Monday, October 6, 2014

Project Make A Dent #1: Third Progress Check

Time for the third progress update in my Project Make A Dent #1 series! In case you haven't been following this stash-reducing challenge, Project Make A Dent is an idea originated by Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog (here's her latest update) where you try to focus on using certain make-up products from your stash, albeit not at the exclusion of other things from your collection. The project is more about giving your forgotten products some love rather than trying to use them up completely, but I'm not gonna lie - I'd love to see most of these in my empties bag.
Here's a shot of what I've been working with right now; I did use up two products completely at my last progress check (here - click!), so this is the updated version with more products added, and the usage on the rest of the items as of my last check-in. If you're curious, this (click!) is what I started with at the very beginning of the Project in January.
And here's my progress! I have used up one more item - the Gosh Waterproof Eyeliner in Black Ink, also shown in my latest empties post, and the Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in Soft Coral is VERY nearly used up as well. The Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Whiskey is shorter by maybe two or three sharpenings, but I'll try to focus more on using it from now on. Again, not much progress with the blushes or the NYX Tea Rose lipstick, though I'm starting to reach for the latter a bit more now that the weather is cooling down. I'm estimating that my tube of  Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation has about 1/3 left in it now (last time it was half full), and if you look closely (uhm, very closely), the naked pan winking from the Annabelle Vanilla Chilla eyeshadow is slightly bigger now. All in all, not too bad.

To be perfectly honest, I AM rather tired of using the same products over and over again; I'm quite an ambitious individual so I don't let myself stray too far from my Project Make A Dent selection. Perhaps Lily has the right of it - if you decide to switch up your products a bit more often, then it's not as painful to commit to using these select few. However, I now have less than three more months left to go, so I'm stubbornly sticking to my yearly version - and then in January next year, I'll decide what I want to do.

How are you guys faring with your stash-reducing challenges? I've heard of so many different versions making the rounds on blogs and YouTube right now, like 'Commit To Five Before The Snow Flies', lol. But overall, it makes me happy that so many people want to take control of their collections and use what they already have - what do you think?

17 comments:

  1. I just posted X by Xmas with 12 products, 3 of them are already gone :) yay! However I want to finish up products that are already half way from my previous project pans. Love reading these kind of posts, I'm anxious to see your next progress :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh wow, good job Sara - I need to check out your post! Hahah, finishing up products that are nearly gone is the best thing in the world; not terribly difficult but gives you such a boost :) Thank you!

      Delete
  2. LOL commit to 5 before the snow flies LOL

    See that's the thing, I'd be OK if I could switch the line-up up from time to time, but there really aren't that many lippies I would really like to wear on a daily basis! I do finish things like mascaras, mascara primers, eyeliners, and brow pencils though. I hope those count!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Go go go, Monika! Yayyyyy! I have to say that it is so encouraging to see you & Helen show all your progress regularly. *ahem* as a spectator sport. ;D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahah, oh Belly - we need all the cheering on that we can get! :)

      Delete
  4. I really admire your commitment on using up products, really, I don't think I can do it!! And yes, I love it that people are using what they have in their stash, I think it is a great movement and I'd love to see more of it!

    To be completely honest, I'd probably donate/toss the products first before actually using it up. Also, I really think that from design perspective, makeup is made so that they "can't" be completely used up: case point is mascara: there needs to be a bit left in the tube for it to still functional. Or, maybe it is just not practical financially to produce smaller-size products (maybe samples are more expensive to make than full-sized product -- maybe this is why samples are so stingy-ly-distrubuted). Also, the nature of makeup is such that the industry entice buying new items, season after season. The whole situation is AGAINST minimalism in makeup possession.

    Maybe it's just me, but it pains me to actually toss a completely usable product and that makes me think a lot before purchasing. Now I'm more and more mindful of new purchases just to be 100% sure I will enjoy using the product for a long time -- if I think I'd only be using it for a few times/seasons, I'd probably pass. As it is now, I'm pretty happy w/ my collection and I don't feel like I need to use up something or get a new one anytime soon.

    O.k. to wrap up this long-winding comment, I think it is really admirable that you stick to your guns, and those items you try to use up are lovely, well-rounded, go-with-everything items. So I'll be cheering you on, you can do it!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Claire, as always I'm in full agreement with your throughts re: make-up minimalism. I absolutely HATE HATE HATE waste not only in my make-up purchases, but also food, clothing and everything in-between. While I abhorr throwing away things just because I was foolish enough to buy something I didn't ultimately need, I also realize I'm often too hard on myself and make myself finish products I have 0 pleasure in using.

      I'm also starting to think that I'm being so controlling over the size of my make-up stash that I don't even enjoy those few products I allow myself as much as I should, because I constantly have thoughts of 'But will I really be using this for years to come?', 'Was that the most sensible purchase?' running in my head, and it's spoiling all the fun. So I guess - all in moderation. While I can see that for me, this year is more about taking things away from my stash and overall ruthless editing, I know that I should probably loosen up a bit and try to enjoy both what I have AND new puchases in the future.

      Delete
    2. So true, all in moderation. When I start to use any product without joy, that means it is time for the product to go. If I have been giving a product the chance in full earnest then the product has fulfilled its purpose, so to speak. Everything in life is like that, it comes and goes after it has fulfilled its purpose (case study: my son's gazillion toys that litter our house).

      I kinda agree w/ Amy below about the "sunk cost" theory. I strongly feel every objects we own should enhance the quality of our lives. There is indeed a fine line between "punishing" self by using things up b/c frivolous spending or a commitment to give a product the "chance" it deserves. But certainly, we all agree that makeup is all about fun, light, enhancement, beauty -- wear something that makes you smile and feel pretty, and let go of the things that weigh you down.

      Thanks for allowing such thought-provoking discussions happen at your posts!

      Delete
  5. I love the idea of Project Make a Dent, especially as an antidote to the must-have-new-stuff feeling that hits all of us occasionally (or more than occasionally...). I've been doing my own informal Project Make a Dent recently, trying to rotate in some of the lipsticks I've neglected this past year. The thing is, I think I'd stop enjoying shopping my stash if I made a formal commitment to using only a few products until they were gone. Like you, I'm an ambitious type, and if I decide to do something I want to do it right. I suspect it would start to feel like a chore, and I don't think makeup should feel like a chore. The money I spent on my neglected lipsticks is sunk cost anyway, and there's nothing I can do to get it back, so I don't see the point to making myself wear something I don't want to wear.

    All that said, excellent progress! Thanks for keeping us updated. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Amy! I think there's no need to make things official if you don't feel like it - as long as you feel you're getting enough use out of your products, all is good in the world of make-up consumption. In fact, I am focusing on using up even more products than the ones I'm showing in my Project Make A Dent, but for some reason didn't want to include them on the blog (well, they'll show in empties posts anyway, I guess ;). And you're right that it's sunk cost either way - I'm trying to keep that in mind as I prepare to do a final make-up declutter for this year.

      Delete
  6. Thanks for the link-love Monika! You are doing a much better job than I am! Keep up the good work! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I left a long comment and it disappeared when I logged on to sign off on it.... ughhhhhh. Will have to return tomorrow and write it up again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wrote up a whole long reply to Sunny's comment above and Blogger ate it without a trace! So frustrating :/

      Delete
    2. ok, let's try again. I committed to participating for a year, and chose products I love to use.... but oh my gosh this is hard! I swear, it's like the minute I posted my first post, I immediately lost interest in the products:( I'm even procastinating on my first update because I know it's going to look bad. lol, but I will suck it up and do it. You guys motivate me to keep going, and honestly, I do want to finish something up in my stash besides just lippies. I really am making an effort at controlling the make-up madness, I have a small collection, but the constant *need* for more is getting overwhelming! Thanks for keeping me going.

      Delete
  8. Thanks for the link, Monika... and I can never stick to selected products for a whole year! That'll drive me nuts so you just proved your awesomeness right there. I do get bored easily, so the only way for me is to change things up :-P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahah, thank you Lily! But you know, whatever works - changing things up more often or sticking to the same products, as long as you give them some love :)

      Delete
  9. I say finish up the small bits that are left and switch up the blushes at least. You know there are more stuff in the stash that need good denting. And then maybe later you'll want to rotate back in the next season. I'm very close to finishing up that peach By Terry blush that has been taunting me for four years but it was eating up the time that I should have been spending on plum shades!

    ReplyDelete