I ask myself if I had the need before I saw the product in question! Did I need a new moisturizer or did I just see one because someone mentioned it?
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If I’ve run out of or am about to run out of any of the following: cleanser or any other necessary skincare, including sunscreen for my face & neck, primers for lips, eyes & face, foundation, setting powder, lip balm, mascara, brow filler or black waterproof eyeliner, one to tightline with and one for my winged out liner that’s sharp enough to cut a man! I’d venture to say that just about all color products are a “want”.
Reading my ^^^ this morning, I realized that my comment lacked some essential clarification that ALL those products in the beginning are “needs”! Color products are “wants”. Yikes, I’m sorry about that.
does it fill a gap or does it make me happy by having it? sometimes, we just need to create NEW gaps in order to justify a purchase ?
Nowadays I really don’t “need” any makeup product unless I finish a staple, like a mascara or concealer. For skincare on the other hand I often need a new product to address an emerging skin concern. The difference between need and want doesn’t matter much as long as what I purchase stays within my budget, but I try to prioritize the true necessities, like replacing my mascara, buying a new moisturizer before I finish the one I have open, etc.
There are only a few categories i might need – moisturizer, concealer, mascara, face wash products. Buying them ahead is no harm because I use up one at a time and a new position on the waiting list will be used anyway.
Note to self: take mascara of the “need” list because if it waits 6 months it sometimes gets old.
Anything else is just a “want”.
That’s a good idea, I’m gonna do that too from now on 🙂
For the things I need, i stock up whenever there’s a sale. These include moisturizers, serums, sunscreen, even beauty blenders, that I have tested before and proven to be effective for my skin. There is the Sephora sale obviously, but in my country they have 30% sale in cosmetics stores (the ones just like Sephora) 3 times a year, so there is that.
For the things I want, that’s usually makeup. I try not to impulse buy, and do a lot of research before (mainly on YouTube and Temptalia). I have to say during this “research” period, I’m almost always looking for reasons not to buy, so even if something is really hyped up, but a couple of people criticized it, I tell myself I really don’t need this then!!
I have to be honest tho, sometimes I really can’t give up wishlisting a particular product, like an eyeshadow palette or lipstick or whatever; even if they’re not rated so highly on Temptalia or are mentioned as “not worth the hype” by some youtubers, I would eventually still go and grab them, otherwise I’ll think about it all the time.
At this point in my beauty purchasing “history”, unless it is something I’ve used up and need to replace (a lipstick or pencil liner, for example, face or eyeshadow primers and occasionally foundation or CC cream), it is never a case of “need” and always a case of “want”. I have a marked weakness for eyeshadows and especially for certain colours of eyeshadows and so invariably I have several “dupes” for colours I see here and want to “possess”. Except for replacing used up or expired stuff, I have absolutely no need at all for any makeup.
I think I’m honest enough with myself to know that I never really ‘need’ any of the beauty/skincare/hair products I buy (and boy, do I buy!). I mean, ‘need’ is a strong word – we need food, basic clothing, shelter, health care, etc. Almost everything else falls into the ‘want’ category.
But I realise the question probably doesn’t mean it that way, so I think for me, I would only ‘need’ something if I was literally running out. Like if I have no concealer left, no backups, then I would definitely need the concealer. Tbh, I have SO many beauty products i haven’t even opened that this situation is really unlikely.
The exception is when I’m travelling. Over the summer, I was transiting through SFO and realised I hadn’t packed my eyelash curler in my carry on, and couldn’t be sure it was in my checked baggage either. You better believe I made the fastest beeline ever to the duty free store! They only had the Shiseido, which I hate, but I figured beggars can’t be choosers and bought it anyway. That was definitely a need situation!
(As it happened, I had packed my eyelash curler in my luggage lol. But since I never properly unpack, I didn’t actually realise this until I got back home ?)
Are you insinuating that I don’t need new makeup every month? Lol.
Oh Tammy, what a great comment!
The nerve! 😉 LMAO
Need is easy to differentiate for me since there is very little I actually need other than a few staples and skincare. I am better at entirely using these up too. The rest (colour products) are pure want at this point. I am a work in progress with my want voice, but have gained a lot of strength in the last year. If someone decides to actually +get +serious about a proper range of cool and netural olive skintone foundations = need.
Ditto your answer, Christine. But, I do have one exception. There are certain products that I’ve been wishing to find, but haven’t found anywhere. There aren’t many, but I keep them in the back of my mind — usually for months and months. Every once in a blue moon, I actually find it, and there on the spot, I know I’ve been wanting it so badly, I tell myself — I NEED this in my life!!! (Example: A matte eyeshadow in the right formula and color can be like looking for a needle in a haystack, and then one day finding the needle.)
I’m with you on the needle in the haystack! Oh boy is it hard to find the perfect matte transition color, the perfect brow bone highlight, and even the perfect matte black eyeshadow, even though most palettes have with designated ones for those. Still very hard to pick the right shade of color AND the right formula!
I just ask myself if I will use/wear it more than 3 times in my collection or will it just collect dust until the next time I do a clean out. This seems to work when I skip out certain products that have been hyped up a lot or even on products that fly under the radar and have been recommended to me.
I’ve been in “I want” mode even though I have plenty of, whatever it is, for years. Lately, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed with the size of my collection, so I’ve been better with the “I need” question. Even with the latest Sephora sale, my cart just has primers and stuff I use daily and not another red lipstick or eyeshadow.
The only things I *need* are my daily products, a cleanser, moisturizer, my base powder/foundation and concealer, and mascara. Maybe black eyeliner. The staples I actually finish and repurchase. I’ll never need to replace all the other stuff I own, therefore everything else is just “want.” Then to distinguish between “want to buy” and “want to own and love forever.”
Agreed — question # 1: did I need the item before I saw it. I find I also layer in whether the product might address a problem I didn’t know could be addressed, such as what finishing powder can do (blur lines, smooth without being visible, etc).
It’s the same with beauty products as it is with any thing else. Will the new (fill in the blank) work better for me than the one that I have. Is it a game changer, or the same game maker but in a shiny new package? What is being said about the new thing? Does it’s existence make a big change and for the better? And will it play nicely with my other products.
Need is a strong word when it comes to cosmetics for me but for skincare it’s truth. Same with body or hair. I need to be clean and relatively moisturized. I like having a few options for cleaning and moisturizing depending on the season and my skin/hair.
When it comes to cosmetics, I try to look at what I have vs what I could use still. For instance, I have zero grey or brown or taupe eyeliners, so I could use one of each. I have two mid tone blue eyeliners so I don’t need any more of those (I accidentally bought a back up of one I already had when I thought it was another color). I could use a dark blue or blackened navy liner.
Unless it is a lip product, then all bets are off 🙁
I’m just going to go ahead and say it… I don’t need any more make up. I think my collection is very well rounded, so unless I see something that would be completely unique (I’m talking to you, MUG duochrome highlight in Moon Phase) to my collection or I am legitimately out of something, I just want it. And it’s hard to not want all of the new things coming out, especially when they get rave reviews!
Is this something I need because I don’t have anything like it or is it just something I find pretty?
Is my current similar product is finishing or expiring? If yes, then I’ll buy. 🙂
The truth is that i don’t NEED any more makeup. I buy it because I like a special color or presentation because at this point I have every single color, texture, etc… under the soon 🙂 it’s just fun to have the new collections.
The only thing I do need is skincare when I run out of it.
My skincare is something I’ve got a good handle on now. I have issues with adult acne and I’ve had to go through products to see what worked – this changes if I’m in a more humid city or drier city, but I’ve got my staples (a cleansing oil, non-super greasy exfoliator, Arcona cranberry toner, vit. C Serum, Algenist lotion and Elta MD UV Clear — this is the only sunscreen I’ve used on my face for 3 years now). Anything else is in the want category and I’m wary on how it may react. As for makeup, it’s only concealer or mascara that gets replaced right now since I’ve got a lot of foundation that needs to be used up– but everything else is a want (and I want way too much!).
If a product is a “need”, it is more than likely a basic product that I use daily (skin care, sunscreen, lip balm, foundation, mascara, etc.) My “needs” are those items I use no matter what look I’m creating. Everything else falls under the “want” category (lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, etc.). My “wants” are those items that customize or transform my look. They’re the frosting on the cake 🙂
i always ask myself if i am gonna be running out of a product and if it is gonna happen soon. if not, then i don’t need it but unfortunately, sometimes the answer is go and buy it because it is nice and i want to try it !
My sentiments are similar. If it’s skincare or foundation or staple item I consider that to be a need and buy a replacement as I start to get low for easy rotation. Color cosmetics are wants and that’s where I’m making more effort to be discerning – colors I’ve avoided before but are beginning to wear as tastes change, the occasional out of my comfort zone color that I want to try for fun but maybe in a more economical version. I’ll freely admit to having more shadow and lip products than I could possibly need, but I’m not going to be unrealistic and say I’ll never buy another whatever.
need…want…same thing… LOL
jk – the way i think about is, i want everything lol so if don’t get it will I regret it? will i miss it if i dont have it? if not then no i don’t need it 🙂
Is there a difference?
That’s how I feel
The products I need are the products I use regularly/daily.
Most other things are “want” products.
I’m a major impulse buyer so basically if it’s pretty and I want it I buy it, unless it’s something like a $50 lipstick or $200 set. Especially with the Sephora VIB Rouge sale starting tomorrow, I’m taking the first few hours off of school (just to clarify, we don’t have any classes in the morning) to shop around.
Very simple – I look at the product I ‘want’ and decide whether I ‘need’ it and/or going to use it. Usually I don’t ‘need’ it LOL
I don’t have a need for well over half my stash. I just WANT it. I’m giving my sister and daughter a lot of unopened product soon. I’m out of baskets, bins and drawer space. I need to get a grip!!!
There are lots of beauty and skincare products that I use one at a time (mascara, blush, setting powder, highlighter, foundation), so when I start to running out of any of these, I think about whether I want to try something new (if so, what?) or just repurchase.
When it comes to lipsticks and eye shadow palettes, well, I am often drawn to the colours and finishes, ratings and reviews (especially from here) and then the price. Can I afford it?
My family sees all of my makeup and skincare as a ‘want’ not a ‘need’. I feel my needs are consumable items like eyeliner, mascara, foundation etc. I have an exorbitant amount that I want, but usually don’t get. Like, for instance, I want another palette but almost every one out has some of the same colors that I have already – given that all I own is 6 palettes!
Now I’ve created a problem out of a ‘want’, go figure.
My brain always lies to me and says I needs every new product that appeals to me. For that reason, I try to wait a week or two to see if my brain is still telling the same story.
Well, right now i’m on a No Buy/Low Buy, what with my tumor/treatment, and just being a broke College student :P.
So for me, I look at
1. Does it fill a empty spot in my stash.
2. Even If it DOES fill an empty spot in my stash, will I ACTUALLY USE IT. (EX, Pencil eye liners. I love to look and swatch them, but I own zero!! Because they don’t last on my oily, hooded/monolidded eyes!!)
3. Will I finish it. I’m known to finish eye shadows/powder/concealer/mascara/lash glue. So if it’s one of those, I know it’s less likely to go off before I buy it.
4. Right now, I’m on a low buy/no buy especially for Lipsticks/eye shadow. (I just finished making a 9 pan MAC pallet from IMATS TO.) So if it’s either of those, i’ll say NOPE.
5. Am I out of this product at home, in my makeup drawer.
These five steps usually keep me in line!!!
You would ask this question. Lol. Let’s just say I could go a very longtime before I would run out of makeup. From foundation, blush, concealer, lipstick, powder, etc… But my holy grail products, the products I depend on to give me the look I want everytime, if they runout I need to replace them. As my makeup journey has evolved, I don’t buy stuff just because it’s on sell, but I never use it. Or buy stuff and realize I got caught up in the social media surrounding a product. I know my makeup self better. So I guess I have learned I want everything. But I need the things that work or work better then the products I’m using.
At this point it’s all wants! I have too much stuff for it to be a need.
Gosh! Need more makeup of any kind I don’t I shouldn’t walk through those beauty isles too much temptation, but I love to compare different products and see if I like one better than the other so I like getting my hands on all. ? I’ll buy various shades of blushes, every color of lipstick that suits my pale skin color lately I have purchased some darker vampy ones and am surprised they look so good I think they make my hazel eyes pop! I need color in my life just a bit goes a long way. Lol! I certainly don’t need anything for months or years but can’t stop the crazy voices on my head which scream get it! Indulge yourself! Lol! Need and want get mixed in the blender of my mind and are the same. The fun thing is I like everything I have purchase lately and mostly drugstore! I’m happy!
For me, a need is something that is part of my daily; routine something that would need replacing when finished. Most everything else is a want. If I don”t act on a want, it doesn’t impact my regular makeup/ skincare routine.
I absolutely DO NOT need any more makeup! Between myself and 3 daughters, the stash is overwhelming! I love it!
Lol I think of them as one and the same! If I am going with “needs,” I really don’t need beauty products. A few basic grooming things: deodorant, toothpaste, vaseline (can be used for makeup removal and lip balm), tweezers, haircolor (yes, that’s a need so I’m not all gray), a strong enough conditioner for my huge knotty hair, some type of soap or body wash, and probably Chi Silk Infusion – those are things I need slightly less than air. All the fun stuff – makeup, nail polish, perfume, skin cremes, hair styling – those are things I really really want, so I guess I “need” them for my happiness ;).
I’m a little embarrassed to say that I don’t need any more make up – not even mascara and eyeliner. It’s all about want for me. I have to say it’s a fantastic pick me up, nothing like buying make up to make my day!