"No-buys" - My thoughts

Before Christmas, my long-time friend and also my brother’s girlfriend, Lorraine, put me on a strict “no-buy” for makeup.

Needless to say, I was a bit cross!

During this time I realised a few things:

1) I am addicted to buying makeup.

I am, I really am. I like the thrill of purchasing something new and putting it on my face. I like looking at the colours and swatching them and playing with things.

2) I never, ever use everything in my collection.

The only product this year I’ve completely run out of was my Nyx Can’t Stop Won’t Stop foundation, which is my favourite matte foundation. I do have the Makeup Revolution Matte Base which I intend to use instead of the Nyx and to be honest, I don’t often wear a matte base too often now as I usually tend to go for a more natural and dewy finish for work. Plus it’s £15 which is a bit on the higher end of the drugstore budget.

Last year I bought the Makeup Revolution Chocolate Vault which added quite a number of palettes to my collection (don’t worry, I only paid £40 in the Black Friday sales). I’ve used a fair number of them once. I want to use them a bit more, so this year I think I’ll try to.

3) It’s really really hard to sell makeup on Depop.

It’s the same with clothes. I’m selling so much of things I just don’t use, or have never used, or came for free with Superdrug orders, but the trouble is people want things for nothing. I think I’m going to have to change things up slightly and put bundles together.

There are a few things on my wishlist that I do really actually want:

• Urban Decay Stay Naked Foundation - I need shade matching which means a trip into Leicester that I don’t have time for but I’m pretty sure I’ll match to 30NN (thanks Findation). I do have a £9.50 Debenham’s voucher so I will probably buy this or the next item when I get paid again.

• Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray - I’m almost completely out of the 30ml bottle I have of this and to be honest, it’s one of the best setting sprays I’ve tried. It keeps a lot of my base makeup in place for a day of full contact sports, in fact, the only time it’s failed me is in the 30ish degree heat at the end of summer when I was playing sports non-stop all day. But the concealer stayed put... (Elf 16 Hour Camo Concealer).

• Colourpop Smoke Show - It’s really annoying to get Colourpop in the UK because shipping and customs almost doubles the cost of the item, and I’ve just had a quick look on their website and I believe the palette has been discontinued. I’ve seen a lot of really great reviews for this product. Colourpop, if you’re reading this, get your product into Boots or Superdrug in the UK, thanks.

• Lime Crime Venus Immortalis - This looks similar to the Colourpop Smoke Show, but with a few more pink-red toned shades. The main issue here for me is the price. I’m on a minimum wage job and I live alone, I can’t afford to drop £35 on an 8 pan eyeshadow palette, no matter how much I want to.

Usually, my wishlist is never-ending, but having this “no-buy” has really made me rethink about buying things that I don’t necessarily need. I think I'm going to try and use more of what I have, and only treat myself in 2020 for things I actually really do want.

PS if anybody generous and kind reads this and feels like treating me, please feel free!