I have been panning my MUA heaven and earth palette since september and I will share my experience so far.
What I have learned:
- Eyeshadows take forever to finish.
- Even though I said that I would use any eyeshadows from my collection every other week I have only used other shadows a handful of times. (Due to my determination to finish this palette)
- I have neglected all the other beautiful shadows that I own.
I have decided to put pan that palette on hold for a while. I currently own 104 eyeshadows, and I don't want to have 92 of them sittning unused in a drawer while I try to use up 12. I want to enjoy every eyeshadow application, instead of being bored of the shadows I use when I have so many more shades to choose from. In my post back in september I said that I wouldn't buy any new eyeshadows until I use up the entire palette. I have kept this and I will continue to be on an eyeshadow no buy until this palette is used up, even if it takes three, four or five years instead of one.
I wish all of you the best of luck with your projects.
I'm glad you've arrived at the 'enjoy my things' conclusion.
I guess the great thing about this exercise is that it demonstrates to all of us with 50-plus eye shadows that the reality is we don't
need more. Ah, we know that, right? If one is in the range of that, 1) you have a good range of the colours you like already (remember singles, palettes, free sample quads, sample singles... - there really is a huge range when you pull them all out), 2) you cannot use them up before they technically expire, and potentially even in a rare case 'go off'!, and 3) it will be an individual judgement call to choose to buy more because - all generally irrational, marketing stimulated, justifications - it is 'special' or 'a bit different' from what you have, or 'on sale', or will result in 'more points', or increase you to a 'bonus level', or don't have a 'backup for ...' or 'will run out of x soon' (though realistically have 'y' and 2 of 'z' that are almost the same and you might even prefer if you tried). I would not be surprised if some of us committed to no new eyeshadow for 15 years, and even then would have plenty left over (and most of it fine to use given the preservatives and the mostly uncontaminated condition when something has not been touched, especially with the products containing solely inert powders). But no new eyeshadow until 2030 sounds very difficult! If that 15-year-old future eyeshadow sounds scary, we really have to think about it now.. btw any eyeshadow purchased in 2000 is now 15! Wow! Odds are it's fine, but that's another one of those personal judgement things.
I know I'm in this "what is my motivation to purchase?" boat, but there's a department store counter bonus coming up. I'm glad these groups are here to emphasize how much I don't need anything and don't need to get that.
I'm impressed with your commitment to no-buy until you use up the palette and look forward to seeing what you use while you take a 'break' and how the progress continues. @
@azalea97 along the same lines, I've had that 'save because I like it too much' thought too, but the question(s) can become: Now that I've saved it until 2030 do I really want to use what is left? and In the coming 15 years will there not be another multitude of shadow palettes I'll be tempted to buy as makeup and fashions continue to evolve? and What/who am I keeping this for if I really love it?
One of my really nice lippies went off recently. Part of my irrationale for not using it as much was 'this is a nice one, so I should use others so I can save this one for important things' and into the garbage it went. How sad would it be if in five years your Strange, Burnout, and Limit had plenty left (likely more than two years worth right now) but were growing 'something' because after you recently hit pan on them you started 'rationing' them? Why? It's not entirely fair to harp on all of this because, of course, makeup is a hobby and a source of great pleasure and social interaction for many of us, so we do 'invest' in it, but I think it would be awesome if you could get
full use and enjoyment of your Naked III and II palettes azalea97, and if Huds and I could focus on our enjoyment and rotation through our 100-whatever eye shadows as a distraction from getting more!
/emoticons/
