December 13 2009: Hygiene And Beauty Products
For someone who’s as conscious of self presentation as I am, I don’t use that many beauty products. Certainly more than those who genuinely don’t care about their appearance one way or another, but by no means as much as those who spend half an hour in front of the mirror every day. I’m a ten minute girl (at most) and use:
- For my hair: shampoo, conditioner, hair styling product
- For my body: body wash, body moisturiser, deodorant, sunscreen, Goodbye Cellulite (which doesn’t work!)
- For my face: clay masks, cleanser, toner, moisturiser
- Makeup: foundation, powder, bronzer, mascara, lip balm
I’d estimate that I’d spend about $20AUD-$30AUD a month on beauty and hygiene products – sometimes more as I do stock up when items are on sale, sometimes less as I can keep using items I’ve stockpiled. It helps that I use very basic products that generally don’t cost more than $8AUD-$10AUD a bottle – I don’t buy ‘designer’ makeup for example, and instead of paying $20AUD for a 250ml bottle of organic shampoo, I’ll pay $8AUD for a one litre bottle of normal shampoo.
I have a similar collection (though fragrance-free) at Dylan’s house as I spend almost half the week there – it saves me hauling items back and forth between our places. I do have a few more makeup items (mainly lip gloss and eyeliner, etc.) but as I don’t use those more than once a fortnight, I didn’t bother listing them.
By far the more astounding thing is that I use each and every single one of my products before I start using something new. I hate waste – and the logical conclusion is to use everything up before trialling something different. My housemate is the complete opposite – at any time, she’ll have five different shampoos and conditioners going, or ten face cleansers and toners. Our bathroom is cluttered with half-used bottles of one product or another. She’ll buy and start using a new product (“I just want to try it!”) before she’s through using the five products she’s already using.
I realise that my views towards clothing, products, and organisation versus hoarding are extreme, and probably more minimalist than most people, so you’ll have to enlighten me: Is this normal? Do people normally use a million different products concurrently, rather than using up a product before starting a new one?
Question of the Week: What are you like with beauty and hygienic products? How many do you use and how many different products with the same purpose are you using concurrently?
18 Responses to “Hygiene And Beauty Products”
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I usually buy one bottle of shampoo and conditioner and use them and then just before they are empty buy more. So at least you are not the only one. Same goes to pretty much all of my hygiene/beauty stuff. I’d say only weird thing in my buying habits is that I try to buy products that are green bottles (etc…)
Hanna on December 13 2009 #
For my hair I use shampoo. For my body I use shower gel, and deodorant. That’s it. Bosh. I don’t use that much shampoo because I don’t have much hair, and I don’t shower daily. I’m thinking of the environment. ;)
Rae on December 13 2009 #
This is one of my favourite things to yammer on about! This will most likely be TL;DR.
I use Vaseline for everything. EVERYTHING! Seriously. I don’t even use skincare products anymore. Okay, that was a white lie- I still exfoliate. I used to have Pores Of Doom and got break-outs all the time. Then I stopped with skincare and replaced it with that- it helped heaps. I slap it on whenever I can! It feels a bit weird and icky the first time around, but you get used to it. I wish they sold massive industrial drums of it. It’s so cheap and works so well for me. Anyway.
I use stuff like you do (I have one product for each purpose and one product only and they’re all basic brands), except with makeup. I love makeup… I am a red lipstick whore. I have about three different tubes. But… they’re different shades! And I use them all! Also, mum is friends with a woman who sells cosmetics so my makeup is pretty discounted. I love it. That said, there is a single makeup item that I spend the most on! I love it to bits. I think it is worth the price I pay though, seeing as I’ve never been disappointed with it and will never use another.
Random grievance: My favourite lipstick is no more :(. I bought it for $2 because the line was discontinuing and it was perfect. BAH.
So, in short: I use stuff pretty much the same way you do! I know that if I buy something new before using up what I already have I’ll forget about my old bottle of whatever and it’ll be wasteful. I hate that.
Melinda on December 13 2009 #
I’m pretty much the same way you are, although one of my friends does what your housemate does, especially with perfume. Personally I can’t do that because it throws me off, and I’m afraid the smells will combine to produce something not-so-nice. So I have my one brand of shampoo & conditioner that I always use that I know works well, one of deodorant, and mild soap. The only thing I’m bad with is eyeshadows, but I use them all constantly so I suppose it’s not too bad. I have two kinds of face washes that I use, but one’s for the morning and one’s for night (I could technically use the night one twice a day, but it’s a bit too strong).
So in short, no, you’re not the only one. I think it’s more normal to stick to one product than to have a bazillion for the same purpose.
Ashley on December 14 2009 #
I think you’re perfectly normal.. but I was surprised to go through the list and realize that I use LESS than you do.
:\
Here I am thinking -I- was normal!!
Will do a post on this.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com on December 14 2009 #
I don’t use makeup on a daily basis, like when I am going to class or work, because I’m lazy and also don’t feel like I need it. When going out though, I’ll use foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss. I have tons of eyeliners and mascaras and lip glosses going, but they all are different types/colors/flavors so that’s how I justify buying new ones :P Although I definitely don’t plan on buying anymore makeup anytime soon because I’m really happy with the ones I am using now.
Manda on December 14 2009 #
I’m kind of in between you and your housemate — I’ll have a few different types of one beauty product going at the same time, but I try to finish using all of them. Other than the fact that I have two sets of shower stuff (one at home, one for my dorm), I use the same shampoo, conditioner, and body wash; it’s really only with perfume, makeup, body spray, face moisturizer, and body lotion that I have multiples because I like switching up scents sometimes.
Meg on December 14 2009 #
I must be a dude or something, because I only use shampoo on my hair, soap and deodorant on my body, St. Ives Apricot Scrub on my face when it’s oily… and I have eyeliner that I rarely ever use.
I have less of a routine than my boyfriend does!
Darnielle on December 14 2009 #
The most I’ve ever used of the same product concurrently is two. Even if I purchased a new kind, I’d finish what I had opened first!
I have pretty much the same products as you but I barely use my moisturizer, sunscreen, masks, or make-up. Too much effort :P
Kaylee on December 14 2009 #
I can’t use regular shampoo/conditioner anymore. The chemical and artificial product content wigs me out like whoa.
but aside from that, I only have 4-5 other products I use daily.
Jennifer on December 14 2009 #
I use everything up before I go on to the new bottles, it makes me mental to have a bajillion bottles lying around.
Regina on December 14 2009 #
I pretty much use the same products forever. I’m too lazy and afraid of being wasteful to try and use something else.
I can’t stand using any product in my hair because it just feels very stiff, so just shampoo and conditioner. Makeup – mineral foundation, mascara, eyeshadow, eyeliner. I actually take a really long time to finish my foundation like…almost 2 years. If anything THAT is probably not normal. All my eyeshadows are gifts I get when I buy my face cleanser. My mom was ragging on me a few days ago about how she hates my new eyeshadow (makes my eyes look weird or something) and I told her I’ve been using the same color since I was 13 :P
marilyn on December 14 2009 #
I don’t find that abnormal, it’s the way my mother taught me to use it. Sometimes I’d use two products concurrently because I get bored of one, but for the most part, I’d wait till I’d finished one before trying out another.
Of course I use far less than you do, because I don’t know how to do my make-up. I always feel like I end up looking like a clown.
Vera on December 14 2009 #
Well, I have about three different shampoo bottles. I use them all concurrently, because I don’t stockpile and am therefore afraid of running out of shampoo. Having 3 bottles ensure that there is always backup if one runs low.
They’re all different brands because I can’t commit to one.
Kyan Blue on December 14 2009 #
I’m sort of abnormal when it comes to this stuff. I’m guilty of buying that ‘designer’ makeup and have loads of it (mostly eyeshadows) Basic products like foundation I buy covergirl and only when i run out.
Hair products/body washes I use two or three brands and alternate when I run out (unless I stock pile which is often). I have a tendency to buy ‘designer’ hair products due to my sister being able to get them wholesale.
Amy on December 15 2009 #
If that’s what you use on a daily basis, you use wayy more than me! I’m soo lazy with maintenance. The only time I really dress up is if I’m going out clubbing or something other than that, I keep everything at a minimal or no make up at all.
I find that I never finish any product! My sister and I have like 40 different bottles of shampoos, conditioners, etc. in the washroom! Oh well.. it’s good to rotate that stuff every week or so anyway. =P
Katy on December 15 2009 #
I’m like you in that I’m pretty minimalist with make-up and stuff, but I have 2 different sets of shampoo/conditioner that I use because I’ve heard that you should alternate shampoos regularly to prevent build-up. And I get bored of the same scent. But yea I think it’s “normal” to have a lot of half-used bottles, but it sounds like your housemate might have a lot haha.
Shen-Shen on December 16 2009 #
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