Makeup Essentials

After I make it through my no buy January, I will be transitioning into a replacement only no-buy for makeup, skincare, stationery, and body care products.  That being said, I need to record what categories I consider something that needs to be replaced.  I have color coded the headers as follows:

Green I am allowed to repurchase this item and I don't have a specific replacement I need to buy
Blue I am allowed to repurchase this item, but I have to get a specific replacement
Grey I am not allowed to repurchase or buy anything new in this category if I happen to run out

Here are the essential makeup products that I use on a regular basis:

Primer:

I use primer because I seem to constantly get samples and I like to go through them, but I don't know if this is a category that I will replace if I use up all of my current stash.  There is a very small chance that this will happen this year because I have quite a bit to go through currently. I don't feel like primer really makes any sort of difference in my final makeup look and I don't feel like it makes my makeup last longer. It could be that I haven't found the "right" primer yet, but I don't want to throw a lot of money towards finding out. I have been interested in trying one of the gripping primers that have recently come out, so if I do replace this category, it would likely be with one of these.

Foundation:

I use foundation every day that I will be out of the house for a longer period of time - like work, a night out or an event.  I have a foundation that I really like. Even with having this category "figured out" I still bought about 7 additional foundations to try last year and I didn't like any of them as much as the one that I use.  I am not allowed to buy any additional foundations this year at all, except for replacing the one I like if it runs out. I use Revlon's Candid Foundation and that is the only foundation I will able to repurchase.

Concealer:

I really don't use this.  I have three currently and I probably only use concealer a few times a month. I don't struggle with dark circles under my eyes and I wear glasses, so even if they are a little dark occasionally, no one can tell. If I go through all three of these products this year, I will not be allowed to replace them.

Powder Foundation:

I use powder foundation on the weekends or when I need to get my makeup done really quickly. I have a powder foundation that I love (J Cat Aquasurance Powder Foundation) and I will be allowed to replace this if I use up what I have this year.  I am currently sitting at a baby pan on the one I am using, so it is possible, but not likely given how much I actually use it.

Face Powder:

I went on a mini buying spree for powders last year and I have about 4 currently. I won't use these up this year because I generally only use a very light dusting of power to set my makeup.  If I do go through my current stash, I will be allowed to buy another.

Blush:

I have one powder blush and two cream blushes.  I am not even at pan on the powder blush, but if I happen to use all of the powder blush up, I will be allowed to replace it before I go through the cream blushes, as I feel like they are separate products. However, if I use all of the creme blush up, I don't need another. I don't like how they blend on top of my foundation compared to my powder blush and I can't use it with the powder foundation on weekends.  If I do replace my powder blush, it needs to be drugstore. There are too many amazing products out there to have to spend big money on a blush.

Contour:

I have a stick cream contour that I like (Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour & Highlight Sticks). It is a good shade for me, works well with my foundation.  I have a couple of very old powder contour, but I think I am about ready to declutter them.  The formulations of both seem to have changed or maybe they weren't really that great to begin with. If I go through the creme stick I have, I will be allowed to buy another in the same shade, but not allowed to experiment with new brands.

Highlight:

I have multiple powder highlights and there is no way what so ever that I will go through them all this year considering I use to little. I will not be allowed to buy highlighter this year.

Eyebrow Gel:

I am currently working through an eyebrow gel.  It is fine, but it is also expensive. I will likely have to repurchase this year.  When I do repurchase I would like to try the Covergirl Easy Breezy Brow (even though I hate the name... a lot) because it has good reviews and is a good price.  I expect that will happen sometime in the next 4 months.

Eyeliner:

I wear the same gold eyeliner everyday, because it is fast, it brings out my eyes, and it shows up with my glasses. I also have hooded eyes so all of the work I would spend on an eye shadow look isn't noticeable at all. This whole thing started with a Milani eye shadow single that I went through years ago and I went on a buying spree trying to find the same shade and never succeeded, but I found something that is good enough. I am about halfway through one and have another as a backup. If I go through both of those, I will buy the same item again. The eyeliner is the LA Girl Gel Glide Eyeliner in Metallic Copper.

Mascara:

I have a bolder mascara that I wear every day and a lighter, more natural mascara that I wear on weekends, so I currently have 4 tubes open right now.  One of them is starting to perform poorly, so I will likely declutter this. I have also noticed that the lighter, more natural mascara looks pretty darn good and much less clumpy than my more bold mascara when I use two or three coats, so I would like to whittle down my mascara habit to one.  I also have two tubes that haven't been opened at all, so I don't think I will be in a position to buy another for most of the year. If I do need to repurchase, I will be buying one that I have already used and I know isn't going to flake away throughout the day.  I have wasted a lot of money on crappy mascara.

Setting Spray:

I have four open bottles of setting spray right now.  I do go through them pretty quickly so I may run out before the end of the year and I don't have a favorite that I would need to buy, but whatever I replace it with needs to be drugstore priced. I have heard good things about the Morphie setting spray and the Lumi Shake and Glow Setting mist, but I will decide on that when the time comes.

Lip Color:

I have enough. I will never go through all of the lip color products I have this year. I am not allowed to buy more this year.

Eyeshadow:

I do like to do an eye look a few times a year, but the three palates I have will cover this desire for the year. I am not allowed to buy more this year.

Perfume:

Not really makeup, but definitely not skin care. I have more than enough perfume for the year, but I will be able to repurchase my signature scent (mentioned here) if I run out and if I have the room in my budget.

Tomorrow I will check back with my standard skin care categories! Have a great day!