You may or may not have noticed that I don't do make-up hauls anymore - and I was recently thinking why this should be so. It's obviously not that I no longer buy make-up (heavens forbid!). The gradual decrease in posting my beauty shopping sprees actually happened quite organically; I believe I last shared a make-up haul back in 2012, and there have been very few and far between skincare and nail polish rampages in 2013. So why have I stopped hauling? Everyone loves a good haul!
I think the most straightforward and practical answer is that since trying to curb my make-up consumption at the beginning of 2013 with the allowance of no more than 2 new products per month and challenging myself to avoid buying back-ups (click here for the original post!), I have mostly stopped buying beauty products in larger quantities at a time - so what I had been purchasing would have made for a pretty pitiful haul, don't you think? But you see, sometimes I break my rules and buy more than two products a month when there's a good sale, or receive beauty gifts I could be sharing with you; so there must be some other reasons not to haul, right?
The answer that I simply don't like hauls anymore may automatically come to mind, but I've decided that it is not the case - in fact, I still very much enjoy watching YouTube hauls or reading other bloggers' haul posts, or hearing what you've been buying on Twitter. It's like I'm living vicariously through other people's shopping, and it helps me to stay motivated and continue with my low-buy. What helps even further, and I know I'm not alone in this, is that sometimes after watching a popular YouTuber (sorry, I refuse to call anyone dabbling in make-up a 'guru') do a lot of beauty damage, I feel slightly sick to my stomach; maybe it's all that money spent on frivolous things, umpteenth back-ups, the excess, and so, so much waste. At any rate, I'm then convinced that this is NOT how I want to feel about my beauty shopping, and this is not how I want to make YOU feel about my haul posts; so as a result, no hauling.
Another related reason is that ultimately, hauling fosters the beauty shopping frenzy, increases the hype, winds up the marketing machine of big beauty retailers, makes us part with our hard-earned money often against our better judgment. Posting hauls further promotes impulse, indulgent spending. I'm not saying it's always a bad thing - it's nice to spoil oneself once in a while, especially when you have a budget for it. But for me personally, it's never sustainable, and it's not something I want to encourage on my blog anymore.
Last but not least, I've started to question how helpful and informative haul posts really are to you, aside from getting a glimpse of my crazy spending habits and seeing what I choose to purchase, the latter of which you'll see anyway by way of consecutive reviews. I know some regard hauls as inspiration for their own beauty wishlists and shopping, but I don't really want to recommend anything to you that I have yet to test and try in earnest - and then I also sometimes post seasonal beauty wishlists (like this Spring one!), so you can see where my interests lay, and we can all exchange experiences in the comments.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Rocaille Writes is no longer partaking in 'the more the better' attitude towards beauty shopping, and consequently, beauty blogging. What I want Rocaille Writes to be about (yes yes, I know I'm repeating myself here... but it all ties in together, see?) is truly outstanding products and curating a more reasonable make-up collection that brings nothing but joy to its wearer; no regrets, ever!
Let me know in the comments your take on make-up hauling, and haul posts. Do they still interest you, do you hate them, or maybe prefer videos over blog posts, or only like quick snapshots on Instagram to satiate your curiosity? Comparing the response I've been getting to capsule collection/ stash reducing posts versus the old haulage posts, it seems like you guys are kinda over make-up hauls too... Are you?
I still love hauls! (but no pressure haha) It's fun to see what people got, especially when I'm trying not to spend as much, but I also like it as a little hint for what might be coming up soon in reviews. But I do agree that posts on curating your collection and well-thought-out reviews are much more valuable.
ReplyDeleteI like sneak peeks too! I try to post some things here and there on Instagram :) And I'm nosy and like to see what people buy... but when it's too much, it makes me feel just very slightly sick :/
DeleteI have similar feelings towards "haul" type posts and videos. It just feels overwhelmingly consumerist. I set up a separate page on my blog to separate my new from the main content, because I wanted to track my spending and incoming products, and if people want to see new things they can go there if they like!
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on the way it's presented. For example, I liked Liz/Reductionista's post from last week because it was sort of a mix between first impressions and sharing some excitement about some really nice products. On the other hand, there is a youtuber I follow who did a big haul from a brand we don't get much access to here in NZ that was just bags and bags of stuff, and it's just a little unnecessary. I tend to follow beauty blogs that are a little more thoughtful about their content, rather than just "BUY ALL THE PRETTY THINGS".
Oh, that's a good idea - and also, how on Earth have I missed your blog?! Anyway... I like Liz's monthly posts too, but probably more so because I adore Liz and her writing and I would be totally absorbed in her daily drink choices too ;) But seriously, I think we share similar make-up taste, so I like to see what's rocking her boat. BUY ALL TEH THINGZ is good once in a while, but... we need to be at least a little bit reasonable, no?
DeleteI'm new around these beauty blogging parts, but I've been inspired by you lot for a couple of years now. Came out of my secret lurky-lurk corner! I'm currently on a no-buy for May (and hopefully beyond, I crack myself up) so will be avoiding anything entitled "haul" for a while :D
DeleteAw, thanks, guys. <3
DeleteI love haul posts and videos but I get that same feeling you do about over consumption and waste. I get the feeling a lot of the people who have ultra massive hauls actually buy that much because they don't do their research before shopping and end up putting everything that piques their interest into the basket and check out.... I almost always have a very clear idea of what I intend to purchase so my hauls are very calculated. In the last year, I've done more hauls on beauty products I bought from other countries because I was only there for a few weeks or so and I kind of had to haul insanely due to lack of time. But watching other people's hauls gives me a sense of trying the product out myself and satiating my spending "needs" :)
ReplyDeleteHahah, I'm totally boggled when someone shows a product in a haul and says 'And then I got this thing... uh, what is it again...? I just thought it looked cool.' I mean... WTF?! I calculate and plan out all of my purchases in advance too, and the last hauls I've shared on here where mostly from traveling, like yours (and I love to see those travel hauls above all others, especially from Asia!).
DeleteTotally agree, don't enjoy hauls. Where do people put all that stuff that they buy? I'm trying to focus on spending money on having fun rather than buying things.
ReplyDeleteHear hear! Who has all that space to store the products?! I live in a small apartment and barely have space for my vanity (it had to be put in the entryway because of the size of our bedroom), and next to no room in the bathroom! And yes, to be and not to have!
Deletei do enjoy watching haul videos but i agree with all your points because they are true. it is just driving this consumeristic machine and cycle which i can't seem to get out of. its almost addictive. even though i might try my best to stick with my 'less but better' it seems like i haven't done as well as i'd hope but i see some progress and i'm hoping to stick with it.
ReplyDeleteHear 2x! Monika, you are a girl after my own heart. Remember back when Oprah used to have her own talk show and would have "Oprah's Fave Thing" where she gave out cars, gifts, etc. to the audience? I used to watch that and feeling the rush with the audience, and then when the show was over, I thought, "Now what?" LOL I *get* it when people do hauls. I did it myself. But the "now what" feeling comes soon after and I think that's when hauls actually started to become more of a burden.
ReplyDeleteAs I get older and earning less $$ for self (i.e. having kid, house, other responsibility, etc.), I'm more and more selective in allowing "stuff" entering my house due to to burden of ownership. Now, all my belongings are tightly curated, so much so I'd probably wear many of the same thing over and over again, not out of boredom, but out of enjoyment that these things are truly things I ENJOY wearing and using over and over again. I think this is a key to simple living; the satisfaction of owning a product because it fits the need, the aesthetic, the function, the quality that I seek.
I am actually thankful for hauls/review posts/videos because that means I won't have to try things :-) So long as there are people out there who like to haul & spend loads of $$, I'm always thankful to see what they have to share in reviews/blogs because those are trial & errors I won't have to do myself/can learn from the comfort of my sofa. I'd read them to kinda see what's out there, what's trendy, etc. but I'd rather read in-depth reviews rather than just straight out hauls (i.e. listing things one by one). If I know a specific product I'm curious about, I'd watch hauls/reviews to see if say.. that blush has a shimmer, or that lip gloss has a scent, etc. With that said, I think I can live without watching/reading about hauls -- it does get monotonous & same-old after a while.
None of us are immune to impulse buy/influenced buy, we are all social animals! I think there's always a place for people to do hauls and for people to be mindful of purchases. There's no Neo without Agent Smith :-) But the balance can be tipped, if there are enough Neos out there, the world would be less wasteful, don't you think?
Claire, I absolutely loved your recent post on living below our means - I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts and very much enjoyed seeing your perspective. I believe I was brought up to think in a similar way: be grateful for what you have, enjoy your new things, respect them and care for them while they're in your possession, pass them on when you can. I think that's the point that I want to impress on others the most, and what I need to repeat to myself the most as well: enjoy using your things. There's no need to have for the sake of having.
DeleteAnd I do absolutely agree that it's all about the balance, though I do feel the balance is tipped too much towards 'BUY ALL THE THINGS!', which gives me an even stronger impulse to rebel against never-ending consumerism. I'm not a minimalist by any stretch of imagination, but I want to challenge the beauty blogging community at least a little bit!
I'm so glad to see another well-written blog is on to more mindful living (i.e. YOU!). Yes, I think the balance is tipped so much towards the buying. Those PR firms must be working hard to get the words out yet at the same time, I'm glad to see posts like "Shop your own stash" from some bloggers as well. I feel when "things" are easily attainable (or such the illusion in our mind), that we tend to not respect/enjoy/care about them as much -- after all makeup is the gateway drug to many luxury brands. Yes, all v. spot on observation on your part. I look forward to more great posts from you!
DeleteI love this post. The longer I read your blog, the more I love it! Your beauty philosophies are changing in the same ways mine are. When I first started getting into makeup I would watch hauls and feel the need to go buy everything ever made! Now that I have an excess of make up, I'm working on using up what I have before purchasing anything new. I just hate feeling wasteful, and I think that the majority of beauty blogs encourage excess consumerism based on hype and marketing. I don't want to see "reviews" of products that were received as PR samples that very day. I want to see real reviews of products that people use every day and have given a true road test. Anyway, this comment is far too long now. All I'm trying to say is your blog rocks! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words Brianna, that means a lot to me! I'm trying to use up or give away at least some of my products before I purchase new ones too - I think there's definitely a limit to the size of my collection that I don't want to pass, and I even think this year I've succeeded in downsizing the stash a bit! Same day reviews make me super annoyed, which usually leads to not reading a given blog anymore.
DeleteI love hauls, but I do agree that it fosters a sort "AH I NEED THAT" mentality in me as well. I like that you're trying to curate your blog a bit more, and with your wishlists plus the reviews you post I can definitely see why you feel like they're not needed anymore. You've given me something to think about for my own blog!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent read, and I thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteI personally dislikes haul, empties posts (and videos in general, actually). I relate to you a lot on "how helpful and informational are they to readers?". I don't think they are evil or useless, but I myself as a reader don't find them very appealing.
I've never really hauled many items at once. It's been always a couple items with the advantage of sale, which makes me cherish them more. More importantly, many thoughts, considerations and even imaginations are involved in this process. I think that is the fun part! I'm mortified to realize that there are still some items that were loved briefly only for the blogging sake, even with my conscience (or something of a resemblance).
Ha, I'm all about empties posts still! But it's more for me to see how many products I'm able to use up and to further motivate to finish more lingering bottles and gauge how quickly things get used up. I also cherish products more when I get only one or two at a time; it's almost like they get my full attention span and so it's more fun to play around with them. And we all make purchasing mistakes, even despite trying to be very vigilant!
DeleteI don't mind seeing a few shots on Instagram (an instant "woohoo!" feeling that we can all share :) ) but the posts and videos don't really do anything for me. It's different to see a professional MUA haul, I think, because I know he/she is going to put all of that to use, and they usually have structured topics detailing what they are replacing in their kit with the new item, etc. For bloggers, though, those of us who do this for fun, I don't think it has the same oomph.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good point! I also like seeing how other blogger's stash is evolving, like the products they're letting go and what they're replacing them with - I especially like to read about Driveller's Kate make-up stash evolution. But again, I enjoy that because it's about keeping a balanced collection, not just constantly acquiring things, ya know?
DeleteI love hauls! I love knowing what others love and not and I also love watching haul videos too. But I do not over spend on things that I don't need. I just buy what I need. I am a wise spender since I have worked hard for that money so I spend it wisely.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up some great points in this post. When I started getting into makeup in mid-2010, I watched/read about hauls quite frequently. In fact, hauls and reviews were the most popular content really. But I did feel sick watching people buy, buy, buy and then show off these intense makeup collections that simply collect dust. I apply the same philosophy to any material goods really - for me, excessive does not equate passion.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, I have really enjoyed your blog's content over the past couple years. You are a great writer and that's what I appreciate in everything - blogging included! Excited to see the direction your webspace in heading in this year!
I gave up haul posts on my blog long ago. Part of this was that I no longer spend crazily, in fact, my entire makeup collection consists of what I use daily. I will admit creating content since than has been hard, mostly because I also started to loose interest in making reviews too. I found it forced me to spend to much. That being said, it has made me far more creative and in some sense a better writer.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely; hauling is easy, coming up with different, more creative content is that much more difficult! And I do think it leads to better writing and better blogging in the long run. I like to stretch my imagination and see where it takes me!
DeleteExcellent points! I found myself nodding in agreement while reading your post as well as the comments. I have come to prefer "shop your stash", empties or product review posts as opposed to haul posts. I do like the quick jolt of instant gratification from a pic on Instagram or twitter but that's abt it. I'm not a minimalist by a long shot but I want to have products that I really like & will use. I like empties post because the writer often includes a little bit of info - will or won't repurchase & often a link to a previous review. If they aren't repurchasing often the prodict that will replace it is listed. It's been interesting to see a number of the blogs that I follow going towards a more thoughtful lifestyle rather than just Buy, Buy, Buy.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy videos but don't watch as many as I'd like. Blog posts I can read when I 've got a few minutes & don't need ear buds so that I don't disturb anyone around me. Looking forward to reading more of your blog as the year progresses!
Hi Monika!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you! I still love makeup... always will but buying for the sake of trying is not something I'm willing to do anymore.
I only treat myself once in a while with things I know I will enjoy. I know what works for me in terms of textures and shades and stick to that.
Why always trying the next best thing if you already have products you love? That's my vision of makeup now. In fact I just posted my current makeup routine on my blog if you are interested! All with holy grails and products I've been loving for years...
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! High five for being such good girls! LOL
Kisses from sweaty Dubai! Take care! :-)
xx
Hiiiii Anne! I love browsing your Instagram feed and seeing what make-up products you're loving at the moment! That's a great way to show that you enjoy the products you have and what you use on the regular basis. I'll have to check out your blog post, I'd love to know your all-time favorites! Hugs from New York :)
DeleteLove this entry! I've never done a haul post because I don't thing I've even done a real haul! I started replacing my old makeup last year and so there's a lot of thinking going into what I buy. Why? I simply don't have the money to either buy all I want or too many items at a time. I like seing some posts but only once in a while. I prefer to see well thought reviews about one or two items than a long list of stuff that'll end up being tucked away and never used.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that I don't buy as much means I have less reviews but that's ok, I'm good with that.
The good in this for me is that it's very unlikly that I'll ever do a blog sale. Aside from a few misses I use everything.
Again great post! xoxo
I completely agree with your point of view. Haul posts (or videos) never did anything for me. I use beauty blogs to be more discerning about what I purchase. Reviews from bloggers I trust and swatches on skin tones similar to mine have far more impact on me. Even still, I'm occasionally driven to "gotta have that!" mode. But, I try to keep the impulse purchases to a minimum. Empties posts are awesome, though! I love to see what people are using up and if they would buy it again or not. Thanks for the excellent work!
ReplyDeleteLove your brave writing even more so these days, Monika!
ReplyDeleteFact is that it is awesomely *interesting* to read/watch/see people's haul posts/videos. I am always curious to understand people's taste in beauty and also get a glimpse into people's spending habits. As some others pointed out, that as some haul posts are previews to upcoming reviews, I find that useful, too.
Even more important fact for me is the unease I feel when I see what looks like really huge spending. Of course, I have zero visibility to any one's finances, but sustained spending like some hauls I've seen would be indicative of some significant financial outlay. People can and should spent what they want without some nosy me having an opinion about it, but on such consumables that can never be used up or really recycled, it DOES feel wasteful. I should really not be so judgemental, because afterall, I am also well known for some epic spending.
On the whole my-personal-accountability take on the haul subject, I would hate to be the one normalizing wasteful and over the top consumption patterns, too. That gives me a good long pause about having a blog in general. People have mentioned that review posts are helpful to others buying inaccessible items blindly and that's something I consider, too.
I love that you bring up sensitive topics and more importantly, I love your strong viewpoint!
Thank you my dear Belly friend! I think we're all interested to see what others are buying, it's just that little bit of voyeur in all of us :) And I like seeing people's taste in products too, although lately I've been feeling that it's not so much about individual preferences and more so about the hype/marketing.
DeleteI do realize I'm probably sounding pretty judgmental too, and probably even a touch hypocritical as I still do spend a ridiculous amount of money on beauty products, but I strive to be more mindful about it, and enjoy what I have without having to constantly buy new products. Maybe I'm taking things a bit far, but I feel like it's sometimes important to take an extreme stance to illustrate a point, and tip the balance back where I feel it should be, as per Claire's observations above.
I know you've been thinking about this topic a lot too on your blog, and your reflections have definitely further fuelled my own thoughts and feelz. I do still review products and I think I'll always be doing that, or whatever else I feel is interesting/helpful/fun to share. <3
I'm not a huge fan of haul posts and it sounds ever so over indulgent when they don't even know why they picked up the items. For all I know, more than half the items hauled are returned the next day! There are no return policies in my country so I live with what I buy. That makes me so much more careful in what I spend.
ReplyDeleteI guess whatever makes ppl happy!
When I lived back in Poland, we were not able to return any cosmetics either, so it was a bit of a novel idea when I moved here to the US. I still strive to be very careful with my purchases and do extensive research before purchasing, but I do err on occasion, so I'm very grateful for the more liberal return policies!
DeleteI've wanted to write this exact post on my blog, but never go around to it so it was really fun reading it here, it's just what I've been wanting to put into words myself, but haven't been able to. I've also stopped hauling, and for all the same reasons. I still buy, and I sometimes post it on instagram, but I'm over the excessiveness and am now aiming for a much smaller makeup collection that doesn't feel so overwhelming. I've thrown and given away so much makeup, which was difficult at first, but I have to say now I feel so much better every time I go to do my makeup and only see items I love! :) I'm really excited to see more and more people doing more of these kinds of downsizing, and focusing on what they have! x
ReplyDeleteHahaha - great minds think alike, Ellie! Sometimes I think on these posts for such a long time that I actually feel like I've already written out my thoughts somewhere and then I'm just repeating myself ;) Yes, every time I make an effort to downsize through using up my items and giving unloved things away to friends & family, I get a huge feeling of satisfaction - and seeing all that freed up space and less clutter is just so liberating!
DeleteI actually feel terribly self-conscious whenever I compile the monthly hauls, but my blog initially had a particular bent to it that made me want to be more open and candid with the readers. I thought of stopping recently, but I don't think that just hiding hauls is quite the answer either, ya know? I realize it's not really anyone's business what one does with her money and buys, but I also feel repelled at times with the consistent over the top spendings in general, even as I find myself participating and contributing to that consumer culture. I justified my beauty spending by not spending a dime on fashion the past few years and hardly eating out, but someone coming across the blog via google search would never know that about me based on last month's haulage and think it's all terribly wasteful.
ReplyDeleteBut I appreciate you crafting and sending out this bold message and actually standing by the things you say. I know how stubborn you are and admire your strength to stop adding fuel to greed and waste. At times it feels at cross purposes with the entire beauty blogging endeavour, but I think that being honest and open will always keep us righted. <3
I completely understand what you're saying: like I said in the post, sometimes I do get larger amounts of products within a month because of sales/gifts/PR samples, but I somehow feel a reluctance to share them; I don't think it's because I want to hide anything, I just think that a) I haven't tried them yet, b) I have other post ideas in mind where I could feature the products to a fuller extent. I don't think it's anyone's business from the financial standpoint as long as no one's getting in debt ;) Or regretting the big purchase later. No regrets! Thank you for your support Liz, and thanks for being such an awesome blogging friend - I know you always understand my strange ramblings and conflicting thoughts about beauty blogging. xoxo
DeleteI am partly at this crossroads, but also I think I have chosen not to go the haul route anymore either, as I have been seeing my blog becoming a repository for reviews, and I actually want to come up with more interesting and engaging content. And I want to write about things that truly excite me, rather than dedicating a whole post to stuff I haven't tried or a single item that I found 'meh.' I've been trying to minimize my makeup, too, but I just got into it a couple of years ago (late 2012), so I'm still kind of attached to some of the makeup. Which I think is okay. I just haven't been buying as much, either. Which, I think, is better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your whole thing, though. I think my focus right now is really to find products that I love and that work and as for my blog, just to show how I utilize said products. :) I really am no collector of makeup, and I think I ought to just remind myself of that when I feel the urge to shop!
Brilliant post! I started reading beauty blogs because I needed an overhaul to adjust for ageing. At first I was swept up in the frenzy of some bloggers' big, frequent hauls. I didn't exactly follow suit but I did feel like I wanted to buy everything out there LOL. I've since learned to step back from the frenzy after realizing that if you get on that ride the excessive consumption beast is never content and sated, it just constantly needs to be fed. To be part of that is in a sense to be a captive of the big beauty companies. It's a fun ride, for sure. Hauling can be a rush! But ultimately soulless if one has not exercised one's agency to carefully choose what one really needs and what products really suit. I've stepped back and I am more mindful of my consumption. I'm now also picky about which blogs I read, as some of them appear to have become shills for beauty companies, raving about every product they were sent.
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot from Kate the Driveller, subjecting products to a meticulous auditioning before she gives them a place in her stash. From her I learned - respect your stash!
I'm now almost done with my overhaul and quite content with what I have. Right now the only thing I must explore is the Dior Fluid Stick, but that's partly because the formulation intrigues the science geek in me. I will check that one out, but it will have to meet my standards for me to buy it and give it a place in my stash (thanks, Kate!).
Please keep posts like this coming! (Mimsy)
I love hauls and I love watching hauls but I'm very selective about which haul videos I watch though. Sometimes if a YouTuber buys the whole line I lose interest. I always love to see them do their own research and justify why they brought certain shades so if I have a similar colouring or favour a certain shade, I'd be interested in checking it out myself. But if it's the whole line in a makeup haul video then I feel like I could just do that by walking into a drugstore myself. To me it's no different. I like reading/hearing about their reasons for purchasing an item and making me feel if I would like to try myself.
ReplyDeleteEven though I still post haul posts, I find that they are lessening in their frequency. I'm fairly new to makeup so I feel like I'm still building my collection. Plus I believe I post on there that I pay cash for my items and don't want to encourage debt and unnecessary consumerism, etc. I feel like I continue to post hauls as I find that they usually get the most hits. The odd thing is, even though I post hauls, I actually have a fairly small collection. I'm not on YouTube, but I am tempted to make a video that shows what a "normal" collection looks like.
ReplyDeleteI like where you are going with your anti-haul stance. In general, I don't believe haul videos are sustainable for most folks. They can be educational, if they include swatches, but after a while it can seem wasteful and such.
You always have the best posts that really make me think!!! I'm finding I don't like to watch haul videos or read haul posts as much as I used to. I'm getting finicky in my old age (ha ha!) and if the products aren't ones I'm interested in then I don't care to read/watch. Usually what I do is scroll to the product listing and if I see products I like then I'll watch the video and read the post. I'm getting more confident in what I like and don't like, so why am I going to spend my time on products I don't care for so much? The exception to that is if it's a blogger/vlogger whose style I love - and by style I mean the way they write or their video personality - then I'll watch/read whatever they do.
ReplyDeleteIn general though I do like to see hauls, mainly to see what people are buying, and what the latest frenzy is. In the past part of my reasoning was to be knowledgable about what the product offerings were, and also to see if there was anything I wanted lol :-) But now...I do still like to know what's out there and what people are going ga ga over, but it's more an exercise to test my own constraints and reasons for wanting or not wanting something. For instance...I've seen a ton of posts on social media, blogs and youtube about the newest Chanel polishes. While they look gorgeous, I know that 1. I don't care for the Chanel brush and no matter how much I love the color I'm always slightly annoyed I fell into buying it, 2. while they are really really pretty I'm not WOW'ed by them, 3. I have more polish than I can possibly use even in a really long time so unless I'm completely in love with a polish I'm really really trying to avoid buying it. For the most part lately it's been working, as in general I'm analyzing my stash over and over again and trying to downsize even moreso than I already have. Also, I just like looking at pretty things, so I find hauls fun :-)
As far as my own hauls...I used to do haul posts every now and then on the blog but somehow I just didn't like it. IDK but it just didn't seem to fit into my personality, even though I enjoy seeing what others have purchased. I do post some hauls on IG and occasionally on FB, but even when I do that I usually don't show EVERYTHING, or I'll break it up into several posts. Also, because I know I return a good chunk of what I buy, I don't like to post proper hauls because I don't want to give an impression that I have some massive collection when in reality that's absolutely not true. That's actually why I did that Instagram version of Return to Sender.
I like haul posts, but I totally know what you mean about not wanting to show your own hauls!!! I say keep true to how you feel!!! We all know there are plenty of other hauls out there to satisfy our appetite :-) xo