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Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Beauty?

2 May, 2017 - 09:52pm by - Head Pixie | 22 Comments

By BR Kellie

Is your beauty collection out of control? Do you have so many eyeshadow palettes that you could live ten lives and still be working your way through them? Do you own twenty nude lipsticks all within a shade or two of each other? Do you find yourself reaching for the same old things time after time because it’s easier than rustling through your towering mountain of makeup? Do you need to grow three extra pairs of hands to get through all your hand cream before it expires? In fact have you had a product expire before you’ve even had a chance to open it? Then perhaps it’s time you got your declutter on.

Don’t panic. Don’t hyperventilate. Breathe. Breeeeeaathe. BREATHE! It’s okay. You can do it. Decluttering your makeup, haircare and skincare collection can be actually a really enjoyable thing. Honestly. Truly. I’m not lying. I know, because I’ve done it. Twice now. The first time I chose the ‘Spark Joy’ method of decluttering, which had some interesting results. You can read about that here. More recently I had another clear out, but approached it in a more methodical way, and the results were most satisfying - and not just because I could fit all my makeup on one shelf.

So what does one need to do if one's serious about decluttering. First of all. Get it all out. Every single lipstick. Every foundation. Every eyeshadow. Every lotion, cream and serum. Put it into piles before you based on categories. In my recent clean out it was at this point I realised my primer love was out of control. Who needs nine primers? Seriously! Out of control. Once you've got your piles sorted then begin to pass judgement on everything in them.

Is it old? Chuck it. Unless it has beautiful packaging you refuse to part with, then display it. 

Is it expired? And this is different from old. Some products have shorter life spans than others - sure a mascara may look and smell fine at eight months old, but it's meant to be tossed at three to four months after opening. So if it's expired, get rid of it. Here's a handy article on how to tell whether something is expired or not.

Once old and expired makeup has been dispensed with, it's time to think about 'do you really need this'.

If the product is already opened you have two options, keep or biff. So ask yourself, do you use it? Do you love it? If you had to pack one makeup bag would this be coming with you. Ride or die. Holy grail. If the answer is no, say byebye. If the answer is maybe, do some soul searching and if you still can't cope with the thought of it ending up in a landfill, then keep it. I don't regret moving on from the palettes I decided I could live without. But if I'd chucked the Stila I'd planned to part with then had second thoughts over, I would have been sad in the long run, because while I was ho-hum about it then, I use it a lot now. 

Once you've dealt to the opened stuff, move on to the sealed products. Again, ask yourself if you really need each item. If the answer is yes, keep them. If it's not, here's where you can turn this heart-wrenching exercise into a heart-warming one. You see there are organisations like your local women's refuge who will gladly take new unopened makeup, skincare and haircare off your hands. So not only will you be doing yourself a favour by decluttering, you'll be helping others too. Now doesn't that warm the cockles of your heart!?

So do tell.. are you in need of a beauty declutter? Are you inspired? Do you declutter your beauty stash often? What's your process? Chat away!


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Comments

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14th May, 2017

I tend to declutter my beauty stash basically every quarter when I do my wardrobe. Amazingly in this time I find I will have accumulated even more goodies, often things I've only swatched or plan to use but then forget about. I find a good declutter cathartic.

11th May, 2017

I always want to add to my collection by selling off what I don't use

8th May, 2017

I do need to declutter. It's just so hard to get rid of some things! Especially when it's expensive.

8th May, 2017

I do need to declutter. It's just so hard to get rid of some things! Especially when it's expensive.

5th May, 2017

I have one declutter and that was just after new years. New Year, new make up. I got rid of alot of stuff I didn't use and stuff that had expired. To make it easier, I stick expiry dates on all my cosmetics/products so I know what I have to use and when I need to use it by. In saying that I have just bought a lot of stuff so will maybe be going through shades that work and don't work. Eek!

5th May, 2017

I'll never forget the first time I had a clean out of my makeup. It literally hurt my heart hahaha but I gave lots away which was a grear feeling too. It's probably time for another go......

5th May, 2017

I love decluttering. Especially the things I don't use.

4th May, 2017

Yep I declutter. I sold heaps on trade me. I'm glad I did it. I like having a refined collection better.

4th May, 2017

Yes I finally did this a few weekends ago. I had some mascaras that were so old lol it felt good throwing them out. I purchased all new mascaras and eyeliner and anything else not used in the last 5 months was gone. It is a great feeling to declutter.

3rd May, 2017

I started my declutter/panning journey this year. I got it all out, categorised it, biffed what needed to go and then took a pic at the start of Jan so I can see my progress with the intent to take another pic in June. I'm also tracking things on a spreadsheet just because I'm a tad "extra" like that.

Any new makeup I buy, I have to rehome 2 of the same product type from my collection (with the exception of powders, skincare and body lotion because I drink that stuff). It's worked out well because it goes to show that there are still items I can part with.

I've made progress in reducing my lipsticks and highlighters and I've hit pan on quite a few eyeshadows because I can actually SEE my collection now.

3rd May, 2017

I really struggle to throw anything away, I am in pan mode right now, not buying anything new until I am totally out of a particular item. It is very hard. My youngest daughter works with a lot of young girls and so last year I had a huge clean out and gave it to her to pass out, they loved it.

3rd May, 2017

I'm about to go through mine this weekend. I did a big clear out last year when a local charity were asking for donations of makeup for pampering sessions they do each Mothers Day. So I will see what I still haven't used from last years destash. I also recently took some ancient make up back to Mac and exchanged it for a lipstick. As for skincare....I still have stuff from beauty boxes and stuff I bought in Korea 18 months ago that I still haven't opened. I'm getting better at not hoarding Lush as I find the bath bombs and bubble bars really don't store that well.

3rd May, 2017

Yes, i most certainly could declutter. I still struggle with throwing stuff out though :(

3rd May, 2017

I can't declutter - I NEEEEED it ALL!

3rd May, 2017

Yes, yes, but NOOOOOOO! one more question to ask - can it be used for something else? I have a eye make up remover (which is good, but I prefer other cleansers) and I have found it to be the only thing to clean my foundation brush - yah! I did consider biffing an eyeliner this morning, maybe tomorrow. Now days, I refuse to open something until I'm actually ready to use it. I have two boxes - one under my bed with product I will use, once I've used up the current & one in my wardrobe of un opened things, suitable to give away (ie, I'm not fussed on keeping them for myself). I should check the expiry dates though!

Koni
3rd May, 2017

Hahahaha "maybe tomorrow"! I think it's a great idea to not open something until you're ready to use it.

MareeB
3rd May, 2017

That's a good plan!!

Kimrose
3rd May, 2017

I hear you Ringy, I need all of mine too

SooziesWorld
3rd May, 2017

Meeeee toooooooo!

Kimrose
3rd May, 2017

I do too Maree, I am trying to pan right now...

MareeB
3rd May, 2017

Hahaha first world problems - we're very lucky people :)

Koni
3rd May, 2017

You're not alone Maree :-)

MareeB
3rd May, 2017

Maybe we need a group intervention!

MareeB
3rd May, 2017

I'm trying as well soozie - the local bookarama was the proud recipient of 5 supermarket bags of books this week. Maybe I could do the makeup chuck-out this weekend...I'm determined to live as simply as I can possibly manage.

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