We think it’s safe to say all of us have a drawer or box full of abandoned makeup items we just knew we needed (at the time). That anti-aging serum highlighter that your favorite YouTuber said was the must have item of the season or that "limited edition" lip kit you had to get before it went away forever or how about those lashes it made sense to buy in bulk knowing you rarely pop them on. Sis, let’s be honest, those products never see the light of day and all the while your lifetime average of money spent on these items is rising day after day.
A new piece in Daily Mail found women in the UK spend a whooping £180,000 (which equates to about $209K in USD) on makeup products throughout their life. They also found that women typically only use about 10% of the estimated 5,846 products in their lifetime. Sheesh!
PHOTO: SkinStore
Back in 2017, the SkinStore did a survey with 3,000 women (between the ages of 16-75) to learn their beauty habits and evaluate state trends. They found women in the U.S. spend about $300K on makeup during their lifespan and women in New York, Connecticut and West Virginia hold the crown for "most expensive face(s)."
Reuters estimates that by 2023 the global cosmetic product market will reach a value of 805.61 billion and is one sector that never seems to be affected by market highs and lows; and now we can see why!
Now that we got the number, what are some ways you can avoid adding to your collection and increasing your lifetime total? Here are five tips:
1. Check Your Expiration Dates
So many of us are using beauty products that are expired and we may not even know it. While finding expired products may add some space to your collection (and we are trying to do the opposite), if you see things in your collection that are not expired, then do not buy new ones! Here’s a helpful chart to gauge expirations timeframes:
PHOTO: Makeup.com
2. Shop Your Own Makeup Drawer
And continuing with the thought of the first point, shop your own stuff. It’s tempting to want to stay up on the latest beauty trends but if it is not necessity, explore what you already own!
3. Get A Sample Instead
Before you splurge on a full-sized product you are not sure YOU will personally like or you don’t actually need, get a sample. Stores like Sephora offer free samples of products for you to test at your leisure and you won’t suffer buyers remorse if it doesn’t work out. And let’s be honest, a nice sample size can last you some time if you play your cards right.
4. Do Your Research
A new product caught your attention? Your next step should be to do some research on it. Read reviews, watch some videos, ask your friends about it but do not write down the name and go hunt it down immediately. After evaluating what you’ve found, meditate on the information for a few days. We know, it may sound strange, but 9 times out of 10 if you take time to think about it you’ll realize you don’t need it.
5. Donate Your "Unwanteds"
Okay, so you already bought the products and checked their expirations but still do not have a need for them but you don’t want them to waste away; donate them. There are numerous organizations collecting unused and gently used makeup to donate to women in need. Also, local women shelters are usually receptive to receiving makeup donations as well.
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