Q: Ever thought of not buying things for awhile until after you use some of all of that makeup you have?
Or, ever thought of not buying something you're not going to use more than once or twice?
***EDIT*** "Anonymous" asked WHY am I always defensive...hmmm ladies, did I sound defensive in my answer? I could have EASILY said it's none of your damn business, as the question itself seemed tacky and rude to some of you readers. I respect people's honest questions and answers, the person that asked the ORIGINAL question perhaps did not mean to come off as rude, regardless I just simply explained why I do STILL BUY makeup regardless of the fact I already have so much. I didn't sugarcoat it, I wasn't rude, I was HONEST and polite about it, and thoroughly explained my answer. I would have not answered it any other way, it's MY OPINION. It's not what you say, it's HOW you say it. It is what it is, take it or leave it. This is MY BLOG, can't handle MY OPINIONS? There is a RED X on the top right hand corner of this window. No one should worry about what one does with their money or in life, WORRY ABOUT YOU. And if you want to talk to me and pick at my brain, then don't hide behind "Anonymous" because that's all you are to me- Anonymous. Toodles!
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A: Of course I have! Lol, to be honest ALL the time, but I am a self-professed makeup addict. As a beauty blogger, it's pretty much "standard" to try different products, not just for myself, but for readers like you. I could very well just stick to what I have, but this blog would be quite boring. Also, when it comes to pigments, I sell samples of ALL of them, so it's not going to "waste". When it comes to products I haven't used, I either sell them or give them to my teenage sister so that someone else has the opportunity to make good use of it. For some products, they are given to me for free by companies to test and review. Also, thanks to Rite-Aid, I can buy products and if I don't like it I can return it (which I end up doing 85% of the time). I pretty much use everything I have more than once, not every FOTD is going to have the same products used, I use my paint pots on a daily basis and of course I look at it mostly like a collection. Just how some people pay top dollar for antiques or dolls, I do it with makeup.
I avoid buying the same or similar colors, although occasionally it happens because I think they are different until I get home, so I end up returning it. I hate buying certain things online because 95% of mineral companies online don't allow any type of returns or exchanges so if I am not happy with it- im stuck with it until I sell it.
I love to shop, I am not going to lie; and before you think I have a money tree growing in my backyard, I don't. I just have a really great job which I love and enjoy doing, and I know how to manage my money. I give myself a monthly allowance, and yes I may over-do it at times, but I worked hard for it. I work 40+ hours a week AND put additional hours to blog. I put some money in my 401K as well as my savings, and I DONATE to charity or medical research. I donated a good chunk to Hurricane Katrina victims last year. There are people who 'waste' their money on drugs, alcohol, etc., or put their money towards their hobbie, like guys when it comes to parts for their car, but to each his own, as long as it makes you happy and you worked hard for it, then why not? Gas alone is costing me $30 and before you know it, it's gone. $30 is three eyeshadow refills at MAC and at least it makes me happy and lasts longer than a tank of gas! LOL.
Also, my makeup collection doesn't even amount to other girls out there, as well as all the money i've spent on photography equipment (one of my other hobbies). :)
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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28 comments
Good for you! There's no reason you shouldn't have some fun trying different products when you work as hard as you do. I don't know if that question was meant to be rude, but it certainly came off that way. You handled it well, though.
i can relate to you nessa, what i hate is how my bf and family think its very strange that i love makeup. lol
I agree... I mean, it's not like we're in debt BECAUSE of makeup. As long as we're responsible with it and don't go around spending money that we don't have. I try to be selective when it comes to buying new makeup... but I can relate, I mean, I come home and realize I have three of the same pink frosty shadowS, just different names. Ugh, so I try to buy products that are really unique and are not too similar to ones I already have. It's hard!!! What I'm probably gonna end up doing at the Fafi Party is keep comparing swathes of the new shadows with the ones i already own before purchasing it. Ah... FAFI! I'm so STOKED!!! =)
There's nothing wrong with a girl spending money on herself! I may not spend as much on makeup as you do, but I end up spending that money on other things that make me happy. The question did seem rude, because what you do with your money is your business. Plus, you're nice enough to share your reviews with everyone.
Hi Michelin! Thanks so much! I thought it came off a tad bit tacky myself, but it was an honest questions and gotta respect that I guess!
Lisa- HAHA me too! The BF is now used to it (since we've been together for close to 3 years already!), but every now and then he says I have a problem or calls me makeup addict haha...
Sheila- Yup! As long as we can pay our bills and take care of our priorities first, then why not pamper ourselves!??
Michelin Whoops! I mean they were honest questions....lol
Amen sister! lol. Hey its your money and you worked hard for it. Makeup is a treat for yourself!
Hi sis. I think there are always going to be people who would make different choices with their money. But like they say, "to each h[er] own". EVERYONE is passionate about something and are always willing to spend a bit of money to indulge on what it is that they're passionate about. And you're right. In our case, it is makeup.
It's very admirable that you have this passion yet are conscious enough about it that you recycle your makeup to those who would possibly like to have it while still maintaining control of your spending. Why should it matter to me how you decide to spend YOUR money? That only means I would be taking it personal if I can't respect your own spending decisions, especially if I don't know you.
I think the whole makeup shopping thing is fun and really that is just the perks for being a consistent beauty blogger. But only you can be the judge of your decisions and intentions and I think you're doing fine.
Love you sis!
yeah, i pretty much agree with everyone's comment. it's true, people have their hobbies and vices and we're entitled to them (as long as we don't hurt others or ourselves, right?. not too sound too cliche, but our faces are our blank canvases and the makeup are our art tools. you're a great artist in this respect. =)
-Maha
why are you always so defensive?
Thanks Sis Lynne!
Maha- You are such a sweetie!
Anonymous- Based on the comments here, YOU seem to be the only one taking it wrong and being defensive. My answer to this question does not sound defensive, I was not quick to say bitch thats none of your business, I explained why I buy makeup. Take it or leave it. :)
why are they on the offensive? Every girl has the right to feel pretty or sexy, and there's nothing wrong with that. Some girls its make up, others its handbags, and others its super cute designer shoes that make your feet look thin, and sexy if that were possible. Anyways we all have our own guilty pleasures, why not indulge? And with that said, I look forward to your next make up entry! :)
jesus. not another one. aww sis, your response was not defensive. it was just honest and straight forward. hoenstly, people these days.
"EVERYONE is passionate about something and are always willing to spend a bit of money to indulge on what it is that they're passionate about. And you're right. In our case, it is makeup."
Exactly! When I used to knit regularly I spent TONS of money on yarn but you know what? That was my choice as long as my other obligations are met I'll enjoy all of my hobbies ;).
Well said, Miss Vanessa! I was surprised that you answered Anonymous' question in the first place because that seemed really rude to me.
The reason we all have tons of products is to enjoy them for ourselves because that's what we love - why else would we have started beauty blogs in the first place? And they should be appreciative that we are willing to shell out our own money to keep readers up to date on what the latest and greatest (or not-so-great) is out there.
You're a fabulous blogger, keep it up girl!!! :)
i have no self-control whatsoever when it comes to saving money. i'm a shopping addict, and an impuslive-compulsive one at that. that's why Hubby won't allow me access to any credit card nor the bank accounts. *pouts*
i think that written word is soooo much harder to interpret. so unlike face-to-face where we can read body language and facial expressions. where one person might see that you're being defensive, another (like me) just sees a simple, but honest response.
personally, i think that "Anonymous" tends to dissect your words simple because you're such a high profile blogger, ya know? delete the comment without responding.
'nes...I get this question alot.
Why do you buy so much? where do you get the money for all this stuff? don't you know makeup goes bad? you'll never use all that.
yada yada yada...I'm so curious why people are so concerned with how we spend our money, how we get our money, and are cosmetics might go bad!
I didn't realize we had to account for these things
*insert big arse rolling eyes here*
I get so angry with these questions myself and get them constantly on my youtube vids and blog. I try to be as polite as possible but sometimes enough is enough!
god lord!
Carry on 'nes! I love your collection! buy buy buy! Enjoy yourself!
You're gorgeous both inside and out ;)
Love ya!
You don't need to explain how you use your money, because that's indeed none of our business. That person is just jealous...
You work hard for the money, so you deserve to spend your money the way you want to. I'm just like you "work hard, buy harder" haha. I'm just as addicted to cosmetics and fashion as you are, so I really love your blog.
Keep up the good work!
That person is nothing but jealous. She/he ("it" hereafter) obviously follows your blog coz "it" knows how much products you have.
Vanessa, you weren't defensive at all Vanessa. in fact you didn't even have to answer the rude rhetorical question. But you did anyways because you're grown-up like that.
Everyone's got their own vices...I love purses and skin products, my bf likes computer and games...at least yours benefits us readers, I see it like a "public service" lol. I cannot stand jealous haters like "it". grrrr.
hey honey bunches, after reading everyone else's replies it's clear that we're not alone...i love the blogging community b/c we can all relate to each other...our passion for makeup artistry...it sucks when ppl have to offer unnecessary criticism. Like you, I do enjoy buying makeup, and yes I do put money into my 401k and savings...sometimes ppl leave comments like the one you mentioned on my youtube page...and you know what i do? block and delete...because clearly they're not trying to benefit from all the work we put into our blogs and vids...so in sum, keep your passion alive...i honestly believe that if you stay true to your own beliefs and love yourself and stay confident, it doesn't matter what anyone else has to say :)
why the hell are you even bothering to comment on her blog anonymous? even if she wanted to be defensive, she can be defensive. it's her damn blog.
anyway, hiii. :]
some people just don't understand. it's ok to be nosy, but at least don't be rude about it!
everyone is going to have their own way of spending money (or lack thereof). it's wrong for an outsider to question how another person spends their money, especially if that person didn't ask for financial advice in the first place. this is a makeup blog, so of course you're going to buy a lot of makeup, duh!
you're doing a super job with this blog and i can't wait until the new version launches! myself and tons of your readers enjoy reading all your reviews/ramblings!
absolutely no one is forcing anyone to read your blog so people should let you be you...let us the readers enjoy what you do, because WE DO!!!
smh at fools.
i think everyone has their hobbies and passions. you're definitely entitled to yours nessa! with me, i destress with anything makeup related :) thats why i like it so much. to be honest I don't see much difference between me getting makeup for myself, and other people buying video games for themselves. guys hate it when i make that comparison, but really, they're all just hobbies that we enjoy. i get just about as much enjoyment out of mine as they do theirs. its only because people seem to have a mindset that makeup is superficial and vain, that spending money on makeup seems frivolous. But its no more frivolous than spending $70 on a game that you'll only play once...
This is why I haven't started a blog of my own. I told myself I would once I got a new computer and even came up with a name and theme for it, but I don't have the patience for questions like that. It would tick me off to no end and before I knew it, the blog wouldn't be fun anymore.
The way you spend your money is your business and only yours. I don't care much for buying clothes, shoes and purses, but I like to buy makeup, anime, manga, and miniature diecast model airplanes. I'm sure if I displayed my airplanes on a blog, I'd get a comment like "But what do you do with them? It's not like you can fly them."
Anyway, keep blogging away. Your reviews and FOTDs rock!
You tell 'em girl.
xD
As the poster of the original comment, I meant no harm. However, it's pretty disarming to see how quickly beautiful women can become quite ugly. And Nessa I'm not speaking to you, but actually to the other commenters in this thread.
I meant no disrespect. I've been a pretty avid reader of your blog for the past few months, and I honestly enjoy your writing and have learned a lot from you, particularly regarding technique.
In hindsight, the question did seem flippant, and I see how folks may have interpreted it as rude. All apologies.
But, I guess the deeper question I was trying to get at was, how does one justify the buying of slight gradations of the same color? A white silver, a silvery white, a creamy silver, a silver creamy white, do you know what I mean?
I think you have a lot of skill and talent. And I know that as an artist, sometimes we're just looking for that one holy-grail-of-a-color. But in my defense, I also believe that an artist should be able to use what she got. Not in a "make-do" kind of way, but as a challenge.
So I guess it is sort of a question/challenge: If you were to only have, say, 5 eyeshadows with which you could create different looks for 5 days, what e/s would you choose out of the collection that you already own, and how would you use them?
Lastly, after reading the NYtimes article from the last week, I think it would help a lot for readers like myself who feel somewhat inundated with new info daily, if you were to highlight the fact that you're testing product that was mailed to you by the manufacturer.
PS. I wasn't Anonymous, by the way.
Hi Julie!
Oh I know you didn't mean any harm, that's why I answered it honestly, I know some people thought it was rude, but regardless it was a question that I thought I would answer.
And I TOTALLY know NOW what you meant, and to be honest, haha I do not know why or how people by similar or the same colors. I myself have pretty much have several of the same colors, but different gradient, like a light pink (matte), dark pink, maybe one with shimmer, etc.
I know it sounds so silly and superficial to be spending frivolously like that but there are times where one color in the same family does the trick whereas one doesn't. I for one hate matte eyeshadows, they make me look dull, but sometimes I need them in a look to offset having TOO much shimmer. (I know sounds so weird but it's true). I can't have all matter, or all shimmer, it's too little and too much, I need to mix both to get it to be decent.
Like I mentioned in my last post, I use most of the things I have, they are on rotation, and what I know I will never use, I sell or give away. But I see what you mean and I agree, the challenge is what is rewarding.
At times I work exclusively with companies and I am privy with certain information that I cannot reveal. Especially in instances where my review isn't a good one about that particular product, I do not want to put them on blast specifically, but just solely the product. Therefore my product reviews are just that of the actual product.
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