Downsizing My Collection: Purging

After the past week of my Project 10 Pan makeup spending ban, I've really begun to reflect on the reason why I'm doing this and my vision for my makeup collection.  This started out as the realization that I have way too much makeup and I'll probably never use it up.  But what I'm coming to realize is that I really just want a collection I'm happy with.  I've always worn makeup but before I really started experimenting with it, I never had makeup that I loved.  I always just wore makeup because I was supposed to and because I knew it made me look better.  Now I wear makeup because it's fun and I enjoy some "me" time each day when I put my makeup on.  So what I really want is to look at my collection and feel that the items I have are things I really enjoy.  Then why do I keep products that I've purchased and don't like or even hate?  I guess I feel like it's wasteful to get rid of something that I've paid for with my hard earned money.  I don't feel so bad giving things away, because I feel like other people might enjoy them and that would make me happy.


Makeup is really an experiment in finding things you love.  Sometimes that can be hard because you find a lot of duds along the way and as soon as you find that holy grail item, it seems like the company discontinues it and comes out with ten similar new products (Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer, anyone?).  I'm sure this is exactly what makeup companies intend.  That way, we try and pay for five items until one works.  Then start the whole process over when they discontinue that.  It's a vicious cycle to make us spend more.


Luckily, with the popularity of the Internet and resources like Makeup Alley, YouTube and bloggers, a bit of the guessing game is taken out.  If everyone else likes a product, you may like it too.  If everyone thinks it's crap, it's probably crap.


So here's the point.  I went through my makeup collection and purged several items for a variety of reasons.  The mascaras pictured were all well older than six months (the expiration for mascara is 3-6 months).  Some of the mascaras were products I liked, some were products that were okay, and some I hated. The eyeliner was really good buy the brush was difficult to work with for me.  The lipstick was fine except that it had completely fallen out of the tube.  It might be wasteful but I just didn't like this lipstick enough to depot it and use it that way.


Then there's the powder.  I hate this powder.  I can't even explain it; It makes me so angry!!  I originally bought it hoping for a full coverage matte powder from the drugstore but I found it to be cakey and heavy feeling on the skin.  Additionally, this product oxidized on me very badly and very quickly.  Overall, it was a horrible powder and I would even feel bad giving this junk away to someone else.  It's kind of odd how much I hate this inanimate object but I felt so good throwing it away!


So here are my ethical questions for all of you.  How do you feel about throwing away makeup if you can't give it to someone else who would appreciate it?  How do you feel about throwing away makeup that you just plain hate?  I'm fine with my decision because most of these were expired items but it left me wondering what other people's opinions were of tossing bad makeup.


What I tossed:

N.Y.C. Smooth and Natural Matte Powder Foundation in Urban Light

N.Y.C. Show Time Volumizing Mascara

N.Y.C. Sky Rise Lengthening Mascara

N.Y.C. Liquid Eyeliner

Essence Black Mania Mascara

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara Waterproof

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara Washable

Essence Lash Mania Ultra Volume Mascara

Wet N Wild Mega Plump Mascara

Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Mascara Duo

N.Y.C. Ultra Moist Lipwear in Petal