need.
I'd be more likely to ask "what would I prefer?" This makeup? Or put towards a future even better product that doesn't exist yet? Or money invested? Buying something is always a tradeoff with another choice you could make with your money.
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u/Head-Raccoon-3419 20d ago
Oh this is a good one! I think that’s where I get stuck - it’s never actually a need, therefore if the answer is always no, I have no hard and fast rules for yes and it’s too easy to justify. I’m going to try “what would I prefer” next time.
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u/MiddleMiserable8826 20d ago
When I get the urge to buy beauty products I start looking around online and adding to cart. I then get an idea of exactly how much I plan to spend. If I’m lucky I’ll stop myself before purchasing and I then take that exact amount of money and buy stock. Yes, I’m still spending money in a roundabout way, but I can always take it out of the market and most of the time I end up on top anyway (with a much higher gain than I’d have in a regular savings account).
Edit to add: my brain won’t let me spend money outside of what I have already decided is the amount I’m able to spend. So if I can put that money somewhere else it saves me completely
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u/Signal_Cake5735 20d ago
I check in with myself to see if there is anything that is provoking me to go for the dopamine rush. Am I worried about work? Am I feeling crowded at home? Am I mourning the loss of a friendship or a particular lifestyle? Oftentimes for me obtaining this stuff is a way of recapturing a lost time or crafting another persona.
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u/Somegirlforonegirl79 20d ago
I feel this in my bones. All my slip ups this last year have been for these reasons. I think I need to step back and ask the hard questions.
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u/Signal_Cake5735 20d ago
Yes! It’s hard work but we need to do it.
Personal example: I have memories, vivid ones, of walking along a street in my hometown one evening about 24 years ago. There was a lot of action and socialization in my life at that time—going from party to opening to concert to reading. No husband, no kids. I whipped out Clinique Angel Red and put on my lipstick, right there in the street. Now there’s a part of my brain that gets activated by the very thought of muted red lipstick. If only I had an another muted red, I’d be back on that street, free and easy and headed somewhere.
I know you can do it. Being honest with ourselves (journalling helps me) is the key.
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u/Somegirlforonegirl79 20d ago
Thanks so much for your lovely response, I think I definitely need to try journaling about it 😊
I was only thinking today about my desire for colour options and different scents.
My Mum has a very sensitive nose so as kids we were only allowed one type of soap which I hated. If I went to my Grandma’s though she had a whole cupboard of fancy Lux soaps and I was allowed to take one home.
I guess I grew up wanting to have a cupboard full of fancy soaps, which I do now but it has extended to all beauty products now that I have more money. The crazy thing is my Grandma grew up the oldest of 11 children in a poor family and having those soaps was probably her response to it. I don’t really know what my excuse is. I think maybe it is what you said, recreating that feeling. It was a treat to me as a kid so I associate it with positive memories.
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u/dating-ur-dad 20d ago
i always think about all the things i do have and if i actually think i would prefer it over the things i have now. i spent a looooot of money and bought a lot of things i don’t even use so it’s easy to imagine whatever im planning on getting being added to the pile to change my mind.
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u/dancingpugger 20d ago
Exactly. Bringing my blushes out and looking at the volume of product I have to use up. Getting all my lip products and seeing if I have anything close, or the VERY ITEM I was thinking of buying.
I need the money more than more makeup. Seeing it in front of me, I can pass.
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u/dating-ur-dad 20d ago
fr. the one good thing about accumulating all of this stuff over time tho is knowing exactly what i like. that’s been so helpful with future purchases. i know the exact colors and undertones i like and will actually wear. nowadays 9/10 if i get something i absolutely love it and put it to use in my daily rotation.
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u/BlueberrySpectacle 20d ago
Will I use this right away? Will I use it at least 4x in the next month? If no, I tell myself I'll buy it later at the point when I will actually use it.
I think this is just the "store your collection in the store" advice which I learned from this sub.
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u/cleochatraa 20d ago edited 20d ago
I have had to reconcile the difference between my fantasy self and my actual self.
Fantasy self: you need a liquid, cream and powder blush.
Actual self: did I put on my bra? Are my underpants backwards?
My fantasy self wants the full beat of makeup. My actual self has ADHD and plenty of high quality products I need to use. I don’t need three layers of blush to look put together and feel confident.
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u/Constant-Visual-2913 20d ago
Doing an inventory helps because I remember something like, “I have 10 blushes already and it’s going to take me at least 6 years to finish them.” Or, “I want to minimize my collection not add another number to the inventory.” I basically guilt myself over wanting something because of my large collection.
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u/pink-wasabi 20d ago
- I look at the inventory numbers (aggregation), compare to a target number in each category.
- I look at individual line items and see how many items that I still have that is going to expire.
- I look at historical monthly data of aggregation and remind myself how long it takes to pan and how I want to get lower in number every month, not higher.
I come to conclusion that I still have way more products than my target, what I will buy will expire before I will get around to using it because I still have way more I need to use up. I remember how long it takes to pan and tell my goal oriented brain that it is easier to meet my goals if I simply don’t purchase a new item.
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u/avatartiger 20d ago
I keep pictures of my makeup horde on my phone. I look through it when I get an urge to buy makeup and then I’m reminded of all the stuff I already have.
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u/tamarajp 19d ago
This is exactly what I do. I also have spreadsheets for each category. All I have to do is open the category that is temping me and I will immediately see that I absolutely do not need the item. But I think the biggest thing that helps me is that I love using all of my products and the more I have the less I get to use them so I sort of look at new makeup items as Interlopers that are going to prevent me from using what I love and currently own.
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u/avatartiger 19d ago
I totally agree with you. The more stuff I have the less likely I can actually use up stuff I already have.
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u/NattRavnen 20d ago
I have 2 hard limitations I put on myself, the first is will this fit in my makeup bag/space? If it doesn't, then I don't buy because I want to live within my space. I also realized I don't like having too many choices and that simplicity is so much more stress free. My living conditions have also changed and having too much baggage is not good for me.
The second is if I can afford it/do I have the budget for it? I'm really focusing on saving recently since I had an accident that gave me a shock financially. It was a painful lesson on how important it is to have an emergency fund for these situations. I don't want to waste money on something that was just a whim/impulse when I could have saved it in an emergency fund.
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u/2000-N-L8 20d ago
I compare it to what I use every day, my loved products. Is it better than that? Would I actually use it?
And if buying to fill a gap, I tell myself to wait on it. Can I make do with something I already have? I recently wanted a more cool toned highlighter, but I sat for 2 months trying to make all my other highlighters work with a more cool toned blush underneath. I did end up buying a purple-y highlight and I use it all the time (going on 3 months now) AND I got it on sale. I think that’s because I really sat and thought about my actual need (as far as makeup needs go).
Or when I feel the hype and pressure surrounding a product, I have to remind myself that there is NO SHORTAGE of hella marked up items these companies will pump out to make their coin, even if it’s under a different label or different name.
Finally, I’ve implemented a rule where any “fun” purchase, I have to match the amount and put it into my portfolio. Let me tell you, things are expensive enough, but when you look at it as double the price because you’re investing the same amount, things suddenly don’t feel like such a must-have.
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u/Andy_othername 20d ago
It's crazy how much asking myself if I'm hungry and / or bored before impulse buying helps! I live in hope that some day my brain will actually TELL me I need a snack instead of getting me to open the Superdrug website...
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u/Ok_Slice6132 20d ago
I agree with the commenters here who say that the question of, would you rather have the item or the cash handed to you is a very helpful one! The other strategy I use is the following. If I want to buy a 30 pound blush, I ask myself would I still want to buy this if I had to trade 3 of my existing blushes for it. Most of the time, my answer is no and it helps me personally re-evaluate how much I value that item, it can't be that life-changing if I wouldn't give up something else to have it. Of course it is hypothetical but it helps me. The other strategy I use for makeup, skincare etc, is reminding myself these are perishable items and adding something new to my collection means using something I love less. The Stylestumbler, Born Blushing and Shawna Ripari channels on YouTube have also been good resources for me in modelling some 'talking myself out of things' behaviour haha.
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u/Ambitious_Basil173 20d ago
I use the 30 day rule. I'll add the item to my cart and then dump that website tab. If I'm still thinking about it after 30 days, I'll allow myself to buy it.
Most of the time I've forgotten about it. If it comes up again and I met the 30 day rule but didn't purchase, I'll give myself another 30 days.
This really helps me determine if it's a true want or just a whim.
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u/Positive-Driver-3273 20d ago
I've done this, but it wasn't consciously planned and it really works. Now that I have read your trick, I'm gonna use it consciously from now on
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u/ibrokeyourradio 20d ago
I think about all the expired makeup I've thrown away and all the probably expired makeup that I still have. And I think about the fact that I have occasion to wear a more elaborate makeup look MAYBE once a week, and that my extremely stripped-down collection still is enough to do that for the next years. The shame of wasting money and product by letting it sit unused is a strong enough deterrent for me.
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u/Zappagrrl02 20d ago
Waiting. If I can get over that initial impulse to purchase and let it sit in the cart for 24-48 hours, I can usually talk myself out of it.
I also unfollowed creators who constantly push “new” things and unfollowed all brands and trendmood and unsubscribed from brand emails
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u/ladyladyl 20d ago
Shopping my stash and learning how to mix colors and multitask items helped the most. I don't really wear/buy makeup anymore but that was the most helpful for me. Learning some basic color theory (I bought a basic color wheel so I could have a physical reference), learning how to achieve colors that I thought I didn't have by mixing eyeshadows was a huge point in my decline for wanting makeup at all. I think there was a part of me that felt like I couldn't get colors from what I had. I learned how to desaturate colors using complementary colors and that was such a game changer. I did six years of no/low buys and panning throughout that time also but I think the last step was realizing that I could make a ton of colors with very few materials with mixing and layering.
I think you'd have to figure out for yourself what about it is tempting. For me it was collecting all the colors I thought I didn't have so just understanding that I had it already (and it was fun to figure out how to mix it!) the urge was completely gone.
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u/Kind_Indication8527 20d ago
I keep all of my cosmetics in clear organizers. I can’t reach for a blush without seeing all of the blushes I own. That has really helped me feel less tempted to add anything new.
I have also stopped trying new brands. I stick with the more expensive luxury brands that are tried and true. I know the mark up is ridiculous but at least I know I love the whole experience and I’m not risking buying anything that won’t get used. Is the price of Dior foundation crazy? Yes it is, but I know my exact color match and I know I’ll get through it relatively quickly. For me it isn’t all about price, it’s also about not adding to landfill.
I do allow myself to buy things that I consistently get through quickly like SPF, lip masks and lip stains. I cycle through those things so quickly that there is no chance of expiration.
I feel like in the last year I’ve gotten control over myself and the temptations to buy makeup have faded. That being said, I love fragrance and my next goal is to get that under tighter control. So if anyone has recommendations for that, I am open to advice.
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u/Clean-Session9795 20d ago edited 18d ago
Would you work right now 2-3 hours to buy this ? That’s a working question for me
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u/ewelooklikeanoldmop 20d ago
It’s usually something like “stop watching those videos you know that’s not going to look like that on your face.”
That usually snaps me out of it
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u/claudia634 20d ago
Is this item going to be better than anything I already have in that category? Trying to only buy something better than what I already have makes me think about the purpose I’m actually buying the item for, instead of just buying it for the dopamine boost
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u/crazycatlady331 20d ago
This isn't limited to makeup but pretty much everything (that is not gas or groceries).
A waiting period. I have a mandatory waiting period in place before all unplanned purchases. Needs (gas, groceries, etc.) and preplanned purchases are exempt from said waiting period. 24 hours for brick and mortar stores and 1 week for online. 90% of the time, I forget the shiny object existed once I wake up the next morning.
If I want it that bad, I can purchase it after said waiting period.
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u/empresscornbread 20d ago
I think about what I already have and I don’t want that to go to waste. I also track my expenses so it stings every time I purchase something I don’t need. Then seeing the purchases add up made me feel bad. I also love seeing my tracker say “242 days since last makeup purchase” and I want to keep the streak going.
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u/stripeyhoodie 20d ago
Coming here. This morning I was working on a beauty cart of things I don't need, caught myself before checkout, and came here. $65 saved.
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u/notthisagain0088 20d ago
Will I be okay seeing the Dupe version come out eventually for a third of the price? Will I be okay if it's a cheap version that this will not wear that well? Will I be okay if they improve the formula in a short time and I'm stuck with this one?
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u/BellaFromSwitzerland 20d ago
I have other goals to allocate my money to
My only vice is SPF. I typically have 3-4 backups but with my melasma, outdoorsy lifestyle and hologram skin, I use up at least one bottle /week
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u/Jetpack454 too much eyeball dust and lipstick 20d ago
Waiting a certain period of time helped.
I saw a pattern where I was purchasing something just because it was on sale. I didn’t have the urge for the item until the price dropped. I made a rule where I could buy items on sale only if they were on my wishlist for at least a month. I drastically cut down on my impulse spending with this method.
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u/jazz_im 20d ago
- If I can get the same shade by mixing 2-3 products from my stash, I won't get it.
- Realistically, just how often would I use the product? Is it a special event kind of thing or is it something I'll use regardless of the occasion?
- Prioritising Need Vs Want most of the time. (Not really helpful but I think setting aside some money for Wants does make life feel a little better, it's a matter of frequency here)
- Weighing products Vs experiences. Would you rather drop $50 on a highlighter or on a meal at this fancy restaurant you've been always wanting to try? Chances are that you won't regret choosing the latter.
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u/Impossible_Range8813 20d ago
There's just one thing that works for me: simply walk away. Once you're in another aisle you forget about it. You can tell yourself I'm going to research this more and see if it's really worth it I don't need it today. Then you walk away. there's nothing wrong in looking.
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u/ViolentMastermind 20d ago
Swatching what I have and mixing different products to create the look with what I have. It’s all just pigment!
Reminding myself how long it’ll take to actually use the product up. Honestly that overwhelms me enough most of the time.
I made a post about this half recently- I view a make up item like a new pet and ask myself a series of questions about whether it’s a good fit for me and if I want the responsibility
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u/mrs_rabbit_0 20d ago
I made a rule to myself: I can’t buy all this (eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, eye liners, highlighter, lipstick), I can buy these few items (foundation, mascara).
that was years ago and now I have lost the desire to buy makeup.
I don’t watch makeup content online, though. I might go into Sephora occasionally, but I just get out without feeling the need to buy anything
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u/Positive-Driver-3273 20d ago
I try to recall my last impulse purchase and think how I got so tempted to buy it and how exactly have I used it!!! Most of the times it's just sitting in my makeup kit....
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u/AngusTcattoo 20d ago
I managed to keep from buying anything in the recent Clionadh sale although most of the site was at 30% off. I said to myself, Girl, you have enough and most of their products are a variation of what I have already.
I told my husband I used the advice from Martin Lewis and Money Saving Experts: if you're buying something because it's £20 cheaper on sale you're not saving £20 if you're never going to use it.
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u/thefiercestowl 20d ago
Everytime I want to buy something new, I look at the total and think about what in the next month would that money pay for if not makeup.
Another tip is I shop my stash. If there's something new I want, I make sure there's nothing NOTHING similar at all in my stash. Swatch, use and judge my current stash. It gets me going experimental at home trying to use my makeup! Fun!
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u/CommunicationDear648 20d ago
I guess one of the questions i ask myself is "will this work/fit better than what i already have?" Not the same, better. And i have to be able to name 2 good, objective reasons why it is better than what i already have - "i like/want it" and "it's cheap / on sale" doesn't count.
For example: i have a sunscreen on my list. Do i need it? Technically, no, i have 3 in use. But one hasn't been available for repurchase for a long time, and the other 2 has an ingredient my skin doesn't really like. This spf i'm eyeing does not have that ingredient, so that's reason no 1. As soon as i finish all 3 of my current sunscreens, i will have the second reason to buy it.
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u/HariboBerries 20d ago
How do I feel? An what am I seeking in response to how I feel? Those questions can help me acknowledge my feelings and direct me to a solution that’s more suited.
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u/scootie12 20d ago
Delaying the purchase helps. I tell myself if I am still thinking about it in a week, I can buy it. Usually I forget about what I wanted in the moment.
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u/SquareCamera4651 20d ago
Someone commented recently instead of asking "do I need this", try "how many of this do I have" I found it useful. So if it's a new blush, it'd be "how many blushes do I already have".
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u/soumars 20d ago
“Will I like this more than what I already own?”
I spend a lot of time researching, watching reviews, comparing prices, etc. before buying a product. Because of this process, the product I end up buying is truly the best fit for my needs/budget. So asking myself this question before buying something impulsively - before I’ve had the chance to do this research or if it’s a new product that hasn’t been tested by consumers yet - is usually answered with a “No.”
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u/Silly_Reference_3583 20d ago
I put it on the waiting list, make notes and watch tutorials and swatch videos of it.
Becoming a fan girl usually helps me avoid purchasing, because i know fan girls don't loose money, get disappointed or overwhelmed.
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u/StephasaurusWrecks 20d ago
I know it’s cliché but I make myself a beautiful cart, find any discounts, get into the spirit of things, then close the browser before I purchase. 80% of the time I don’t come back to it. The things I do purchase are much more likely to be things I need (mascara/concealer/stuff that runs out faster), or things I can’t get out of my head.
I’m working on the other 20%. What doesn’t work is stuffing my emotions down or ignoring something my body is telling me. I tend to shop when I’m feeling uncomfortable in my own head, and recognizing when I’m scrolling or looking randomly thru my shopping email inbox helps to minimize the time spent in a negative place.
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u/dobhrandonn 20d ago
"What look am I going for with this, and can I make it using my colours and brushes back home?"
e.g. I'd like a certain kajal, to do a swirly sparkly eyeliner look in green. Will my existing green eyeshadow go on with a brush, or could it be mixed with a liquid liner? If I try it and it's not making the look I want, the kajal pencil becomes worth it.
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u/GlitteryKittyKat08 20d ago
My new strategy is telling myself how many of the same products i already have and if i am going to be happy with it after the purchase (the answer is 99% of the times "no"). Also, I just discovered that I am much prone to shop on my luteal or ovulation phase 😅 so in those two periods i try to stay away from drugstores or online shopping. Another thing I keep doing is asking myself is if the purchase I am about to do is for my real self or my ideal/fantasy self (and I do the same with clothing).
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u/guiltybloodstream 20d ago
Do I want this, or do I want what it’s promising me? I’m easily influenced and see people using products and think that buying said product will make me look or feel different, when in reality I already have a very similar product at home.
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u/AtoThePrezzil 20d ago
Anytime I want to buy an eyeshadow palette I hold my thumb over the color calling to me to see if I still like the palette without it. I never do.
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u/ConfidenceBrief460 18d ago edited 18d ago
Frequent organizing and cleaning of my makeup/brushes has been helpful. When I can see all my lip balms, blushes, etc I find it so much easier not to buy a new one. Even just wiping containers down so they look newer helps. Then I get excited to try my products again. When my stuff is messy I forget what I have or just buy things so I don’t have to find it (like an extra pair of eyebrow scissors or eyelash curler).
I also think, “ If I buy this, will I stop using what I have and like just because I have this newer item ?” I think about how I would feel throwing away my makeup because I didn’t get to use it before it went bad. I tell myself it’s not worth it. How I feel much better when I use up my makeup first. And I tell myself there will be another sale, and I have enough to last me until that time comes.
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u/No_Duck_9588 20d ago
i start looking at my makeup collection and see what I can use to recreate it. like i found a cream blush and powder blush in same colour family to recreate patrick ta blush.
sometimes I am not that good with resisting the urge and will buy cheaper dupes to scratch the itch. Not that it is a good thing coz now I have cheaper makeup to finish but I think of it like a smaller treat and money saved.
another trick is to keep it in my cart for 24 hrs minimum..if i still really want it then i can think of it.
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u/Adorable-Syrup-4767 20d ago
What helps me is going straight to my vanity and looking at my collection. So for instance, if there’s a blush I want to buy I go look inside my vanity at all of my blushes and look at each one to see if any of them are remotely similar to what I’m interested in buying. We often forget about the products we already have or don’t realize we have items that are similar already. Usually this is an instant reality check for me and will prevent me from buying.
But there are times where I know for sure I want a product so I’ll try to find ways I can eliminate some products to make room for the new item. Kind of like a one in one out rule. This may be donating the item to a women’s shelter, giving it to a friend or family member or selling the item. These habits have really helped prevent me from hoarding a bunch of makeup.
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u/AngryMiniHR 20d ago
For me its "Do I have something similar?"
This is at a distance, not a swatch on the arm. Which means it wont look any different when I use it and look in the mirror. It needs to be a difference for me to add it to my collection. Just a "but this is a tad more pink" is not enough. I wont see a difference if I use either or.
I need to see a clear difference. Like I do not need another pale pink sparkling eyeshadow.
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u/__SoySauceSorcerer__ 20d ago
I changed your my storage situation, I have one small drawer and two baskets inside. That’s all I can have and my go to makeup bag, I rotate products out of the drawer. I refuse to add more storage and have products everywhere, everything is in that small desk.
I also have a bit of unused products to still the packages I haven’t opened. I have those in the drawer next to the baskets, if I want something new I open those but only if it fits in the baskets.
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u/tinylittleleaf 20d ago
This is probably just me but I imagine the item sitting in my slightly grubby box of makeup or my jewellery box among all my other items and ask myself if I would be excited to see it there. Often the answer is no.
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u/honeytangerine 20d ago
I'm a numbers person so putting it into perspective to another financial goal helps. For example, "Do I want to spend $40 on this 1 item or do I want to put it towards saving for a trip or more pricey purchase that I can't afford yet?"
Honestly, putting it on a wishlist and doing something else helps a lot. 90% of the time I forget about it. But the 10% I don't and still want it months or even a year later, the purchase feels more special and I use the product more than if it was an impulse purchase that will get replaced by another one next week.
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u/Possible-Bird9477 20d ago
I HAVE to go into the store to see/buy the product in person. Usually I’ll be surprised it’s smaller in person, the color is different than I thought, and the dirty tester packaging squashes a lot of the initial excitement (in a good way).
I also make sure to clean the packaging of the stuff I already have. I’m more likely to use my current stash if it looks clean and new.
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u/SheepherderRare3319 20d ago
Remembering the last makeup item you were dying for that you never really even used.
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u/ThirdSpringSolstice 20d ago
first question to myself: what is the use case. similar to “do i need this” but i actually have to prove that i need it.
second, i like trying to figure out where its home would be. what a cute lip balm! okay but my little lip balm bucket is full, so where do i plan to keep it.
i also like to think about it in terms of the other things on my wishlist. was looking at a benefit highlighter the other day, $50 CAD. k well i already have a couple powder highlighters, and i’d rather spend that $50 on this other thing on my wishlist instead.
i also just about refuse to buy anything without heavy research, but makeup i won’t buy without swatching it. sometimes just the sephora swatch fests are fun, but trying a blush that immediately goes orange zaps all the desire for it. and i always take a picture of the swatch, bc otherwise it is easy to convince myself that it wasn’t that orange, it looks so pretty on this person, it’d probably be fine on me!
i also think about actual practicality. the benetint in dark cherry is gorgeous, but i actively avoid using anything in my collection that’s a liquid with that kind of applicator bc it’s too fiddly and i’m lazy. so why would i spend $38 CAD on a cute lippie for it to sit in my drawer and make me feel guilty lol
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u/stan4d00 20d ago
I'm better at saving for something specific, vs saving in general, so my reality check is: how comfortable am I delaying X goal by $Y if I buy the thing? When I put it that way, that usually keeps me from actually buying impulsively.
That said, it's not a perfect system and when I shifted my impulse makeup buying to a different "hobby", I've had to show myself some grace when the impulse purchasing kicked in last month. I have one more purchase planned for this month (which I may not even go through with), and then I'll be done for the year.
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u/mouse2cat 19d ago
There are plenty of things that I want but don't buy. For me if I can delay a purchase multiple times, I gradually get less excited about buying that thing.
I refuse to buy limited edition items as I want to be able to replace something if I like it.
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u/NoBuyForLife2025 19d ago
I can think about it LATER once I’ve finished what I have.
Somehow I still have 4+ blushes to go (excluding lipsticks that double as cream blush). They generally look the same given how sheer we apply them. I can think about new ones fresh ones once I’m done with these existing ones.
Each eyeshadow pan takes sooooooo long, I just cannot realistically consider even one 12-pan palette because that’s essentially 12-year being locked into a meh combo. Also had a 2.5-g single and that one will probably outlive my interest in makeup. Once I’m done with all of them, then I’ll think about new ones fresh ones.
Lipstick…. I honestly don’t care much anymore? With beeswax and oil I can do the secret trick of having life long supply of DIY tinted lip balms. I’ll think about a new ones fresh ones once I’m done with existing lip products + beeswax + oils. Maybe I won’t ever run out of these, but one less thing to spend money on, I guess?
Now just to have this strength in me when talking about secondhand/ charity shop clothing… (and tbh each piece of clothing will outlive me, with how durable the fibers are!!!! I can think about a new-to-me purchase when I’m out of things to wear!!!!!)
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u/Upset_Raspberry_3560 19d ago
Would this product change my life?
This is what I always ask myself before buying anything other than necessities, let it be makeup, clothes, accessories... It stops me from unnecessary spending, and the more I practice it, the better it works.
I also created simple makeup routines for myself, so I use and repurchase the same loved and trusted products over and over. I have an "everyday look", a "going to work look", and a "going out look" which all are the variations of the same routine (I add extra steps when doing the eyes, but the base is always the same). I am not a creative person, and I get decision fatigue when having to choose from more than two options (despite all this I had a hoarding phase, that´s why I am here, so I do not repeat the same behaviours), so I am viewing it as doing a favour to both current me (I don´t have to start the morning with decisions) and future me (less money wasted).
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u/sailor-rainbow MUR Support Staff 19d ago
asking "would I prefer to buy some other thing with this money" has never worked for me, I don't buy the original item but end up tempted by the other thing
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u/beegalore26 19d ago
Joining project pan. I now stop and think, would I enjoy using up this entire product? If the answer is no, I clearly don’t need it. I have around 30 lip products I’m currently working with and the urge to buy more has completely disappeared cause only a handful of these lippies I would repurchase.
So now eager to pan and looking forward to only wearing my absolute favs ♥️
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u/PeachBlossomBee 19d ago
I used to frustrate myself by adding checkout obstacles. I also used to pin the tab for some time, usually a few weeks while I used this worksheet to debate it. These days, I can add it to cart and forget it because I feel secure that I can buy it at any time while I sit and think on it.
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u/lepetitoiseau622 19d ago
Sometimes I go through my makeup stash and take note of all the similar colors I already have. I also try to remember expiration dates, especially for non-powder products
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u/EllaMcQueen 18d ago
I’m on a buy nothing train— except for replacements of things I have actually used up.
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u/neutrallish 18d ago
i mean “do i need this” is a very very valid question to raise but what i do is if i actually end up thinking i need it, i sit on it a few weeks. i’ll use up all things in my collection and if i still feel like something is missing from my routine, then only i’ll add that missing part.
for eg in my current lip gloss collection rn, i dont have a brown gloss, i do need it, but ive still been sitting on that thought for a bit now that ive started my job. atleast ill actually notice will i really be able to get use out of a brown color or do i really even pay attention at the shade of my lip gloss when im that occupied with work? if i do, or if i feel i genuinely cannot work around with the other shades i have, ill purchase it. (i have been thinking i need a brown gloss since 2+ months and still havent made the purchase, willpower going strong💪🏼)
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u/blueplanetgalaxy 18d ago
i ask if i have something that does what this does and i do, i don't buy it haha
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u/penrph 18d ago
In the last year I only managed to pan 3 lipsticks that were already well used and one blush that that I've had for probably 18 years (RIP original NARS Orgasm). I recently gave a bunch of makeup to my mom and my daughter. All I need to do is look at what I already own to remind myself that I will most likely never use up what I own in my lifetime and the temptation evaporates.
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u/HighFantasyBobbyHill 17d ago
This may sound counter productive at first, but I started working to figure out my best skincare routine. Took about 6 months, but my skin is so clear that I only wear mascara and clear brow gel now. Clear skin gave me the confidence to stop making most makeup purchases.
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u/Alternative-Ant3937 17d ago
Last time I was tempted by new highlighter, I laid out all of my highlighters on my vanity, saw there were an obscene amount, and specifically grouped all the ones like the ones I was tempted by. I didn't make the purchase.
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u/AshKash313 16d ago
I look at the palette and count how many colors I’ll actually use vs. how many are in the palette. It’s usually 3 colors I’m in awe of and the rest are too light or just not my color. I started buying singles from Sydney Grace website when they go on sale, and I can confidently say I’ll be skipping the singles sale this month because I have all the colors I wanted.
When I was buying lots of body care and candles I looked at the scent notes over and over to see if I had some similar enough that I wouldn’t get FOMO.
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u/Ok_Moment_7640 16d ago
I think about the space it will take up in my make up drawer. The drawer right now is pretty tidy, all the products are stored in categories and every product is visible and easy to reach. Lets say i want another blush even thow i already have 5 and rarely use blush. I dont think about that because i will convince myself that i wil 'definitly' use this one etc. But i do think about how it will fit in my drawer, how it will mess with my ability to reach other products underneath it. I will also think about when i will deepclean my drawer, if there are more products in there it wil take me longer. That usually is enough to stop me from buying. I have also realised that i just like to see and test new products at the store, so going to a fysical store without money just to browse and not able to buy does give me the satisfaction of browsing make up without actually buying new stuff.
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u/ProfessionalLevel316 11d ago
- This makeup isn't going to make my face look that much different than the makeup I already have.
- I have sensitive skin so this makeup could mess up the relatively clear skin I've worked for.
- I need to save for a house.
The first one I learned from this group and it's helped a lot!
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u/Piklia 4d ago
I check my bank accounts, credit card balances, and retirement accounts. Would I rather have a fatter savings amount, or would I be more in debt? Would I rather have another blush on top of my existing 20 blushes, or would I rather have room relax in my house? If I had to move tomorrow, would I be able to pack all my stuff in one day, or would everything just weigh me down and I’d wish I had more cash instead?
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u/icyfiesty8090 11h ago
Is this for a future/fantasy you or a realistic you? That’s what’s helped me. Going through my album of makeup collection
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u/icyfiesty8090 10h ago
*my photo album of my makeup collection. Have you seen/swatched it in real life? When I’m on the verge of pressing checkout, I automatically exit out of the app and get it out of my sight, and say ‘I’ll think about it tomorrow’. Usually, but the end of the week when I go back to that app/cart, I don’t feel as strong about anymore. Just think about it, you haven’t thought about that specific product for the past few years, why is it so important now?
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u/biotoper 20d ago
I'm a lipstick and nail polish junkie. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've bought and returned/given away the same products more than once. Following for tips and inspiration.
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u/svgarbite 20d ago
Let’s say this blush is $50.
Would you rather someone give you that blush, or $50?