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How happy were you with your beauty purchases this year?

Fairly happy, actually, since I say that more from the perspective of trying to be better about how much (and what) I purchase for review so that I actually review most of what I buy vs. over-purchasing and not having the time to review everything.

— Christine

19 Comments

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Kuávsui Avatar

Mostly happy, and I would be happier if I remembered that I never have any luck with MAC foundations ? I tend to pick the wrong formulas and shades every time despite trying on samples first, I don’t understand myself and at this point I am too broke to keep trying. Glad I have enough good foundation and other base products to see me through the entire 2018 and the first half of 2019.

I decluttered a lot of things from my collection and kept what I am likely to use at least sometimes, and this proved to be a good choice. My makeup buying resolution for the next yea, instead of a low-buy, no-buy or something like that, will be getting what I actually want instead of what I think I should buy. I got Viseart’s Minx against my second thoughts and turns out it has been my most loved eye palette this year, over everything else I got because I thought I ’should’.

Robin Avatar

Very happy with most purchases ! This is the first year I followed Temptalia and researched reviews on products . I never had time . The downside is I spent a fortune revamping my entire makeup stash . It’s been a fun year but now I’m on a “no buy” plan .

Mariella Avatar

Very happy overall. I only returned one thing (the Marc Jacobs Edgitorial palette) and even that is unusual – I rarely return products in large part because I shop in person AND because of you, Christine, and the information you provide to us. I do wish I’d got backups of a few things that were discontinued – a primer/illuminator from the Estee Edit and another tube or two of a Sephora sleeping mask – but in reality, how many backups can you realistically have without them going bad.

Eileen Avatar

I really didn’t buy all that much that I’d consider trendy or fashionable, but the things I did purchase proved to be solid beauty investments that were well loved. I think that was probably because I was more conservative this year from the cosmetic standpoint. Many of the trendier products and colors just didn’t appeal to me and so I didn’t purchase them. The only product that I did purchase and which really disappointed me was Pat McG’s lipsticks. I really wanted to love them as some of the colors were so gorgeous, but the formula did terribles things to my lips leaving them dry and flaky. I think that come spring, though, I’ll be making up for my thriftiness becaue Pantone’s color of the year (Ultra Violet) is being embraced by the cosmetic houses and is already being translated into an abundance of products that will suit all the silver hair that frames my face. Money saved in 2017 will be money spent in 2018! ?

Nancy T Avatar

For the most part, very happy with what I bought. That said, I went way overboard with spending like a mad woman! Including the purchase of some items that sadly sit in my drawers very under utilized. THAT, right there, is a major reason for my planned low-buy for 2018. I don’t want to continue buying more “stuff” just because I love how it swatches or fall in love with a look done using it, when I really won’t have many or any real opportunity to use it on a regular basis. Now I intend to only purchase refills of products that I regularly use or something truly special, ie; the eventual MAC Aaliyah collection or another Pat McGrath lipstick down the road.

AB Avatar

Pretty happy. I’d give myself a B. I spent more than I needed to, particularly buying a few items that turned out to be dupes for one another. However, except for 1-2 items, I like and use all I bought.

I have relearned the lesson about doing homework and not settling on key items (e.g., foundation); learned more about where I needn’t overspend (e.g., mascara) and where I must spend for the best (skincare); and found a few categories to experiment in with pretty good outcomes (highlighters).

Seraphine Avatar

Happy with most of the products I bought, but not happy with how much I spent. I had very few disappointments, thanks to Christine’s in-depth reviews and helpful comments by Temptalia members.

Now that I own 100+ lipsticks and 14 eyeshadow palettes, I think I’ll concentrate on using some of them up in 2018, which will officially be my no-buy (or at least “very low-buy”) year.

Carol Avatar

Very happy for the most part. I don’t collect makeup and want to use everything I have. I have had some samples that didn’t work out, but actual purchases were pretty good for the most part. This was due in no small part to Temptalia. Since finding this site I actually enjoy shopping for makeup when it used to be a chore fraught with inevitable disappointment. I did give away the Urban Decay 8 hour blush in quiver because it was just too much for my skin tone. I have a plum Kat Von D eye shadow quad that still has me on the fence . Other that that, I can’t think of anything I parted with due to lack of suitability or use. I’m still in search of my HG mascara. Thanks for all the help Christine!!!

Pearl Avatar

Good for you, Christine. I imagine it can be quite overwhelming with so many decisions to make and prioritizing it all.

I’m happier about what I’ve purchased this year and that has a lot to do with how I purchased it – instead of buying all the things (most recently, all of Pat McGrath Luxetrance lipsticks) and figuring out how to use them later, I actually thought about my purchases first and then bought what I know I would use. I’m becoming more realistic about what I can wear and use so that helps, but I hope to do better next year (as an example, I’ve got an organizer full of lipsticks sitting on a shelf in the fridge because I don’t want them to go bad before I can wear them. Goal for next year: wear all the lipsticks.). I still have a kneejerk reaction to buy everything because it’s nice to have/look at/use and I don’t want to miss out, but then when I look at something sitting unused day in and day out, it starts to cause anxiety (goal for next year: stop buying all the lipsticks.).

Caroline Avatar

Mostly happy before I went on my no-buy, although a few skincare/haircare products turned out to be duff ones (I had to dilute a couple of too dark tinted moisturisers with ordinary moisturiser to make them more wearable, and a conditioner I bought made my scalp itch big time). As far as colour cosmetics go, I’ve got plenty to keep me going for at least a couple of years, so I’m good 🙂

Kate Wilson Avatar

I dunno, I guess it is 50/50 for what I loved and what was no good. Thank goodness for that Sephora return policy. While I got some amazing products that I love (see ABH Prism palette, Becca Champagne Pop, Tarte’s Tartiest pro palette, pretty much anything from Nyx these days), I had my fair share of things I was very disappointed with, such as Too Faced highlighter that disappeared into my skin, my Mac foundation that seems to be the wrong shade (despite having someone ‘shade match’ me), and even the newest Kat Von D highlighter set that is more glitter than highlighter (I still like it though). I’m hoping to find some really amazing and unique makeup items in 2018!

Genevieve Avatar

I am very happy with the beauty purchases I have made this year. Most of the eyeshadow palettes didn’t really suit me, so I have only purchased 4 this year (three from past years and one current).
Lipsticks – I have only purchased on sale and the same for skincare.
Always I research what I am purchasing from Christine and Temptalia and the wonderful readers here.
2018 will be about using what I have and continuing to rotate my products.

janine Avatar

I think it’s been around a year I’ve been re-inspired by makeup thanks to Temptalia. I’ve gotten a big stash and have waaay too many lip products and enough eyeshadows for 10 women.

I’ve found some great high end and drugstore products.

So I’m really happy.

I now take 50 million steps for my makeup and if no time restraints application can take days. But it’s hours of fun. I’ve learned to use matte shadows, can almost apply lashes and layer blush and eyeshadow.

I’m drawn to buy red lipstick but still can’t get used to how it looks on me. And can’t do winged liner.

Sometimes with a lot of it I think I look like a drag queen but it washes off?

I do spend time watching you tube, transformations are amazing, drama is funny
And I treasure the strong beautiful women I’ve met here.

❤️You guys! Happy Holidays!

Marie-Estelle Avatar

Very happy! I found a few skincare HG products, bought a few wonderful palettes… And managed to finish a few products up. I am getting more realist what I wear on the daily and become very picky with cosmetics in general.

I will sound like a broken record but… Thank you so much Christine (and the Temptalia team) for your hard work! You are a huge part of the reason why I am so happy with my purchases this year ?

MacKenzie G. Avatar

Pretty happy, and I’m far happier with the purchases I made in the second half of the year than the ones I made in the first half. I’ve started to get more realistic about the kinds of products I use, and stop buying ones that I likely won’t – mostly base products, bronzer, contour, and powder blush. I’ve also curbed a lot of my eyeshadow palette buying in favor just buying singles of the shades (or similar) that I actually like and will use. At this point, I don’t predict needing much of anything else in 2018, and with the dizzy pace of releases combined with a worrying amount of low-quality products, I don’t see myself wanting much either.

Denise S. Avatar

I over indulged but I really love most of what I purchased this year. Hopefully I’ll have the discipline to use what I have this upcoming year instead of lusting after the next great thing. Fortunately I’m a better consumer due to Temptalia and a few trusted blogs and YouTube.

Silvia Avatar

Very happy! I been learning lots thanks to Temptalia, swatches and recommendations from a few you tubers and Reddit. Everything I have purchased I have enjoyed!

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