Circa 2015, TikTok didn’t exist and Youtube was at its peak. My Youtube genre of choice? Makeup tutorials. The trends? Thick eyebrows, cut creases and full coverage makeup and I needed it all. Trips to the grocery store with my mom would result in a new makeup product every single time.
Why? Because the Youtubers said I needed it.
As I watched more makeup videos, more products were promoted as their “staple items.” As an insecure 15-year-old watching these beautiful women get more beautiful by putting on these products, I was convinced I needed the exact same products that they were using.
So I would save my money, beg my mom to go to Ulta and buy makeup that I was convinced would make me look instantly beautiful. Tarte Shape Tape, Benefit brow pencil and the limited edition Anastasia Beverly Hills Prism palette all made its way into my basket. $100 later, I was on my way to looking just as beautiful as these girls.
The problem was, in about two weeks the same youtubers would have an entire new collection of full face makeup they would claim to be their staple and holy grail.
What. The. Heck.
I followed this frustrating cycle for a while. I had gotten stuck in the mindset of having the latest and greatest product that I really didn’t need. I didn’t need half the makeup I spent my money on; most of it expired anyways. I didn’t need three foundations, five concealers, two bronzers and four highlighters.
Not only did this cycle leave a harsh imprint on my confidence as a young girl, but it was wasteful. Wasteful for my wallet and wasteful for the environment.
I was over it. I threw all the makeup that I didn’t use or had expired away and started fresh. I did my research and bought products that fit my personality and the looks I wanted to achieve and I have stuck to that mindset ever since. I have found my products I like and I only ever buy new ones when I need more.
At the end of the day, the makeup industry will always be wasteful. Each makeup company has different types of the same product and each company is competing with all the other companies that make the same products. This business will never end.
But if I can cut down my wasteful buying habits, then maybe it can help just a little bit.