Have you started the new year with a no-buy, project pan or shop your stash plan, too? My whole Instagram feed seems to have done so. Here’s one shop your stash pro tip that works really well for me!

I personally did a skincare no-buy in January, because my spending escalated in November and December 2021, and my skincare drawer is full. (That’s one of my rules: if it’s full with backups, I can’t buy new stuff until the drawer is so empty, I can get new stuff inside. It’s that easy, works well for me and prevents my beauty habit from overtaking the apartment.) I also felt slightly ashamed when I took a picture of all the makeup I bought in 2021 – I put that on Instagram every year, and this one was a bit sobering. Eyeshadows have become my new vice, and I bought A LOT.

Shop your stash pro tip!

shop your stash tips

I’ve written about shop your stash and no-buy projects before, and two facts have been proven right again and again: for you to actually use all the products you own, you’ve to know a) what you own and b) have an organization solution that works for you and makes your stash easily accessible.

Here’s a third point that helps me not to buy something new and enjoy the products I have:

Makeup playtime

being on a makeup no buy

Establishing makeup playtime (I borrowed the term from Hannah Louise Poston).

There’re a few ways I like to use makeup playtime for me: of course, I love to do my makeup and try new looks. But makeup playtime could also entail half an hour before bed when you swatch all your lipsticks. Or try a silly TikTok hack. Or do a look you’d never wear outside.

Here’s what I do when a brand’s or retailer’s newsletter drops into my inbox and I’m seriously tempted by a new eyeshadow palette (because seriously, these days it’s nearly always a new eyeshadow palette):

I either try to dupe that palette from my stash. Let’s face it, I do have enough eyeshadows to nearly dupe about everything. I actually love that process with a passion: I love pulling all my shiny new and beloved older palettes out, and try to create my own personal new favourite.

Do whatever you want!

how to use your makeup collection more

And, because I’m a weirdo, I love to re-organise my stash. Sometimes I declutter a few things during the process, or pull out some products I plan to wear during the week that I place on a little tray to have it directly within reach during hectic mornings. Or sometimes I think about forgotten favourites and plan a new project pan.

I can guarantee you: after that half an hour of makeup playtime, the urge to buy something new has vanished completely. Because, in the end, sure, I like shopping. But I like playing with makeup more. And that I do have already, and in abundance.

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