Sorry for my absence lately on my blog. I've been away on placement and been super busy planning my mum's birthday and writing lesson plans. Today I am back with my second update for my project pan. The months seem to be flying by!

This project is really pushing me to make use of my makeup. It is exciting to check in and see progress, it really helps to motivate you to continue.

Before getting into all my progress I will let you all know that I won't be switching anything out this time around. When I started this I had the expectation in my head that every month I would use something up or hit a goal and be able to involve new products. That is definitely not the case and doing this has taught me how long it actually takes to use products up.

Eye Shadow - Bh x Carli Bybel (original)
I think eyeshadow is an area of strength for me. Since I am such a creature of habit and always reach for the same shades on a daily basis it is easy for me to make progress. Within one month I even hit (baby) pan on one shade (matte brown)! My goal was to hit pan on three shades so only two more to go.

I find the bh shadows to be on the powdery side but very easy to blend. The shimmery shades, in terms of pigmentation can fade throughout the day but the mattes are quite good. I am enjoying this palette and am glad I included it. By next month I hope to hit pan on the matte cream shade.

Bronzer/Highlighter - Urban Decay Naked Flushed
I ended up repressing the bronzer so the photo in this update will look different. I am making steady progress with the bronzer and have used up quite a bit of the highlight! I won't have an issue finishing this off.

Brows - Chi Chi Brow Pomade (blonde)
I feel like this product will never show product but I am starting to made a dent on one edge. I will definitely never buy another brow pomade in my life because one tub lasts forever haha.

Blush - Nudestix Bare Back
I didn't use this much this past month because my cheeks broke out pretty badly. I wanted to let them breathe as much as possible and when I was wearing makeup I wanted to apply as minimal product as possible. You'll see the very little progress I made better down below.

Foundation
For this category, the only "foundation" I used up was a sample size of Adorn's cream foundation. It is better than nothing. I am also making good progress with my mineral powder foundations as they're what I'm reaching for lately.

Lips

Colourpop Oh Snap
I'm surprised I actually made visible progress with this lippie stix this time around. I barely reached for it purely because my all time favourite lipstick was added to the project. I'll continue to use this until it is empty or I'm absolutely sick of it.

3ina Lip Oil

I did draw a line on this a month ago but because it is an oily product it kept rubbing off. I was roughly at the bottom on the 3ina logo when I included this so I am making good progress. This lip oil is a pretty easy product to pan because I apply it multiple times a day. If I put my mind to it I could finish it by the next update but I am spacing out using it so I also use my other lipstick.

Gerard Cosmetics Vintage Rose
My absolute favourite lipstick! I'm really happy with the progress I've made and it is the lip product I reach for most. I think I want to focus on this so it can get out of my project sooner and I use other lip products too. But I am loving having this in my project.

Here are my updates for stick products:

Just to keep myself sane and motivated throughout my no-buy/project-pan, I am putting together a wish list. These are the products I will allow myself to buy when I have used up or hit pan on a significant amount of products I own from the related category.

I am planning to transition to non-toxic beauty products so this is my wish list!

Body care
Chocolate Sun Cocoa Fleur tanning atomizer - hopefully I can get it shipped to Australia!

Butter London 8-Free Nail Lacquer (Mum's the word) - I rarely ever wear nail polish and I've never had my nails done. When I do paint my nails I often go for nude shades or a deeper pink mauve shade. I already own a nail polish by Mineral Fusion but would like to try other brands.

Makeup
Ecco Bella Blush - I want to store face/eye products in a z palette type of case. These blushes come just as the pan and don't contain talc (something I find breaks me out when worn too often). I am also someone that doesn't need multiple blush shades so I hope to find my perfect shade then only ever have to repurchase refills.

Lily Lolo pressed bronzer (Montego Bay) - This is one of the pressed bronzers I've found that have natural ingredients as most seem to be loose. The Urban Decay bronzer that I love has a sheen/slight shimmer to it so I thought this would be the perfect healthy alternative.

100% Pure anti-ageing Pomegranate Lipstick (Foxglove) - of course I am mentally planning an entire new non-toxic lipstick collection. Lips is my favourite category however, I've noticed I only reach for the same few shades. I love the packaging and shade of this lipstick so it will definitely join my collection.

Luk Beauti Food Lip Nourish Natural Lipstick (Tea Rose & Pink Juniper) - of course I couldn't pick one shade so I've added two very similar ones to my list. I may even pick up a few shades for the purpose of reviewing and swatching. I didn't find much on this brand but I love what they're all about and their ingredients. Also the packaging kind of reminds me of the Too Faced lipsticks, which I love the style of.

Eco Minerals Flawless Foundation - I have tried multiple organic, natural and toxic free complexion products already. I am currently using some by Lily Lolo, Scout Cosmetics, Hynt Beauty and have used ones by Inika Organic and Adorn Cosmetics in the past. I will eventually purchase a liquid foundation but there are so many that I need to do more research. One base product I am sure I want to try is this flawless foundation (powder) by Eco Minerals. The thing that has drawn me in is that they offer refills so I could just top up my existing packaging, less waste makes me happy! They also offer samples so I could easily pick out a few shades to find my perfect one.

Eye of Horus Brow Define Dysnasty (medium) - I am an eyebrow powder lover but I do enjoy the ease of a pencil with an attached spoolie. This looks similar to everyone's favourite ABH brow wiz or the NYX one. I've only ever tried the one by NYX and liked it so I'm excited to eventually use this.

Vapour Organic Beauty Luminous Foundation - Just the fact that this foundation has luminous in its title and is housed in a stick format makes me want it.

Fragrance
La Vanila perfume - this brand has always caught my interest but I own way too many perfumes to buy another. Whenever the day comes where I need a new perfume, this is at the top of my list.

That is my current wish list/plans for future purchases. I am thinking of doing an update on this post, maybe next year to see what I actually purchased and if I ended up liking it, or prefer another green beauty product etc. Also, I will track my transition via Instagram and my blog so keep an eye out for future posts.

I love watching tag videos and while I watch them I always answer them, even when I'm not tagged. So I thought i'd pop it into a blogpost for anyone that may be interested in my answers. This tag was created by Lisa.

1: What kind of eye primer do you use and why? Liquid eye primer or shadow stick?
I don't tend to use primer or even concealer for my eyelids, which may be weird for some of you. I don't find that my shadow wears off or creases when I just use shadows in comparison to when I use some bases.

I do however, use the left over foundation on my brush over my eyelids to get an even layer then I always set with a white or light beige shade.

2a: What colour eye shadow makes you feel bold and pretty at the same time?
Gold! I usually only ever do matte eyeshadow looks. If you saw my project pan or follow me on Instagram you would know I adore the Tarte Tartelette in Bloom palette. I always reach for the lighter matte shades. Whenever I have an event or a party I like to do a gold smokey eye or halo eye. It is very different to what I usually do so it is bold for me, but the sparkle also makes me feel pretty.
2b: What eye shadow colour do you least like to wear and why?
Bright colours - pink, green, blue, yellow, red. I am not someone that ever reaches for colour when it comes to my eyes. I have pretty hooded eyes so I don't see a purpose for doing fun looks when it is 99% hidden unless I blink. I don't own any "fun" colours either because I know I would never reach for them.
3: Do you wear liquid or pencil eye liner? black or brown liner?
Neither. There is just something about liner in general that I do not like on myself. If I use it then it pretty much covers my entire visible lid space, or if I use it in my water line I feel like it is way too dark. Keep in mind I tend to do really natural looks and never use bottom mascara either so a brown or black water line would look odd.
4: Covergirl or Maybelline mascara?
Once again, neither. They both test on animals. I enjoy Urban Decay Perversion mascara or Inika Long Lash Vegan mascara.
5: If you could have your brows permanently done or not wear any blush for the rest of your life which would you choose?
Definitely brows. I only have half eyebrows as my tails are very very sparse. If they were already done for me it would be great!
6: Does your best friend or you wear more makeup?
About the same! I tend to do less "dramatic" (smokey eyes etc.) looks though.

7: Who taught you how to do makeup?
Mainly youtube but also picked up a few things from my aunty.
8: Are you a fan of cream products? (Blush, bronzer, contour, etc?) why or why not?
Yes!!! I have dry skin so cream products really help my makeup less cakey and more "natural" looking. I find it sits a lot better on my particular skin type and you can adjust the amount you want so easily.
9: Are you a project panner? what projects are you in right now?
I am proud to say that yes I am for the first time this year. I am doing a basic project pan where I selected a few products out of my collection. I'm not sure if I want to make it a rolling pan so when I use up one thing I bring in another.
10: Setting spray: Do you believe in it? Which is your holy grail?
I don't not believe in setting spray but I also don't think it's absolutely necessary. In the past I have enjoyed the Urban Decay All Nighter and in the future I hope to purchase a Mario Badescu one. For the time being I am using the NYX Dewy setting spray or a Swisse one.

What are your responses to these questions? I'd love to know!

I think the 1st week of every month will be a good time to post my updates so here is my first one! I actually started my project pan a tad earlier than I posted the introduction so I have had a month and a bit to work on the products - keep this in mind when you see my progress.

I have some exciting news to share with you all in terms of progress. But before I jump in to the check in I just wanted to mention a change I am making to how I will do this project. I have decided that every time I reach a goal on a product I will swap it out for another one. Just to ensure I am rotating my collection and not ignoring it for an entire year.

Now for the update...

Eyeshadow palette - Tartelette in Bloom

My goal for this palette was to use up flower child and pan two other shades. Because I did so well on this palette quite quickly, I did a poll on my Instagram asking if I should attempt a pan that palette or exchange for another one. Despite pan that palette winning the poll, after some thought I think it is best I swap in another palette.

I ended up reaching all my goals for this palette. I used up flower child completely. I was so excited when this happened because I have never used a shadow up before. Not long later I hit pan on smarty pants and only last week I hit pant on charmer. I am tempted to continue using this palette because I love it but I've rarely used the Carli Bybel x BH Cosmetics palette since it is new to me, so I am swapping that in.

Bronzer/Highlighter - Urban Decay Naked Flushed

Unfortunately, one day when I went to use the highlight the bronzer crumbled a little. I am considering repressing the bronzer with the highlight on the left side of the pan but I've never done it before and don't want to disturb the blush. I'm not sure what I will do about that but my progress has been going well. Visually you can see I have expanded the pan on both shades but I am not in any hurry to use this up so I am happy with the progress. I do wish it didn't break but oh well, it's well loved.

Brows - Chi Chi Brow Pomade

I didn't have a set goal for this product and what I have learnt already is that a little goes a long way. It will be pretty impossible for me to ever use this up. I have decided to strategically use product from the centre of this pot to track progress and there is a noticeable dip in person. I am excited to see if I could reach the bottom by the end of the year?

Blush - Nudestix Nudies all over face color matte in bare back

There has been some slow and steady progress with this. I use it a handful times a week and have actually started enjoying it on my lips as well as cheeks.

Foundation 
I completed my Inika Organic BB cream last month. So one down, 4 to go. P.S. I am not including the three BB/CC creams I used up in my prior trash talk as I technically used them up before starting my project.

Lips - Colourpop ultra glossy lip in Weho (sample size), Chi Chi lipstick in O.M.NUDE!! and Colourpop lippie stix in Oh Snap

This category has good and bad news. I will start with the good, since it is listed first.
I used up Weho entirely. I am glad it is over and done with because I did get sick of wearing a gloss. I am not usually a lip gloss wearer so it was a struggle to consciously reach for it. I did enjoy the formula and shade very much but I wouldn't repurchase the full size. This has taught me to stick to other forms of lip products, although I do want to try a bare minerals gloss one day. 

Now for the bad news. I lost my Chi Chi lipstick at Ed Sheeran's concert. It must have fallen out of my bag because I cannot find it anywhere. I am actually upset for it to be gone because I really enjoyed using it and could have easily used it up. When I have less lipsticks in my collection I would consider repurchasing it because the formula is great, it is comfortable and the shade is gorgeous. Since I have lost it I added in another lipstick to replace it. You will find out which one soon.

In terms of Colourpop's lippie stix I am not really too concerned with it. I don't really enjoy the shade when it is on my lips as I find it too look greyish. Also, due to the summer heat is has melted a little so it doesn't twist up and down as well, plus it gets pretty messy when I do use it. Since it is still fine to use, just a little messy, I will still continue to use it. I also find I prefer this product when I dab it onto my lips or apply very little, this just means the progress will be slow.

Now for products I am rolling in.
To replace the lipstick I lost I am going to include Gerard Cosmetics lipstick in Vintage Rose. I own two in my collection and it is actually my favourite lipstick of all time. Since I have a brand new bullet just sitting around it makes sense to enjoy and use this one up.

I am also rolling in another lip product. The 3ina lip oil. I love this product so so much. It is hydrating, comfortable, gives off a glossy appearance without being sticky. It sinks into my lips quite quickly so I do have to reapply regularly. This will be a massive plus for me since it means I can use it up quicker. Once I use this up I do want to try the Inika certified organic lip serum. Just because the ingredients are a lot better and we consume our lip products.

For eyeshadow palette, I mentioned it above. It will be the BH x Carli Bybel original palette. It is brand new so at this stage I am aiming for any progress. By next update I hope to have dips in two shades.

I feel like the above markings will be a better way to show you all (and myself) progress on non powder products. The 18th of March is when I thought to do this so there was already some progress on Oh Snap and Bare Back. In future updates I'll be going by this rather than images so I thought i'd still include it now.

In terms of my no-buy it is going fabulous. I can't believe I still haven't purchased one makeup item. I do have Sephora gift vouchers that I said would be excluded from the no-buy but all I've bought with one was a new brush to replace an older one. I'm very impressed with myself and it is allowing me to enjoy my current collection!

So that is it for my update. Are you doing a project pan too? If so, how are you going, I'd love to know!

Reached goal on 5 items

- Tartelette in bloom flower child (empty)

- Tartelette in bloom smarty pants (hit pan)
- Tartelette in bloom charmer (hit pan)

- Colourpop ulta glossy lip in weho (empty)
- Inika Organic BB cream

I officially have enough posts in my trash talk series for someone to read one every day of the week! I'm not sure who would do that but I just thought I'd mention it 😂

Over the summer holidays (yes, Australia is opposite for those reading from the other side of the world), I accumulated quite a few products. You'd also be aware that I am attempting a project pan so, by the end of the year, I hope to include more makeup products within these posts. For now, let's talk trash...

The Body Shop - Almond Milk & Honey body lotion

$20 

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This is a product I don't generally use up. When it comes to moisturising my body I often opt out of that step but I'm glad I used this up. This body lotion claims to soothe uncomfortable tight, itchy dry skin. I found it to be really hydrating and did not leave a greasy feeling. I'm unsure whether I would repurchase it as I have a few other lotions that I need to work my way through, but I did really enjoy this one so I would consider it.

NYX - Dewy Setting Spray

$14.95

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

A nice daily use spray if you can be bothered taking the extra step. It did leave a very dewy finish to my face which sometimes made my makeup feel heavier? Or at least made me notice I had makeup on my skin, which at times was not a pleasant feeling. I guess this did work but isn't a must for me so I won't be repurchasing. I also do prefer the Urban Decay All Nighter over this.

Josie Maran - Pure Argan Milk

(sample)

⭐

As someone with dry skin I did not think I would ever say this, this was too much for my skin. In the sense it was over hydrating but my skin didn't really absorb it. I found it to clog my pores and whenever I used it I had those small congested bumps afterwards. I ended up tossing it before using it up so luckily it was just a sample.

Models Prefer - BB Youth Boost

$16.99

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This is a beautiful BB cream. It sat so nicely on my skin and I absolutely loved using it. The only reason it lacks that final star is because of the shade range - there are only two. I found it to be a little too ashy/pink for my skin tone so for this reason I won't repurchase but it really was a lovely product and gave my skin such a healthy look.

Stem - Hydrating Face Fluid

$23.10

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

If you have sensitive skin and struggle to find a moisturiser that works for you then this is a great product. It is hydrating yet has a thin consistency so it absorbs nicely into the skin. For dryer skin types this pairs nicely with a facial oil for added moisture. I have a review on it here. I would consider purchasing this in the future.

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip

$6.50

⭐ ⭐

Regular viewers of my Instagram stories would know I am tossing Midi, Beeper and Clueless from Colourpop as they are old in my collection and were well loved. The other Ultra Matte Lips I am decluttering (rehoming). These three in particular have had their formula change over time and just crumble off my lips. I personally wouldn't repurchase this formula from Colourpop as I am not the biggest fan of liquid lipsticks. Due to their formula and comfort they get quite a low rating however, the shades are gorgeous.

Nourish London - Kale 3D Cleanse

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I loved this cleanser, 30% because it changes colour when it comes into contact with water and being rubbed on your face and 70% because it worked well. Kale is one of my favourite vegetables so if it is in a cleanser I immediately love it. It left my skin feeling clean and brighter looking (over time). Even though I really enjoyed using this I won't be repurchasing as I have a pretty solid skincare routine right now so I don't require another face wash. 

Palmer's - Ultra Gentle Facial Cleansing Oil

$10.49

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Another one bites the dust. I won't say anything about this as it is in every skin diaries or trash talk I have written. There is one new thing I have to say about this though, *SHOCK ALERT* I won't be repurchasing this any time soon as I have replaced it with LUSH's ultrabland cleanser. This could make an appearance in the future though, I am missing it.

Derma E - Nourishing Rose Cleansing Oil

sample

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This product is similar to the Palmer's cleansing oil however, is a much thinner oil. I did enjoy using it but like I said, I don't require it in my skin care routine. If you aren't a fan of cleansing oils that leave your skin feeling oily then I recommend this one. It is very gentle on the skin and removes makeup quite well.

Chi Chi Cosmetics - Super CC Cream

$29.95

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This is one of those products that I changed my mind about the more I used it. At the beginning I didn't really like this CC cream. I found it broke up on my skin or left me looking cakey. After working with it and getting to know the formula I actually loved this product. I found it worked best on my bare skin and if I was going to powder it then loose powder seemed to work best. It offers great coverage but doesn't feel heavy on the skin. I will say, when I paired it with primer, concealer and pressed powder it did feel heavy and I hated wearing it. This is more of my go-to product when I had to wake up at 6:30am for work and wanted quick coverage and a very minimal makeup look.

When I work my way through more foundations I will figure out which were my absolute favourites and if this still makes the list I would repurchase.

Physician's Formula - Organic Wear CC Cream

$18.27

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

It appears that BB/CC creams are a common theme for this trash talk. I really enjoyed working through the ones in my collection over summer because they're the perfect base product. For a lighter coverage, and I mean barely there, this was a great option. It has really basic ingredients that are good for your skin which I appreciated. I found it applied best with my hands as it really helped the thicker cream melt into my skin. It wasn't cakey as it was super light-weight and undetectable. I won't repurchase for the time being and I want more coverage if I am going to wear makeup. I see myself buying and wearing this when my skin is clearer and I have a full time job because it would work better for that.

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Rosewater Mask

$18.95

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This was an ok hydrating mask. I did enjoy the consistency of it, I found it sunk into my skin nicely and when I rinsed off the excess my skin felt soft and hydrated. The strange thing is that it is formulated for sensitive skin types but I found it burnt mine sometimes? Due to this I wouldn't repurchase.

Brite Organix Masques in mango and coffee

$15 each

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I love a good hair mask. Not only do these work well but they are practical and come in a variety of scents and hair needs. I have multiple more in my collection so I will be well off for a while.

I find I can get 4-6 uses out of each pouch. Keep in mind my hair is above my shoulders. They're easy to use, not oily or sticky, I love them. The reason they have 4 stars is because I personally find straight up coconut oil to be a super beneficial hair mask and that is my #1 favourite. These are still a great alternative if you don't want to melt coconut oil to make your own.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

$18 (4ml)

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Prior to trying Inika Organic's long lash vegan mascara this way my absolute favourite. I would even say they may be equal first in terms of how they make my lashes look. I am trying to be good and only have 1 mascara at a time but I would definitely repurchase this in the 4ml size. It lasted me quite a while and my lashes looked so fluffy and natural, yet I could get them to look dramatic if I wanted to. I love the size of the brush, I love the formula, I love everything about it

I even love the packaging and wand so much that I think I will repurpose it to be an eyebrow and eye lash oil serum or just keep the wand to act as a spoolie.

Organic Care Coco Repair Shampoo

$6 (larger bottle)

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Can you tell I don't keep a theme to these posts, I'm always all over the place because I literally pick things out of a box as I go. Anywho, this is the only shampoo brand I've used ever since I can remember. I have always used natural/organic hair care in my life so I can't really compare it to anything. I like it and I find it cleans my hair, although I don't have oily or problematic hair. It gets the job done and I will continue to use it. My favourite range of theirs is the dry nourish range though.

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Hand Cream

$7

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This is an exciting product for me as I've never used up, let alone owned a hand cream before. It was a joy to use this every night before bed or even throughout the day because it didn't leave any weird residue. It sunk in nicely and my hands were not slippery at all. I enjoyed the smaller size and scent, I am considering repurchasing it in the future.

Natural Instinct Hydrating Facial Wipes

$7.99

⭐

I rarely dislike a product that is good for your skin but I just didn't find these wipes to be "moist" enough to remove makeup. They also dried up pretty quickly so I wasn't able to use them all.

I appreciate that they are also biodegradable but they didn't work for makeup removal. I guess in the future I could maybe use them as hand wipes? But for now, its a no from me.

Keratin Complex

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I purchased this when I was in Italy so I have no idea where to find it or if it even exists anymore. I did enjoy this spray as it left my hair feeling nice but I can't repurchase it.

Grants of Australia Mild Mint with Aloe Vera toothpaste x2

$2.60

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

My favourite SAFE toothpaste. It feels like a "traditional" chemical toothpaste in the sense it feels and tastes minty but it does not irritate my teeth whatsoever. It is also an affordable green switch that anyone can make.

Derma E Overnight Peel

sample

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I have dry skin, texture and scarring so I love peels. I don't know how to describe what this product did but it somehow make my overall appearance nicer. I would repurchase once I work through a few other skincare products.

ARCONA Cranberry Toner

sample but usually $55

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Ahhh, I hate to love this because the full size is so pricey for a step I usually skip. It is refreshing, hydrating, gentle and just magical liquid in a bottle. I don't know if I would purchase this but I indulged in it while I had it. It also smells amazing. I will have to think very deeply about repurchasing it but I really did love it. P.S. Repurposing the bottle to use for traveling. Reduce, reuse recycle!

Blissoma Tone Intense Hydration Tonique

sample

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Another toner I loved? I never used toner before, I never saw the purpose of it but I actually enjoyed this one too. It is in a spray bottle which I love a little more than the previous one because it's convenient. It is also cheaper at $32. It worked quite similar to the ARCONA one and since this one is marketed for dry skin it worked wonders for me. I am also repurposing this bottle for travel and may repurchase.

Eye of Horus bio Lash Lift mascara

$38

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

If you have sensitive or easily irritated eyes then this is the mascara for you. It gives off a very natural appearance to your lashes but I also found the wand to be a little difficult to work with at times as it can gather excess product. If you remember to wipe the excess off then it is completely fine.

Tilk - Love me hand cream and regenerate me facial cream

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

First off the hand cream. Since I am a newly converted hand cream user this was another one I enjoyed. Similarly to the body shop one it didn't leave a strange film behind and I actually found it to be a tad more hydrating. It helped with dry skin and I don't know what they're called but you know when your nails peel on the edges and if you rip it off they bleed? Those things. It helped prevent those but even soften it enough for me to cut off easily. It was a great one to use at night time as it comes in a little pot.

The regenerate facial cream left my skin feeling hydrated and soft. It didn't irritate my skin in any way nor did it break me out. I found it had an almost mousse like consistency but very airy. I did enjoy it and now I'm excited to try out their other products they sent to me.

Both of these products are vegan, natural and travel friendly, which is awesome!

Nourish London firming facial oil

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I am a big fan of facial oils, in fact I have a drawer full of them and have no idea when I'll get to using them all. Thankfully I find I go through them at a pretty good pace as they pair well with my dry skin. I've tried many oils in the past and currently, this one sunk in nicely, didn't break me out (which some can) and had a thin consistency. If you're familiar with facial oils you can tell when it is a good one and when it isn't. My preference is a thin consistency that sinks in well, typically with oils you don't want your skin to feel or look oily. Two to three drops is plenty. 

This is another bottle I can repurpose and keep for travel. It is a good small size for me to transfer my larger bottled oil into.

Sukin sensitive Facial Moisturiser

$5.49

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Finally, the last item. I know these posts can get long so I will write a little about this and then I'm done. I used to be a fan of cream moisturisers and this is a great one but I've gone completely oil based. It is light and gentle like it states, sits nicely under makeup, affordable and natural.

If you made it this far then I am very impressed! What is something you have used up recently?

A no-buy, something that could be good for some or challenging for others. I've done a few no-buys over the time of being a beauty lover and I am currently on a year long one. I've figured out and learnt a few tips and tricks so I thought I'd share.

1. Make a makeup inventory
This tip is the most important in my option. You physically how much you own, how many products you have in each category etc.

I've put mine together via excel but you can do it in your bullet journal, word, a notebook or a follower of mine (Tanya) suggested an app: Momento.

Having a monthly tally will also help to keep you motivated as it will tell you how much you're actually using up, whether it is money-wise or the quantity in a certain category.

My previous blogpost is all about how to make a makeup inventory!

2. Start off with a low-buy
Instead of going completely from frequent makeup purchases to none at all, consider taking baby steps. You could set a monthly or yearly makeup budget, whichever works for you. Or you could only purchase a new product for X amount of products you use up.

For me, I will only repurchase something if I run out of products in that category. For example, I only own two black mascaras so once they're used up or dried out I will allow myself to buy another one.

3. Set yourself challenges
If you're the type of person that likes challenges or setting goals with makeup then consider doing a pan that palette or project pan. There are heaps of types on youtube, there's project 10 pan, 18 by the end of 2018 and so on. You would have seen my intro to my first project pan a few weeks ago so,  I'm only picking a few products to see how I go.

A few of my favourite YouTubers that promote using the makeup you own:
Kelly
Elle
Samantha
Liv
Tash

I find binge watching these ladies (and a few others that pop up in recommendations), really helps me stay motivated to use what I own.

4. Don't give in to new releases (how?!)
This is sometimes easier said than done. However, Elle has a great video about FOMO (fear of missing out) which has really helped me not care for new releases. She makes a great point that those products will a) always be around, or b) if it's limited edition and you fall in love with it, you won't be able to repurchase it any way.

5. Shop your stash
Switch things up often, play around with your makeup to create new looks you haven't tried before.

Hopefully these tips are helpful, as well as the youtubers I have recommended. Let me know if you're giving a no-buy a go, if so, how long?