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):
- Facial Toner
- Facial Oil
- Facial Cleanser
- Eye Cream
- Sunscreen
- Tinted Moisturizer
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Primer
- 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)
- Bronzer
- Mascara
- Brow Pencil
- Dry Shampoo
Things I'm not allowed to buy (unless I completely run out of current stock):
- Body/Hand Lotion
- Nail Polish (it makes me sick whenever I look at how many bottles I have)
- Make-up remover
- Lip balm
- Lipstick (unless it's a completely different color than what I currently have! Not really looking for anything right now though.)
- Lipgloss
- Eyeshadow (especially neutrals! All I have are neutrals!)
- Illuminator
- Body wash
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Hair oils/serums
- BB Cream
- Facial moisturizer
- Face masks
- 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.)
