I’m Taking a Makeup “Gap Year” & Here’s why you should too

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Whaaaaaat? I’m quitting makeup?!

Don’t worry, it’s not what it seems.

I’m definitely not quitting makeup, but I am taking a little makeup break, or as I like to call it, a “makeup gap year.”

For all us makeup lovers, just the thought of this is enough to bring on the withdrawals. I totally hear you, but hear me out.

Today, I’m talking about my experience in the world of makeup, what I’ve decided to do about it, and why perhaps you should consider stepping back and reevaluating your makeup situation.

If you’ve got more than a makeup bag’s worth of makeup staring you down right now, then you need to read this.

It’s not just about the makeup- it’s about your life. This is serious.

What do I mean when I say I’m taking a “makeup break”?

This year, I’m going cold-turkey when it comes to makeup shopping.

I am on a mission to use the makeup that I currently have, (don’t worry, there’s plenty,) and not buy a single tidbit of new product.

No eyebrow pencils, powder, or new lipsticks. Nothing.

What’s the point of that?

I’ve spent the last several years living for the latest and greatest makeup products. Stressing about budgeting-in makeup as if it’s as important as paying for rent or food, and getting all frustrated when Hawaii stores are the last to get everything.

Really, those are things I worried about. And when I started blogging about said makeup, the problem only got worse. I’m making a change.

First of all, makeup is expensive

We all know this. Yet somehow we tend to ignore it all the same.

I am a VIB Rouge at Sephora. I spent $1000 in a year to get there. And spending all that wasn’t hard at all. I’d go in every month or so and drop $100 at a time on this or that. It never felt outrageous.

But $1000+? That sounds outrageous. Do you know what we could have done with that extra $1000, which is now sitting collecting dust in my makeup drawers because I only have one face against hundreds of products?

All that money, and I don’t feel any more beautiful.

Priorities are changing

Perhaps we had the money to blow in the past, thanks to our lack of real responsibilities.

But 2017 is a new start- a start of something great.

Soon, we will no longer be renters. We are building our first home, and taking on all the expenses that go along with home ownership.

We’ve decided that a yearly vacation is a necessity for our mental health and overall contentment with life, rather than a when-we-can-scrape-it-together treat.

Pssst! I’ve got plenty more to say on the topic of vacations, check this post out >> 6 Ways Vacations Empower Your Inner Beauty

And we finally got off my mom’s family cell phone plan. That’s a big one.

I want to live a simpler life with less “stuff”

Back in Summer 2014, John and I had a life changing discussion about “stuff.” But apparently it hasn’t sunken in until now.

John’s father had just gotten divorced, and we helped him move out of a large house and into a small apartment. Paring down the gigantic hoards of stuff he had accumulated over the years was akin to pulling teeth from a crocodile’s mouth.

Translation- it was a supremely difficult and painful process.

Why? John and I came to the conclusion that after having not accomplished a whole lot in his life, the accumulation of random items was all his father had to show for his life. And the thought of letting it go scared him.

I don’t want to be that person, who needs to hang on to things for dear life in order to give my life meaning. I want to create meaning all on my own. The less stuff I have around me, the more meaning will come from accomplishments, relationships, and memories.

What does this mean for The Millennial Maven?

Well, there won’t be any reviews on the latest and greatest products. But I’ve got something better.

Creativity.

Anybody can try out new products and write reviews, but it takes real creativity and skill to remake the old products into fresh and exciting new content.

Not to mention, you’ll be seeing much more rounded product recommendations from me.

Because let’s be real, I can’t try nearly every product even when I’m not taking a makeup break. And then those limited products I try become the only products I ever talk about. Not trying new products myself forces me to get my research on and learn about new products based on expert reviews coming from people with all different skin types.

Then, I get to recommend those to you, with hard evidence to back it up.

Why you should take a “makeup gap year” too

This is my challenge to you- take a makeup break for a month, or maybe a couple of months, or maybe even a year.

Really get acquainted with the products you have; learn their ins-and-outs.

You’ll learn what you like in products, what you don’t like, and most of all, you’ll feel satisfaction. Satisfaction that you don’t need the latest and greatest product to feel beautiful, because you can do that all on your own.

You’ll gain much more than you lose

Yeah, you might be missing-in-action from the “I Tried It” Club, but who needs that when you have something much more valuable in it’s place- a clutter free space, a renewed sense of inner beauty, and not to mention, more money to spend on other things that are important to you.

Makeup goals in 2017

Most of all, I hope to regain my sense of self outside of my makeup collection. I also strive to stretch my creative muscle, both when creating content for The Millennial Maven, and when creating looks for my own face.

the possibilities are endless, and it’s about time stopped prodding the easy path.

Are you in?

That’s all for today!

Like this post about taking a “makeup break” and getting creative? This post is right up your ally >> 7 Makeup Products I Use Wrong — Beauty Hacks.

If you find this post interesting, informative, or just plain entertaining, tell me about it in the comments below. And don’t forget, sharing is caring. Share this post!

Till next time. ♥︎

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FTC- Not sponsored by any brands mentioned. I purchase all products myself. All opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliated.