Why I still buy beauty products
This might sound like an odd title – to many readers it might just seem bizarre that I *wouldn’t* buy products. But after blogging for over five years I am very (very) lucky as I do get sent lots of things to try. Honestly, it’s more than any one person can really use in their lifetime. Even if I went full on drag-queen level of makeup twice a day I’d still struggle to hit pan all that often. Hence why I donate tonnes of product to a charity beauty sale multiple times per year – there’s just no way I could ever use it all. Plus I think I’d be heading for divorce if I refused to clear the stash out from time to time.
In absolutely no way is this post meant to come across as either a complaint or braggy. I completely and utterly LOVE that I get to try new products all the time. It’s definitely one of the most amazing perks to a hobby or job that a girl could dream of. But even though I have a beauty stash that would probably rival a small Boots store – I still go out and spend money on products. To those that maybe aren’t quite at the “beauty junkie” level of obsession, this can be a bit baffling. Quite fairly asking ‘but why would you buy things, don’t you have enough?’ And the answer is in part, yes- of course I have enough. But then being so passionate/obsessed (however you want to look at it) I always want to try that new thing, or get excited by something I see and just want to try it out. Or even pick up a cult classic product that might not be on the PR radar at the time but is still on my own must-try list.
The other day I went Into both Boots and Superdrug for a bit of a browse. Something I love to do – regardless of emails/press releases/buzz there’s nothing that beats a good old browse of a store. I’m lucky that the Superdrug in Angel (my local store) is actually pretty extensive with loads of brands and large stands to peruse (the Boots was kinda small but is undergoing a make-over and expansion… whoop!). So I headed to the store and just spent some time taking a look at the beauty offerings. From the stands, to the promotions to just seeing what catches my eye. There are brands I’m familiar with but maybe have so many new launches going on that you can’t always be up to date. Or perhaps there’s a launch that passed me by on email but in store it has me hooked. In fact, on my latest browse I came across a brand I hadn’t even heard of before – I Heart Makeup – so had a good old look at their stuff when in store. It looks like they’re one of those brands doing bargain dupes of other well known products on the market but it was eye catching and exciting to see a brand I haven’t seen before.
Of course I made the most of the 3 for 2 across all make-up offer that was on to stock up on a couple of long term favourites (the Bourjois Remover and Miss Sporty Clear Mascara) plus I’m on the hunt for a new base coat that doesn’t chip to bought the Bourjois anti-yellowing one plus Double Duty from Sally Hansen (not shown) and then two of the red lipsticks from the L’Oreal Collection Exclusive. I have the other two that have been sent to me but wanted to do a full collection post so picked up the shades to complete the collection. So was more of a six for four… but still. Love a discount.
When having a browse, I also love to be a total beauty-stalker and kinda overhear what others are asking or looking at. Or when a group of friends are shopping and you can hear them raving about products they love or have heard buzz about. Just spending time on a shop floor is basically like crack to this beauty junkie. I love it.
Sure, I really don’t *need* another nail varnish/mascara/lipstick (delete as appropriate) but I’m already well past the point of browsing for need really. I am and always will be hooked on beauty and as such will always be totally helpless to resist a cheeky purchase! There’s always that promise that *this* could be ‘the one’, that Holy Grail nail varnish/mascara/lipstick that somehow magically ends my beauty addiction and I can happily continue life with a capsule beauty collection… Ha! Never going to happen.
At the end of the day, if there’s something I want/love to the point I can’t stop thinking about it then I will always go out and buy it (latest examples… Hourglass and NARS blush palettes… I clearly have a thing for blushers). But beyond that, it’s like going on Safari rather than to a Zoo – you get to see the products in their ‘natural habitat’ as such and I find it fascinating! After all, it was browsing the aisles of Boots and Superdrug that started my beauty junkie ways so it makes sense that I still love visiting the stores so much.
I should probably note here that this post is in no-way meant to spark the whole ‘samples/honesty’ debate at all. It’s really not the point or topic of this post. I think anyone who reads this blog will already be familiar with my approach to reviews, regardless of being samples or bought by me. I’ve been doing this for long enough to know that disclosure and honesty is the best way to approach blogging and long may that continue. But I thought it might make an interesting post to think about why I do still buy beauty products and why my love of shopping for beauty will never end!
What do you love most about shopping (or even just browsing) the beauty halls or high street stores of the world! Let me know below as would love to hear.
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