What products do you purchase backups of but never used?
I have some eyeshadows from MAC’s Moonbathe collection that I never got to! I also have at least one Chanel Dragon Rouge Allure Laque still in its box, haha.
— Christine
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Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup. This was my favorite makeup many years ago. When I found out it was being discontinued, I bought several jars of it. But then I started using Estée Lauder Stay-in-Place and never looked back. So those jars just went to waste.
I have a backup of a Besame 1915 Rose Delicate Rouge. Never finished the original, still working on it. 🙁 I seriously overestimated my blush-finishing abilities. Everything else that I’ve gotten a backup of, I’ve used up.
I bought a back up of tarte shape tape when during an Ulta sale and recently stopped using concealer almost all together and now I am aiming for slightly more natural look.
I don’t think there’s anything….I only buy backups of things I really, really love and for that reason, they get used.
I am usually very due diligent with using my products, including my back-ups. But than the pandemic started, and some products simply didn’t get used. I had 2 back-ups of lipsticks in bolder colors (burgundy and brown-chocolate) that I haven’t open even now. I also had a back-up of liquid liner; 3-4 months into pandemic I tossed my opened one, but even now I haven’t opened the back-up.
The non-pandemic related purchase is definitely a makeup sponge; 3 or so years ago I switched to using my fingers to apply foundation and concealer. I have a beauty blender (with a case even) I got as back-up on a Sephora sale back then. Still haven’t use it. 😅
I bought three backups of CYO Lifewear foundation just before it was discontinued but then there were new foundations out there that I wanted to try. Since the bottles were still sealed, I donated them. I remind myself about them every time I am tempted to buy a back up of something.
I did exactly the same Lesley, and I don’t know why because I didn’t even love the foundation but it looked so good on youtuber ThatTayla that I panicked.
I can’t even donate them because we don’t have anything like project beauty share here in the UK.
You definitely live and learn.
I have a drawer full of backup lip products. I felt very foolish the past 1.5 years every time I opened that drawer… maybe in a maskless world I might have used up some of those items but now? I need to get rid of them.
I have a backup of Pat McGrath’s single in Statuesque that I haven’t used yet.
Far, far too many! I’m STILL on my first tubes of UD Catfight and MAC Royally Riotous. And if this Delta variant, or new ones, keep up, I’ll probably not be able to use them up before they turn. All because I am vaccinated but immunocompromised, so masks are still something I need to use when I go to stores and whatnot.
ahh the back ups! I have a PUR mineral powder back up I never got to and recently discarded. I also bought a Laura Mercier Black Gold eye shadow I never used because I enjoyed the mini so much I never finished. I had so many back up lipsticks (Mac, PMG) I never opened I recently gave them to many of my friends that do not buy make up like I do. I have to resist all the sales/ 21 days of beauty/ etc.. I have also decided I will no longer buy back up in skincare. It takes me to long to get through it except for micellar water and my cleanser! I have to many serums and creams I am starting to use the samples on my body! I really only need back ups of mascara and concealer but so far I have enough and have been doing a good job of panning product and using what I have.
A Kevyn Aucoin bronzer that was discontinued, Tropical Nights. I loved the color but never used the backup. I never by backups…I will buy two or three of the same lipstick at once but that’s to have one on my vanity and the other in my purse. No matter what high end lipstick comes out I still only wear Revlon Super Lustreous. Nothing like it. I just bought 3 Wine With Everything (pearl) but I’m using all so they aren’t really backups.
I haven’t a single backup of anything. I know myself and there will be something new and shiny that I will want to try and the backup will go to waste, so I don’t buy backups anymore.
There are probably a couple of lipsticks – say EA’s Ginger that I haven’t used yet and it is a backup, but other than that I use everything else.
So much, like most of the things I have had in my collection that I find out is being discontinued, I stock up on and have a drawer filled with gallon sized ziploc bags, one for eyeliner pencils and glitters, one for pressed powders and shadow singles, one for lip stuff (which I may need to check on coming up soon), one for concealers and foundation, which I thankfully have moved away from using because I have been really focusing on getting my acne more under control instead of just covering it up so I only use spot treatments worth here and there about one week a month or so, and one for backup makeup brushes since I am rough on my brushes, I guess. I was always really careful and light with my usage, so a lot of it is still sealed and the ones that are open I clean regularly and have lasted me a lot longer than I ever expected the to, even with heavier usage now that I am really learning how to express myself more with new looks, but still, I wind up sifting through the bags when I am looking for a last minute birthday/holiday gift to add to a goodie bag or something, and I keep an eye on dates and once opened, I am trying to do better with using things up before opening a new one. For me it has been hard to find stuff I really like and have an easy time using with my coloration, finicky skin, acne issues, etc, so when I find something that works, I go back for more before they stop selling it. Luckily I have learned about keeping my makeup clean and sealed until I am ready to open a new one, so I can make everything last stored in a cool, moisture free environment, until it is ready to replace an open one.
I have a backup of the MAC x Aaliyah Age Ain’t Nothing Palette, and Urban Decay Naked Basics, Electric, and Gwen Stefani Palettes. I love them all so much and use them, but they were LE or discontinued. I got them all at half price or less — totally worth it to assuage my anxiety that they’d get broken, ruined, or lost. (I actually used the Gwen Stefani backup for a couple weeks when the original was mislaid and I needed it for a trip).
When Elizabeth & James discontinued all its fragrances, I got backups of Nirvana Black, White, and Bourbon. I haven’t used them yet, but I know I will.
Most of the backups I buy are things that I continually use and reach the bottom of the jars, like my trusty Anastasia Brow Wiz or Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. I never bought backups of discontinued products as I tend to change brands and formulas a lot
Oh right!
• Brow Wiz – using it ever since it came out
• Perversion mascara – formerly, I have since realized that 1) I don’t go through it as often as I think I will and therefore, 2) keeping mascara (even unopened) around too long is a mistake
• MUFE Sens’Eyes – wonderful eye m/u removal formula I’ve been using for years
• Farmacy balm – for face m/u removal – I have too many and wish I’d tried other balms before committing to backups
• Suqqu hydrating mist – wish I’d gotten more of the previous formula at the $35 price point (they changed it in the last year and it’s now $40+)
• MAC Fix+
• Scott Barnes pressed face powder in alabaster – he’s discontinued it and it’s nowhere to be found! I’m down to 2 backups, which gives me less than a year to find another face powder. I wish I’d gotten more backups.
These are holy grails for me and I get them on sale, so I never run out. I’ve learned:
1) really vet out my HGs by trying other formulas before I commit to backups
2) only get backups of stuff that won’t go bad, dry out, etc, as some products take a while to run down
3) once I’ve settled on a HG, I need to get a few backups because formulas change and products get discontinued and I need enough time to find a new, comparable product
Oops! I just reread the question and these are obviously backups I use 🤦♀️
I try to purge unloved things regularly so not too many -what’s left of the unloved right now is a tatcha silk powder (wasn’t impressed and prefer pressed) smashbox primerizer (lost interest because so many other primers), a tatcha undereye serum (almost finished up one and havent notice any difference), and 2 fresh rose face masks jars (wasn’t really impressed and have sooo many other masks) I’m sure there’s more those are just ones that come to mind. I usually get around to using my loved backups which I have plenty of.