Hi Everyone!
Today, I’m reviewing my beauty expenses for 2021!
I don’t know how useful these posts are for readers, but they are helpful for me to track my progress. It also keeps me accountable for budget goals because I’ve written it for everyone else to see.
In previous years, I made budgets for each makeup category, i.e. spend $50 on primer, $20 on eyeliner, etc. This year, my plan was to just stay under $500 like I did for 2020.
Check out my previous beauty expenses posts:
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020
My 2019 Beauty Budget
| Categories | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | TOTAL SPENT (from 2017-21) |
| Makeup | 1300 | 1600 | 1100 | 70 | 250 | 4320 |
| Miscellaneous | 250 | – | – | 160 | 30 | 440 |
| Skincare | 450 | 500 | 700 | 230 | 90 | 1970 |
| Total | 2000 | 2100 | 1800 | 460 | 370 | 6730 |
| Planned Purchases | 21% | 50% | 70% | 85% | 78% | – |
| Impulse Purchases | 79% | 50% | 30% | 15% | 22% | – |
Earlier this year, I did a bit of a declutter with my makeup. I realized that I didn’t have some products in certain categories (like a spot concealer or a highlighter), so I bought some items that have been on my wishlist for a while.
My 6 most expensive beauty purchases of 2021. Most of these are products I bought during the Sephora sale in November (prices listed are the approximate sale prices without tax):
- Charlotte Tilbury Easy Eye Palette – $58
- Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer – $55
- Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter – $42
- Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer – $36
- First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser – $35
- Sephora PRO Highlight Brush – $28
I have quite a lot of unopened makeup. I’d like to open those products before buying anything more. I might buy a new foundation. I’ve had my eye on the UOMA Beauty Say What?! Foundation and I just found out that some of their products are sold at Shoppers Drug Mart!
PAST GOALS
In 2017 and 2018, a good chunk of my purchases were from Winners. If you’re not Canadian, Winners is like a TJ Maxx. They sell clothes, accessories, home items and beauty products. The beauty products are usually items that are older stock/discontinued. They also sell brands that I’ve never heard of and brands that aren’t as accessible in Canada. From what I can remember, there wasn’t anything I bought from Winners that I absolutely loved. Also, since it was probably a discontinued item, it would be hard to find again.
I also don’t really understand how I was able to purchase more than 100 beauty items in 2017. In 2019, I bought about 85 items. In 2020, I bought about 20 items and 2021, I bought about 15.
FUTURE GOALS
I still haven’t been wearing makeup regularly, but once I do, I’m hoping to stick to a reasonable amount. I think $1000 was definitely too much since most were impulse purchases. I think between $200 and $500 would be a good amount. For skincare, I think staying under $500 would be good too.
I would also like to make an effort to buy makeup and skincare from independent brands, particularly BIPOC-owned brands. It’s hard to find brands that even ship to Canada. When they do, shipping and duties costs more than the product! That’s usually why I stick to bigger retailers, it’s just easier for me and more cost effective. Hopefully more brands I want to try will start selling at Canadian retailers.
Did you make a budget for 2021? Do you plan to make one for 2022?
Love,
