Makeup Inventory | January 2016

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Wednesday, January 13, 2016


The interview I mentioned in on Sunday is scheduled for tomorrow and I am so nervous! Of course I would become significantly more nervous the day before - I'm meeting with the VP of Human Resources and some other incredibly powerful figure in the upper echelon of leadership.

I think my nerves are muddling my brain. I wanted to write about David Bowie today - as a black woman married to a white man, he and Iman have been my #relationshipgoalz for a very long time. But, the words just won't come.

Another day.

Today I'm sharing (with some reluctance) my makeup inventory. Some areas need work - a lot. To preface, I want to be clear that I love makeup - it's my hobby. How do I afford it? I don't go out. I have friends, but no social life. While other people are at the bar, I'm browsing at Sephora. We all have our vices.

My goal for this year isn't necessarily to pare down these numbers (though, that is true for some areas which I will discuss), instead, it's to curate a collection of items that I love, and even more importantly, work for me. If you're a frequent lurker of the MakeupRehab subreddit - this is for you.

FACE |

Powder blushes: 25
Cream blushes: 11
Blush palettes: 1
Total: 37

I love color cosmetics - blushes, eyeshadow and lipstick. This number does not surprise me. Earlier this month I did a gigantic purge and declutter and got rid of a lot of items. Those went to the ecstatic 16-year-old daughter of a friend. The items that are left are ones I really love, and use, so these numbers are fine by me.

For the upcoming year I'd like to pan the blush palette (theBalm's How 'Bout Them Apples). YouTuber PeachyKeen mentioned her goal of not having more than one cream product per category at a time, and that's what I'm striving for also.

Highlighers: 8
Total: 8

Eight highlighters seems like way too many. Right? I like having a highlighter from every major color family - gold/bronze, pink, and champagne/beige. Though a few come to mind that will never leave my side: Becca Opal and Champagne Pop, or my Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder in Starlight, I could honestly part with most of the rest of these. Besides, how often does anyone hit pan on a powder highlighter?

Contour: 2
Total: 2

No problems here. The two lone products are MAC Shadester Sculpting Pro Powder and NYX Powder Blush (which is currently on sale for $2.50 USD) in Taupe - which I should really get rid of - it does nothing for me! Shadester however - holy grail.

Bronzers: 4
Total: 4

I actually like to use Shadester to contour and bronze simultaneously. Besides theBalm Desert Bronzer, I should perhaps be a bit more honest with myself when destashing.

Foundation: 4
Total: 4

As I've been interviewing, I've collected more foundations to polish my interview look. On an every day basis I typically skip foundation all together, and instead opt for concealer and a little powder. My grandmother blessed me with pretty decent skin, so as long as I don't skip the Clarisonic, I'm a-ok.

As for many of us - especially women of color - I have to mix foundations to attain the perfect shade. Right now I'm mixing MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation in N7 with L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in Caramel Beige. the MAC F+B is too dark, and the L'Oreal is too yellow - better together.

Concealer: 4
Total: 4

I'd like to go down to two concealers - one for under the eyes, and one for the face. For the under eye area I've been using everyone's favorite Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser in Honey (which is really hard to find in my area, but is fortunately readily available online). For face, I have been using the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Tan-Deep. The color match is so perfect - but I hate this formula. it is so thick, and I don't find it to be really creamy at all. I'm not for forcing myself to use a product I hate, so I plan on passing this along later in the year to perhaps replace it with the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer.

Setting powders: 2
Total: 2

Again, I'm satisfied with this number. I use the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder in Shade 2 for under my eyes, and the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Dark Tan. I'm happy with both of these and am not looking for anything else.

Face Primer: 1
Total: 1

Barely even one. I have Benefit's The Porefessional and I just don't like it. I bought it to wear to an interview for my previous job and I hate the silicone-y feel of it. Typical case of being sold by an MUA at Ulta. I've had it for a long time - almost 2 years - and it has served me. I have no qualms about swapping it out for something I like better. Currently I'm looking at the Glossier Priming Moisturizer or the Too Faced The Hangover Replenishing Face Primer. I'm creeping precariously close to 30 - I need less oil control and more hydration.

LIPS | 

Liquid lipsticks: 9
Lip liners: 14
Lip crayons: 9
Lip balms: 22
Lipsticks: 51
Lip gloss: 35 (including 9 deluxe size)
Total: 140

Erm. I need to work on this. As much as I love lipstick and lip products - I have to get these numbers down. Though I have recently combed through my collection and gotten rid of things that were unloved, I haven't compared my items against others in my collection for duplicate shades. I plan on doing this before my next scheduled inventory in June, so I'm excited to see some measured progress, here.

And to note - I've counted lip balms as all balm products, including tinted balms. It doesn't really make it any better, but I really needed to say that for my own sake.

EYES |

Eyeshadow primers: 1
Cream eyeshadows: 14
Single eyeshadows: 30
Eyeshadow quints: 1
Eyeshadow quads: 2
Eyeshadow palettes (over 5 shadows): 10
Loose indie-maker pigments: 61 (!!)
Total: 119

I love eyeshadow (obviously), but my amount of pigments is astronomical. Many of these are from subscription boxes from Glamour Doll Eyes and Notoriously Morbid, and are in smaller sample sizes (about 85% are sample sized). I've cancelled my subscriptions, and have stuck to a no-buy for pigments, but I love the ones I have and just need to work them into my routine. One GDE sample jar can last about 15-20 uses, so I'm good on these for a while - possibly forever. I've already destashed all the pigments I'm willing to part with, and have the perfect storage (that fits exactly 61 pigments), so I'm not concerned with reducing these numbers by any means other than using them to completion.

I used to hate palettes - I have no idea why,  but this would most likely explain the large amount of single eyeshadows I have. This is a selection that also just needs to be curated - I have a feeling I will be saying goodbye to many of these in June during my next inventory. The amount of palettes I have I'm completely comfortable with. I use and love all of them, and each were well-researched purchases. I have my eye to buy at least three more palettes (Kat Von D Serpentina, Too Faced Peanut Butter & Jelly and Too Faced Sweet Peaches) this year. If a purchase is well researched, does not put me into debt, and is something I will use and love - I will buy it with no guilt. As should you!
 

Eyeliner pencils: 5
Liquid eyeliner: 1
Gel eyeliner: 1
Mascara: 2
Total: 8

Damn you, Ipsy! Four of these 5 pencils are from Ipsy. All black, of course. I only ever use pencils to tightlining, so I'm just focusing on using these. Once gone, I'll go back to Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Perversion, which is my favorite for tightlining. This is precisely why I cancelled my Ipsy subscription.

Eyebrow pencils: 2
Eyebrow pomade: 1
Eyebrow gel: 1
Total: 4

All of these items get frequent and regular use, so no issues, here. Though, once my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is gone, I'll probably never repurchase. Instead, I'd like to try the NYX Micro Brow Pencil, which is less than half the cost and has amazing reviews. The second pencil I'm using is from Ofra Cosmetics and was, yet again - from an Ipsy bag. It's a great color, but does not sharpen well because it's so soft. I'm enjoying using it at the moment, but am content with only three brow products. Specifically, the three that I own (I'm using the L'Oreal Brow Plumper Mascara,  and Anastasia Beverly Hills  Dipbrow Pomade if you're curious).

Still with me? Congratulations! Though I wanted to share my inventory with all of you, it also serves as a challenge to take  a detailed inventory of your own collection. It definitely puts into perspective how long it takes to use products, and how much money is spent on products that are used, and ones that are given or thrown away.

For support, look to the women at /r/MakeupRehab. They have given me so much advice and perspective (you can find me there as /u/jenniferashley312). I'm not on a specified buying ban or low-buy, but my desire to buy has lessened because I have an understanding of what I already have.

Just something to think about. See you Sunday - after the interview!
2 comments on "Makeup Inventory | January 2016"
  1. How do you store all your makeup? Would love to see how. Goodluck for your interview!

    Nat - Dignifiable

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right now I'm using a Helmer from Ikea - it's efficient but a bit of an eyesore. I've fallen for the vintage style makeup storage and hope to find one in the spring. Thanks for the well wishes for the interview - it's over now, but waiting is the hardest part!

      Delete

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