Decluttering


I used to be addicted to shopping (especially online) while I was single and working in Hawaii. I was working a lot of overtime and stressed out. Buying things helped me to temporarily feel better. After I quit my job to move to Guam to be with my husband (then-boyfriend), I ended my love-affair with online shopping. I learned to make-do with what I had and I'm really grateful for that.

Even though I don't shop as much as I used to, I think that I can do a lot more to declutter my life. There are certain things that I am pretty good about not hoarding, but there are other things that I'm just not allowed to buy anymore (hello, billions of nail polish bottles!). This is an attempt to let go of things that I don't need and just keep the essentials (things that I actually use). So, I'm going on a buying ban!

Also, if you can't tell from the picture, I don't really have a good way of storing my make-up items. They're either in those two bins shown, or just in empty birchbox boxes or in my bathroom drawer. Part of decluttering will be finding a place for everything and making everything neat.

Here's a list of things I'm allowed to buy (one-in, one out):
  1. Facial Toner
  2. Facial Oil
  3. Facial Cleanser
  4. Eye Cream
  5. Sunscreen
  6. Tinted Moisturizer
  7. Foundation
  8. Concealer
  9. Primer
  10. Blush (I'm allowing myself to find and buy two more shades that I love and also to replace the one that I'm currently using)
  11. Bronzer
  12. Mascara
  13. Brow Pencil
  14. Dry Shampoo

Things I'm not allowed to buy (unless I completely run out of current stock):
  1. Body/Hand Lotion
  2. Nail Polish (it makes me sick whenever I look at how many bottles I have)
  3. Make-up remover
  4. Lip balm
  5. Lipstick (unless it's a completely different color than what I currently have! Not really looking for anything right now though.)
  6. Lipgloss
  7. Eyeshadow (especially neutrals! All I have are neutrals!)
  8. Illuminator
  9. Body wash
  10. Shampoo/Conditioner
  11. Hair oils/serums
  12. BB Cream
  13. Facial moisturizer
  14. Face masks
  15. Perfume
It might seem like I have a bunch in my "things I'm allowed to buy" list, but that's because these are things that I only have one or two products of versus a stockpile of different products that aren't being used (like the ones in my "not allowed" list!). I hope to give these unloved products some attention before deciding whether to chuck it or keep it. One day I hope to only have products that I absolutely love instead of "wasting" my money on things that I don't use/need. We'll see how successful I am. I also want to do something like this with my wardrobe!

Does anyone else seem to have a huge stock of products that aren't being used? Would you ever go on a buying ban?
Also, any suggestions on how to store make-up? :)

(Post inspired by From Roses.)

10 comments

  1. Haha, you're tough! I could never do this. I constantly think of a reason why I "need" something, and I actually think I'm good at that. LOL
    I haven't bought nail polishes or perfume in a while, though. They are properly stored so they won't go bad like other makeup items, but actual reason would be that I'm not interested in them as before. ;)

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    1. I actually think that it won't be that bad for me! I recently chucked a lot of stuff that were so old that I was scared to use them (facial products and such). So, my "collection" of things isn't as big as it used to be. I just need to use up the rest of the stuff under the "banned" list before I will feel good about it.

      Not sure if I will ever use up all my nail polish though! I have this problem of hoarding things that I don't necessarily like or love because I always think of hypothetical situations where I might need them in the future. Like, what if I need this EXACT shade later?! It's something that I still struggle with! ;)

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  2. I used to have a horrible clutter problem with cosmetics/beauty products! I had no restraint. Haha! But over the years, I finally got everything cleaned out and I'm now on a one-in, one-out basis with everything I use. You can do it! It's freeing, even. Limiting my options saves mental space for me to spend elsewhere. =)

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    1. That's where I want to be! I recently did a small clean-out of old products (6 months ago), but I still have the clutter problem (thus the blog post). I do want variety, but what I have right now is stuff that I don't even use. It feels like such a waste! I want to love everything that I have and to forget the rest. So, hopefully I will go through my current products and learn to love things that I had forgotten about or remember what not to buy for next time. ;)

      Thanks for your thoughts! :)

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  3. Great idea to make lists! I have way to many nailpolish as well! Just an item you buy very easily and fast I think :(.

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    1. I agree! If I see a new color that's pretty, I want it right away. But I'm trying to change my ways! ;)

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  4. I totally feel you on all of this! When I started blogging I was single and had recently moved out of my parent's place. I resorted to a lot of retail therapy in that time period. Now I've amassed quite the beauty collection, and I'm trying to be better about using up what I already have. I recently tried to prune down my stash by going through everything and pulling out products I don't like or use and sorting them into a trash pile and a giveaway pile. It was really satisfying to get things organized, and also kind of fun just to remember how much awesome stuff I already own.

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    1. It makes me feel great when I'm able to give away things to others that will hopefully show the products more love! I'm about to send my sister some birchbox samples that are being neglected. :)

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