How are your 2015 beauty-related resolutions going? (If you made any! If you didn’t, check back tomorrow for a new question!)
They’re going okay – I definitely could be better, but I have added exercise into my routine, and I’m trying to find ways to sleep better (nothing has helped, though).
Thanks to Rosie for today’s question! Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
My resolution was to avoid negativity (aka b&#@# in and moaning) it’s hard but it had really helped that I’m more mindful of people’s moods and how by just keeping my calm I can help them be happier. I admit sometimes I fail but that’s ok 🙂
That is probably the best possible resolution. If one stays calm and grounded and free from negativity it will definitely show even if the only access to cosmetics is water … ( and some spf)
what’s the matter, Christine? are you not able to sleep through the night, or are you trying to adjust the time you go to sleep/wake?
I wake up 2-5 times a night, which is how I’ve slept since as long as I can remember (even in early teens), but the older I get, the more I feel it when I wake up. I usually can only sleep for six hours, so break that up into 5 chunks and you can see why it’s not so great! I don’t have trouble falling asleep typically, and when I wake up, I fall back asleep within five minutes. I’ve talked to my doctor, who said to try exercise, but when I was doing a lot of exercise, it didn’t help (I actually woke up more) (I need to exercise more in general, since I sit for most of the day, regardless of whether it helps me sleep, though). I know the next step is going to sleep a clinic, but we’ll see 🙂 I keep hoping the exercise will magically make it better, haha.
Do you think you have sleep apnea? Does your husband notice your breathing very deeply and then kinda trail off to a stop? It is also common amongst people who snore. it’s pretty serious,can be fatal. You should follow up on that miss. I am a nurse. I need your beauty advice and the world doesn’t need to lose you period.Sleep clinics aren’t so bad..It’s a mini vacation. 🙂
Nope, there’s nothing that suggests I have that – I almost never snore, and my husband has looked for any unusual breathing or breathing patterns but nothing detected. I’m definitely working with my doctor, so I promise I’m not ignoring it as a problem!
Okay..just make sure you don’t ignore it! When I first got sick, I went 5 days straight without sleeping at all! it was a living nightmare..Sleep is so important to your overall health. You need to be well for yourself and family. Just keep on it. we all care about you and if you need to take a break form the blog to get this straight,do it. Could be stress related.
🙂
I totally agree with Nicole. Take care of yourself girl, your health is the most important thing in the world. So glad you are seeking help for it, hope you find a solution soon.
I’m a life long insomniac (though my problem is more falling asleep and keeping with a reliable sleep/wake schedule than it is waking up), so I feel for you Christine! It’s a wretched problem to have.
Hope you’re on your way to a solution yourself 🙂 My mom’s an insomniac, and I know how hard it is on her, so I feel for you!
Christine you should try some GABA or Valerian. I use them both nightly and the GABA in particular is amazing. They’re both natural, so there’s no worries.
Thanks for the suggeestion! I have tried valerian root, I think!
I hope you find something that helps. I’ve been an insomniac for as long as I can remember (at least from age 2 or 3). Medication kind of helps, but not a lot. Exercise helps some. The whole situation is wretched.
It is! Sorry to hear about your sleeping problems 🙁
Does your husband have restless limb syndrome? My husband’s legs used to kick when we first got married. I thought he was dreaming of marathon running. When we got older, his arms, hands and even his neck started to twitch, grab, and spasm. I didn’t realize that this was what was waking me up so many times in the night. Could it also be a noise that wakes you but you are unaware that it does? The dog or a neighbor? We once had a neighbor who ran a dry cleaner and came home at 2am and slammed the door every night.
I’ve slept the same since I was a preteen/early teen (as long as I can remember), so I don’t think so – at the house I grew up in, the second home we moved to, college dorm, a slew of apartments, and my home now. I usually wear ear plugs at night, just in case (I am a light sleeper). Husband definitely doesn’t have restless limb syndrome, though! We also have a great mattress, so it helps to minimize feeling any movement from the other.
Well, my low buy was going ok until mid – February. I kind of went crazy on Valentine’s Day, but I will be returning a MAC foundation that didn’t work out, but I just got the new NARS Weightless Luminous Foundation. And since I have oily lids, I’m always looking for products that promise to wear like iron, so I ordered the new Tom Ford cream shadow. And 3 of the Giorgio Armani Eye Tints! My only consolation is I got them for 19% off ( GA was having a 15% off sale +4% off from Ebates) so they were like $31 instead of $38. So February is not good! Hope March is better. Sorry to hear about your sleeping issues, sleep is really important, hope you find something that works, or maybe try a sleep clinic?
My resolution was to buy less makeup. I’m doing pretty good. Really enjoying seeing “You are $1000 from reaching Rouge” on Sephora. I’m sure I’ll buy something during the spring event though.
Other than that, I wanted to do daily night massages and take better care of my lips. They’re going moderately well. Not perfect but good.
My skincare routine is terrible and I don’t sleep as much as I should. It’s only February, I have time to fix it 🙁
I didn’t actually make a resolution about it, but my rosacea is finally under enough control for me to try an anti-aging skin care routine with BHA and retinol, and I had some serious worries that I’d be too tired in the evening to implement it consistently, but, I’m happy to report, so far, so good! I haven’t missed that many nights, and so far my skin is tolerating it. I chose Paula’s Choice products because they’re at least free of unnecessary irritants (retinol is a beneficial irritant — so are AHAs — but rosaceaic skin doesn’t usually tolerate AHAs or mechanical exfoliation) and am quite pleased with them. I even added stabilized 15% vitamin C without any skin rebellion!
The one thing that helps me sleep really well is when I get a serious amount of exercise. Due to various medical problems, there aren’t a lot of exercises that I can do, but if I get in 10,000 brisk steps (for me that’s about 4 miles of walking, takes between 1.25 and 1.45 hours depending on conditons/circumstances) or 45 minutes on an elliptical trainer, I sleep ***way*** better. So, if you can find a way to amp up the exercise, it might help with sleep, as well. It can also be seriously worth it to get checked for sleep apnea, because if that’s an issue, nothing else is going to help with sleep until that gets sorted out. I know people think you have to be overweight and/or older to have a problem with sleep apnea, but not so. The one thing I would recommend is to go to an academic center for testing because I think some free-standing “sleep” centers over-diagnose. And a real sleep specialist can also help figure out if something else might be going on. Anyway, good luck with it, a good night’s sleep sure makes a world of difference!
Thanks for the advice, Fran! 🙂
Also exercise should be completed well before bed time, preferably in the AM to revive up your day. This is a definite case of do what I say, not what I do. The suggestion to find a medical center of excellence sleep specialist. Sleep has been studied and more is learned frequently. It is not limited to sleep apnea. Much can be managed quite easily once diagnosed. Good luck.
Yes, I do my exercise in the morning, when I do it 🙂 When I was doing exercise 5-6 days a week, 45-1 hour, it was usually 7-9am (somewhere in there). (That was my best attempt at exercising regularly). Now when I do it, it’s still in the AM, I’m just nowhere near that level of consistency!
Yeah, if you’re a difficult sleeper it’s hard to change that, I know 🙁
As for my resolutions, I’m getting better at not picking at pimples. Getting a blackhead remover helps a lot.
So far, my ‘no buy’ is going strong (I only have to hold out ’til Easter). I’d also resolved to walk in the mornings before work, and I did fine the whole month of January. This month, though — with the snow, the sub-zero temps, and the road conditions — the walking has, shall we say, tapered off a bit. To almost nothing! Trying slowly to get back on track!
I have found that sometimes when I have trouble sleeping, I will switch sides of the bed. Seems to help 🙂
Thanks for the tip, Sharee!
I didn’t make any because i try to improve myself throughout life. But I am truly trying to drink more water every day and I just purchased some Hakuhodo brushes – i want to have brushes that work very well for me so i dont have to keep searching for good ones and wasting money.
Makeup low-buy is going strong — seven Colourpop eyeshadows at the start of the year is the only makeup purchase I’ve made — and switching to Garnier moisture gel and Neutrogenea eye makeup remover has kept skincare costs down. It will go out the window in mid-March, though, when I use up the last of my Les Voilettes (bluh. My most expensive regular purchase, but the only thing that keeps my oil in check) and run out of mascara.
Also I kind of cheated my low-buy by picking up the Ambient Lighting Palette in late December. Oops.
My beauty related resolution was to stop buying so much makeup. So far, I’ve done pretty good. I didn’t put myself on a complete no buy but more of a low buy. So far I’ve just bought replenishment items (foundation, powder, and mascara) and a couple of Colour Pop eyeshadows and Urban Decay sheer revolution lipsticks. For me that’s not too bad lol. I also plan on trying to take better care of myself because the healthier you are the better you look really. My sleep patterns also completely suck (for lack of a better term.) I have a horrible time falling asleep and staying asleep which seems to have gotten worse the past few months. Hopefully this will get better.
My beauty resolution was to buy smart. I have done pretty well. I did have a big fall off with the incident where I bought 18 of the Anastasia liquid lipsticks which I pretty much did not care for at all. So, I have sent 12 back and am still waiting for my refund. I plan to contact them later today as it’s been a week since they have received them and it was within the terms of their refund policy..fingers crossed. Other than that, I have researched everything I have bought. I am not on a low or no buy, just within my means. I could do that and be fine. But, I really just started my collection about a year or so a go. prior to that I was just the girl with a drawer with stuff I needed and yep, I hit pan on the regular! 🙂 I have always loved makeup and skincare. It just had to go lower on my priorities list at the time.
My low-buy is going okay, but it could be better. I have, however, been able to use up several products and have hit pan on a few others, so I’m (almost) breaking even! My skincare routine could be better, but I find it really difficult to squeeze every product in at night. I just want to crawl into bed instead of applying serums, oils, eye creams…
I made my resolution a bit late (in February, figured better late than never) and it’s to take better care of my hair and my skin! I just got fed up with my broken damaged hair and breakout prone skin. So far it’s been going really well, washing my face thoroughly twice daily (no more taking off makeup with a wipe and calling it a night!) and using a conditioning hair mask when I shower. Even though I’ve always been kind of lazy with this stuff, now that I’ve gotten into a routine I feel so much better! I can’t stand to skip a wash or a hair mask anymore and it’s made a huge difference. If you’re thinking of doing something like this, just take the plunge, you’ll be so glad! 🙂
I was doing really well with my low buy until the past month, when I bought the Lancome spring palette, one Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick, and the Chanel lip palette and eyeliner from Collection La Perle. Lately, I’ve been tempted by any new, pretty, shiny product that’s released, but I know I don’t NEED anything else!
I’d definitely recommend going to a sleep clinic. I studied under a sleep scientist in university and even worked in their sleep lab for a while and they have much more knowledge than your typical doctor, including so many different suggestions for things you can personally do to eliminate frequent wakings. It sounds like you are experiencing very interrupted sleep, so I hope you get it figured out!
Thanks for the advice, Cat!
My resolution is to be more bold with my lipstick choices instead of just nudes. It’s a slow process that I think I’m overthinking!
Christine, have you had your Magnesium levels tested? Magnesium deficiencies can cause sleep issues so taking a supplement may help!
I don’t remember off-hand, but I had blood work done previously for sleep a couple of years ago.
Good. I splurged on the Anastasia liquid lipsticks, but otherwise I’ve been keeping my spending in check.
I didn’t make any “resolutions”, but I do want to make more of an effort to do warmer eye looks, and really stick to my “list” without buying even small, inexpensive things. So far, I’ve been using my tarte Holiday palette at least 2X a week, and that has some warmer leaning shades. As for my spending, I did cave-once-and bought the UD Vice LTD palette, since I literally tripped over the display table at ULTA… I’m really trying to make a concerted effort to get through my list by Summer, and I still seem to be on track!
This may sound strange, but have you tried using a cooling device, like a “Chillow”? It’s a pad used on top of your actual pillow, and you fill it with water, so it stays cold through the night. My daughter always had trouble sleeping, but since we bought her one, she sleeps through the night, and falls asleep almost immediately. The funny thing is, we bought her one because she wanted it, and we noticed her improved sleeping. A few weeks later, I ran across an article that suggested this, as there is som physiological reason it works. Like I said, it sounds to good to be true, but it’s a simple, inexpensive thing to try!
I’ll look into it! Thank you!
I used to have trouble sleeping too. I never actually talked to my doctor about this but I used to read articles about sleep and incorporated a lot of tips. Your doctor has probably mentioned all of these but just in case…
Agreed with Amy about temperature. Room temperature can make the difference between a sound or a fitful sleep–especially if you have a warmer body core temperature than average. Christine, don’t you live somewhere in SoCal so it’s warmer? Plus, you have long hair–and that keeps you warm too. And if your mattress is foam like a tempur-pedic, that also holds in heat and can prevent a sound sleep–so you’ll have to find a mattress topper to counteract that. I always keep my window open in the evening before bedtime. I think the ideal room temp for bedtime is somewhere in the low 60s.
Also, are you light sensitive? Light exposure from all kinds of things can affect circadian rhythms and sleep cycles. I cover everything that emits light at night with Post-it’s like my alarm clock (even the tiny little light on my smoke detector) and use blackout curtains bc street lights from outside can wake me up. I also dim the lights as it gets closer to bedtime and use a software like Twilight or f.lux to keep my screen even dimmer and to emit more red light (versus blue light). I also don’t watch movies in the dark before bed (the stark light-dark contrast between dark surroundings and bright screen bothers me). I keep several lights on a low setting peripherally while watching a movie. I also bring an eye mask when I travel to block out light.
Someone mentioned exercise? I also walk over 10,000 steps a day for my job–and I have noticed a difference in sleep between the days I’m on the job and when I’m not. Maybe look into one of those new pedometers like fitbit to motivate you bc it helps you set goals: I read about a magazine writer who tested out these pedometers. She’ll park her car farther away, do more stuff around the house, hike with her dog and/or friends for miles, meander around more aisles while grocery shopping, etc. And she’ll do all this sometimes while listening to an audiobook–she says the story gets so good she doesn’t want to stop her task–so she ends up walking more.
Showering in the evening/night relaxes my muscles and thus helps me sleep soundly instead of lightly–it’s part of my ritual. Leftover tension or soreness from exercise or work can keep me sleeping fitfully and showering before bed helps with that. Gentle evening stretching and warm-ups help deal with tension or soreness too. Or massages–massage schools tend to be cheaper if you want to try that.
You write a lot already for this blog but I sometimes find journaling helps me sleep a lot better.
A set daily routine is important–same with a set bedtime ritual–keep that consistent.
In my bedroom–I only consistently do 2 things: sleep or change clothes. This way, the environment subconsciously hints I’m here to sleep.
I also find that getting out of the house often and then coming home helps. I’m guessing bloggers work a lot from home. I’m a homebody myself but I find I sleep better if I don’t spend all day at home.
I also avoid caffeine after lunch time if I can.
That’s all I can think of right now.
Thank you so much for all of the suggestions, Maggie! 🙂 I have poorer circulation and get cold really easily, so I don’t know if it’s a temperature issue, but we keep our house temperature controlled and I live in Northern California. We have blackout blinds, run an overhead fan, and I play music designed for sleeping and wear earplugs to minimize any ambient noise. Our house is newer so it doesn’t make a lot of odd noises in the night thankfully. My mom says I sleep lightly because we almost had someone break into our home when I was young (under 10), though I have an alarm and sensors on every accessible window/door at my home.
I’m on a no-buy for the first 100 days of this year. Although the temptation has been stacking up, I’ve done well so far. I might even extend the no-buy until June.
My 2015 beauty resolutions was to have a low-buy! So far it’s working out ok, I’ve bought a few things I was planning on buying like the NARS dual-intensity palette, or Bite Beauty Limited Release Lip Labs #001 & #002.
The few things I’ve bought that I wasn’t ‘planning on buying’ have been few, like the Sephora + Pantone Marsala lipstick, the Viseart Neutral Matte palette and the Kat Von D Lolita Liquid Lipstick both came back into stock. I bought the Tata Harper Replenishing Nourishing Complex because of Caroline Hirons, and the Guerlain Météorites compact because of Christine! Haha! The only things that are really unaccounted for are all blush 😛 Becca’s Wild Honey, Givenchy Le Prisme Blush in Vogue Orange, and finally the Bobbi Brown ‘Hot Collection’ Calypso cheek palette!
Yesteday was my birthday though, and I’ve been mulling over a ColourPop or Anastasia Beverly Hills purchase. I’m really trying to think about what I’d use more of – from above, I’d say it’d be ColourPop blushes :D!
Happy birthday!
Thanks Christine! 🙂
1. I am wearing more lip colors even around the house
2. I bought some colored liners and some actual nude shadows!
I need to up the brow game still!
Good ones! I’ve also been wearing more lippies around the house & I have been eyeing up my brows lately 😀
My resolution was to finish up some of the foundations that I already have before buying new ones. Then Hautelook had a sale on Koh Gen Do in January and Nars launched a new one this month. Plus I HAD to try that new Bare Minerals Skin Rescue. Long story short, I failed miserably.
i’m trying to eat better, beauty starts from within! and to be better at keeping my skin moisturized with natural oils.
My beauty related resolution was to cut way back on buying new products AND use more of the products that I already have. I have also committed to wearing different looks and experimenting with my makeup more. I have to say I’m doing pretty well. I bought a house last year, and I’ve been trying to spend my extra money on decorating/painting/updating it.
I am quite low maintenance but so far not too bad:
1) whenever possible I have switched to good performing but much cheaper dupes and I am quite pleased with myself, although I have been trailing the internet for hours looking for reviews etc. (I have been trying to cut on internet surfing hours so not entirely a 10/10 success)
2) also i have been quite good in doing double face cleansing at night and a weekly coconut oil hair mask.
3) Regular exercise. This is a massive fail I am afraid.
My resolution was to be a little more bold when it comes to lipsticks and to actually use some of the makeup I buy. I work at home, so it always seems stupid to wear makeup when I go out to run errands. On the other hand, why not? I’ve gotten a little better at it, but still need to work on it. The lipstick resolution is easier, I’m buying bolder and darker shades and really enjoying them.
I’m sorry you have insomnia. I had insomnia for years before a doctor realized it was part of my mental health issues. And believe me, I was shocked at how much better I felt when I started getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep. Hopefully you and your doctors will find a solution, because it really helps with energy levels and the general quality of life.
I am so glad you were able to sort out your sleep issues!! 🙂
My resolution was to stop buying makeup until spring.I am an addict.I have since spent at least $800.$300 in lipstick and gloss
I really only have two: take better care of my hair, and test new stuff in a reasonably timely fashion. The first one is going well – I had to find a new salon, as my previous stylist relocated to another city, which I’ve now done, so no more going months without a haircut! I’ve also invested in a really good brush. And I’m trying to style it more, too. Although now would seem to be the wrong time to do that as my typical hairstyle of slightly messy loose waves is currently in fashion, lol.
The second one is a bit more hit and miss so far, but I did get a clear acrylic organiser specifically to house new products and it sits on my dresser so it’s staring me in the face and I can’t forget to try stuff! Or rather, which stuff I still need to give a proper trial. I have very reactive skin so I do need to regularly back off from using anything new and stick only to proven products for a bit, if I am having any skin issues.
Well, my biggest one was to go on low-buy. It’s going OK, but I’ve fallen off the wagon a couple times.
Setting up, repainting and redecorating the spare bedroom into a makeup room is going slowly but surely.
I want to spend more time with my kids. I realize having worked as much as I did in the past, I missed a lot of them growing up. Their smiles and laughter make me laugh and smile. Except at 11 in a school night!
Really well so far! For my “low to no buy” year this year, I’ve only purchased mascara and a black L’Oreal liquid eyeliner so far (thanks to the Editor’s Choice for the recommendation!)
I’m still really focusing on “wants vs needs”… I’m going to NEED a new UD Underground eyeliner soon (I wear it almost every day), but I’m proud to be not indulging in things I truly don’t need, and making use of what I already have 🙂
Good luck to everyone on their resolutions!
I had a couple of resolutions this year.
1) Low buy. Doing moderately well. A slip up when Physicians Formula products were on for 50% off. Here in Canada, those products are often over 20$ each so I normally stay away.
2) Use what I have. Trying to branch out rather than using the same old stuff everyday. I hate throwing anything away knowing its expired but I didn’t get my moneys worth out of it so I’m determined to use up some of the older products I have.
3) Find cheaper dupes. Im trying to find dupes for certain high end products that I love and never want to be without like Bioderma.. I heard Garnier has a comparable product and since its almost 30$ a bottle, I want to find a more wallet friendly alternative from the drugstore.
Although, I made no resolutions, I did purchase a vanity and another Iris cart which he’s helped tremendously with organisations. This is something that does not come easily for err me. I also made my daughter come over and look though my make up and skin care ad take some home. She God two grocery bags full. In addition we were able to discard products that were past their prime. I’ve limited purchases to replacements, the new UD palette which I love. I’ve also determined some deeper or brighter lip products that work better on me and ha ave purchased about three new colors. Have had some health issues those year that have slowed me down. This activity and all your stories help so much.
Oh, Christine, maybe you could try yoga? I know it helped me destress and calm down A LOT. Plus, many of my friends, and myself included, find that it really really helps come sleep time – better sleep quality, plus they feel more rested once morning comes as well.
Have tried yoga as well 🙂
terrible. LOL. I have lost the extra baby weight but now need to get rid of the flab…and my exercise routine has fallen by the wayside. But I AM focusing more on skincare now, so that part is going good!
My beauty resolutions are about hit pan and finish many products that I haven´t finished yet but I have too!!!
I’m doing well on my project pan but my no-buy was a total flop. Still, I’ve learned to be a lot more conscious when buying makeup!
Hi Christine! Have you tried melatonin to help you fall asleep at night? It’s not a sleeping pill and it is a natural hormone that occurs in your body. I first learned about it in neuroscience and decided to give it a try. It has helped me fall asleep and sleep better which was important during a semester when I was taking 8 classes and really really needed to sleep if I was going to have the energy to make it through my day. Hope this helps!
I have tried 🙂 That’s what my parents and aunts and uncles all use! I’ve tried regular and time release!
And none of those worked? Aw I’m sorry to hear 🙁
I had sleep problems my whole life and that was one of the few things that worked for me. The other was reading a children’s book on putting kids to bed. The tips worked on putting myself to bed as well!
I hope you sleep better soon! I know how hard sleep issues can be!