What's your advice to get out of makeup rut?

I will be eagerly listening, because this is probably the longest and worst makeup rut I’ve ever found myself in. I opted to clean and reorganize the garage over playing with makeup last weekend, LOL!

— Christine

17 Comments

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Cameron Avatar

I’ve heard taking a break from all makeup related content can help. Not wearing it for a while can help. These probably aren’t the best answers, but a rut sounds a lot like burnout, and the only solution for that I’ve heard is to walk away,

Jane Avatar

Oh yeah! That’s a real rut if you’d prefer that to playing around with makeup. Ha! Sometimes, I find I have to stay away a bit and then be “inspired” before coming back. Looking at Instagram and finding a unique palette can sometimes (but not always) help too. Like I found the green Arrow Inspired Palette by Adept Cosmetics and just looking at the swatches is causing me to think about going into what I have and exploring again; though I know I don’t have most the the colors and duochromes in that palette.

Gabrielle Avatar

Wish I had good advice, but I’m right there with you – I’m also in a rut and desperately need to start going through my collection. I have such a hard time eliminating lip products that I *know* are expired, mask-wearing really left my lipstick drawer collecting dust for years. I have so many great products I hardly used! 🙁

Latika Avatar

Shop your own collection!!! If you always do eyeshadow- leave it and focus on lips & blush! If you do colors the switch and do a flawless complexion! If you do a full face then scale back and do skin & lashes!! I switch it up always! And work through what i have so i dont really need to but new make up

Katy Avatar

I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time. What I’ve thought, reading your posts, is maybe you should bring on a few trusted makeup friends and let them do the reviews and makeup looks for awhile. Over the years, you must’ve come across some ladies who are great at application and whose comments are similar to your own (although differences might work, too!) Maybe what you need is a break, and some inspiration from the women who are good at this and who follow you! HTH 🙂

Genevieve Avatar

If you find yourself in a makeup rut – my first piece of advice would be to give yourself a break from it. You are not compelled to wear makeup every day, and like every hobby, you sometimes need a rest from it.
Over time and sometimes if you have a special occasion or place to go to, you might then be interested enough to peruse your stash and get a bit creative again.
It might be with an old favourite or something new. What ever you feel like.
I can understand you being in a makeup rut Christine, because it has been your whole life up until fairly recently and now that you are involved in rescue puppies, your focus has shifted. But that’s completely OK. You don’t have to wear makeup now if you don’t want to.

Debbie Avatar

I have always loved shopping in my closet, or my stash. I love trying to dupe new releases, and learning new application tricks to use with my hoard. Moving things around helps me to see everything old as new again.

Deborah S. Avatar

Well, since I just managed to drag myself out of a makeup/life rut, you would think I would have some advice here but I am sadly lacking. I think I had a long talk with myself in the mirror and realized how I had let my life get out of control and how I had become this totally unrecognizable person, in all ways. My emotions were blunted, my interests were non-existent and I didn’t have any interest in changing or making the effort to even try and look good. I had stopped all my skincare, did not put on a touch of makeup for over two years and locked myself away inside my house, most of the time. One day, I just decided to change all that. I took stock of what I was doing with my life and at nearly 70 I realized that I had precious few years left to live a full life. I forced myself daily to dress rather than sitting around all day in my pajamas. I started using skincare again and was appalled at how my skin was looking. I forced myself to put on makeup each day and then as I progressed, I found my desire to get back into it was naturally returning. I was enjoying the process and the artistic outlet it provides. So, no magic answer just determination to make it so.

Lacey Avatar

Christine! Good on you for stepping away from makeup and organizing your garage! That must be a great feeling as it simplifies processes for your busy household. Did you wear a simple makeup, or none at all, only skincare? I think these types of resets are very helpful in focusing on what you think is important, and what you like to play with. 🙂

Erica Avatar

Rotating products. Building a weekly/monthly makeup capsule. Playing around with how you do makeup. Instead of a cut crease or halo eye, try one and done. Skip eyeshadow, just wear liner and a bold lip. Look on Pinterest for makeup looks

StayK Avatar

I’m sorry to hear about your rut, Christine. I don’t have any solid tips. Only some personal sharing. I hope it helps. I can only compare my experiences to what I’ve read from you’re entries. And I find it ironic that u do make-up & I’m in animal care. Animals were my passion as a child & I entered the veterinary field at 19. I’ve always been interested in make-up, but did not have the means to really explore it til a few yrs ago. Now I’m 46. Sucks bc my 19y/o skin woulda looked & applied make-up way better! Haha. Anyway, I got really burnt out by my passion & had to take a break bc my passion became a job, difficult & stressful & I had plateaued. So I explored new fields. But I came back to what I knew best, but in a different setting & I am happy again to be back in the vet field. Kind of like how models get into design or chefs get into nutrition or actors get into directing/writing. Sometimes we need to tweak our style or direction, like we do our wardrobe. We are always changing & growing. Even our tastebuds can change! And we all fall into ruts. Writers block, artistic standstill, lack of inspiration, etc. Happens to the best of us. I think taking time for yourself, to explore options, other genres & expanding your horizons… I just know for me, when I let go of that burdened feeling & looked on another side, it reignited that spark again. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, or something. IDK. This was all proly way too much & proly too deep. I know you have been an inspiration for me & I have learned SOOOO much from Temptalia. I’m sad I am so new to it. I missed A LOT! Thank you for all that you have done & do!

erin Avatar

I try to build a look around a color that i like using but isnt one of my go to colors so its a little out of my comfort zone while still being not too far out of my comfort zone.

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