7 WAYS THE BEAUTY COMMUNITY PROMOTES OVERCONSUMPTION | Conscious Consumerism 

What really bothers me is when youtubers _apologize_ for not having had their nails done, like how f-ed up is that?!

I own a relatively small amount of makeup compared to a lot of beauty enthusiasts and I can’t even finish things before their expiration date which is wild

It's true, lack of contentment is the core issue with consumerism.

I completely lost control with “treating myself”. I use to treat myself in special occasions. Now, I do any time I feel discomfort and the “treats” have lost meaning and have become a mid form of shop addiction. 😐

I know that I have reached some form of enlighten when huge amounts of make up makes me anxious instead of excited.

I am so happy to finally have found someone who’s talking about this. The whole Sephora VIB sale hype is really getting on my nerves. Especially when people are using it to justify extremely expensive items they don’t need....

Yes! Self care is financial stability, not racking up credit card debt!

100% agree with everything. Another thing that has personally made me spend a lot unnecessarily was DUPES! Dupes are hyped said to be even better than the original and typically are assigned to expensive or luxury products. I wanted expensive lipsticks from Dior and YSL and Naked pallete but i didnt feel like spending $50 so i went and bought cheaper dupes from make up revolution, elf etc. but they’re still not quite it so i go buy more “dupes” because they’re cheaper. Guess what, I dont use them and i caved in and bought the original expensive products anyway after wasting although small but unnecessary money trying to dupe the products. Now i have bunch of clutter. So my rule now is- just get the original products instead of collecting almosts. Better to have 1 good quality product u know u will feel good abt using rather than bunch of similar stuff.

I do love the panning community. I would projectpan because I had so much makeup and followed youtube trends. Panning made me realize one eyeshadow can take MONTHS to use. Or a lipstick takes a year or two. Now I pan it makes me rethink my purchases

the type of voice we need on the internet

8:50-8:51 "buying for my fantasy self" that's a perfect way to describe how I used to purchase beauty products. The only makeup I wear is lipstick, and this still ended up being a problem a few years ago when I decided to purge my collection and had over 150 lipsticks, half of them being the exact same color over and over again. I was definitely buying with my "fantasy self" in mind, someone who was able to have a lot of expensive, luxurious brands and tons of products. It was also definitely a fear of missing out, like I couldn't go without all these lipsticks popular creators were hyping up as if they were completely life changing. But, realistically, that was costing a fortune, and the vast majority of those lipsticks I'd completely forgotten about, usually sticking to a handful of favorites anyway. I'm really glad I got out of that mentality. Now I have maybe 20, and all of them are inexpensive and different colors, so I can still enjoy having variety without having to destroy my wallet or letting perfectly good lipsticks expire in a drawer.

🌼I threw away make-up I disliked then replaced it with brands I love, with better quality make-up. After doing a project pan for one year, I learnt so much about my attitude towards make-up. It also made me look at other areas of my life where I was buying loads of things.🌼

I feel so validated by this. I’ve worked in cosmetics for like 6 years and always felt like I had to try everything and buy the new and exciting palettes to keep up with the trends. I’d buy way more than I could really afford. Now I have a hoard of expired products that I don’t want to throw away but also won’t use cause it’s old. I’m finally banning myself from buying until I use something up.

Ive been "WANTING TO TRY EM COSMETICS" 😁 . I have too much makeup to buy something just to try. Thankx 🙏

I've noticed that I haven't fallen into the trap of buying makeup because I'm straight up broke constantly and when I do buy makeup I leave it on a wish list for a few months to see if its something I really want and will use regularly. But even so I still have too much makeup for someone who won't make money from buying makeup or using makeup.

I have been bothered by the "Makeup collection" for as long as I have been watching Beauty RU-vid... I like the term "Kit"... kind of a tool kit, where everything has a function; kits can be large or small depending on your needs, but will serve a fuction.

I’ll admit as a male who wears makeup I always see the top male muas with nails and it definitely makes me feel like I have to get my nails done in order to “fit in” but thankfully I have yet to even get them. I don’t mind my bare nails ☺️🙌🏼

I invest in makeup tbh. I'll get a pallete I'm going to use for YEARS. And use it till it's totally destroyed lol.

I think even those of us who don't have a platform should monitor what we do and why, because we are also influencing the people in our own lives. Especially younger people. ♥️

While this particular time in our lives has been horrible on many levels, it has provided an opportunity for many of us to pause and to think about our choices and our behaviors. Your video was excellent and on point we all need to take a look in the mirror or take a look inside and examine our consumer behavior .

So many behaviors I recognize in myself here. I started deleting stuff in my Sephora cart as you were talking. Great points made.

You hit the nail on the head! I think it`s human nature to always want the best and try to accumulate stuff so we feel accomplished and secured. What really helped me break this cycle of buying and researching products was to just force myself to use only what I already own and have a single item of the stuff I need.

I feel like a lot of the "trying to try" mentality for youtubers comes from the expectation that every individual beauty channel has to be an encyclopedia of makeup knowledge, and I've definitely noticed that in myself and I have to remind myself regularly that even if I don't know x thing, someone else will. Thinking of the community and collective experience as the encyclopedia instead of my own knowledge has helped.

I agree on everything! One thing that really used to give me FOMO was limited editions, it's an absolutely toxic way of pushing people to buy something before even having enough time to think about it, or having the chance to procrastinate that decision (for example after the end of a no-buy period). It's usually done with pretty regular products that you could get anywhere else whenever you want (like a very normal pink blush or champaign highlighter), but you only want it because it's limited edition and you feel like you might regret not buying it in the future.

I personally buy a lot of makeup, but I also use all of it on a regular basis. I buy enough to where I have some colour variety, then pause for a long period of time to use all of it up. I set strict quantity boundaries for myself so I don't go overboard and I constantly remind myself of what I already have in my "collection". It's okay to get new things, as long as you appreciate them. Only buy that nice lip stain if you know you're going to use all of it. And if you convince yourself that you really need it but then end up using it only once, give it to a friend or a family member (unless you have lip infections, ofc; only do that if it's safe).

I rarely comment (partly because I spend little time on RU-vid) but I have to say I'm glad you articulated this well. I was looking for dicussions on consumerism and this video came up. We are such an overindulgent society hyperfocused on accumulation that we neglect our impact on other animals and the environment.

Love that you’re touching on this. I’m going on a no-buy in 2022 and I’m so happy I found your channel! 😊

My problem is completionism. I have to buy the whole line of something, even if I won’t ever use it or I don’t feel complete. I’m getting better but that’s my biggest issue.

Another thing I've caught myself doing, is frantically overusing some of my products just to get them out of the way. I can feel so consumed by the clutter and I just want to get things out of the way to make room for something else or reduce the size of my collection, that I'll use way too much lotion, body wash, burn a candle long after it's made the room fragrant etc. And the problem isn't that these products last too long, it's that I've accumulated too much stuff. And I'll also overuse a product to justify buying a new one. If I want a new face lotion, I'll slather myself in lotion just to justify buying the new product that sounds better than the one I have. And the constant advertisements that are cultivated to my past searches is so hard not to give into at some point. I can't just use social media or read an article without being reminded 10x about the leggings I was just looking at. It's hard to escape this passive consumption mindset when nearly everything we engage with is polluted with nudges to get us to cave to our impulse.

All things I've always known down deep, but that's so useful to hear listed out so openly and clearly. Thank you! (And yes, I feel guilty of most) Limited editions don't help, either. It's alarming how dysfunctional purchase behaviours have been normalized and legitimated to the point that we almost do not realize this is not sustainable in do many ways

One more thing to add about the beauty community. I enjoy watching videos overall from people who make videos on RU-vid (like yourself) as a hobby and not as a career. The opinions and advice is night and day from the ones who actually support themselves off being Influencers. I'll often search for here for products I'm interested in trying but come up flat with finding anything about them on RU-vid simply because they were never given as PR to people with thousands or millions of subscribers. I searched for certain products for instance from Touch in Sol and Wet N Wild but got nothing on here because they were never gifted to well known vloggers.

I had to go back and listen three or four times to be sure I heard this right... who is spending $1,200. a month on nails? What do $1,200. nails look like? What kind of salon is this?

Totally number 7 for me. Pushing myself to finish what I already have.

I can totally relate to constantly want to find something BETTER, even when I know I’ve found something I absolutely love. And it just never stops! Thank you so much for the amazing wake up call💖

I have been binge-watching your videos while I am currently on my first-ever no-buy. Started the 1st of January. It helps remind me of my WHY and strengthens my decision.

OKAY after watching your declutter, i scrolled thru my home screen and this one popped up. LIKE the makeup madness needed me too see this. I have a obscene amount of makeup to the point, i don't film or wear makeup. I'm so riddled with anxiety and being overwhelmed. And yes being a completionist, or actually using. I can't even use, much less finish anything. I bought into to fomo, to the "must have" or "life changing" i am really at a crossroad of being a collector or hoarder. And it isn't healthy either way. My numbers would floor most. It's time to reevaluate the reason i started loving makeup, and started RU-vid. Thank you for this video💚

With the VIB sale and also Ulta's 21 days of beauty, I've gotten to the point where if it wasn't on my wish list before the sale, I don't get to add it just because of the "sale". If an item's been on my mind for a while, and then happens to go on sale, then I'm content with the purchase and don't have regrets later on.

Guurrl, I don't know why it took me so long to find your channel!! I agree with everything you are saying in this video! Thanks so much for making content like this!!

I’m a new subscriber and I love your channel! I’m starting a no/very low buy and I feel such shame with all the money I’ve spent over the years on makeup/ beauty 😳. I do get my nails done which I admit is kind of extravagant but I’m a nail biter so it helps me . Yes I could be rationalizing !! I also stopped dyeing my hair and I only get it trimmed about twice a year so I’ve cut back on that . Oh the struggle lol

I definitely hear what you’re saying. On the nails part - growing up I always thought of getting your nails done as a luxury and it was relatively recently that I realized some people just constantly get them done which I found pretty surprising. I also saw someone saw it is kind of a class indicator because as a woman if you have your nails all the time it shows that you don’t have a manual labor job / job where you are working w things constantly. I’m someone that loves beauty / makeup but work in a manufacturing environment so I can’t ever really have my nails done. And definitely agree on the other points too I feel like with what we’ve seen we don’t value each individual product enough. If you think about it there is so much product even in one bronzer for example that would last a decent amount of time if you only had to rely on that one product but with the way we often speak about these items it’s as if they are something more dispensable

The beauty influencers always use the term "must have","game changing" to influence viewers.

Always happy to see a fellow canadian talking about these things. I'm always getting recommendations and advice from americans that just doesn't translate to people in other countries. Even "simple" or "inexpensive" products, routines, etc look different from country to country. For a skincare example everyone seems to have jumped on the CeraVe train because american influencers are talking about how "cheap" and good it is....when the cleansers and serums are easily $25+ each in my local stores. Certainly not expensive but hardly what I'd call cheap either.

I’ve been buying everything and all things for several years because I could afford it, but I rarely used what I bought. I got sucked into the influencers. Recently,I’ve noticed it’s way out of control, especially colourpop, I’ve deculttered and am in the process of declutterimg. I only need/want 3 or 4 blushes different brands and colors, a couple of bronzers, 1-2 foundations a couple of powders. I’m struggling with palettes, but I’ve gotten rid of soooo many and have only kept ones I love. Financially, I’m not in the same place I was so I’ve really had to rethink. I’m glad this happened because I really was way out there, like I was an influencer and I’m just a normal consumer.

Wow this is insightful! I’m prepping for my 2022 no buy by watching all of your videos

Great video - you’ve made excellent points! I would add a couple of points - Keep of an attitude of sticking with what works for me. (Influencers - it’s their job to keep trying something new - but, that’s not my job! 😀). And, from Target, I bought a pretty organizer which I’ve set out on my bathroom counter. It shows me what I already own. If it’s full, I don’t need to buy another lipstick or palette, etc. (When I had my makeup in drawers, I didn’t really know everything I already owned.). Thanks for a great video!

Thank you for making this video, it was a good reminder for me that I do not need the stuff that I want to buy and that I can't afford to anyway at the moment. The problem is a lot of new make up art, new concepts, ideas, looks and tips seem to revolve so much around new makeup product reviews or placements that inevitable one gets influenced to buy nore stuff by all these soft ads even though we are just clicking on the video to see how a look is done or make up is applied.

Totally agreed with your points is refreshing be remind about been more conscious consumer and try not to follow trends that don't last. Great content :)

Great video! I’m trying to become more a conscious consumer and the thing I’m struggling with most is sales and marketing surrounding them, especially as we’re getting closer to Black Friday. I’m actually really good about saving money and not spending more than I can afford so I know I have extra spending money, and it’s so difficult when something I’m interested in is a really good deal. It feels like if i don’t get it now, I’ll miss out on saving money later. Also, I used to put on a full face of makeup every day for work, but I’ve rarely even changed out of my pajamas since March while I’m working from home during the pandemic. I’ve mostly only bought eyeshadow since then, because you can still wear that easily with a mask, but even then, I hardly leave my apartment and I’ve put on makeup even less.

(I'm going back and watching your older videos, so excuse this random late comment, LOL.) Re: the Sephora sale, I used to avidly watch all of the videos about the sale and recommendations and would consistently wind up buying things I did not need and justified with the "well, it's on sale" mindset. In fact, my Sephora purchasing was utterly out of control as a direct result of beauty youtubers and their haul videos for a good two-three years. In 2019 I put myself on a no buy and it was the best thing I've ever done as it completely rebalanced my spending habits/budgeting methods. I do sometimes still take part in the sale, but it's usually only to purchase something I'm actually running low on and I would've repurchased anyway, or a new product that I've thought long and hard about. I am not a fan of backups and am working this year to get through the remainder of my horde of products, so truly don't think I'll ever go nuts over a sale of any kind ever again. The idea of "buying backups" just makes zero sense to me at this point, and it feels REALLY good to be able to say that.

Amen girl. You hit the nail on the head. 💋💕

In 2020, i spent more than 800 canadian dollar on new makeups (most are blushes). I just wanted to try...I won't do that in 2021.

Everything you said is so spot on..!

I'm so glad I stumbled upon your videos...I'm starting a " Low buy year". These kind of videos will be helpful. Thank you so much!

Very good thoughts! My problem is definitely wanting to try. Watching Beauty RU-vid got my into this trap of accumulating so much stuff and every time there is something I want to try. Even if I have already way too much.

curious this video popped up in suggestions when i made the conscious decision to use up items before buying anything new. thank you

Subscribed! Very intelligent presentation. Glad you are talking about these topics, especially regarding thinking about the lifespan of a product BEFORE we buy.

Your video really opened my eyes, thank you 💖✨

I love the look of “naked” nails. They seem so naturally beautiful 🤩

This video is so so so so on point!!!

👏🏻 very well said! After each point i was like, so true😳 i have felt that too 🥴

Wow.. loved it 😍👍

I absolutely support ur every points..

I decided last year that I want to use my collection not only collect stuff. Thanks to your channel I decided to make no-buy year and focus on stuff that I have. Just to use them because I like them a lot and use them because I spent my money on it. Like you said in different video. No-buy year shows you issue you don't want to face and sometimes buying new stuff is only covering them. I am buying mainly because I am excited about sth new, but there will be always sth new to buy and if I don't want to be a collector I need to choose more wisely what I want.

You have a really great message and discussion. Keep going with what you're doing.

Thank you very much for this🤩

Oh i never had those feelings you describe. But it is interesting to know

This is so helpful. I have a collection that is out of control, but I still have continued purchasing makeup a few times a year just because I miss “trying” new things. And I’ve never heard anyone discussing how the “try mentality” is damaging (and have never even thought about how that language is admitting a short term relationship with the product before it even enters my life!) Thank you for sharing. I got comfortable with my bad habits, thinking I was doing well because I never shop during the VIB sale or fall for holiday promos. But buying is still buying, no matter when you do it. And continuing to buy is evidence that I am not getting true satisfaction from what I already own. And how will it help to add more of the same?

I wish I had seen this before the VIB Sale. I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of money on make-up this year...out of boredom, depression and yes, being influenced. This video made me uncomfortable in a way that I needed. Thank you.

Instant subscriber now. ✌️

You've got some good points. I've definitely fallen into quite a few of those traps you mentioned, especially the "wanting to try..." category.

What an amazing video please keep making this kind of video

Very good insights! ❤️

I always use the VIB sale to replace my stuff because it takes at least 6 mos to get through almost everything and maybe multiples of those that run out quickly. My aim for the past two years, however is to lose my Rouge status which is FINALLY happening! :) So proud of myself for saving $$.

I understand and agree with the majority of this. Also on another side of the discontinue a product (aka Glossier bubble wrap r.i.p 🥺) then I feel it’s more than okay to try and something that I will hopefully like as much. I do struggle with being satisfied with what I have sometimes as well. And to say that I only look for alternatives when a item is discontinued is just lying to myself also. I guess it’s realizing which is going to be actually helpful (I mean replacing the discontinued product) should be my highest priority. And have fallen into the trap of the collection mentality (makeup is not Pokémon Veronica- (My name Veronica 🤣 And I want to get away from that. I am going to put the focus on using what I have. I just started my no/low buy and I have followed a lot of your advice. I appreciate you sharing your experience and what had worked for you and that it may work for me. I have my list of what I’m not buying and also a list of what I can buy (either to replace what has been used up) or to purchase experiences rather than stuff. I am allowing concert tickets. And a friend and I are getting matching tattoos. I am a huge crafter and craft supplies (within reason are allowed too) but I am also going to save for these and a lot easier I might add now that I’m buying less to just buy and am making myself become more mindful. I must admit I’m kinda nervous about how I’m going to do. Mostly emotionally. I have figured out why I shop and it makes me sad to think I feel that way. People are unpredictable and I guess things are not. I’m not sure it makes sense. It’s just part of my thought process. I appreciate that there are people such as you on RU-vid that are bringing attention to more mindful spending. And it had inspired me to rethink my spending habits. That is huge. Thank you so much!!

I'm really glad youtube recommend me this video. I'm slowly getting away from consumerism so I agree with almost everything you said. I have a little disagreement with the #1, but maybe it's something cultural. Making your own nail is really common here in brazil. My mail kit cost me less than 50 bucks and a good nail polish is less than 5 bucks. Also those really crazy designs youtubers use are considered tacky herw

I love the concept of this video and plan to watch all 4 of your videos with this title has I need to hear it for myself as you address so many interesting points. One item I politely disagree with is nails. Nails and makeup go together aesthetically, you do one you also do the other for femininity. When you apply makeup on camera your nails are on close up display so they have to look nice. If I’m doing my own makeup I see my nails in the mirror so I can’t imagine my nails not looking as good as my makeup. I have painted my own nails every Sunday since middle school, I’m an adult now. I figure RU-vid creators have a larger income and can have a nail salon budget. Just like a news anchor has a wardrobe budget, because you have to look polished on camera.

Very thoughtful and honest video. I subscribed.

Getting my nails done didn’t come from beauty gurus. I’m a biter & learned to keep a full set whenever I’m a student. From there it evolved into an interest, and I fully enjoy the art of it.

I am not able to access the VIB sale (thank god) but I find it really jarring to see channels whose content often revolves around no-buys, anti-hauls etc. recommending what to buy in the sale. I get the excitement and that it probably generates views but, I just hate seeing that.

SO MUCH of this video is linked to sociology or can be discussed at great lengths when in a discussion surrounding sociology!!!

Ironically, I'm getting Ulta commercials,... it's about the hunt...a lot of people hunt for clothes instead...

Yes... I had this big thing where I wanted all the naked palettes, all the Charlotte tilbury palettes (large ones), all the colourpop, all all all. I realized I was never using half of them because I didn’t like the color story. Even morphe. I did buy one quad of pat mcgrath, I have one large Huda palette, one Charlotte palette. It’s hard because I want to buy all of them and I’ve got no Natasha denonas idk if I will. I now only have 3 naked palettes that I adore and use.

I am very picky so I don’t get to buy as much makeup as I can lol I do makeup as a hobby and I am hoping to be a makeup artist in the future

Influencers are literally advertisements. They work off ad revenue and they have contracts to advertise sponsors and advertise their own equipment. Of course there's gonna be a social standard that you're "in" by following the status quo of a community, that's like how people support streamers, but more indirectly.

Great points 📝

I was the same till covid and I lost my work and had to take a step back. Thats when I realised I was so frustrated with my collection because I wanted to wear everything. I realised that I have only one face do what I did was I started decluttering and doing project use it up. Such an eye opener as an 6 pan palette took me a year to use up. I have enough makeup to last me till Im 100. I now only buy things I honestly need like a mascara. (Only last 4 months) and only have 1 at a time.

So many RU-vid videos are starting to feel like one long ad preceded or interrupted by more ads. I also dislike the language surrounding makeup, like “I’m obsessed with ______,” “You NEED this,” “I went a little overboard hehehe I have a problem,” “You need to stop me from buying, here’s my haul.” Overconsumption is a huge environmental, monetary, psychological, and ethical issue that shouldn’t be romanticized with 500+ palette “declutters” in which people don’t recycle palettes properly, or with “don’t walk, run to get this!” marketing rhetoric.

Those were some excellent but a little uncomfortable to hear points. Part way through watching this I paused to unsubscribe from all the channels that make me feel like I need to buy something! I'm usually quite good with minimalism and using up things, but this year things have really gone off the rails!

Good video. I'm on a low buy. I didn't think I overconsumed until I started watching TJ Maxx haul videos lol. I have way too much product now. Granted they are all things I use but it's like I mini hoard stuff. I was a sucker for buying stuff with cute packaging like Disney stuff from Colourpop. Chances are good you have the same colors or similar stuff already but it doesn't have a princess on it. Unless you have the space for a collection or plan on selling it, don't do this. It does bother me that most of my products I have never used up (I don't go by expiration dates unless I see or smell that an item shouldn't be used). I'm in my late 30s and until I was maybe in my early 20s, I don't think eyeshadow palettes were the norm. It seemed like building your own palette with a la carte eyeshadows was what people did.

I have small makeup channel and I feel like its so normalized on youtube to have a huge makeup collection as youtuber that there is this pressure to have big collection it seems expected if that makes sense and I find it hard to find certain things like there is alot of project pan videos and tips but not much how to keep track of the products and hauls/anti hauls seem popular along with declutters which sometimes I wonder if they actually decluttered it or just said that and kept it anyway...

Press on nails are popular and only $6-8 and they look better than acrylic nails from a salon. And they dont damage your nails

Thank heavens I found you

Oh my god I have a big problem! 😬😬

And then there are the project pans, which are cool, but me as a regular person uses less than half the amount of eyeshadow an infulencer would use. So reaching a pan takes me forever. There is no way I'll be reaching multiple pans a month. But I feel like sometimes certain influencers buy stuff just to pan, rather than use up older product.

It's so interesting to talk about nails!!! I've found this so confusing over time like....why is everyone having these expensive and time extensive nail routines some very counter productive to make up application (˘･_･˘) as if it's standard and the basic thing to do. I feel it definitely can create some pressure and expectations on the audience. And I'm really into indie nailpolish 😅😅 so I actually watch nail polish channels all the time. But like our little indie polish community seems more low maintenance about nails somehow than beauty influencers 🤔

When you’re broke, no amount of influence can push you to buy when you need to eat. Hehe lol

One thing I’ve noticed is RU-vidrs love to call people who follow them their “family” to make people feel like they are a bigger part than they actually are.some people feel like they have a true belonging by owning the same things the RU-vidr does; like they have a more personal connection then what they actually do.

I feel into the manicure thing. I love love love how they look BUT I HATE how they feel.As someone who likes the freedom to cook, play an instrument and use my fingers freely nails just felt like too much of a hassle. I tried them once, broke a nail and never looked back. If i wear fake nails its probably my wedding haha

I'm assuming by getting your nails done, you specifically mean enhancements, like acrylic or gel extensions. It is totally possible to have beautifully manicured nails at home without enhancements or even polish. Cuticle oil, good files, cuticle remover, and a basic manicure regimen are cheap and can really make a "polished" groomed look even with no additional products. Even if one wants the look of enhancements, it is possible to learn to do them yourself for the fraction of the cost of salons, and perhaps better hygiene, quality, and control on your own. I am someone who finds hairstyling pretty much impossible with thin, slick hair, but even home gel manicures are more accessible than what many people consider the absolute minimum of home hairstyling.

Another unnecessary purchase is the beauty subscription box!!