Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review July, August, and September 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

... Okay, this is a bit insane but I kept three months worth of empties. I was lazy okay (￣□￣) I couldn't fit everything into one photo so I don't have a photo of everything.

I got a helix piercing at the beginning of September because I had wanted one for the longest time. Since I have long hair and the jewellery is tiny, very few people have noticed it.

In this time period, I also went to Kcon and saw EXO perform live! I'm still a bit in denial, it was a dream come trueeeee. I was a bit bummed that my current bias D.O (Do Kyungsoo) didn't end up coming but I saw all the other members! Lay wasn't going to come anyway so I wasn't too disappointed at not seeing him.

I also won a Peripera Airy Ink Velvet lip tint in #4 Beautiful Coral Velvet from the beauty panel at Kcon (*adds more lip products to my collection*). 

BTS keeps on rising. I was slightly disappointed with DNA but it grew on me quickly. I love every song on the album and I have a deep appreciation of the hidden track 'Sea'. 'Mic Drop' and 'Dimple (Illegal)' are my favourite tracks. Of course, being Jimin biased, I love 'Serendipity' as well. Will stop fangirling now and move onto my unbelieveable three months worth of empties.

My friends and I also booked a holiday for next year. I'll be gone for most of February 2018! Super excited.

Samples

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review May and June 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

I'm so behind on blogging my empties. Whoops^^;; I've just been plodding along with life, wanting a bit more from work and my relationship(s). 

There's a lot here because I combined two months worth of empties. Let's go!

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review April 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

Lots of full empties this month! I think I'm getting better at using up my stash at the moment-- I think it's mostly just finding the beauty subreddits I like to hang out in 'boring'. I'm mostly on a discussion sub now, and scrolling through the front page.

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been putting more money into clothes... to the extent where I've spent the same amount on clothes this year as what I've spent on all makeup/skincare/hair care all of last year. Whoops. I am so bad and actually need to invest my money properly as a grown up.

The last thing I spent 'big' on in April was tickets to see BTS in Sydney! I knew exactly what I wanted and finished checking out and got my email confirmation at 2.02pm when the Ticketek website started crashing lol. Tickets were released at 2pm so *shrug*

Using my phone to take photos again. It's convenient but the quality isn't as good as my camera. I'm just so put off with using my camera after all those lens issues T^T

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review February and March 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

It's been awhile since my last empties post. I didn't think that I had accumulated quite enough empties (...rubbish) for the month of February which is why I decided to combine February and March together. Throughout the two months, I've mainly been enjoying my regular staple items rather than working through samples.

The thing that is worrying me this month is that I am using all the money I could have saved by not purchasing any makeup and skincare (I've been sooooo good about this) into buying clothes. So many clothes. Which I don't really have much of a chance to wear. WHY??? T^T

 

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review January 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

Since my year of using up samples and documenting product usage went well throughout 2016, I have decided to continue this 'project' throughout 2017. I am really going to try and cut down my spending on makeup and skincare... but unfortunately, I think my spending has now migrated over to clothes (which is even more expensive orz). Better get that pay rise haha >_>

I got a new phone so I tried to take photos with it rather than taking out my camera (urghhh it breaks my heart that the lens isn't working properly). Honestly, I have no idea why my photos come out blurry and I didn't notice it until I looked that these pictures on the computer. Oh well. And I didn't colour correct the photos soz.

Not a strong start to the year in terms of empties, but it might because I spent a lot of time at home by myself over Christmas/New Year (that or I'm starting to run out of samples)!

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review December 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

The year 2016 is officially over! I calculated I spent $662 on makeup, skincare, and hair care. This is compared to $550 I spent on makeup (including circle lens), skincare, and hair care in 2015. In 2017, I'd like to save money and spend less on 'fun' purchases in makeup and skincare.

Although the majority of my money is spent on transport and food (~$2000), my main goals this year is to just repurchase skincare necessities and spend less frivolously on makeup. I have enough in my back up box for all of 2017 and probably 2018.

Unfortunately, as I was taking photos of my empties today, I realised my Olympus 14-42mm lens is broken and it wouldn't zoom past 25mm. In my worry, I forgot to take a group photo of everything for the month even though I set it up that way ;( As something extra, I have posted a picture of some items that are not yet finished, but will be thrown away.

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review October 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

This month has flown by! I'm not sure how but I think part of it was just constantly being so busy at work, and trying to keep on top of everything and not dropping the ball. I don't think I'm burning out, but I'm starting to lose that bright spark of organisational commitment I felt when I first started. Maybe I'm browning out?

I had a lot of fun with watching the Melbourne Cup with my colleagues. We went out for lunch, and after that, we all got an early mark to go home. Yay.

I'm glad that the festive season is approaching! I love Christmas decorations and the Christmas spirit. I'm not excited about the weather heating up again... I don't miss the 45 degree days. I have to be a bit more protective about changing up the storage for my lipsticks on hot days as I don't want them to melt or go bad in the heat. My MAC Lady Danger lipstick had a rough day yesterday and experienced a little bit of wax bloom.

I think I used up plenty of full products this month:D

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review September 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

My laptop decided that my only user profile on Windows 7 is corrupted and locked me out of it. It also decided to delete EVERYTHING except for my Word and Excel files. Those are the most important things I guess... I think I have most of my drawings and most of my photos backed up. Not everything though, especially my pictures of makeup and such. Also, all of my pixiv/dA/Facebook photos. Also ALL of my EXO photos, cosplay reference photos T_T Photoshop, MTT, Paint Tool SAI... all gone.

I think I need to save up for a new laptop rather than spend it on makeup in the future. So sad. Anyway, after this post I'll probably post a cumulative purchase for August, September and first half of October. Let's move onto the empties!

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review August 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

Happy Father's Day! I wrote my dad a nice card, but we didn't end up doing that much today. He was going to paint the window sill in my room. That didn't happen as he realised that he needed two coats of paint, and each coat needed 10+ hours to dry. The paint project will be for next week.

I ended up accumulating *cough shopping* a lot during August. I have no idea how that happened. I received a package from beautynetkorea (ordered from beginning of July), ibuybeauti (ordered from beginning of July), package from Etude House (end of July/beginning of August), a 'package' from a reddit user, my first handbag, two Liz Lisa dresses (from Cathy), new pair of rocking horse shoes (from Cathy) and Liz Lisa shoes from ebay. I'll probably do separate posts for those...

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review July 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

I always take my photos right at the end of the month or the first weekend of the month. However, I've been finding that I haven't been able to post on time due to computer problems or just general laziness. No wonder why it feels like I only posted very recently... because I did.

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review June 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

I got a bit itchy for new products this month (what is this no buy I put myself on:/) and purchased the Melano CC toner and essence, a Lucky Box, an eyebrow product, and a new cream. In terms of Priceline purchases, I got a face oil and a hydrating toner mist from Swisse.

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review June 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

I got a bit itchy for new products this month (what is this no buy I put myself on:/) and purchased the Melano CC toner and essence, a Lucky Box, an eyebrow product, and a new cream. In terms of Priceline purchases, I got a face oil and a hydrating toner mist from Swisse.

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review May 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

May was a happy month for me. I went out to Free Comic Book Day and wore a dress I made. A few strangers came up to me to tell me I looked cute:) This month I used up quite a few staple HG products. I find that six months is usually the sweet spot for me, and a few of the full sized products I used up were opened in December.

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review April 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

April was a big month for me. I started my second full-time job ever in a field where I can use my degree. I also treated myself to a limited eyeshadow palette I have been eyeing since February. It started getting sold out in various online stores so I decided to grab it off ebay for a few dollars extra before it completely sold out. 

My dad came back from a business trip to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, then went to Melbourne for a different business trip the week after. A few days he came back he got very sick. Several days after that, my mum caught whatever he had. I was so worried I was going to get it too because my mum kept on coughing everywhere and her doctor told her to not pass it onto my brother and I. Both my parents took sick days off to recover and have since fully recovered.

Makeup and skincare empties + review: March 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

It's already April and I still haven't found a full time job T_T On the plus side, I have gotten a few offers for contract jobs from other people who work in the field whilst twiddling my thumbs and going to interviews.

I also made another decent dent in my sample collection! Looks like everything I used up this month was skincare. Hopefully I'll finish a lip tint in April.

Makeup and Skincare empties + review Feb 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

My second month of empties for 2k16 is here and I decided to do what I said I wouldn't do-- keep a bag full of my rubbish to see what I've used up. Here are my empties for February 2016.

Finish all the samples 2k16 and Project Pan: Everything

I documented and inventoried all the makeup and skincare I own. No nail polish because that's not as interesting and most of what I own was gifted to me by Stefanie or Christina. This exercise made me realise how much 'stuff' I've accumulated. My reasoning for this stash varies from hitting free shipping, getting the most out of my shipping bracket, not having to go out of my way to replace something, and random stuff I wanted to try out after reading reviews. I want to be able to have a better idea of how long it takes me to use up things so I know I don't have to buy multiples at a time.

Would I rather have the money or have my 'stuff'? It depends. There are things I can do without, but there are also things I feel like I need, like BB cream or eyeliner. Because I wear makeup, I need cleansing oil, makeup remover, and cleansing water to clean that stuff off. Cleanser is a non-essential luxury step to me so I don't use it (but really wanted to use one again and I will buy a cleanser when I land a high paying job).

I made separate spreadsheets for makeup, skincare, haircare, fragrances, and samples. Here is a snip of my skincare inventory.

An example of my skincare spreadsheet

Makeup and Skincare empties + review Jan 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

This year, I decided to make a spreadsheet to keep track of my consumerism and consumption. I already keep track of my spending and get a better idea of how long it takes to finish using something (I had fun making pivot tables...).

Since early January, I have finished using a variety of samples and full-sized products.

Samples

1. Tony Moly Tomatox sample- 3
   - I used this on my neck to try and even out the colour difference between my face and neck; didn't really do much but gave me a mild brightening effect. It didn't break me out or give me a weird rash. WNR*
2. Milky Dress sample- 2
   - gave me a ghostly glow on my neck. I liked that you didn't have to wash this one off and it smells nice, like bubblegum. WNR