Do you purchase backups? Why/why not?
For staple products, like brow gel, mascara, moisturizer, and the like, I’ll purchase a backup if I’m running low (and intend to keep using it) or if there’s a particularly good sale. I try not to buy too many backups of products in general, and when I do, I try to limit it to just one (unless it’s something I go through VERY quickly!). I’m very, very selective about purchasing backups of limited edition products – like maybe one or two a year.
— Christine
I buy backups of everyday staple products when I find them on sale. I am very careful to only buy backups of products I don’t stray from, such as foundation, concealer, brow pencils, setting powder, and eyeshadow primer. I used to buy backups of mascara, but I’ve gotten so many free minis with other purchases, that these days that’s all I’m using.
I’m planning to make 2019 a year of no-mascara purchase, I can live on minis. 😆
And it’s not like bad / old ones. With Sephora perks I usually get pretty hyped ones to try, like NARS Climax, Smashbox Super Fan, Hourglass Caution… and the Benefit mascaras pop-out once in a while.
I do purchase backups of skincare and of LE products that I really love if I see them reduced in price, either at Sephora or at places like Marshalls, if they’re “holy grail” type items (I stocked up there on the Estee Edit primer/illuminator that I like so much and also on an Elizabeth Arden eye cream that is discontinued). But for the most part, since almost everything in terms of colour cosmetics can be easily “duped”, I’ve got over that urge I used to have. Mind you, if MAC re-released Grand Entrance or a few of the other shadows from Starflash, I would buy those.
Yes — ALL.THE.TIME — primarily for value and convenience.
Only for skincare and pseudo skincare (FAB eye triple duty/Paula RSLDWD, Tm/sunscreen like.) Color cosmetics: almost never, though can be tempted, if s.t. used frequently is being d/c’d. To get some of my regular Cosrx and anti inflammatory s/c, sourcing from Asia can mean massive time, so might even order 2. With ‘regulars’ that are readily available from U or A, one b/u.
I went a liiiiittle nuts and ordered three backups of one of my favourite lipsticks in the winter, but it was 75% off at the time.
I’ll only buy back up to unique products I have a hard time finding or products I know are being discontinued.
Since I am currently on a no buy with exception I buy a backup only if I am on the last one, with none on deck when that product if finished. Then I will wait until it is half way done. I try to wait for a sale. I do shop strategically for my staples, especially during events such as 21 days of beauty.
Almost never, and pretty much only if I’ve found a holy grail limited edition product. The only two backups I have are Urban Decay Vice lipstick in Fuel (from the Naked Heat release- one of my absolute favorite lipsticks) and Kat Von D Metal Crush eyeshadow in Thunderstruck (discontinued).
If you have a TJ Maxx in your area check for Kat Von D shadow singles. I’ve seen quite a few lately
I do buy backups of things that I know from experience are the only thing that work for me. Also if something is on sale and I really love it, I may get a backup. If it’s a rare thing for me, such as the perfect eyebrow powder color, I stock up because powders usually age well and I know from sad experience that so many things are discontinued. (In fact, the brow color I stocked up on has indeed been discontinued and the other ones and new ones are too dark or orange-based.) Because I’ve got an allergy to a common cosmetic ingredient, finding something without it that works really well also makes me buy a backup on occasion. It really depends.
Increasingly, my husband and I buy backups of other personal or household products that we know from experience will likely be discontinued or degrade in quality, such as certain undergarments, socks, etc. It’s really bizarre to both of us how bad some things have gotten. For example, sheets frequently no longer fit beds or have other quality issues, even past proven brands such as Lands End. When I wanted to replace my mostly cotton knee socks, I found out that most knee socks aren’t even partly cotton, let alone primarily cotton. Ugh. I could go on but won’t.
I hear you.. OMG don’t get me started on sheets!
When I personally think of back-ups, I think of having something available after finishing a currently use product (e.g. I have one foundation and once I use maybe half of the bottle I purchase a new one to be prepared). I rarely buy the same item again. I mostly have one item of each in my collection, I don’t open multiple creams or foundations or mascara, but I like to be backed-up if something breaks or finishes suddenly.
But I usually know how long it takes to finish a product, since I’m using only one at once, so backing-up is usually efficient.
The only times I have more back-ups than usual is after a good sale; and for skincare… I order a lot from Paula’s Choice and sometimes they have offers with lots of samples. Right now I still have 2 sample sized BHAs and 2 sample sized eye creams from my Black Friday order. 😆
Yes, I sometimes do. Usually when I do so, it’s that a favorite HG item is being DC’d or it just something that I use all the time that is a “basic” not exactly exciting product to buy, but it’s on sale or BOGO, ie; mascara or skincare. I did buy FOUR backups of WnW Reserve Your Cabana, lol! Plus a few UD Catfight and Streak Revolution lipsticks and others are currently in a ZipLoc bag in my fridge.
I hadn’t read your response before commenting and found that we both had backups of UD Catfight. Such a great colour and I couldn’t chance not finding something I liked as well!!
For those staples that I use all the time — Lancôme Definicils mascara for instance — yes, so I always have one in the drawer in case one is lost or I it up before I thought I would. Otherwise, no, not any more. I used to, out of a sort of PTSD from too many times favorites were discontinued, but that has eased.
I stopped buying backups a number of years back and I have to say there are a few things where I’ve kicked myself for not buying more (La Mer original powder, Bobbi Brown spot cleaner for brushes, Sunday Riley The Influencer foundation). I have gone from buying backups for far too much to rarely buying backups at all. The vast majority of time this strategy works because I’m onto something else I like better. The other side of the coin, with so many offerings out there, the rate of discontinuation has gathered momentum.
I certainly do purchase backups of favourite, most used products like foundation, setting powder, blush, mascara etc. I have a couple of back ups of favourite lipsticks as well – seeing as they are d/c pretty easily.
I also have backups of skincare items that I have purchased on sale too – cleansers, moisturisers, oils, sunscreen and serums. I use the sales to try out different skincare products as well.
The only beauty items I don’t have backups for are eyeshadow palettes – I have enough of those to last a lifetime.
Or several lifetimes for me! lol
Only for staples: skin care, foundation, concealer, eye liner and mascara (and especially if on sale or for a really wanted gift with purchase.)
I don’t think I’ve ever bought the same lipstick or eye palette twice! There are a few palettes I would have bought again (Chanel Tisse D’Automne, for one, why o why must Chanel discontinue all their green palettes?!) had they not been discontinued, but alas. With lipsticks there are so many variations out there, I find I’m tempted to try new ones rather than replace. That said, I could probably just replace the ones I use regularly now for the rest of my life and be fine, but so it goes …
I so agree about Chanel and their discontinuing palettes. I wanted the Venice palette and had to resort to getting it on Ebay at exhorbitant rates. I wanted it for the greens!!
I buy a few backups. I try to buy smaller sizes of mascara dt quick expiration but keep one unopened.
Moisturizer. face cleanser and eyemakeup almost aleays have backups.
I have never bought a backup of a color cosmetic except once, just recently I bought another Naked Basics, because I saw it on Hautelook and was afraid it was being discontinued. That will be the third one that I’ve purchased so I’m quite confident I will use it.
Other than that I have bought backup primers and mascara (because they were on sale), Fix Plus, and eyebrow pencils.
I buy backups for certain skin care items that are proven effective on my skin and that I know are going to stay in my rotation. I try to time those buys for the big Sephora sales. As for makeup, there have been times when I have purchased backups such as UD Vice Catfight. I knew I would need a backup of that and I am glad I purchased it. I have been trying not to buy them as I know that at my age, I am unlikely to use everything I have and with new products coming out so frequently it is likely I will find something I like just as well.
Only for mascara, if that. And only if there’s a good sale
I fall out of love with other types of products too often to bother with getting backups. Also don’t want to store backups
I realized after buying a few backups for non-staples was a waste. I only buy backups for mascara, eyebrow pencils & foundations when there’s a good sale.
Sometimes, when I think to do so. Unfortunately, what happens far too often is that I just buy one and then it gets discontinued. I especially regret this with KVD Thin Lizzy, so I tend to hoard any possible dupes for it-I have 2 tubes of UD Scorched as a result. I also happen to have a backup UD Electric palette.
I do buy backups on certain items, especially if they are limited edition and I’m in love with them. I also stock up during the Sephora sales, mostly on skin care and basic items I use all the time. Makeup and skincare is coming out with new releases faster and faster, sometimes its hard to keep up!
I buy back-ups of regularly-used basics when they’re on sale or I’m running low. I’ll also buy backups if I know something hard-to-dupe is going to discontinued, such as Wet n Wild Reserve Your Cabana. I very rarely buy backups otherwise. I have a huge stash, and there are dupes and better formulations coming out all the time, so I don’t see the point in most cases.
I bought backup of UD Sheer Rapture (my MLBB color). When they went on clearance, I bought backups of the UD Electric and Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palettes, because I consider each to be unique (the ultimate brights and fair-skinned neutrals, respectively), and I’m afraid of using up/losing/breaking mine. I bought several backups of Lady Gaga Black Fame Fluid fragrance on an after-Christmas clearance a couple years ago, because I love and use it so much.
Yes…if I LOVE something or it’s a basic that I don’t want to be without. Shape Tape, Dior Forever Undercover, L’Oreal Lash Primer, Wet N Wild Contour palette, Lottie London Bronzer, Nars Orgasm and Laguna. These are things I reach for and use up repeatedly.
The only LE in recent memory I bought a backup for was Mac Shiny Pretty Things Lipstick in Babetown. I really love it, and it was selling out everywhere, so I snagged two.
Very rarely do I purchase a backup. It really has to be a product that I’ve used up entirely and plain to continue to use (which is why I rarely do, as I tend to buy something new and replace it). So, what would be the exceptions: a great nude lipstick color or a smoothing primer (which I still haven’t found a great one yet).