Well it's a well overdue Happy New Year from me to you!
I had an unintentionally extended holiday from blogging so this is why it's been quiet around here for the past month. It started out that I was just too busy to post in the lead up to Christmas and after a while I decided to allow myself the permission to step back and come back when I was ready to. I've been thinking about things in this space for quite a few months actually - and making some changes around here - so I decided to wait until I was ready to share with you. There's a great big hint in the picture below of what I'm talking about!
But first - a recap of how I did with my 2015 resolutions...
But first - a recap of how I did with my 2015 resolutions...
"1) Rather than doing 2 for 1 this year I'll use up (or cull) at least 1 makeup product before I buy a new product..."
Let me be honest here and say that I didn't keep tabs on myself so I don't know exactly how I did. I was keeping tabs on what I used up over the course of 2015 and if you follow me on Instagram you'll probably already know that I managed to finish 44 makeup products so that's encouraging. Did I buy 44 products (or less) last year? I didn't keep a tally on that side and my inkling is I possibly bought more than 44 but I don't want to sit down and work it out now! I should have been more disciplined about it obviously but, you know, somehow keeping tabs on all my purchases felt just a bit too anal - although that would clearly be the answer! Let's say that this resolution needed a bit more work to make it work.
"2) I've got waaaaay too many lip glosses in my collection so I'm going on a lip gloss buying ban FOR THE YEAR!"
Do you know what? I actually kept my word on this one! Being a lip product addict as I am I thought this would have been a toughie but I stuck it out and it made me appreciate the extensive collection I already have. Best of all I downsized my collection ever so slightly by finishing 7 glosses over the year. All I need to do now is revisit my collection and do a cull of products that have "turned" or just don't work for me so I end up with my perfect collection. After the discipline of last year I'm not in hurry to rush out and buy any more lip gloss so I've actually reigned that addiction in. Success with this resolution!
"3) My bronzers all look so new and unloved! I've already pledged on Instagram that I'm going to start wearing my bronzers and contouring products more regularly this year and now I'm going up the ante by challenging myself to hit pan on a bronzer!!!"
I failed miserably with this one. I got nowhere near to hitting pan on anything and I probably wore bronzer no more than once a week so hitting pan was never going to happen in 2015. On the positive side I did learn which bronzers were my favourites and as a result I'm now in love with Too Faced Chocolate Soleil for adding warmth and contouring.
"4) Finally, not so much a beauty plan but a blogging pledge: I'll make sure to post at least twice a week in 2015."
I did manage to keep this up until November when I just ran out of steam. I'm hoping to maintain a steadier pace this year because I have a renewed sense of what I want to do with my blog.
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So what are my plans for 2016? Just a couple of things:
1) Going Cruelty Free
I have already quietly started this journey behind the scenes as I have been consciously choosing cruelty free makeup, skincare and hair care in my own purchases over the last 6 to 7 months. I fell off the wagon a couple of times - it takes time and a fair bit of research to get through the minefield of non-CF products - but I'm now ready to make this a CF blog. I still have my final 2015 empties post and a few non-CF products that I'm obliged to review for PR companies and I will get those posts up as soon as possible but from that point on this blog will be a CF zone - I will mark that milestone with a post of course! This has me truly excited and I hope you will stick around for the journey.
2) Joining in the "2016 makeup use up"tag
I came across this idea on Youtube via the Elle is for living channel. Elle has created a tag pledging to use up the proverbial truckload of makeup in 2016 and after my 2015 efforts I think I can do the same. I'm not going to be too specific about which items I'm targeting but I have set myself a target of using up 50 products this year. I've just finished 2 so there's only 48 to go, lol!
3) Having fun!
Obvious but important. I've been blogging for 5 years now so it had better be fun or else what the hell am I doing here? I've decided I'm not going to be the biggest blogger on the block so I'm doing things on my terms - hopefully that will result in more creative, interesting content for me and you of course!
What are your plans for this year - beauty or other?
Great inspirational post. I'm also a huge lip gloss lover and I have way too many of them. I will try not to buy any for the entire year (I don't think i can make it but I can try).
ReplyDeleteGoing cruelty free is so important and I'm also slowly leaning to go on that route and I agree with you, sometimes it is hard
Yay for you making the transition to CF too!
DeleteGood luck with your lip gloss no buy! I was surprised by how easy the lip gloss ban was for me. I keep most of my glosses on display in clear view so that constant reminder helps me too. I pretty much have every colour covered in that respect which also helps! Lol!
I think you did pretty well for 2015! You should be proud!
ReplyDeleteGoing cruelty free is a great decision, I wish you the best of luck! Can't wait to see how yo do with these! xx
Jasmine / sweetaholic-beauty.com
Thanks Jasmine! I'm on my way :-)
DeleteHurray, I think it's important to still have fun! A lot of times I know it can seem like work for me, and so I haven't been posting really at all, hahaha. And then there are times that I want to post, but I just can't summon up the energy to actually take the photos and write the words, LOL. But I love interacting with everyone! Twitter and Instagram make it really easy.
ReplyDeleteI totally get how posting can feel like work - and the only sensible answer is to not post! I was feeling so much like that towards the end of 2015 and my heart wasn't in it so I allowed myself that break. I'm so glad we do have Instagram and Twitter - there's always some way to connect with each other, beyond just talking about beauty too! xo
DeleteThese are excellent goals, and congrats on going CF! I think it's awesome that you finished 7 glosses last year and didn't buy any new ones! That is saying a lot for a lip product lover! The only bronzer I've ever hit pan on was my Chocolate Soleil! I think it was over a year ago and it's STILL GOING! Granted there's a huge pan circle in the middle of it, but that thing just keeps giving and giving, lol! It's my favorite bronzer ever, too! So forgiving, non-streaky and lovely. If anyone can finish 50 products in a year, it's you! I have faith. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kristen! It's so nice to have you visiting too!
DeleteYes, 7 glosses down wasn't too bad. I don't know that I'll be finishing that many before I buy again, although I don't have a burning desire at the moment so who knows?
Yes I was thinking that 50 might just be within my reach this year, especially if I contain my spending. What has been a reality check though is that means I have to finish off an average of 4 makeup items a month! I did manage to do that for January so let's see how I do!