I think that’s something I’ve struggled with over the last year or so – I am trying to find ways to minimize some of the day-to-day pressure I feel re: makeup blogging and trying to give myself more time to just have “fun” rather than test, test, test.
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Oh man, can I relate to getting into a rut with makeup with anyone else who’s been struggling with it the past year or so! Last summer, I did have a few months where I did finally feel inspiration growing within me again. But then I almost as quickly felt a sense of discouragement. Especially after my diagnosis and being told that I would need major surgery. At the present time, I’m slowly dipping my toes back into the water. Nothing artsy or “extra”. Just very basic looks for when I do go out… which amounts to just 3 trips since a month ago.
I can totally understand where you are coming from Christine. Over the past few months I have been journeying through your incredible blog right from the beginning – page 3389 or so. It is an amazing testament to the hard work you have put into this – day in, day out, week after week, year after year. Dedicated, committed, objective and constructive. So if you now feel ‘fatigued’ that is OK. You have been working so hard, dedicated your life to delivering makeup reviews and never taking a break.
These are some of the findings/understandings that I have gathered:
1. By the time I joined this amazing community, MAC was on its downward spiral. But at the beginning the brand was delivering excellent products across the board. Staples like Woodwinked, Amber Lights, Satin Taupe, Shroom, Ricepaper and Sumptuous Olive set the tone – plus their excellent lipsticks, blushes and eye pencils. I can now see why everyone was so dismayed when the brand started churning out rubbish.
2. I could see how your blog evolved over time, with its many features that we have come to know and love: The Dupe List, Foundation Matrix, your scoring method and processes, comparing palettes and shade colours and many, many more. All these features take time and effort and it’s a credit to you and Shaun that these features remain.
3. It was interesting read my past comments on some of the questions – and now how I would answer them differently. What I loved then is not quite what I love now and it reflects an evolution of what works, what suits and my experience with makeup.
4. It was also interesting to see how different brands rise and fall – Guerlain, Lancome, YSL, Tarte, Too Faced, bareMinerals etc and the birth of new brands like CP, Tom Ford, SG, TM, Give Me Glow and perenial favourites like Chanel, Dior, MUFE and now PMG.
5. I am up to page 1515 currently – and what do I wish I had purchased? MUFE Nudes You Need and bareMInerals The Nude Beach amongst others….
As a suggestion to your current feelings re makeup – maybe just test what YOU love, what interests you – never mind what CP is doing on a daily basis and take some time out to just have some fun.
Take care Christine.
What a fun thing to do.
I think it’s fun when I do a bit of research for something a bit older, and when Googling the first thing to appear is Temptalia. This is the only blog I read every day, every post and I love how informative it is, how much I’ve spent thanks to good reviews, but I have saved more thanks to the honesty here.
I think I could live with fewer posts for some time so you can rest a bit, Christine. I know when I come to the last post in the daily e-mail I always want more, but I know it wouldn’t be possible.
Have fun for some time, play with the makeup, with Winston and have some date nights.
Take care!
I’m trying to figure that out right now, because most days I don’t have time for makeup or do very little. I am just very busy.
I want to go through my beauty items and get rid of what is old or unwanted and just understand what I have. I think that may help.
Then I would just like to take some time a few days a week to just play with what I have. Dress up! I really need to relax and have a little fun.
I’m in a makeup rut myself right now. Some days it’s fun, other days I just open a palette and say – no, I don’t like this. Put some mascara, foundation and brow product on and then I either grab a gorgeous lipstick or take a random lip gloss, hoping it’ll look OK with the clothes I’m wearing. I’m going through my glosses at the moment, some have turned and some I shake my head in disbelief, thinking – What was I thinking. I find this testing my old stuff makes me a bit inspired.
I blame this on the loss of my Miniature Schnauzer last year. Even though I still have my bestest friend Stubbs the Standard Schnauzer, I miss the little one so much and find life a little duller.
OK, I didn’t mean to write such a downer of a post, so sorry!
Tomorrow I’m going to pick a random eyeshadow palette and have fun with it.
I’m going through it right now. Lately I’ve been leaning a lot on simple looks with a bit of foundation, eye liner, brows and a nice lipstick. It’s a bit of a breather that gives me some space to relax and keep myself open to inspiration and creativity.
For the most part, I am feeling the rut and uninspired even by labels which once excited me. I blame market over-saturation and churn and also the fact I have ample product much of which I am happy to wear repeatedly. It’s so much more difficult to be innovative and unique given the sheer volume of product/lines available. It has created notable ambivalence in me. I also believe people have become tired of the LE strategies which had people staying up until all hours of the morning to snag that ‘rare’ product realizing it will be for sale (again due to overstock and over-saturation) or somebody else will do it equally well or better down the line. High end labels which were impervious to sales are no longer.