Friday, August 5, 2016

4 Months on a Beauty No Buy: Some Thoughts and Tips

August arrived in a blink of an eye and it made me realize that I haven't bought any beauty products for over four months now besides essentials like body wash and a replacement face mask. No other skincare or bodycare, no haircare or nailcare, and absolutely no make-up, which has always been my biggest struggle. I talked more about my limited shopping allowances in my June quaterly progress report (here), but I feel like I have more to share about my experience and since a lot of you seem interested in this topic, here it goes.

Right now, I find a complete no buy much easier to stick to than a low buy. In 2014 and 2015, I (more or less) successfully followed a limited allowance of 2 make-up products per month, and I've kept that goal at the beginning of 2016, buying a few things here and there. However, since my last purchase in March, I haven't been seriously tempted by anything. When that first month of not buying was over, my reaction was 'Cool! Now I can roll over my 'unused' purchases to April!' but then in April, there wasn't really anything I wanted either. Neither there was in May, June and now, July. The longer I keep not buying make-up, the less I want to buy any new make-up. Distinguishing between needs versus wants and shopping my own stash instead became second nature, and new releases would never get more of a reaction from me than 'It sure is pretty to look at, but I already have something similar/ wouldn't use it/ it's nothing special'.

It's definitely very true that the longer you follow a low buy or a no buy, the less tempted and more rational you become in your purchasing habits. But for me, I think a no buy is much less challenging than a low buy because I don't have that (limited - but still!) allowance to look at new things and agonize over which two I would like to buy that month. When I decide not to buy anything without exception, I can't/ don't/ won't occupy myself with researching products and putting them on and off of my shopping list. Since I'm not buying now or in the nearest future, spending mental resources on beauty buys isn't worth it, and instead I'm able to focus my energy on other beauty-related pursuits or even altogether different hobbies. This vastly reduces any lemmings, folks.

Deciding to do a no buy also completely eliminates impulse purchases, or even those purchases that you've been wanting for a while, but ultimately know are not right for you. You're not buying any beauty products, so why even go look at the beauty aisle in your local drugstore or grocery store? You know you won't buy that tempting new palette that just came out, so instead you put it on your wishlist and go experiment with what you own. In my personal experience, 9 times out of 10 I won't even be interested in it anymore in a few months; I either have a comparable product already, find something I'd potentially like better, research more reviews after the hype dies down and realize it's not that amazing after all, or realize it doesn't suit my needs and preferences.

And since this shopping freeze made me focus on my existing stash instead of new purchases when I was feeling inspired by a new to me color combination or technique, I wouldn't recommend doing a Project Pan or Pan That Palette while being on a no buy. If you see a beautiful coppery smokey eye featuring a just released eyeshadow palette but at the same time, you're not allowing yourself to go and play with all the warm shades you already have to recreate it, you'll be feeling like you need that new product right now. But it's so easy to burst the lemming bubble if you sit down at your vanity, admire what you own, and do that eye look - or something very similar - right away. It makes you feel smart, accomplished and excited about make-up all over again, all the more for not having to spend a penny to experience it.

Being on a no buy broke my vicious cycle of playing with a new product for a few weeks only to put it back and not see it again for months, or even years. In the past, I would buy a new product, test it out for the blog and play with it for a little bit, and then either have another new item to try out or feel so guilty about abandoning the rest of my stash - especially older products - that I would make myself put it back and use something else instead. This is a terrible habit of mine for various reasons: a) it shortens my attention span so that I always feel the need for new stimuli, b) it deprives me of experiencing full joy from what I just bought, c) it doesn't give me enough time to truly familiarize myself with the new product, so in case it turns out to be less than ideal in the long run, I can't return it anymore, d) it forces me to use 'just alright' products from my stash instead of what I truly want and what inspires me right now - which in turn usually makes me feel unmotivated and unhappy with what I own, and increases the need to shop for more.

At the moment, I'm not concerned about rebound or going off the deep end once I allow myself to buy. I have a much better grasp now of what make-up I like and what I already have that I really like, and I would rather play with that than run out to get new stuff that may leave me feeling disappointed. Sure, I have a few things on my wishlist - none of which I really need but would be fun to incorporate into my make-up game - but I'm in no rush to purchase them. I have unused gift cards to both Ulta and Sephora, my birthday is coming up in a month, and my husband just left for London - and none of these 'shopping opportunities' make me particularly eager to get new beauty stuff right now. So who knows, maybe this will extend into a 5-month beauty no buy? Or even half of the year? ;) I'll let you know what I decide.

Another reason I would rather wait with purchasing my wishlist items is that I prefer to use up or at least make a final decision to declutter some of my current staples before replacing them. Downsizing my stash, be it by project panning or purging to friends and family, made me visualize my ideal 'inventory' in more detail - the perfect (for me!) balance of having creative variety while being reasonable and not letting products go to waste. When (and if) I finally pull a trigger on a purchase, I want to use and enjoy it right away. No more back-ups, ever - and I'm talking about not just back-ups of the exact same item, but even functional (an unopened under eye concealer) or shade (another mauve lipstick) back-ups of items I already own and use in my make-up routine.

Not buying make-up has also made me more critical towards purchasing things from other categories: clothing, accessories, home and (yes!) baby stuff. I'm happy to say that not allowing myself new beauty products didn't turn me into a fashion victim, even though I had more money in my budget to indulge in those things. With clothes and accessories, since I'm currently pregnant and have finished shopping for my maternity wardrobe a few months ago, I again don't want to buy anything I wouldn't be able to wear right now - or anything I'd only for the next two months. I'm also feeling a little bit... cheap these days. Maybe it's because I started researching things we'll soon need for our baby boy (and even when trying to stay quite minimal it's quite a lot - and it will cost a lot), but buying just about anything right now that isn't absolutely necessary seems superfluous and frivolous. However, I have no qualms over spending that money on good food (be it organic veggies to cook with at home or a nice meal out) or experiences. It's not like I've become some sort of anticonsumerist hermit - I just really question the value of goods we bring into our life.

I think that about sums up my deep thoughts on not buying beauty products these past few months. I will add that while I haven't personally purchased anything, I'm lucky to have received generous PR samples (some make-up, skincare and haircare) that have helped to keep product boredom at bay. Before you all jump at me and scream bloody murder, allow me to say that I have been quite successful in either using those products right away - as I am also working on using up a lot of older back-up products and thus have started to need replacements - or passing them on if they don't suit me - or keeping them by incorporating a 'one in, one out' policy (mostly for make-up products that I can't hope to use up in a reasonable amount of time). Maybe that is cheating; but you get to see some new products on the blog and I get to stick to my non-hoarding goals all the same. So there.

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. Have you ever been on a no-buy? What was your experience and thought process like? Please share in the comments!

17 comments:

  1. I did a no-buy in July and came to exactly the same conclusion: a no-buy is SO much easier than a low-buy. If you're limited to a couple of products per month, you spend time and energy choosing which ones to buy, and looking up dupes, and putting new stuff on your wishlist, and there's always the temptation to buy "just one more" (or two, or three...) than your limit. But zero means zero, and buying one more than zero feels like a larger mistake than buying one more than two, you know? (And it is, mathematically.)

    Having done two no-buys in the last year, one for one month and one for two, I didn't feel the desire to splurge once I came off them. In general, the less I buy, the less I want to buy. I know that I'm getting one lipstick this month (Marc Jacobs Rei of Light), and I'm feeling good about sticking to that one, because I've thought about it for a long time and tried it on and I know I love it. (That said, my mom bought me a NYX lipstick I'd wanted for a while, and had she not done that I'd probably have bought that one too.)

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    1. I absolutely know what you mean by buying one more than zero being a larger mistake than buying one more than two or other base number. It's so much easier to remind yourself - 'NO! I said I'm not buying anything, and if I buy this one nail polish, I've broken the rules!' than try to stop yourself from 'just bending the rules a little'.

      By the way, you looked amazing in that MJ lipstick in your Instagram photo, and you rock those navy lips - so jealous :D

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  2. Great post! I always suspected that a no-buy was easier than a low-buy, and you've articulated the reasons why.

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  3. I'm on a no-buy right now because of a complete lack of funds, but I think you're right. When you stop doing those impulse purchases and you focus instead on using what you already have, buying new things seems less exciting. I have a very tiny wishlist of about 5 items right now, and I'm not really chomping at the bit to get them in to my collection. If I can work out a decent swap for them, good. If I can't, eh, life will go on.

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    1. I think the challenging bit for me right now is that I have the funds - those unused beauty retailers' gift cards - but when I noticed that I was browsing online more just to have something on the wishlist that would use up the amount on those gift cards than because I felt any actual need or even want to buy new products, I just decided to leave those gift cards alone for the time being.

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  4. Great post! I will link your. Lo-Buy did work best for me. Of course you can avoid temptations by No-Buy, but I haven't succeeded in doing it for more than 3 months.

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    1. Lila, I think going on a no-buy for full three months is a pretty big achievement! I want to pick up a few make-up items before the baby is born so I think I'll just continue with my low-buy now :)

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  5. Great post! I also noticed my makeup desires changed when I was pregnant and had a baby. I stopped wearing most base products so I could nuzzle that cute little cheek! As for the fashion desires dropping off: your body is different and this is normal. My baby is six months and I'm still super reluctant to invest in clothes because I have 20 lbs. still to lose. If you can find nursing tops and are planning to breastfeed, you might want to go ahead and get those for yourself because they're not always easy to find and you will be wearing them long after the baby comes. Just a heads up - you won't stop wearing maternity clothes right when the baby is born... you might be in them for another six months or so. I just found normal pants uncomfortable until recently(but I did wind up with a c-section).

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    1. Thank you for all the excellent advice! You know, when every blogger and YouTuber out there were sharing their picks and hauls of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, I was feeling a tad jealous - but then I recalled that they have this event EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. So I can just wait until the next one :D

      I have two maternity dresses that are also designed for nursing, and so far bought one nursing cami for night feeds/ around the house. I also own some button down shirts and will probably try to use those. I actually only own one pair of maternity pants and one pair of leggings, but have some regular bottoms that are stretchy and should work for at least a few months post-partum.

      Again, thank you for leaving such a thoughtful and helpful comment! <3

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  6. Monika, a bit late on the comment here, but I agree with everything that you said. I have been on a no-buy since .. I honestly can't remember, just lately been purchasing some stuff for a wedding to attend. It is definitely easier for me to go on no-buy than budget, low-buy, planning, all that kind of "games" to limit purchases.

    And this blog post actually explains why some people do well in abstinence and some with moderation:

    http://gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2012/10/back-by-popular-demand-are-you-an-abstainer-or-a-moderator/

    Speaking of "obsession" now I'm actually a podcast "junkie."
    P.S. Gretchen Rubin also has a podcast, v. fascinating & interesting.
    P.P.S. podcast is GREAT to listen to while nursing a newborn!

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    1. Ha, Claire, I don't think you can even say you're doing a no-buy anymore, lol - it's already in your blood!

      I read most of Gretchen Rubin books and used to read her blog as well - thank you for the reminder! Didn't know about the podcast though, thank you for the recommendation; you're so thoughtful! <3

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  7. I find low-buys and no-buys work and dont work for me. I'm pretty decent about sticking with them, but I often go on a binge before AND AFTER, so sometimes I wonder if its worth it. In general I find shopping for makeup goes in stages. Sometimes I want everything, but lately not so much. but unlike you, when I am on a no/low buy, i tend to spend on other things like shoes and clothes, so financially these are pretty much moot for me. Love how you stick with yours. I'm generally just trying to use up and declutter most of my items, but I will just make room for more stuff!

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    1. Neo, I think it's important too to keep rotating through your stuff - even if you declutter something because you want to get something else instead, I don't really see why some people get very upset when they see someone do this. I do it too for some products because if I don't love something anymore, why would I force myself to use it? No need to punish yourself, it's sunk cost anyway. Better do it this way than hold on to old unloved stuff for years.

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  8. Darn, I realized my comment didn't go through after typing such a long one! Hate it when that happens :-(
    I'm the same with you Monika. I think no buy is easier than low buy. I'm not on either, and buy if I really wanted to but I've toned down on impulse buying A LOT. I've been tempted by that Chanel Fall palette time and again but I've held my ground. I just don't need another eye shadow palette. Skincare however, I will splurge. I don't keep lots of backups anymore, but I do go through skincare products rather quickly :-)
    Also, I want to say thank you for posts like this. They keep me grounded, and a reminder that I don't need any more!

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    1. I'm so sorry that happened, Lily! :( Blogger can be an a$$ sometimes.

      Ha, I'm really liking the look of that Chanel fall quad as well, but I'm not sure it would work very well on me; I decided I'd rather get a single in a warm berry/ reddish shade and experiemnt with that instead. I think it's nice to treat yourself to some luxe skincare - if your skin doesn't look good, no make-up will ever look good on top of it either!

      Thank YOU for reading and commenting, I really appreciate it and you guys always have such interesting insights and perspectives.

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  9. I broke my no/low-buy this month! But my low-buy period actually lasted years. Like 2009 it started, and maybe I'd buy new products here and there, but when it comes to hauling I only got back into it this month. I stopping buying so much because I topped out my collection. Like I didn't need anymore because at that point it would've been duplicating and buying just to buy, and it was getting overwhelming (and expensive). But on that note, I think because I did a huge de-clutter this summer and since it's been so long, needed to kinda update the stash. I agree on shopping your own collection and rotating products. That's what I did for years, and it's been great. And it totally makes you appreciate what you have and after a while of not buying anything, it made me critical too! But now that I'm back into buying making again, I'm interested in seeing how long it lasts and how it will be different from my old hauling days!

    Jen

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  10. I've been on a no-buy (except essentials like face wipes etc) for the last 2 months. I've got to be honest, it was difficult at first -I realised how often I'd pop into Boots at lunchtime for a diet coke and then find myself thinking 'I'll just get a lipstick to cheer myself up, ooh there's a 3 for 2 offer on...' and walk out £45 lighter! But it's been so good for me -I've realised I don't NEED anything else. I'm perfectly satisfied with the make up I've got and nobody has said 'oh your make up doesn't look as good as it did.' I'm going to try keeping it up till Xmas - we'll see how that goes...!

    The perks of being a hipster – My Delights

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