2020 Makeup Empties
I've been on an ongoing mission with my makeup collection to make a real effort to use up the makeup I have, because what use is any of this makeup if it's just going to sit in a drawer and go bad before I've had chance to use it?With this in mind, I've made a conscious effort for a number of years to finish a product fully within my collection, before purchasing a replacement and hoarding my makeup empties to see just how much makeup you can actually finish in a year.
With this in mind, it has become an annual tradition, where I summarise my project pan progress and share my annual makeup empties. I also try to regularly switch up the items in my daily makeup routine as not to neglect items from my makeup stash.
Last year I managed to use up 24 makeup items (19 the year before), which totalled over £200 worth of makeup. Although I didn’t buy these in one go, I do find it interesting to calculate how much my daily makeup routine would cost me, should I have to restart from scratch.
I am always curious, year to year, to work out whether the value of my makeup empties has gone up or down over the year.
Onto the empties...
Makeup I've used up in 2020
Foundations (4) - £72.50
CYO Foundation - 102 - £7.50
Bellapierre Full Coverage Foundation Stick - £25
Revolution XX Foundation - £15
This year was (sadly) the year that my favourite CYO Long Lasting Foundation was discontinued, so you’ll notice significantly less CYO foundation empties this year. Instead, you’ll find in its place one from Revolution, Too Faced and Bellapierre. The CYO would still be my favourite foundation of the four I’ve been able to use up this year, but the Too Faced Foundation does take a close second.
Concealers (2) - £20
CYO It's a Cover Up High Coverage Concealer - £5
Bella Pierre Mineral Concealer Stick - £15
I am always shocked at how few concealers I manage to use up in 12 months, but the two from 2020 include one budget concealer from CYO (again, now discontinued) and one from Bella Pierre. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a particular fan of either of these concealers, but continue to use my Revolution XX Concealer on a daily basis.
Powders (2) - £27
CYO Fixing Powder - Clear - £4
Bella Piere Banana Setting Powder - £23
Considering I tend to reach for a face powder every time I apply makeup, I only used up two this year. I can’t say I noticed a particular difference between the two powders, but I’m looking forward to trying the Laura Mercier loose powder in the new year.
Bronzer (1) - £5
Primark Golden Rose Bronzing Terra Powder 103 - £5
The packaging of the Primark Bronzer got a real battering in my makeup bag and broke not long into owning it. The bronzer itself was lovely and due to its size, explains why it took me so long to use it up and why my bronzer list is only one item long.
Eyeshadow (6) - £41.50
Front Cover Eyeshadow (x2) - £2 equivalent
Ted Baker Eyeshadow Pan (x1) - £6 equivalent
Mally Eyeshadow Pan (x1) - £2.50 equivalent
No7 Eyeshadow Pan (x1) - £1 equivalent
Estee Lauder Silky Eyeshadow Duo -01 Mocha- £30 equivalent
I'm so pleased that I managed to use up 6 eyeshadow pans this year. I have been on a real eyeshadow mission this year; trying new shadow looks and regularly rotating those in my collection. I have been gifted a couple of new eyeshadow palettes for my birthday, so I’m looking forward to experimenting with more eyeshadow looks in 2021.
Blusher (1) - £32
Estee Lauder Blusher - Nude Rose - £32
I had the last dregs of this Nude Rose Blusher left in my collection, a lovely damson-pink. I don’t always reach for blush in my daily routine, so it’s always an achievement if I can use one up.
Highlighters (2) - £57
Too Faced Diamond Light Highlighter - Fancy Pink Diamond - £30
Mac Mineralize Skinfinish - Soft and Gentle - £27
Of the two highlighters I managed to use up this year, the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish was a clear winner. Unfortunately the Too Faced Highlighter wasn’t pigmented and the pay off was poor, not what I was expecting from a usual favourite brand of mine. Although not quite yet on its last legs, I have loved using the Iconic Liquid Illuminator as my highlighter of choice for the latter months of 2020.
Lipbalm / Gloss (4) - £31
Cherry Carmex - £3
Lancome Glossy Tube - £5
Hersheys Lip Balm - £5
Unfortunately I’ve been unable to use up any lipstick this year, but am pleased to report that I’ve used up three lip balms and one lip gloss this year, with the Too Faced Hangover Pillow Balm being the standout product of the four.
Grand Total: £286
Considering half of 2020 consisted of being bare-faced and living in loungewear, this years makeup empties have been a real achievement and I am so pleased that I managed to use up 21 items this year, worth nearly £290!!
With a few new additions to my makeup collection (mascara, eyeshadow palettes & setting powder) I’m certainly going to be doing a makeup switch up for the new year and continue my mission to use up more lipsticks and eyeshadows from my collection.
How much makeup have you used up in 2020?
