27 January, 2012

My lipstick graveyard

  
**Scheduled Post**

Well, here's a weird beauty confession for you:   Until recently I hoarded all of my lipstick stubs.  Yes, right now I'm cringing because all those little soldiers lined up in these pictures were - and I say were, because I've finally decided to toss them - mine.

Here they are all lined up on my dining table for their farewell appearance (lids are in a pile in the background)

Now that I'm not buying any make-up for a little while I've also decided to de-clutter and do a purge of the stuff I'm never going to use.  I came across these stubs and reminded myself why I'd started this "collection" in the first place all those years ago.  The reason was actually quite sane as I was going to depot my old lipstick stubs into a palette to get maximum use of my favourite colours.  Well, obviously I didn't get around to it yet blithely continued to toss the worn down lippies into a plastic bag, stored safely away in a box at the bottom of the wardrobe.  I kept accumulating and accumulating for years until...

Finally I had the revelation the palette's just not going to happen (Duh!) and the idea of depotting prehistoric lipstick just doesn't seem appealing or sanitary really!  So I've made the sane and sensible decision to toss them - but not before counting them first:

I can't believe I've used 75 lipsticks (minus the back to MAC's)!!!
I can't believe I kept them - Aargh!!!

Oh wow, I feel so much lighter now, hehe!

Do you have any beauty confessions?
  Any secret stashes you want to 'fess up to?

Until next time.

Vita :)

39 comments:

  1. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I don't think I've finished a dozen lipsticks in my life. I'm actually really glad you kept this to show us. It's kind of cool see the progression you've made all these years. :D

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    1. Well, I hesitated about sharing this but I'm glad I did now. That's what happens when you wear lipstick most days of the week!

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  2. I do a similar thing... I keep all my non-tinted lip balm stubs, in the hopes of melting them all together and putting them into a pot. :\ Your collection is far more impressive though!

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    1. It's a great idea - as long as you actually get around to doing it! I just waited far too long and lipsticks do go "off" eventually unfortunately.

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  3. extraordinary! it's such a beautiful sight and i'm amazed how you have finished a variety of shades! impressive!!!!!!!!

    cheers,
    jacq
    www.beautysketchbyjacq.com

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    1. Thanks Jacq, I thought the lippies looked pretty all lined up too! I had to look at them one last time before I tossed them out :)

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  4. Wow!That is one massive lipstick graveyard! Good on you for chucking them out.

    I kept hoarding all my old mascara's and nailpolishes and then reached the realisation that I will probably never use these old gluggy products again and threw out a whole bag full. It's very cathartic in its own way :D

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    1. I'm glad you understand Ahalya! I guess I didn't want to waste good product but I had that realisation I wasn't going to use them so it was time to go. Yes, it does feel cathartic. :)

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  5. omg i'm sooooo impressed!! that is a TON of lipstick!!! +_+ I am now inspired to stub down my lipsticks too :D

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    1. Go girl! I'm proof you can wear a lipstick all the way down to the stub!

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  6. do you not use the lipstick kept at the bottom of the tube? theres a lot thereeee! lol :)

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    1. I guess I was a bit lazy about it and didn't bother to dig out the remains at the time. I was going to create a palette from the stubs but the lipsticks just got too old and deteriorated.

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  7. OMG Vita, that's some crazy dead lipstick collection you have there! When I first saw the pics my first thoughts were "oh she should depot them, there's so much in there", but after reading the rest of the post and seeing how it's been collected over a number of years I agree you need to chuck these! stat!

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    1. Those ancient lippies are now gone Lilit! Glad I did it too!

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  8. Wow, that is an amazing collection! Imagine all the room you'll have for more lipstick :P
    xx

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    1. 75 lipstick stubs do take up a lot of room and they weighed a significant amount too. I remember my aunt used to tease me about having a kilo of lipstick in my makeup drawer - I think she may have been right! Hehe :D

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  9. Replies
    1. Not much to say is there? Glad I de-cluttered!

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  10. Wow. I don't think I've ever even owned that many in my life. Eyeshadows on the other hand, "I haave a mountain of them, and it's been at least 18 months since I've worn any of them.

    Well done on deciding to remove them

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    1. Thanks Cat. I've got way too many eyeshadows too! Not ready to chuck those though...

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  11. Oh my gosh! Coolest graveyard ever, but I agree that it's a positive move to toss them out. I can't believe how many you've used up. Well loved cosmetics are great!

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    1. Thanks Emma! Yes, there were some well loved lipsticks in there. When I looked through the pile I realised I don't discriminate either cos there were lots of different brands, from $2 no name brands right up to YSL, Dior and Guerlain!

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  12. wow i am so impressed you actually used them all up. I have so many that i never ever touch. and i have no idea why i keep them. might be time for a spring clean ;)

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    1. Hi Bini, a spring clean every so often is a good idea cos unfortunately lipsticks can go bad after a while.

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  13. Wow, you've used up so many! My secret would be that I never used up a lipstick, ever. not even close to doing so.

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    1. Wow I can't imagine not finishing a lipstick! Sometimes I love a colour so much and wear it so often the lipstick doesn't last longer than a few months. :)

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  14. I don't think I have ever used up a lipstick. I can't believe you got through so many!

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    1. I promise I don't eat them Dee! I guess working in a fluoro lit office has something to do with it cos I hate looking pale and pasty and the lipstick brightens up my complexion AND I'm a bit OCD about reapplying! Hehe :D

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  15. i think the only lipstick i ever used up was poppy's ambition - the very original ones in the 90s. in fact, i used up 2 of those. otherwise, i've never used up any. i've thrown away quite a lot over the years, not because they 'expired'. i keep them as long as possible until they start to smell bad.

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    1. Oooh I remember those and I did have a Poppy lippy in my collection. The shade was sheer Charity. Nice to know you loved a shade so much you got a back up!

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  16. Thanks Claire :) Yes I've recorded the stubs for posterity!

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  17. Wow! I don't think I even own 75 lipsticks total. :) Good on you for finally tossing those stubs!

    Hmm I confess to STILL having my first ever eye shadow palette (Not that I use it!)

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    1. I think it's cute you still have your first eyeshadow palette - I wish I had! xoxo

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  18. Vita I cannot believe how many lipsticks you have worked though - definitely no need to keep the graveyard going though :) You've definitely inspired me to keep trying to work through my collection.

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    1. It's taken me years to get to that stage. Now I'm pushing ahead even more cos I can't buy another one until I've finished five!

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  19. That is a strange look but I'm not jugging you because lately I've been obsessed with lipsticks and bought a bunch of it and probably over two years I will have the same 'army' on my table ;)

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    1. I know it's a bit weird but it's all good - at least I know I used all of these lippies and loved them!

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