This year started with a no buy. I decided to buy pretty much nothing all month long and it was a beautiful feeling. The thing is, ever since I started earning my own money, I’ve been spending it pretty frivolously on all sort of shite. Very rarely on useful things that I’d choose with real intent. So there I was, at the beginning of 2020, empty pockets, yet my drawers and cabinets overflowing. My first attempt at a complete no buy was a great success so I’ve declared 2020 the year of a low buy. Why not a no buy? Well it is a no buy but comes with a few exceptions. Such as experiences, holidays, gin and flowers.
To be successful, I believe, you first have to do an inventory of things you own. And of things you love. And of things you tend to buy on the regular. And then figure out the things you should stop buying entirely. Use multiples up. And stick to just one (or two) of everything. So where am I at right now?
Beauty products I do not own multiples of
Shampoo and conditioner
Three years ago I fucked my hair up like I literally thought there was no tomorrow. But there was not only tomorrow, but also the following days to come. And my horrid bleach burnt hair wasn’t happy. And it looked even unhappier. Three years on, at least ten bottles of Olaplex and they’re back to their formal – natural – beauty. Since then I only ever use Olaplex No 5 (conditioner) and a professional shampoo which I buy in bulk. At the moment I’m using Wella Professionals Invigo Volume (buy in CZ here). It comes in a litre bottle and lasts for ever.
Deodorant and antiperspirant
I have two – one for sports, one for everything else. Natural deodorants and antiperspirants and the way to go, but not gonna lie – they most definitely do not withstand the gym and my half marathon runs. Some natural beauty products just aren’t there yet, and that’s completely okay.
Mascara and brow products
Another products I own only one of is mascara and brow gel. I use this Essence mascara (you can get it in every DM drugstore in Prague). It’s super cheap, about £3, and it’s a dupe for the Clinique High Impact Volume mascara. I only ever buy a new one once I’ve run out of the old one. I also use a brow gel from Essence which costs £2 and is absolutely fabulous.
Shower gel
I don’t buy lovely smelling shower gels anymore because they seem to last about a week and you never know which one irritates your skin and which one doesn’t. I found a huge glass jar with a pump in a second hand store and I buy Alvede Bio Mint shower gel in refill pouches. They are packaged in plastic but it’s still a little better to use these than to buy a new bottle of cheap shower gel every week or so.
Hair oil
I only use one hair oil and that’s Natura Siberica Oil Complex (you can get it here in CZ) which contains sea-buckthorn and lots of other extracts from herbs you can find in Siberia. I’ve also been given Kérastase Aura Botanica Hair Oil (buy it here in CZ) by a friend who can’t use it anymore so I will be giving that a go but I won’t be purchasing any hair oils until I’ve used up both of these.
Makeup remover and makeup remover pads
Again, I only own one makeup remover which I’m very keen on and will most definitely write a review soon as I’ve repurchased it so many times already. I’ve also swapped cotton rounds for reusable cotton pads so I literally never have to buy cotton rounds ever again. You can read more about this zero waste swap here.
Face moisturiser and oil
I only own one face moisturiser and one face oil. I have a couple of bottles of The Ordinary treatments, each targeting different skin concern of mine, but I don’t have more than one moisturiser and oil at the time. My all time favourite face oil is Saloos Rose Oil (you find it in every DM drugstore in CZ). It absolutely perfect and rivals oils that are ten times more expensive and more!
Hair brush
Okay, this might be a bit of a lie because I own THREE hair brushes. They are all the same (which sounds very excessive, I admit). But hear me out. I only ever use one hair brush and that is Tangle Teezer. I adore the concept, the brand, everything. I use the compact styler and in fact I also use their aqua splash for brushing my hair in the shower. I do own three compact stylers though – but there is a perfect excuse for that. One is for home, one sits in my drawer at work and one is Cookie’s. How have you not guessed that.
Foundation
For some 3+ years I’ve been only using IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream which I’ve reviewed here. It’s the most perfect replacement of a foundation – and it’s not just another foundation. It contains a lot of skincare ingredients so it keeps your skin beautiful AND healthy all day long. You can layer it for higher coverage but it’s also perfect atop a highlighter in summer. A beauty of a foundation!
Black eye liner
Another product which I only ever buy once I’ve run out. This Maybelline eyeliner is absolutely perfect – ink black and doesn’t smudge. You can buy it on Notino in the UK and on Bezvavlasy in CZ.
Razor and epilator
I’m currently learning to use a safety razor and have chucked my old Venus razor because it was costing so much money to get the replacement heads. I regularly epilate so the safety razor is basically just a backup for emergencies and holidays.
What beauty products have you stopped buying completely or cut down to just one or two of each?