Sunday, February 25, 2018

Makeup Collecting or Hoarding: How Quickly the Edges Can Blur

Barbara Kruger Untitled (I shop therefore I am) (1987)
I am reposting this publication that I wrote in 2012 after having received a very interesting email from a longtime reader who claimed that she has made a concerted effort to avoid the trap of purchasing from limited edition collections, or anything else that ultimately doesn't suit her, and now feels empowered by the restraint that she demonstrates by making well-reasoned, rather than impetuous, purchases. This inspired me to #repost this article since it contemplates this very issue, and it certainly makes me contemplate my own spending habits as a consumer.

Barbara Kruger's appropriation of René Descartes' maxim "I think, therefore I am"(Cogito, ergo sum) is searingly funny and poignant when "I shop therefore I am" becomes a commentary about the commodification of culture. Ironically, her artwork which is the byproduct of her philosophical critique is worth a tremendous amount of money itself.

I love Kruger's work because it makes you take a long hard look at the underpinnings of what drives culture, and what motivates us to do what we do, and think what we think.

This particular work Untitled (I shop therefore I am) always makes me think about my own buying patterns as a consumer, and it makes me think about the consumer goods that I fetishize, and how so much of that is culturally conditioned. Take for instance makeup, skincare products, Tom Ford reading glasses, or Marc Jacobs wallets and purses (my personal favorites). There is no question that I could live without those things, and thankfully I don't have to. However, we are often unconsciously driven to crave things that we don't yet have, and nearly as quickly as we acquire them we lose interest in them and obsess about the "next thing." Seasonal collections support this fickle consumerism, and we buy into the construct. Madison Avenue banks on our willingness to stay on this expensive joy ride- which we willingly do!

While I long ago realized that I don't define my worth by the acquisition of the latest Collection, I likewise realize that I all too easily succumb to wanting things that I don't yet have. There is a reason, after all, that I have so many lipsticks and blushes that are variations on the same shade of pink. Subtle distinctions are made: this one has a satin finish, this one has a touch of lavender, this one has pink pearl etc. Then there are infinite ways to justify the necessity of extravagant purchases:  this is from the Chanel Summer Collection (including the much dreaded letters- LE), these were from Sephora's Friends & Family Sale, these couldn't be resisted because of double or triple points on my Barneys or Nordstrom card....  There is also the lure of the GWP- even if it isn't a particularly good gift- it can make an otherwise rational person buy unneeded things indiscriminately in order to make the minimum purchase price. I'm not talking about Barneys gift bags that are worth their weight in gold- I'm talking about the run-of-the-mill gifts that get stuffed in a drawer along with the things that you didn't need or want so that you could get the gift in the first place.

Don't get me wrong, I am hardly declaring a personal war, or even a moratorium on makeup consumption- I am just trying to be a little bit more discriminating and mindful of what I am purchasing. I have a sizable stash of makeup, and trust me there are plenty of things that I still haven't gotten around to using yet (and that's not including backups). However this motivation to "collect" is simultaneously at odds with my pragmatic nature and the overarching desire to only have what I need and use. I don't expect this contradiction to resolve itself because truth be told I am a makeup magpie and I like bringing those pretty shiny baubles back to my nest to look at and play with. However, there is a tipping point: there is a balance that must be struck- a delicate equilibrium that must strictly be adhered to- otherwise chaos will ensue.  There is a point where you simply have too much- a point where just one more Glossimer or serum takes you from Collector to Hoarder. I am still in the category of the former, rather than the latter- but the line is much finer than it actually appears the closer you get to it. At a certain point it is a distinction without difference. So beauty blogger or not, I am making a concerted effort to buy consciously rather than impulsively. Weighing, for instance, whether this eyeshadow is different enough from what I already have to be a worthwhile purchase. I do not equate this with deprivation, but instead I see this as a way to make each purchase a more meaningful one. One in which I select things that I really love, rather than things that I feel I should just buy because they are limited edition and will likely sell out quickly. That simply is not a good enough reason to buy a lipstick shade that is unflattering on you-- even if it is the it color of the season.

I still want to be in makeup nirvana I just don't want the frenzy of acquisition to infect my enjoyment of makeup or to cause me to buy things that I ultimately won't use because they weren't well-reasoned purchases in the first place. I want to be as rational about my makeup purchases as I am in all of the other aspects of my life as a consumer. After all, makeup costs money and lots of makeup costs lots of money. So while I am not imposing a ban on makeup consumption- I am going to make a real effort to not only buy what I will covet, but what I will actually use.

This is not an indictment of my own spending habits, but instead it is intended as a wake-up call. This is a simple plea to have my rational self take the wheel before I toss down my credit card- because the makeup magpie in me is impetuous and impractical, and generally likes to take charge in the face of so many shiny pretty things. It is she who is solely responsible for the size of my stash!

What are your thoughts? Do you find yourself similarly inclined to buy things that you don't really need or want? Do you have lots of things that you don't use in your stash? What solutions have you come up with? Do tell!

Copyright © 2018 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

14 comments:

  1. I love this post. I've been in the process of limiting my own beauty-related spending too, so that I stop hoarding back-ups, and just enjoy what I have and the freedom to try something else when I'm finished, or think about whether I really love something enough to keep using it. Having stopped buying little things here and there, or picking up something from the drugstore every week has made me realize what I value in a product. I don't feel bad when I buy luxury items because I saved during the year, and what I buy I get so much enduring pleasure from. I feel so much better for breaking the habit of giving in to every coupon code or new launch that I see, and I don't think I can ever go back to way of consuming beauty products.

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    1. I am thrilled that you loved this post! I think that it is good to put conspicuous consumption into perspective from time to time, and the beauty industry certainly fuels the sense of urgency to make unnecessary purchases when they continually release (over)hyped limited edition collections that puts consumers in the FOMO paradigm, all too often.

      I think that your strategy is a very sensible one– not only are you not depriving yourself of the luxury products that you love and use, but you enhance your appreciation of them when they are not drowning in a sea of so many less appreciated purchases. It is so important to get enduring pleasure from the things that you purchase– otherwise what is he point. Breaking the habit of succumbing to every single coupon and discount code is a wise way to maintain the strategy of buying what you really want or really need, rather than feeling compelled to shop every single time that you have the dangled carrot of a GWP or a discount. Don't get me wrong, I still like to take advantage of those, but ONLY when I really want to buy something that I fully plan to use. I am so glad that you feel so much better for breaking the habit of giving in to every coupon and new launch!

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  2. I'm so glad that you reprised this post, Helen! I have always stopped and thought every time I see that piece from Barbara Kruger. It is indeed a slippery slope between buying and over-buying, collecting and hoarding. Because we didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up, I have always felt that I need to use something up before I discard it, and that has been a problem for me since I started blogging. I think that's why empties posts are my favorites. I have to make myself go through my extensive stash and throw out makeup and skincare that's old. A few years ago, Estee Lauder did a collaboration with Lilly Pulitzer, and that was somewhat of a problem for me. The major department stores participated with each having a couple of unique LP makeup bags. I bought several even though I'm not that big a fan of EL products. I was relieved when they stopped it.

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    1. Thank you, Allison. I am so glad that you enjoyed it. Yes, this piece from Barbara Kruger always makes me stop and think. I completely relate to not wanting to waste products– I make every effort to use up what I have, and if I don't like a product for its intended use, then I try to find an alternative use. For instance, if a face cream doesn't work for my face, I try it on my hands, body or feet. I love empties posts for the same reason as you, plus they are so cathartic to write, and I love reading other people's empties posts as well! Blogging really presents a problem to all of this because we end up with excessive stashes from purchases, gifts with purchase and press samples.

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  3. Beautifully said! It's so easy to lose track and splurge away, and later throw out a bunch of near-unused makeup that has actually gone rancid over the years. Last year, I set myself a strict limit on the number of palettes, lipsticks, and foundations I was allowed to buy, and I stuck to it, so I've made the limits even stricter this year. For skincare, the rule is one new product for every 10 I empty. LE collections drive me up the wall anyway - I mean, what if we wanted a backup or a repurchase later on? This new buying plan has actually ingrained itself into my subconscious so much so that I didn't even bother to look up swatches of the latest ABH palette. Now, if only I could figure out how to resist Advent Calendars haha!

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    1. Thank you, Renu! I am so glad that you enjoyed it. Your strategy is a very wise one. Yes, if you can do that with Advent Calendars! At least they aren't available all year long!

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  4. First of all, I love Barbara Kruger! Her work is so awesome (and some of my fave pieces at The Broad are by her). This post is also so great -- it's so hard not to buy whatever we want, but I've definitely been trying to cut back and only buy things I NEED. It's a struggle!

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    1. Thank you, Jamie! Yes, I love Barbara Kruger as well! I am very glad that you enjoyed this post. It is a struggle, indeed, and perhaps worse for the beauty bloggers among us since we don't have normal spending habits given that we often make purchases for our blogs!

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  5. I am very mindful of my purchases. I think as we gotten older, the less I desire for things. While my stash i still "big" compared to an average woman, I have significantly downsized.

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    1. HI Kath, I know what you mean, as I get older I seem to be less susceptible to the desire to over-purchase, but alas the plight of the beauty blogger means that we end up with far more than we could personally use. I have been downsizing as well.

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  6. Great post, and since you first published it in 2012 I think the situation has become considerably worse in the beauty industry in regards to mindless consumerism. There are probably 10 times more new, often limited edition products being released every month now than there were 5-6 years ago.
    It seems that most companies are now relying on a constant stream of new releases to maintain the "buzz" on social media and their marketing teams are playing the "fear of missing out" card against the consumer every time. I think it's starting to get old however, and I see more and more people being turned off by the excess and the constant push to buy buy buy.
    Personally I started being a bit more conscious about my beauty purchases a few years ago. I try not to buy anything just because of the hype, but to take time to think about the value of the product, and how it would work for me instead. That's how I steer clear of many hyped brands such as Anastasia (I never purchased any of their palettes), ColourPop, and others.

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    1. Hi Lulle,

      Thank you, I am so glad that you enjoyed it! Yes, I completely agree with your assessment that things have gotten MUCH worse since 2012! The LE edition releases coupled with the online hyping of products and collections definitely create a climate that encourages FOMO, and therefore mindless consumerism. This creates emotional response purchases, rather than well-reasoned ones, and this cycle continually fuels itself. I agree that this is getting old for a lot of people, and I have had many longtime readers who have told me that they have unsubscribed to many bloggers/vloggers and brands because they feel as though they are simply being pressured into making purchases that likely won't work for them.

      I think hat your approach hits the nail on the head– becoming more conscious about purchases is key, and tuning out all of the noise that feeds the hype is imperative. I certainly won't stop buying things that I want, but I also don't have to have everything that might appeal to me either! Thank you so much for your very thoughtful and well-reasoned comment!

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  7. I've tried to get better about the makeup that I purchase because a lot of people don't like to see limited edition products in makeup tutorials and favorites videos once they go off sale and I try to be conscientious of that when purchasing. Now I only purchase limited edition products if it's a permanent item in a LE packaging I like, I was going to already purchase the permanent product at some point, and the price wasn't increased. Or I'll purchase LE items if I just really really really want the item but I try to limit how man of those I purchase. It seems like everything now is a LE makeup release and it kind of is starting to bug me.

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    1. That makes sense. I know what you mean, I only buy limited edition products, if I know that I really want them, and will use them. I think that the onslaught of LE collections are starting to bug lots of people!

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