The trend of consumerism is applicable to all areas of life. I personally seem to overspend on beauty. Apart from the necessities I often indulge in products that appear attractive to me. “You need this in your life” is the refrain I constantly hear from bloggers to the brands themselves. And I believe them. The unavoidable deals and enticing offers draw me in. I accumulate all this stuff; some turn out great others I regret ever buying. I keep buying the wrong stuff because I fail to consider if the products are suited to my preferences. Well overall the situation needs to be handled. In order to better my spending habits and to be more conscious of my consumption I have come up with a few ideas. I shall try to follow them myself and hope it helps someone who is reading as well.
Less is more
A simple skincare routine is kind to the skin and the wallet. The essential steps – wash moisturize, sunscreen – this is what I do most days. This means I only need face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen. I need one of each item, maybe two. Any more is too much for me. I might add a serum here and there but most days I stick to the basics. So I definitely don’t need to purchase every active ingredient there is.
Multitask
Eliminate the need to buy different products for different purposes by opting for products that work in multiple ways. I’ve found that petroleum jelly is a perfect substitute for lip balm and also works on dry elbows, rough knees, cracked heels, and dry cuticles. Multi tasking products like lip and cheek tints also intrigue me. Even though I love all things makeup, I don’t wear much on a regular basis. So my trusty old lipstick will serve as a blush. Eye shadow works well as brow powder; in fact that is the only way I use any. Everything else in my collection remains untouched (*sigh).
Avoid Highly Specific Products
In conjunction to multitasking I try to stay away from products that are meant for only a specific purpose or can only be used once. Examples would be under eye creams or masks, neck creams, sheet masks, lip mask, etc. I do love using a hand cream so I allow myself that.
Use Before You Buy
This is a newer habit I am working on. Before buying anything new I like to ensure what I have is used up. I cast one look at my collection to see if I have something similar before purchasing new launches. I am constantly questioning my needs so I can prevent purchasing things that will expire in my drawers.
Repurpose
If something doesn’t work as intended I try to find another use for it. I had a body wash that wasn’t getting much use. I tried it on my face and it worked. I even used it on my hair once. If a lip color doesn’t work I see if it looks better mixed with another color. I often Google ideas when I I’m trying to make a product work.
Tools are overrated
While there is something alluring about getting a face massaging tool or one of those cleansing tools, I remind myself that my hands are free. Skincare tools are nice to have but my fingers can surely get the job done. Buying a tool is exciting but I know well enough that I will use it once and then never bother again. So why buy it in the first place.
Despite the marketing and constant advertising in the end it is my choice whether I buy something or not. It is okay to spend money on the things I love. But it is just as important to make sure that it’s not going to waste. I aim for less clutter, less waste, and more appreciation for the things I own. It is possible to enjoy the beautiful things at a balanced pace without constantly seeking the next best thing.
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