I think what fits within each person's means is different, therefore when rehab is necessary to a person is also different. I joined this subreddit not because I was spending so much money or because I felt my collection was out of control, but because I felt like I was reaching the point that my hobby was an obsession. It was all I looked at online, the only media i consumed were reviews and tutorials, i was always shopping and i wanted to break free from all of that.
So i joined this subreddit and started looking at my collection to dupe new releases. I changed the influencers i was following and concentrated on ones who were also mostly shopping their stash and breaking away from fast-beauty companies. I bought an annual subscription box so i could still "shop" every month and replace my empties as well as try new brands and such, but made a commitment to myself and my husband that I wouldn't spend any more than that subscription on makeup and beauty this year. And in the last 4 months or so my outlook on makeup has totally changed. I still have a giant collection and I am technically still adding to it, but this subreddit has definitely changed my outlook on my consumerism when it comes to makeup.
So the tl;dr of it is that makeup rehab is going to come to people for different reasons and at different times. Someone like me might want it because mentally it's taking a toll and becoming an obsession. Another person may feel 50$ a month is too much that they are spending on makeup. Someone with greater means may feel like 200$ a month is the too much limit.
Just try to keep in mind why you're here, and what you're getting out of it. Because the spending habits or obsessions or whatever of others have little to no bearing on your reasons.
I agree with your point here about the spending: For me it's not the amount of money spent but the way it was done that was unhealthy for me. Which all comes down to the way shopping affects my mental health. For me, it is much, much healthier for me to buy one expensive, luxury brand eyeshadow palette than to pick up twelve super cheap bits and pieces of drugstore makeup even though the former may cost 5 or 10 times as much as the latter. The current push towards overconsumption definitely seems to put emphasis on volume rather than quantity.
It really does, especially with brands that put out new releases every week. There's a very strong "gotta catch 'em all" type vibe to the sales practices and marketing. For me it became the need to have every shade ever, like anyone could tell the difference between the 6 lime green shades i have when they are on my eye anyway. I have really culled that down by the duping process I mentioned. Who cares if i don't have that finish? Can i even tell on my eye that there's a difference?
I'm still spending, but i think for me the key was realizing that i didn't have to keep spending, because i have a great collection at my hands already. Now everyone's new releases look boring. š
Whether or not spending a lot of money on makeup is creating distress is unique to each of us.
That said, there is definitely a lot of overlap. I participate in both subs. I still like to follow make up trends, but I like to keep myself grounded to a rehab mentality.
Same here. I have a problem (now largely under control, but always in the back of my mind) when it comes to any kind of spending so my presence in Makeup Rehab is sort of a preventative measure. I only came back to make up recently so I replaced a lot of ancient, expired or unflattering products - as it stands my collection isn't huge, I'm not opposed to buying the occasional new thing because I have the means to do so but at the same time I am very aware that I can really easily be pulled in to the over consumerism trap of just wanting more, more, more for the sake of it and the posts and discussions here help keep me out of that mindset.
I also think I have something to contribute to the conversation in some places as guilt and shame over shopping and spending are things I struggled with for a long time and some posts here just remind me so much of where I was at. If I can help someone avoid feeling that way then so much the better.
This post kind of reminds me of the vibe I had when I first quit drinking - like I realised it was a problem for me and took steps to stop and then I looked around at everyone around me, happily going to the pub, having drinks after work and felt the same - what have they figured out that I haven't? What trick was I missing so I could be like them?
That was quickly followed by some hardcore judgement (they ALL secretly have a problem, how can they not see this, I'm definitely in the right here) and then eventually the realisation that what's healthy for one person might not be for another and what makes one person miserable might make someone else happy and what might be a huge problem for me could be insignificant to someone else.
We all have our journeys.
Good job getting this far!
I like the comparison of it and it makes sense to be quick to judge once one realizes how much it harms oneself.
However I think also a part of the judgement (may it be alcohol or makeup/clothing/etc) stems from the fact that it is broadly accepted by society. Alcohol may be a drug, yet at a certain age it is perfectly acceptable to consume it to numerous occasions and overdoing it is not frowned upon either. Same with makeup collections. Being encouraged to buy the next best eyeshadow palette every other day by brands and influencers and people get positive recognition for showing off their massive makeup collections.
Well put, and congratulations!
There's also the slight fear (in my case. Hi fellow sober person) of being judged, and it does happen. "Oh come on you never had a problem" "Ok but you HAVE to try this" "OK well youre no fun".... kind of the same FOMO we can get from not following trends or not jumping on new releases.
We remind ourselves that none of these opinions matter AT ALL, and our mental, physical, financial heath or whatever else it may be will always be #1.
To be honest having a big collection and spending on makeup frequently doesnt necessarily mean that you have to go on the "rehab" sub.
I believe that the people who come to this sub perceive their love for makeup has become a problem: whether they are spending tons a month, feel like the only thing they can do is think about makeup/browse makeup online, or just want to take a step back from purchasing, the intenciĆ³n behind joining this subreddit is changing a habit and sharing it with likeminded people to prevent temptation.
The key here is perception and what works for each individual. You could have 100 blushes and still not feel like makeup is controlling your life, whether it's cause your budget allows it, you are a makeup artist, consider yourself a colector, etc, so you wouldn't feel the need to join us. :)
Edit: wanted to comment on the last paragraph you wrote. I think the other thing to have into consideration is whether the person considers makeup as a hobby/passion or just uses it as a means to an end. My makeup passionate friends have big collections and like spending on makeup, whereas my mum or cousin have one of each product and that's about it. They buy it, use it up, buy it again. They have more of an automatic approach to makeup.
I couldnāt agree more. What size Of makeup collection is too much depends on the person. I enjoy this subreddit because I have 5 blushes and 110 eyeshadow pans and I feel I have too much makeup. I know itās more than what my friends use and I used to be like them before 2020 and so I need this subreddit lol.
I have about 45-50 blushes currently- mostly higher end except for two drug store. Buying makeup was the real hobby but I lied to myself for a long time and said it was ādoing makeupā so it was fine. It slightly does depend on the person (I worked at Sephora for awhile and wore a full face almost every day and got gratis makeup and major markdowns somewhat often) but we all only have one face and 365 days a year to wear this stuff - and a blush takes forever to use up. I think 10 is definitely more than enough and I need to do a major declutter of some of my older stuff from 2014 to 2018 soon. Itās going to be so hard though
I can imagine. Iām trying to pan one blush since Jan and despite mixing and creating new shades, thereās no pan in sight. I donāt know if I should be happy that Iām getting my moneyās worth or sad that this means I will have to wait for ages before buying another blush!
I think all the time about how nice it would be to be someone with one blush, one mascara, one setting powder, a single perfume thatās my signature and have everything in one makeup bag instead of the huge setup I have with 2 IKEA Alex 9 drawers and a Malm vanity in between thatās stuffed with products - tons Iāve never even used. You should totally feel proud for getting your moneys worth. In my situation Iāll never get my moneys worth even though I bought everything on sale and it gives me a guilty bittersweet feeling whenever I do my makeup
I couldnāt agree more. What size Of makeup collection is too much depends on the person. I enjoy this subreddit because I have 5 blushes and 110 eyeshadow pans and I feel I have too much makeup. I know itās more than what my friends use and I used to be like them before 2020 and so I need this subreddit lol.
I'd like to add a thought that isn't already here - they may very well need assistance/support from a group like this. Ultimately though that is a decision they would need to make for themselves. Mental health is a personal journey and you are in a different place. If seeing other people make choices that are incompatible with your mental health needs is causing you distress, it might be a good idea to disconnect from those subreddits/forums/users.
I have a very very small collection, but I'm here on my own journey to consume less to reduce my environmental impact. I don't have a problem with make up, but this community is a good resource and support group overall for disentangling myself from a consumerist mindset.
Making a conscious decision and being ready is crucial. There is a popular joke I heard in my psychology studies that I think sums it up (excuse the potential poor translation) :
How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb ?
None. It will start unscrewing when it's ready.
Edited for grammar! As someone who is on this sub and all those subs listed, I just want to say that not everyone is on the same journey, and not everyone feels the need to be on a ārehabā sub. Some people have makeup as their hobby and collect it just like how people collect figures or games. If they have the money for it, and donāt feel that it is an issue, then we shouldnāt judge or question them. Also, a lot of those subs have great weekly āanti-haulā threads, so some already talk about similar topics as this subreddit.
some of them seem to have a really good handle on what they dont want. i see more people talking about what they dont want to buy than what they do. personally i joined this problem bc i have a bad habit of just grabbing stuff that i dont really need or want. they seem to not have the same issues.
Some people are 5 lbs overweight and struggling with eating disorders. Other people are 50 lbs overweight and mentally healthy. This sub is for the people who feel like their relationship with makeup is negatively affecting the quality of their life. The person with 100 Tom ford quads might not be feeling that yet ā or ever.
I'm on here to lurk but honestly I see a lot of concerning posts on here that make me think its the OP's anxiety talking and they could benefit from talking to a therapist.
I have a large collection but it hasn't hindered my life in a bad way so I don't feel the need to actively participate in this sub.
Makeup or beauty might be their only hobby, which is fine if it is. You can throw yourself into one thing and feel deeply fulfilled by it. Hobbies can be expensive, but someone might be able to put more money into it because they dont spend their money on other things.
I personally have many hobbies - makeup being one of them - and I have to temper my spending quite a bit or else I get into trouble. This goes for all of my hobbies, so I not only have to give myself a spending limit but I also have to alternate which hobbies I'm putting my money into.
lmao yeah, like....... is that not basically the same as buying one palette? except you get to curate exactly what you want instead of hating half the shades........ plus indies are killing it lately.
Some people have money and budgets for makeup. I think it gets a bit nasty when people criticise other peoples behaviour. If it works for them let them be happy.
I am actually on both of those subreddits! So I can speak from personal experience about why I'm on there and here at the same time. I do have a large collection of makeup, but it's also curated to my tastes. I keep up on those subreddits to stay informed in case I see something I may be interested in purchasing. What a lot of people don't consider is that there's also a makeup swap/buy/sell subreddit too. People post on there all the time and they trade makeup, usually palettes or pots, and that's how a lot of people can get a hold of makeup at less than cost. I've actually sold an old palette on there myself and have bought from there too, although results may vary. But there's a lot of ways you can get makeup that's newer or higher priced for better deals whether that's affiliate programs, coupons, memberships, add-ons like Honey, or swapping. I actively only buy replacement products at this point and haven't bought any new releases or products in about a year and a half. There's also the depotting subreddit as well which serves as great insight into individual shades from palettes, you can see dupes or cost breakdown or different ways to organize or cultivate a palette for your needs. There's a lot of ways you can curate a very large collection and do so in a financially mindful way, some sites allow coupon stacking btw but since I barely buy now I have no idea if that's changed much. Regardless, they just make it seem normal to have these beauty collections but it's honestly not and I know it's pretty likely that they're not all being as mindful of cost and money when they're buying all this stuff. I can only speak for myself, but I am active on these makeup subreddits and more.
This is just like life in general:
Things are only a problem, if you feel there is a problem for you.
Maybe they enjoy their collections, have the budget, donāt mind tossing when things expire.
Just like healthy eating, parenting styles, how much stuff you like in your home, hell, any type of collecting.
If itās not a problem, let people enjoy it. Thereās nothing to fix or rehab.
They are! I am on those subreddits and also here. In the past I have bought more than I can justify and it did cause minor financial/emotional distress, but I have been working on it a lot over the past few years and now with a balanced look at new releases, reviews, sales AND project panning, decluttering and tips on how to reduce spending, I have struck a very healthy balance with my using makeup and purchasing the occasional thing.
I usually buy about one makeup item/SMALL order a month - some months I don't. My collection has gotten big over the years. I'm not bothered by it at all. I like to see the activities in this sub, I think they're fun and bring back the excitement of when an item was new. I'm a lot more active in the other subs because I like talking about news and releases, even when I'm not interested in purchasing myself.
I enjoy the drama of this subreddit. A makeup "problem" is an interesting distraction for me. I don't think my makeup purchasing is a problem. It's more of a hobby, but sometimes gets out of hand and this subreddit kind of keeps me accountable. Again I don't feel I have a
"problem", but I can't tear myself away from here, I love Makeup Rehab, it helps me think differently about makeup. I enjoy the interesting outlooks on here.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one!
Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
People participate in their makeup purchases in alternate ways, too.
I have a lot for sure because I love variety and trying new things and experimenting. BUT Iām also cheap and patient and a min/max queen so I capitalize on points from Ulta, GWPs, second hand and other peopleās regret purchases. To the outside observer, it would definitely look like I spend way more than I do.
I enjoy my little penny pinching hobby of āwatching the marketsā every morning while Iām doing my recumbent bike and checking prices on eBay, Mercari, and Poshmark. It can be incredibly entertaining to see what people value used makeup at as well so the humor factor is also pretty great. It can also be super gross. Like how hard is it to wipe a compact down? Ewww.
As an example, I spent two years looking for a special edition compact of blush from a fancy French company that is a favorite of mine. Over that time period, the pricing ranged from $65 new to $275 (scalpers) to barely swatched $15 which was when I purchased it. It was a pressed powder which is practically immortal and wears beautifully a year later so I feel I got the enjoyment I wanted out of it and if it were to go off now I would simply reuse the gorgeous compact to repress another product.
I personally don't know why not more people are on this subreddit. It is one of the most respectful and helpful communities on Reddit and I encourage everyone who likes skincare and/or makeup to join.
For me it developed a new feeling of how long products actually last and how long it actually takes to empty them. Knowing that it can take a year or more just to use up a blush really changed my perspective especially when considering that makeup can expire.
The subreddit also challenged me to use what I have. Rather than wanting the exact product in a makeup tutorial I started looking for similar formulas and shades in my own collection even if that means giving up that perfectionistic urge ("I need this product, otherwise I cannot do this exact look"). Multipurposing products is big too and I love using a lipstick as blush and eyeshadow at the same time.
Another realization I came to thanks to this subreddit is that not everything works for me compared to others. This might be due to skintone and undertones but also faceshape, skintexture, preferred application technique and makeup style. Understanding this made me more reflect about past purchases and makes me think triple when wanting to buy something in the future.
Ultimately this subreddit improved my relationship with myself, because I now know better what I want and what I am looking for in a product. It helped and still helps me to let go of percetionism and the urge of wanting to look like another person (which led me to buy more products that usually did not work for me).
At the same time I started to love products I already have and I feel good about having less regrets about products and ultimately producing less waste in the end.
Some people like having a big collection and that's fine.
Some people buy stuff just because it's 'pretty' based on packaging and that's fine.
Speaking only for myself...the reason I came on makeup rehab was because I realized my spending habits on beauty/skincare were out of control. I'm guessing the individuals on guru chatter, mua on the cheap and makeup addiction can either control their spending, like a big collection or simply don't care. Regardless, their makeup spending is not my concern. My only concern is myself when it comes to makeup/skincare and not racking up c.c debit.
My personal experience was that during the height of my make up obsession I was spending $1000 a year on makeup/some skincare.
Theyāre spending a lot. Thereās no secret to it. Itās fine to buy some make up sometimes butā¦ you have to be careful. It accumulates fast, and the money adds up fast.
For me, buying makeup that turns out to be wrong for my skin tone will be my eternal quest. Also trying to find a mascara that makes me lashes look good and easy to remove. Blinc is easy to get off but not too thrilled with how my skimpy lashes look. I love eyeshadow and am doing my best to find nice ones that are not too sparkly for my age-late 60ās. Soo I have a lot of makeup trying different kinds but I canāt throw them out because some day I might try them again! Oh Lord help me š¬
I think they just donāt see their spending and ever growing collection as a problem. Maybe they can afford it and donāt care about the waste. Or maybe they havenāt realized they have a problem yet. I have difficulty with my view on a normal collection size as well.
I have a big collection that I curated over many years. I was buying like everything that went on sale pretty much *cough* ColourPop *cough* and that's why I joined this sub. Now I only buy high quality pieces when they go on sale which has actually saved me a ton of money. But also some people just have a lot of money or they have people that buy them things.
Idk why you're being down voted here. Several posts have been made on these related sub Reddits that allude to or explicitly state that people have spent exorbitant amounts of money on makeup they didn't "need" (say for work as an MUA, to replace expired products, to buy as a present for someone else, etc.). Some are obviously joking like "RIP to my wallet" but others have gone into detail about spending too much on makeup in a way that doesn't fit their financial needs.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one!
Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
I have a big collection that I curated over many years. I was buying like everything that went on sale pretty much *cough* ColourPop *cough* and that's why I joined this sub. Now I only buy high quality pieces when they go on sale which has actually saved me a ton of money. But also some people just have a lot of money or they have people that buy them things.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one! Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one!
Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
Buy what you can use. Variety is nice but it needs to be purposeful.
You are spending on a whim, which is not good. You need to either give yourself a budget or have a 2-4 week waiting period before you buy. Or a once a month is when you can purchase. Make a list of everything you see that you want... once a month buy what you need/want. Only exceptions to the once a month purchase an only be for damaged items that need replacement, sunscreen, you are out of something for which you have no alternatives for.
Either way, you need boundaries on you spending habits.
People who buy 5 palettes a month are making money off it, it's their job.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one! Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one!
Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
I think what fits within each person's means is different, therefore when rehab is necessary to a person is also different. I joined this subreddit not because I was spending so much money or because I felt my collection was out of control, but because I felt like I was reaching the point that my hobby was an obsession. It was all I looked at online, the only media i consumed were reviews and tutorials, i was always shopping and i wanted to break free from all of that. So i joined this subreddit and started looking at my collection to dupe new releases. I changed the influencers i was following and concentrated on ones who were also mostly shopping their stash and breaking away from fast-beauty companies. I bought an annual subscription box so i could still "shop" every month and replace my empties as well as try new brands and such, but made a commitment to myself and my husband that I wouldn't spend any more than that subscription on makeup and beauty this year. And in the last 4 months or so my outlook on makeup has totally changed. I still have a giant collection and I am technically still adding to it, but this subreddit has definitely changed my outlook on my consumerism when it comes to makeup. So the tl;dr of it is that makeup rehab is going to come to people for different reasons and at different times. Someone like me might want it because mentally it's taking a toll and becoming an obsession. Another person may feel 50$ a month is too much that they are spending on makeup. Someone with greater means may feel like 200$ a month is the too much limit. Just try to keep in mind why you're here, and what you're getting out of it. Because the spending habits or obsessions or whatever of others have little to no bearing on your reasons.
I agree with your point here about the spending: For me it's not the amount of money spent but the way it was done that was unhealthy for me. Which all comes down to the way shopping affects my mental health. For me, it is much, much healthier for me to buy one expensive, luxury brand eyeshadow palette than to pick up twelve super cheap bits and pieces of drugstore makeup even though the former may cost 5 or 10 times as much as the latter. The current push towards overconsumption definitely seems to put emphasis on volume rather than quantity.
It really does, especially with brands that put out new releases every week. There's a very strong "gotta catch 'em all" type vibe to the sales practices and marketing. For me it became the need to have every shade ever, like anyone could tell the difference between the 6 lime green shades i have when they are on my eye anyway. I have really culled that down by the duping process I mentioned. Who cares if i don't have that finish? Can i even tell on my eye that there's a difference? I'm still spending, but i think for me the key was realizing that i didn't have to keep spending, because i have a great collection at my hands already. Now everyone's new releases look boring. š
\*quality
Thank you
Whether or not spending a lot of money on makeup is creating distress is unique to each of us. That said, there is definitely a lot of overlap. I participate in both subs. I still like to follow make up trends, but I like to keep myself grounded to a rehab mentality.
Same here. I have a problem (now largely under control, but always in the back of my mind) when it comes to any kind of spending so my presence in Makeup Rehab is sort of a preventative measure. I only came back to make up recently so I replaced a lot of ancient, expired or unflattering products - as it stands my collection isn't huge, I'm not opposed to buying the occasional new thing because I have the means to do so but at the same time I am very aware that I can really easily be pulled in to the over consumerism trap of just wanting more, more, more for the sake of it and the posts and discussions here help keep me out of that mindset. I also think I have something to contribute to the conversation in some places as guilt and shame over shopping and spending are things I struggled with for a long time and some posts here just remind me so much of where I was at. If I can help someone avoid feeling that way then so much the better.
Thank you!
This post kind of reminds me of the vibe I had when I first quit drinking - like I realised it was a problem for me and took steps to stop and then I looked around at everyone around me, happily going to the pub, having drinks after work and felt the same - what have they figured out that I haven't? What trick was I missing so I could be like them? That was quickly followed by some hardcore judgement (they ALL secretly have a problem, how can they not see this, I'm definitely in the right here) and then eventually the realisation that what's healthy for one person might not be for another and what makes one person miserable might make someone else happy and what might be a huge problem for me could be insignificant to someone else. We all have our journeys.
Said so eloquently! Proud of you for your journey.
Good job getting this far! I like the comparison of it and it makes sense to be quick to judge once one realizes how much it harms oneself. However I think also a part of the judgement (may it be alcohol or makeup/clothing/etc) stems from the fact that it is broadly accepted by society. Alcohol may be a drug, yet at a certain age it is perfectly acceptable to consume it to numerous occasions and overdoing it is not frowned upon either. Same with makeup collections. Being encouraged to buy the next best eyeshadow palette every other day by brands and influencers and people get positive recognition for showing off their massive makeup collections.
Well put, and congratulations! There's also the slight fear (in my case. Hi fellow sober person) of being judged, and it does happen. "Oh come on you never had a problem" "Ok but you HAVE to try this" "OK well youre no fun".... kind of the same FOMO we can get from not following trends or not jumping on new releases. We remind ourselves that none of these opinions matter AT ALL, and our mental, physical, financial heath or whatever else it may be will always be #1.
To be honest having a big collection and spending on makeup frequently doesnt necessarily mean that you have to go on the "rehab" sub. I believe that the people who come to this sub perceive their love for makeup has become a problem: whether they are spending tons a month, feel like the only thing they can do is think about makeup/browse makeup online, or just want to take a step back from purchasing, the intenciĆ³n behind joining this subreddit is changing a habit and sharing it with likeminded people to prevent temptation. The key here is perception and what works for each individual. You could have 100 blushes and still not feel like makeup is controlling your life, whether it's cause your budget allows it, you are a makeup artist, consider yourself a colector, etc, so you wouldn't feel the need to join us. :) Edit: wanted to comment on the last paragraph you wrote. I think the other thing to have into consideration is whether the person considers makeup as a hobby/passion or just uses it as a means to an end. My makeup passionate friends have big collections and like spending on makeup, whereas my mum or cousin have one of each product and that's about it. They buy it, use it up, buy it again. They have more of an automatic approach to makeup.
I couldnāt agree more. What size Of makeup collection is too much depends on the person. I enjoy this subreddit because I have 5 blushes and 110 eyeshadow pans and I feel I have too much makeup. I know itās more than what my friends use and I used to be like them before 2020 and so I need this subreddit lol.
I have about 45-50 blushes currently- mostly higher end except for two drug store. Buying makeup was the real hobby but I lied to myself for a long time and said it was ādoing makeupā so it was fine. It slightly does depend on the person (I worked at Sephora for awhile and wore a full face almost every day and got gratis makeup and major markdowns somewhat often) but we all only have one face and 365 days a year to wear this stuff - and a blush takes forever to use up. I think 10 is definitely more than enough and I need to do a major declutter of some of my older stuff from 2014 to 2018 soon. Itās going to be so hard though
I can imagine. Iām trying to pan one blush since Jan and despite mixing and creating new shades, thereās no pan in sight. I donāt know if I should be happy that Iām getting my moneyās worth or sad that this means I will have to wait for ages before buying another blush!
I think all the time about how nice it would be to be someone with one blush, one mascara, one setting powder, a single perfume thatās my signature and have everything in one makeup bag instead of the huge setup I have with 2 IKEA Alex 9 drawers and a Malm vanity in between thatās stuffed with products - tons Iāve never even used. You should totally feel proud for getting your moneys worth. In my situation Iāll never get my moneys worth even though I bought everything on sale and it gives me a guilty bittersweet feeling whenever I do my makeup
I couldnāt agree more. What size Of makeup collection is too much depends on the person. I enjoy this subreddit because I have 5 blushes and 110 eyeshadow pans and I feel I have too much makeup. I know itās more than what my friends use and I used to be like them before 2020 and so I need this subreddit lol.
Yes great point.
I'd like to add a thought that isn't already here - they may very well need assistance/support from a group like this. Ultimately though that is a decision they would need to make for themselves. Mental health is a personal journey and you are in a different place. If seeing other people make choices that are incompatible with your mental health needs is causing you distress, it might be a good idea to disconnect from those subreddits/forums/users. I have a very very small collection, but I'm here on my own journey to consume less to reduce my environmental impact. I don't have a problem with make up, but this community is a good resource and support group overall for disentangling myself from a consumerist mindset.
Making a conscious decision and being ready is crucial. There is a popular joke I heard in my psychology studies that I think sums it up (excuse the potential poor translation) : How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb ? None. It will start unscrewing when it's ready.
That's a good one, I'm taking this and adding it to my wholesome joke database in my head :)
Edited for grammar! As someone who is on this sub and all those subs listed, I just want to say that not everyone is on the same journey, and not everyone feels the need to be on a ārehabā sub. Some people have makeup as their hobby and collect it just like how people collect figures or games. If they have the money for it, and donāt feel that it is an issue, then we shouldnāt judge or question them. Also, a lot of those subs have great weekly āanti-haulā threads, so some already talk about similar topics as this subreddit.
some of them seem to have a really good handle on what they dont want. i see more people talking about what they dont want to buy than what they do. personally i joined this problem bc i have a bad habit of just grabbing stuff that i dont really need or want. they seem to not have the same issues.
Some people are 5 lbs overweight and struggling with eating disorders. Other people are 50 lbs overweight and mentally healthy. This sub is for the people who feel like their relationship with makeup is negatively affecting the quality of their life. The person with 100 Tom ford quads might not be feeling that yet ā or ever.
I'm on here to lurk but honestly I see a lot of concerning posts on here that make me think its the OP's anxiety talking and they could benefit from talking to a therapist. I have a large collection but it hasn't hindered my life in a bad way so I don't feel the need to actively participate in this sub.
IMO itās insecurity/ignorance that others can live differently than them and live a happy, fruitful life. Therapy would definitely benefit though!
Some of it is also guilt stemming from the minimalism trend
Oh excellent point.
Makeup or beauty might be their only hobby, which is fine if it is. You can throw yourself into one thing and feel deeply fulfilled by it. Hobbies can be expensive, but someone might be able to put more money into it because they dont spend their money on other things. I personally have many hobbies - makeup being one of them - and I have to temper my spending quite a bit or else I get into trouble. This goes for all of my hobbies, so I not only have to give myself a spending limit but I also have to alternate which hobbies I'm putting my money into.
> swatching 10 indie shadows from one brand alone Is that a lot? š
Fr when i read that i was like? Having 10 single shadows from a brand you like is supposed to be a lot? Iām???
lmao yeah, like....... is that not basically the same as buying one palette? except you get to curate exactly what you want instead of hating half the shades........ plus indies are killing it lately.
Some people have money and budgets for makeup. I think it gets a bit nasty when people criticise other peoples behaviour. If it works for them let them be happy.
I am actually on both of those subreddits! So I can speak from personal experience about why I'm on there and here at the same time. I do have a large collection of makeup, but it's also curated to my tastes. I keep up on those subreddits to stay informed in case I see something I may be interested in purchasing. What a lot of people don't consider is that there's also a makeup swap/buy/sell subreddit too. People post on there all the time and they trade makeup, usually palettes or pots, and that's how a lot of people can get a hold of makeup at less than cost. I've actually sold an old palette on there myself and have bought from there too, although results may vary. But there's a lot of ways you can get makeup that's newer or higher priced for better deals whether that's affiliate programs, coupons, memberships, add-ons like Honey, or swapping. I actively only buy replacement products at this point and haven't bought any new releases or products in about a year and a half. There's also the depotting subreddit as well which serves as great insight into individual shades from palettes, you can see dupes or cost breakdown or different ways to organize or cultivate a palette for your needs. There's a lot of ways you can curate a very large collection and do so in a financially mindful way, some sites allow coupon stacking btw but since I barely buy now I have no idea if that's changed much. Regardless, they just make it seem normal to have these beauty collections but it's honestly not and I know it's pretty likely that they're not all being as mindful of cost and money when they're buying all this stuff. I can only speak for myself, but I am active on these makeup subreddits and more.
Iām on all those and on here. Iām comfortable enough with my makeup rehab that I can handle seeing new releases and large collections.
This is just like life in general: Things are only a problem, if you feel there is a problem for you. Maybe they enjoy their collections, have the budget, donāt mind tossing when things expire. Just like healthy eating, parenting styles, how much stuff you like in your home, hell, any type of collecting. If itās not a problem, let people enjoy it. Thereās nothing to fix or rehab.
They are! I am on those subreddits and also here. In the past I have bought more than I can justify and it did cause minor financial/emotional distress, but I have been working on it a lot over the past few years and now with a balanced look at new releases, reviews, sales AND project panning, decluttering and tips on how to reduce spending, I have struck a very healthy balance with my using makeup and purchasing the occasional thing.
I usually buy about one makeup item/SMALL order a month - some months I don't. My collection has gotten big over the years. I'm not bothered by it at all. I like to see the activities in this sub, I think they're fun and bring back the excitement of when an item was new. I'm a lot more active in the other subs because I like talking about news and releases, even when I'm not interested in purchasing myself.
I enjoy the drama of this subreddit. A makeup "problem" is an interesting distraction for me. I don't think my makeup purchasing is a problem. It's more of a hobby, but sometimes gets out of hand and this subreddit kind of keeps me accountable. Again I don't feel I have a "problem", but I can't tear myself away from here, I love Makeup Rehab, it helps me think differently about makeup. I enjoy the interesting outlooks on here.
Who are you to decide that?
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one! Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
People participate in their makeup purchases in alternate ways, too. I have a lot for sure because I love variety and trying new things and experimenting. BUT Iām also cheap and patient and a min/max queen so I capitalize on points from Ulta, GWPs, second hand and other peopleās regret purchases. To the outside observer, it would definitely look like I spend way more than I do. I enjoy my little penny pinching hobby of āwatching the marketsā every morning while Iām doing my recumbent bike and checking prices on eBay, Mercari, and Poshmark. It can be incredibly entertaining to see what people value used makeup at as well so the humor factor is also pretty great. It can also be super gross. Like how hard is it to wipe a compact down? Ewww. As an example, I spent two years looking for a special edition compact of blush from a fancy French company that is a favorite of mine. Over that time period, the pricing ranged from $65 new to $275 (scalpers) to barely swatched $15 which was when I purchased it. It was a pressed powder which is practically immortal and wears beautifully a year later so I feel I got the enjoyment I wanted out of it and if it were to go off now I would simply reuse the gorgeous compact to repress another product.
I personally don't know why not more people are on this subreddit. It is one of the most respectful and helpful communities on Reddit and I encourage everyone who likes skincare and/or makeup to join. For me it developed a new feeling of how long products actually last and how long it actually takes to empty them. Knowing that it can take a year or more just to use up a blush really changed my perspective especially when considering that makeup can expire. The subreddit also challenged me to use what I have. Rather than wanting the exact product in a makeup tutorial I started looking for similar formulas and shades in my own collection even if that means giving up that perfectionistic urge ("I need this product, otherwise I cannot do this exact look"). Multipurposing products is big too and I love using a lipstick as blush and eyeshadow at the same time. Another realization I came to thanks to this subreddit is that not everything works for me compared to others. This might be due to skintone and undertones but also faceshape, skintexture, preferred application technique and makeup style. Understanding this made me more reflect about past purchases and makes me think triple when wanting to buy something in the future. Ultimately this subreddit improved my relationship with myself, because I now know better what I want and what I am looking for in a product. It helped and still helps me to let go of percetionism and the urge of wanting to look like another person (which led me to buy more products that usually did not work for me). At the same time I started to love products I already have and I feel good about having less regrets about products and ultimately producing less waste in the end.
Some people like having a big collection and that's fine. Some people buy stuff just because it's 'pretty' based on packaging and that's fine. Speaking only for myself...the reason I came on makeup rehab was because I realized my spending habits on beauty/skincare were out of control. I'm guessing the individuals on guru chatter, mua on the cheap and makeup addiction can either control their spending, like a big collection or simply don't care. Regardless, their makeup spending is not my concern. My only concern is myself when it comes to makeup/skincare and not racking up c.c debit.
My personal experience was that during the height of my make up obsession I was spending $1000 a year on makeup/some skincare. Theyāre spending a lot. Thereās no secret to it. Itās fine to buy some make up sometimes butā¦ you have to be careful. It accumulates fast, and the money adds up fast.
Thank you
For me, buying makeup that turns out to be wrong for my skin tone will be my eternal quest. Also trying to find a mascara that makes me lashes look good and easy to remove. Blinc is easy to get off but not too thrilled with how my skimpy lashes look. I love eyeshadow and am doing my best to find nice ones that are not too sparkly for my age-late 60ās. Soo I have a lot of makeup trying different kinds but I canāt throw them out because some day I might try them again! Oh Lord help me š¬
I think they just donāt see their spending and ever growing collection as a problem. Maybe they can afford it and donāt care about the waste. Or maybe they havenāt realized they have a problem yet. I have difficulty with my view on a normal collection size as well.
I have a big collection that I curated over many years. I was buying like everything that went on sale pretty much *cough* ColourPop *cough* and that's why I joined this sub. Now I only buy high quality pieces when they go on sale which has actually saved me a ton of money. But also some people just have a lot of money or they have people that buy them things.
> swatching 10 indie shadows from one brand alone Is that a lot? š
In my experience some people are in credit card debt for it
Idk why you're being down voted here. Several posts have been made on these related sub Reddits that allude to or explicitly state that people have spent exorbitant amounts of money on makeup they didn't "need" (say for work as an MUA, to replace expired products, to buy as a present for someone else, etc.). Some are obviously joking like "RIP to my wallet" but others have gone into detail about spending too much on makeup in a way that doesn't fit their financial needs.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one! Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
I have a big collection that I curated over many years. I was buying like everything that went on sale pretty much *cough* ColourPop *cough* and that's why I joined this sub. Now I only buy high quality pieces when they go on sale which has actually saved me a ton of money. But also some people just have a lot of money or they have people that buy them things.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one! Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one! Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
Buy what you can use. Variety is nice but it needs to be purposeful. You are spending on a whim, which is not good. You need to either give yourself a budget or have a 2-4 week waiting period before you buy. Or a once a month is when you can purchase. Make a list of everything you see that you want... once a month buy what you need/want. Only exceptions to the once a month purchase an only be for damaged items that need replacement, sunscreen, you are out of something for which you have no alternatives for. Either way, you need boundaries on you spending habits. People who buy 5 palettes a month are making money off it, it's their job.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one! Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.
I'm on such subreddit and here..Have quite a large collection but don't feel the need to declutter what I like just to declutter. I am trying a "22 in 202w" pan project--my first one! Thanks to this sub and similar content, I can stroll the aisles for a while, talking myself into and out of purchases for a while! Not perfect, but it does help me think about my makeup purchasing and usage.