• 2020 most expensive purchases

    Reviewing My 2020 Beauty Expenses

    February 22, 2021

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m reviewing my expenses for 2020! I bought makeup in January before our first lockdown happened. So I have some unopened makeup sitting in my drawer. The rest of my beauty purchases were all skincare or hair related.

    Check out my previous beauty expenses posts:

    2017 | 2018 | 2019

    My 2019 Beauty Budget

    CategoryBudgetActual
    Skincare500230
    Primers1500
    Foundations/Powders/Sprays1500
    Concealers1200
    Eyeliners500
    Brows5045
    Mascara500
    Lips10020
    Blush600
    Highlighter600
    Bronzer600
    Miscellaneous250–
    – Makeup Tools–10
    – Makeup Remover–30
    – Haircare–105
    – Perfume/Deodorant–15
    TOTAL1600460

    As you can see, I spent just over a quarter of my planned 2020 budget. I only purchased makeup in January and I also spent less on skincare. I’m not exactly sure why the skincare expenses went down too. I am still using skincare on a daily basis whereas I haven’t used my makeup in a year.

    My 6 most expensive beauty purchases of 2020 (all products purchased from Sephora during VIB sale at 15% off, prices are approximate):

    1. Volition Beauty Snow Mushroom Water Serum – $75
    2. Volition Beauty Helix AM/PM Eye Gel – $62
    3. Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – $52
    4. Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Banana + Coconut Superfoods Shampoo & Conditioner Hair Pack – $53
    5. Briogeo Scalp Revival Soothing Travel Kit – $29
    6. Glow Recipe Papaya Enzyme Smoothing Cleansing Balm – $28

    Out of the products listed above, I would repurchase the Volition Snow Mushroom Water Serum, Clinique Even Better Eyes Darck Circle Corrector and Glow Recipe papaya Enzyme Smoothing Cleansing Balm. You can read my review on the Helix AM/PM Eye Gel.

     For the Briogeo products, I didn’t like the Scalp Revival Soothing Travel Kit and ended up sending the products to my friends. The Banana + Coconut Superfoods Shampoo & Conditioner are nice, but I’m not the biggest fan of the scent. I might consider trying the Be Gentle, Be Kind Matcha + Apple Replenishing Superfood Shampoo and Kale + Apple Replenishing Superfood Conditioner.

    2018 was the year I spent the most on beauty products. I bought a lot of makeup at Winners back then. In 2018, I had 340 makeup items (including nail polish, perfumes and makeup remover). The majority of those were eyeshadows (I counted each pan instead of the number of palettes). I decluttered a bunch of makeup/nail polish by the end of 2018. Since 2019, my makeup inventory has been under 100 items. I’m hoping that I can get my inventory down to 30-50 items by the end of this year. I know it sounds counterintuitive as a beauty blogger, but I’m just not as drawn to new launches as others. When new products launch, I don’t HAVE to have it immediately. I actually prefer to read the reviews on products and wait until the hype has died down to see if others actually like the products and continue to use them in their daily makeup routines.

    For 2021, I hope to spend the same amount on beauty products (around $500). I doubt I will buy much makeup this year, but maybe I will buy a few items just so I can have some new reviews on the blog. I know last year, I didn’t write many blog posts and I’d like to get back into it again.

    Love,

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  • Reviewing My 2018 Beauty Expenses

    December 10, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I will be reviewing my 2018 beauty expenses. Last month, I reviewed my 2017 expenses and it was eye-opening. I was originally going to post this later in the month (closer to the new year), but I think I’ve spent enough money on makeup and skincare this year and I have all of the products I need. Last week, I started my self-imposed ban on buying makeup until next year. My goal is to not buy any makeup or skincare products until the next Sephora sale (the one they usually have in April).

    Check out my 2017 expenses!

    In comparison to my beauty expenses, I was curious to see how much I spent on clothing this year. I spent about $1200 on clothing, accessories and shoes (I think a good percentage of that was spent at La Senza – buying bras and underwear). My most expensive single purchase was my Michael Kors Daniela Large Crossbody Purse (almost $200 including tax- purchased on sale).

    My 6 Most Expensive Purchases:

    1. Sigma Essential Brush Kit (12 brushes) – $99 (from Winners)
    2. Tarte Maracuja Oil – $66 (25% off)
      • I got the super size bottle from Tarte (2x the regular size). It’s usually $88, but I got it during the Black Friday Sale
    3. Dior BACKSTAGE Face & Body Foundation – $50
    4. Lancome Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation SPF23 – $45
    5. Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick – $44.80 (20% off)
    6. Lancome Teint Idole Longwear Foundation Stick SPF21 – $44 (20% off)

    I spent about $500 on skincare, $100 on makeup tools and $1600 on makeup for a total of about $2200. I bought a few foundations and primers this year, so I probably won’t be NEEDING any next year. I might be tempted to buy the Lancome Teint Miracle foundation next year, but I definitely don’t need any more primers.

    So, last year, 79% of my purchases were impulsive and only 21% were planned. This year, I did much better and planned vs. impulse purchases were 50/50. 

    Here’s a breakdown of WHERE I purchased my products this year. Last year, I purchased most of my products from the drugstore and the MAC Warehouse Sale. I didn’t go to the Warehouse Sale this year, but I have been purchasing more products from other websites/stores, i.e. Tarte, Tula and The Body Shop.

    Love,
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