Day 12-4 more empties!

Hi everyone!

School is back in session (fun, fun) and I have finished a few more items.  I still have not bought anything, which is very exciting for me.  I've also been changing my nail polish everyday, which is good because I have so many nail polishes that I haven't even tried.  I recently downloaded a new app for my iPhone called ListMaster after seeing it recommended on the nail board on MUA.  It was $6.99, which made me hesitate because I typically only get the free apps or the 99 cents ones.  BUT, it's pretty amazing, you can customize your list and how it displays the information, which I find really helpful.  For nail polish it's great, because I could color code the polishes and add an image.  I just found swatches online and took a screenshot because I don't have pictures of all my polishes on my hands.  I highly recommend at least checking out the app, I've always used it for groceries and I'm in the process of putting my lip products on it.  Nail polish is easier because the qualities for each polish are more discrete and there are more accurate swatches online.

On to the empties!

Naked body butter.  I adore this.  I have two big back ups and a lemon sage body butter lite.  It is the best body lotion I have ever used, period.

And a mini body butter.

Pond's Evening Soothe Towelettes, yes there were only 5 in there, but I'm counting them anyway.  I got them in a sample bag from Target that they send out.  I really enjoyed these, the scent was nice, the towelettes were really wet and very effective at removing makeup.  They didn't remove all of my waterproof mascara, but the only thing that works for that for me at least is Purity or baby oil.  I have 3 more packs for towelettes to use up, so on to those.  :)

Finally, Suave conditioner in tropical coconut.  This is my standard conditioner to have in my shower.  I use it on days that I'm not washing my hair, because I still need conditioner on my ends.  I can also it it prior to shampooing if my hair is feeling dry.  The nice thing about using this on my second day hair is that it's light and doesn't weigh my fine straight hair down.  This is the smaller size and I have 2 more full bottles and a partially used family size one.

I made the mistake of going on Sephora's website and I saw that they're offering a Fresh duo of Supernova mascara and their Soy Cleanser for $10 and I'm resisting.  I will be strong.  I love Fresh's Supernova, it's probably my HG mascara, one of the few that I have repurchased and I like the mini size because it doesn't go bad at all.  I must resist.  I'm also lemming the original Naked palette hard, but I have Naked 2 and ELF 100 palette (which I absolutely love by the way), so I know I can recreate any Naked palette looks, but it's so PRETTY!  But I will remain strong.

My birthday is soon and I know my mom got me a Laura Geller set from QVC that I'm excited to try.  I've never tried her brand, but hearing emilynoel83 talk about it sold me on it.  Emily (beautybroadcast.net) has talked about her baked products for a while, so I think I'll like them.  Also, my mom signed me up for the year of QVC Beauty Test Tube, which is like Birchbox, but is from QVC.  It's about $30 with shipping and it comes 4 times a year.  I don't count this as buying, because they are gifts from my mom for my birthday.  My mom will also probably try out the products as well.  I was really excited for the first one because it includes a full size Mally mascara, which is also recommended by EmilyNoel83.  It also included a First Aid lotion, which I am also excited to try.

I am HOPING that a can finish a real cosmetic, like foundation, powder, lip gloss, eyeshadow, mascara, anything!  This is taking forever!  I realize it's only been 12 days, but it feels like forever.  I need to do this, I need to succeed at this.  When I get frustrated or sad or angry, I turn to makeup and products to make me feel better.  In my opinion, I cannot allow myself to use this coping mechanism anymore, because I need to deal with my emotions and problems instead of covering them with lip gloss.  This got a little deep, but I wanted to tell you that makeup is a real problem for me, that's why I'm being so harsh with myself.  This also explains why 12 days (including a horrific holiday season and last semester grades coming out) were so hard for me.  I was so tempted to walk down to Sephora or MAC and soothe myself by looking at neat rows of tubes and bottles giving promises of a beautiful life.

Alright, I'm off my soapbox and off to bed, as I have class early tomorrow.

Day Six and 4 empty bottles!

Hi everyone!

It's day six of 2012 and I am still going strong on my no buy.  I may sound melodramatic, but six days without buying makeup when I have a Sephora gift card is pretty darn good for me.

I've used up two shower gels and two body creams in the past week or so.  I have a lot of half started shower gels, so don't think that I literally emptied both of these in a week.  I tend to have several open and in the shower, however, I always have a Philosophy Pure Grace Shower Cream on hand (I love the scent and it's very moisturizing).  The body creams were both almost empty.

First, an Avon shower gel in grapefruit and mint that I really liked.  I got this in the summer and the scent is definitely more a summer scent or post workout/sun exposure.  The scent was invigorating, the Avon shower gels are cheap, they aren't huge (which I like when trying new scents), and they don't irritate my skin.  Don't mind the unpolished thumbnail.

My second used up shower gel is Philosophy Happy Birthday one that was the Sephora birthday gift last year.  My birthday is in less than 2 weeks, so that's how long it took me to use up this one!  FYI, the birthday gift this year is a mini duo of Fresh rose lip treatment and the clear one, I believe.  I got my postcard, so I'm thinking I might stop by Sephora to pick it up, I don't believe that you have to purchase anything to get it if you go in store.  This doesn't count to me because I said that I would not purchase any makeup, and I'm not making a purchase (at least that's my theory).  Sorry for the shaky picture.  Again, don't mind the unpolished thumbnail.

That's what I've used up so far.  Both good products, I may repurchase the grapefruit and mint shower gel if I (ever) run out of other shower gel.

My philosophy melting marshmallow body cream is from one of their holiday gift sets from last year (again, it took me a year to use it).  It really smelled more like hot chocolate and not marshmallow.  I loved the lip shine from this set, but I misplaced it.

Other body cream that I used up was Cozy Autumn Vanilla from Bath & Body Works.  I love this body cream and scent which is amazing considering I bought it unsniffed from the website during the fall.  Great scent for the fall and the triple body cream keeps my super dry skin comfortable.

Random thought of the day:  I've been wearing Chanel Black Pearl that I got in a swap a while ago for the past three days and I'm underwhelmed.  It just looks charcoal on me and it chipped after a day (with base and top coat).  Bummer.

2012-A New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

It is 2012, which means that I officially am banned from buying ANY makeup, any skincare, any body products, or hair care.  No exceptions, until I run out of body lotion or face lotion.  This sucks.  Really, it does.  I almost broke this on the 1st.  Yea I almost didn't last a day.  I had a fight with my brother and I was angry and wanted to escape and think about eyeshadow.  But I held strong!

Today I had some extra time, so I went though my 2011 credit card bills and online accounts and totaled my makeup/beauty/hair costs for the year.  Yes, this was necessary.  I needed to show myself that this was unsustainable spending.  I will be honest with you guys it was over $6000.  Which is insane because I'm a student (I did have a part time job which recently ended).  Now, the actual costs may be lower because any CVS purchase I counted as makeup even though I may have gotten a soda and tylenol or something, but most of the time when I went to CVS I probably bought at least one item of makeup or nail polish.

Damn, $6000 on stuff that I smear on my face and it eventually goes down the drain.  I could have gone on an awesome vacation somewhere warm and beautiful.  This is a really crappy feeling.  I am very disappointed in myself, but I know that I will do better.  Hey, it's January 3rd and I haven't bought anything for 3 days!  Small victories I know.

I think the hardest part for me will be limited edition collections because of all the hype.  My new mantra will be "There will be another collection.  There will be another amazing lipstick.  There will be another magical foundation." Another step for me will be unsubscribing from MAC emails, tarte, sephora, philosophy, sigma, cherry culture, etc.

From those who have gone before me, I know that I need to organize my stash and I want to create a Google spreadsheet with everything listed.  Or perhaps using Listmaster on my iPhone, but it's $6.99.  I haven't decided if I want to pay for it or not.  Any thoughts on that?

I know Venessa (sp?) from venessaesquer29 on YouTube is doing a 2012 no buy and I would love to hear from others who are doing this or a project 10 pan, use it up, etc.  I also am following TheRaerae1971 and TeresaNC1 on YouTube.  I can use any support I can get :)