Beauty

[dosey]

Thank you for the birthday wishes!

I have remembered another July purchase.  Every summer, DHC puts White Sunscreen on sale.  I bought a few bottles.  This is my favorite sunscreen.

Some of us are hoping for a great deal on an Isomers C Kit.  I just checked Evine's website and found another C kit has been added.  It has reviews, so the kit has been offered previously.  It is $71.50 and isn't much larger than the try me kit.  This makes me think that a C kit will not be the TTV.  I hope this other C kit has a special price.  $71.50 seems high for such small sizes.  Why is it when I find something that I really like I have to stalk it for a better price?

[dosey]

Since joining the ComPact, how have your buying habits changed?  Are the changes permanent?  Was there a discovery or moment that opened your eyes and made you realize that a change was needed?

I have to say that I have reduced my purchases quite a bit.  Perhaps dramatically.  I hope that they are permanent.  To become permanent, I think I am going to have to allow myself to try new things every now and then but to do it mindfully and with rules and consequences.

What caused me to join the ComPact was all of the products I had.  It was ridiculous!  Stuff piled on each other in all of my cabinets.  What one person could use it all!  But what really got to me, and still does, is when I throw something away I remember how much I paid for it.  Two Halo foundations - $59 each with a 20% off coupon.  $100!!  I force myself to say One Hundred Dollars out loud.  Two eye shadow palettes.  $30 each from Sephora.  $64.  Sixty-four Dollars.  This goes on and on and on.  I could have done a whole bunch of other stuff with the money.

Thanks to the ComPact, I realize that I cannot keep trying new things in all categories.  So I have found many products that I am happy with and now longer feel the need to find something better.  Body care - I am happy with my choices: pouf, body wash, lotion.  No more scrubs and no more searching.  Hair care - Again, no more searching.  I like my choices.

Surprisingly, I also like several cosmetics and will not testing anything else.  Mascara, eyebrow pencil (when I haven't had a chance to dye them), blush (now that I have the perfect light pink), finishing powder, and nail polish.  I still like to test foundations, eye shadows, and lip colors.  However, my rule is that I have to finish one before I buy another.  That means that I will probably never have to buy another eye shadow.  All I wear are shades of taupe and brown (nudes).  How many does a girl need?  I wear a variety of lip colors.  When I run out of one shade, then I will allow myself a new one.

I want to stick with Isomers Vitamin C skincare, but it seems like a kit at a good price is tough to find.  Being on auto-delivery would be a plus.  No more scrubs and masks - just not for me.  I like Isomers Immortal Eye Duo, too and just finished it.  I have not reordered it, yet, because I still have a little bit of another cream to finish.  Then, I will be able to order it.  However, there is only one other eye cream that I would like to try.  When I have no other eye creams in my cabinet, I might just do it.  That is mindful spending and still allows me the fun of trying something new.

I know that I typed too much, but I just wanted everyone to know how much this thread has helped me.  My spending habits have changed and yet I am still able to try new things with discipline.  I will mess up occasionally, but I really do not think my cabinets will ever be filled to the brim again.

How has this thread affected you?  Do you want holy grail products, or do you want to try new things mindfully?  Have you established rules for yourself?

[just bee]

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@dosey wrote:

Since joining the ComPact, how have your buying habits changed?  Are the changes permanent?  Was there a discovery or moment that opened your eyes and made you realize that a change was needed?

How has this thread affected you?  Do you want holy grail products, or do you want to try new things mindfully?  Have you established rules for yourself?

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I'm definitely spending less on unnecessaries.  I stopped buying jewelry completely.  I don't buy clothes anymore -- just socks and underwear, really.  Beauty products?  I just want to find the staples -- the holy grails.  I don't feel as tempted.  I have learned to say 'no.'  I can resist the magic words (sale, free shipping, BOGO).  I can avoid bringing home plants for the yard and decor for the house.  I can even resist new toys for the dog (he has more than enough).  It does get easier.

[just bee]

I am sitting here perseverating.  I wrote a paper on Friday, and I wrote one yesterday, and I created a PowerPoint presentation today.  Technically, my class ended today and I should be happy.  But I keep thinking about my last assignment.  Did what I do actually address it?  I finished my work early and I should be rejoicing.  Better-half is making curry, Halt and Catch Fire is on tonight (last episode of Season 2!), and my laundry is done.  I can have a gin and tonic and relax.

Or not.  I keep thinking about that freaking paper and the presentation based on the paper.  It becomes clearer to me with each passing day why I work in psych.

And I haven't seen Bob the box turtle.  I need to de-stress.  My new class starts tomorrow and I only have three left -- then I'm done.  Why can't I focus on that and be content?

The good news is that I'm not shopping to ease the stress.  I just need to stop worrying about things I cannot control.  I'm so used to working and going to school that I can't feel comfortable not doing something.  I think I'll go make myself an adult beverage and watch Better-half cook.

Yeah... that's the ticket.

[just bee]

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@just bee wrote:

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@BExplorer wrote:

Thanks, just bee, for the links.  I checked them out and about choked on the prices until I pulled out my package of or organic tea bags and realized how little tea the box actually contains (2.26 ounces!).  I think I will end up giving one of those sites a try.  We have never made tea not from a tea bag (I know, newbie) so will also order the accompanying supplies.  Thanks again :-)

I use a permanent tea filter in a mug and that works pretty well.  Once you start using loose tea, it becomes normal and bags are suddenly weird.

https://www.harney.com/teawareandtreats/tea-filters-strainers.html

If you order from Harney you'll get their emails and be alerted to special offers.

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I was just on the Harney site, checking out the "New Arrivals."

https://www.harney.com/new-arrivals.html

Check out the Meijiawu Lung Ching.

https://www.harney.com/meijiawu-lung-ching.html

Am I cheap?  Why don't I want to spend $400 on a pound of tea?

[dosey]

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@just bee wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@BExplorer wrote:

Thanks, just bee, for the links.  I checked them out and about choked on the prices until I pulled out my package of or organic tea bags and realized how little tea the box actually contains (2.26 ounces!).  I think I will end up giving one of those sites a try.  We have never made tea not from a tea bag (I know, newbie) so will also order the accompanying supplies.  Thanks again :-)

I use a permanent tea filter in a mug and that works pretty well.  Once you start using loose tea, it becomes normal and bags are suddenly weird.

https://www.harney.com/teawareandtreats/tea-filters-strainers.html

If you order from Harney you'll get their emails and be alerted to special offers.

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I was just on the Harney site, checking out the "New Arrivals."

https://www.harney.com/new-arrivals.html

Check out the Meijiawu Lung Ching.

https://www.harney.com/meijiawu-lung-ching.html

Am I cheap?  Why don't I want to spend $400 on a pound of tea?

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Because it's $400.  Say it with me.  Four Hundred Dollars.

[rnmom]

Hi girls! 

July was a pretty good month for me. I haven't been keeping official track, but I know that I didn't have much come in, I even managed to resist the BBW semi-annual sale. Things are slow going out though too, but I have managed to get thru a few small things. I still get tempted at times, like now Ulta is offering a free 15 piece gift with a $20 purchase and I love getting free gifts! I don't really need anything right now, but I know I could use a new cleanser and a mascara in the not too distant future, I'm using the last of both with no backups, so if I do buy anything it will be something that I know I will need sooner rather than later. It depends if I actually get out to the store or not, it's about 1/2 hr away from my house, and I'm not spending $50 online to order it, so we'll see what happens. 

I will have to say though, that the temptation is getting to be less, especially with skin care and body products. I was so dissatisfied with my skin care and couldn't find anything that I liked, I kept jumping from line to line looking for something really great but I couldn't really find anything I loved. Now I don't even feel that urge really, I'm just using what I have here and if I don't hate it, I'll use it until it's gone and worry about a replacement later. I guess I've just finally had enough and want to spend my energy on other things, not worrying about what cream is best for my face.

I have been working on trying to simplify and declutter other areas of the house too, cleaned out the garage the other day and I'm trying to eventually get thru the whole house. I dropped off a bunch more stuff to Salvation Army, 4 bags, a small box and some loose items. The funny part is, most of the stuff I'm getting rid of is stuff that I didn't even buy, it's stuff from grandma or hand me downs from my sister, etc. so I don't feel bad at all about getting it out of my house. 

I still want to go thru my storage room this month while my hubby is still home from school for the summer. 

I'm going to try to stay away from the Isomers sale unless there is a kit that just looks too good to be true. I even managed to avoid the SKINN anniversary shows and specials. But maybe I'll just peek a little bit. 

[Oshare-girl]

Another July baby here.  Who also treated herself to a few birthday gifts.    I picked up the IT CC Cream which was actually a replacement purchase since I finished my foundation.  Also took advantage of the Urban Decay sale and picked up one of the sheer lipsticks (I'm going to finish 2 lippies in Aug!), a liquid eyeliner (tossed an old gel eyeliner) and a 4-pan case to hold existing shadows.  I ordered the new balm oil lippie from BareMinerals from Sephora, mainly so that I could get my free bday gift and take advantage of a code for 3 Fresh minis without having to go instore and tempt myself.  I ended up returning the lippie.  It was surprisingly drying for an oil balm.  Finally I ordered some skincare for the family from Paula's Choice while it was 15% off and free shipping. Doggoneit, it also came with a free nude eyeshadow palette!  I'm on a no-buy for eyeshadow but it was FREE.  I'm working on the Naked Basics palette for the rest of this year so I will finish that one first.

I really hate writing all this down but it's keeping me accountable.  I only feel guilty about the free PC's eyeshadow palette.  I really did not need it but it was free.  We did need the skincare but I could have purchased cheaper stuff from the drugstore.  The free palette was what put me over the edge. 

Well, it's a new month and I'm pretty stocked up now.  I won't be needing anything this month and have no excuses to buy anything.  It's also the last month in my summer season rotation so I'll be finishing up several products.This 3rd month in my seasonal rotation is always the hardest because I start getting the itch for new things in the upcoming seasonal rotation.  Although it is the most productive month because I use up a bunch of products by the end of 3 months.  Plus it's just a make believe season ending.  The weather stays hot well into November out here in Hawaii.  That's why I have to tell myself that it's a new season, even when the weather doesn't show it.  Ah, the "problems" of living in "paradise".

Oh and welcome to Hurricane Guillermo.  We really aren't happy to see you coming. Whoops, how to undo a spoiler tag?  There is none.

Spoiler

[just bee]

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@Oshare-girl wrote:

Another July baby here.  Who also treated herself to a few birthday gifts.   

Happy birthday!

[just bee]

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@dosey wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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I was just on the Harney site, checking out the "New Arrivals."

https://www.harney.com/new-arrivals.html

Check out the Meijiawu Lung Ching.

https://www.harney.com/meijiawu-lung-ching.html

Am I cheap?  Why don't I want to spend $400 on a pound of tea?

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Because it's $400.  Say it with me.  Four Hundred Dollars.

The description of this tea:

Steamed bok choy and toasted walnuts, with top notes of sweet spring grass... The delicious meatiness of roasted eggplant with similar steamed bok choy and toasted walnut flavors.

This is why I'm not spending $400.

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