The end of my 53 Day Makeup No Buy Challenge

If you read my first blog you'll know that I embarked on a "53 day No Buy Makeup Challenge".  I gave myself until my birthday (which was 53 days) to not buy any makeup.  I also secretly tried to not buy and clothing, shoes, or accessories but did not tell anyone because I didn't want to hold myself accountable.  What a sissy, I know!  My main focus was on makeup because I knew I had an addiction to buying it.

I posted a "Makeup No Buy Challenge Fail" and blogged about products I ended up buying.  I decided that I would continue to try and that is what I did, try.  I won't sit here and say that I didn't spend any money during the challenge because I did.  A couple weeks before my birthday I went out with my girls.  We ended up spending the day at Santana Row in San Jose where I indulged in a day at the spa, getting my hair blown out and shopping.  We hit up the mall across the street and didn't leave until it closed.  I can't believe we spent an hour and a half at sephora.  I ended up purchasing a few things.  I will also admit that I've been to ulta and did some damage.

What  I will say is although this  No Buy Challenge wasn't 100% successful I did learn a lot about myself.  I learned that I was getting addicted to shopping, especially buying Makeup.  I think I tend to buy more makeup than clothing or shoes or anything else because unlike clothes or shoes I know they will "fit" and I don't need to worry about it "fitting me".  It's an easy buy.   I got caught up in watching youtube and my favorite gurus.  I had to try the latest products, and everyone's holy grail products, that I've accumulated a massive amount of makeup, spent thousands of dollars, and will never ever ever use them all up.   I've learned that I don't need to buy every color of an item or have every shade of lipstick.  I don't need 40 different red/burgandy lipsticks because in truth I could probably get away with having 3 and no one would know the difference.  I don't need to latest palette, in fact I don't need to have them all.

I'm not saying I'm never shopping again but I now know that I don't need everything I want.  I've realized that the $200 sitting in my shopping cart while I'm shopping online will only give me a temporary high of thinking I'm about to get $200 worth of new things but now I tell myself, "ok, if I buy this I will be $200 poorer".

As corny as it sounds I am a better person because of this challenge.  I can put the money I save into getting a house or taking trips with my family.  Again, Not to say I will never buy a new lipstick again. Just wiser decisions!

Thanks for reading, XO
Kathleen

MAC Lipstick in Giddy & Shy Shine

If you're as lucky as I am and live near The Cosmetic Company Store you will know that this is any Makeup Junkie's dream.  We're talking discounted pricing on MAC, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Smashbox, YSL, all types of fragrences,  just to name a few.  Visiting one of these stores is hit or miss and each time I've visited there are different items all the time.  Almost like a Ross or Marshalls for cosmetics.  They had decent array of items for each brands and I noticed they sold discontinued MAC Collections.  I was also impressed to find to find things like the MACs infamous Mineral skin finish in Soft and Gentle among other shades.

I ended up picking up two Mac Lipsticks which I paid $10 each for.  I'll review and swatch them for you here

From left to right: MAC Shy Shine (lustre) & MAC Giddy (Lustre)

MAC's Shy shine is a beautiful pinky nude and is my favorite nude at the moment.  Its a pink without being too pink and muted enough to be called a nude.  It is a lustre finish and glides on effortlessly.  This has been my "go to" when I have no idea what to wear on lips.  

MAC's Giddy is also a lustre and compared to Shy Shine is pinky-er.   Because it is a lustre it goes on smoothly although is a little more opaque than Shy Shine.  

If you have the opportunity to visit this store I highly recommend it.  Is it worth making a special trip out for? That depends on if your looking for something specific.  As I mentioned the products change frequently and you never know what you will find.  I will say that it is worth checking out what MAC collections they have at discounted prices.

Thanks for visiting my page, comment below if you have visited one of these stores and what you've found.

XO,

Kathleen