The holidays are a time of overindulgence in so many ways: too much food, too much drink, too much money spent, just too much too much. While I am trying to avoid these annual temptations, I am also trying to under-indulge as the simple fact is, I have too much stuff.
Perhaps I should define “stuff” before my husband starts to thin out my shoe collection. I am not a hoarder, I don’t have boxes and boxes of childhood memories, I don’t collect things or have a lot of knickknacks. In fact, I think I am running a pretty efficient household — thanks to the space lessons of tiny urban apartments over the years, I’ve been pretty good about getting rid of things as needed.
When I think of “stuff” it really comes down to one room: the bathroom. And one category: beauty products.
I usually think I am pretty logical about purchases and their marketing claims. However, when it comes to skin care, hair care and makeup, any sense of logic or reason goes out the window. I am a marketers dream!! Especially when they sweeten the pot with free samples. Look 10 years younger in 10 weeks? Woohoo! Spend $500 and get a free lipstick? Okay!
Based on all the claims on bottle after bottle of skin care products, I should look about 12: wrinkle free, even skin tone with no discolorations, no puffy eyes, no acne. Um … sure. My hair should also be frizz-free, silky shiny straight without any fly-aways, full of body and with my color looking salon-fresh. Why yes, that is exactly how I look … in my dreams.
Here is the worst confession: I am a 35-year-old woman and I have more than 50 shades of eye shadow. Seriously??? I think only three colors have touched my eyes since I was 25 – neutral, dark neutral and light neutral. But whether it’s a kit for brown eyes (I have brown eyes!!! Brilliant!!), a “free bonus gift with purchase”, or the overwhelming desire to own a color with the name “Disco Fever”, I indulge.
Part of me wants to throw most of it away, although it seems like such a waste to get rid of everything. After all, most of the items have hardly ever been used! Many of them were free! Think about how much money I’m saving by using the free samples as opposed to buying new stuff!!!!
I am at the point where this logic is about to be thrown out the window, because I am ready for a little simplification and reduced clutter. So I am making a vow – no more beauty products “just because”. No more makeup until every “Psychedelic Sister”, “Dolce Vita” and “High Tea” shades are either used or disposed of. The only purchases I will make are to replace products that I use regularly that are empty.
Well … until that next bonus offer / “free” gift of course!