#EmptiesChallenge Update 2

Let’s see. When we last talked about my empties challenge, I’d forgotten that I was doing it in the first place and got a blowout that wasn’t even worth it. Kudos to me. Over the past two months, I’ve managed to remember my challenge but Christmas, Sephora gift cards, and an appointment with my home hairstylist happened. Yikes. And I was silly and decided that I wanted to try ColourPop cosmetics, too. I felt like I could justify it because ColourPop items are six bucks each, but add in the shipping and you’re basically at eleven bucks. Oh well.

My main expenses, when it comes down to it, were the hair appointment and the extra money I spent at Sephora on top of my gift card. Because you know how getting one item for free at Sephora somehow makes purchasing two more seem okay? Yeah, I don’t know how that works in the brain’s economy, but somehow it makes sense, kind of like the real estate bubble of 2008 and subprime mortgages. Oh and I also stopped by Lush Cosmetics and picked up their Eau Roma Water Toner, because I had a staff lunch right next door and I wasn’t sure when I’d be there next. I’m really exercising such a great sense of self-discipline.

Anyhow, I have run out of a couple things this past month. I’ve finished off my Origins A Perfect World Age-Defense Treatment Lotion With White Tea, A Perfect World SPF25 Age-Defense Moisturizer With White Tea, and another CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara. I’m closing in on the following: NARS Creamy Radiance Concealer in Custard, Unite Eurotherapy 7 Second Condition Leave-In Detangler, Sally Hershberger Hyper Hydration Super Keratin Spray, Acure Organics Argan Chlorella Night Cream, Burt’s Bees Sensitive Facial Cleansing towelettes, and quite possibly my BareMinerals SPF15 Original Foundation in Light. Still little progress on any color cosmetics, but I have been doing better at applying more frequently. I don’t exactly blast through stuff like this blue and purple eyeshadow duo from NARS quickly.

So if I’m going by the ratio of the challenge (and not counting any of the things I received as Christmas gifts, because it’s just too difficult), I’ve “paid” for my hair appointment by running out of the two Origins products. I purchased some Simple Micellar Water again too, so the mascara and one of the others that I’m almost out of will pay for that. The two other things I picked up at Sephora and the Lush toner, however, are unpaid for until I officially run out of the rest of the almost-empty products plus one additional item. Time to keep working. And notice I’m just not even counting the ColourPop, I’m just that over it. Whatever.

All this to say, it’s very easy for non-necessities to accumulate. It happens quickly, and we tend to make purchasing decisions impulsively. I need to learn to take my time. It’s becoming much easier to see what I really need though, which is kind of neat. I found I couldn’t do without the micellar water as a makeup remover after a couple weeks, and I repurchased my same Origins moisturizer with my Sephora gift card after deciding not to spend it on something more frivolous. So, I’m learning, but I’ll keep hammering away at the color cosmetics in the meantime.

I have to say that the ColourPop decision wasn’t exactly the worst, though. I took my time figuring out what color of their UltraMatte liquid lipstick I wanted to try and I finally landed on a shade called “Chilly Chili”. Like the Stila kind I’ve mentioned before, this stuff does not come off but the color payoff is pretty great. I can’t wait to wear this plum-brown in the city, and I like it with my bangs.