What Beauty Spending Looks Like In Your 30s

Less impulse spending on beauty products I don't need

In my 20's I'd think nothing of hopping into Boots for nothing in particular, spending £30 on products that caught my eye. These are the products that generally found there way to the bottom of my makeup bag due to getting the shade wrong or find the product wasn't all that. 

These days impulse buys other than when I'm in the beauty section of TK Maxx rarely happen. No picking up a new mascara just to try out and definitely no impulse foundation purchases. While this no-impulse-spending attitude is a little less fun, it has saved me money and means when I do buy makeup it's much more thought out and likely to become part of my makeup routine. 

Makeup research 

Reading makeup reviews goes hand in hand with less impulse spending I'd say. Since I ditched picking up products I simply liked the look of I now plan what I want to buy in advance. This always now includes looking up both reviews and swatches of products, even nail polish to see the finish. 

When looking up makeup swatches I often do a quick Google image search especially for foundation and concealer swatches, however, for more high-end products I find Temptalia to be great. As for review I, of course, rely on beauty blogs for in-depth reviews of products I plan to buy plus find blogs still a great source of trustworthy recommendations. I also like to quickly read through reviews on MakeupAlley.

Skincare, skincare, skincare (and spending a little more)! 

Makeup is pretty and all that, and over the past few years I've realised keeping my skin free of blemishes and smooth (plus hopefully slowing down the ageing process) is now more important to me. Of course that doesn't mean I go makeup-free, I still LOVE it, but I love it even more when the base I'm applying my favourite products onto is as good as it possibly can be. 

While I've always been interested in skincare I actually believe discovering The Ordinary has made me look into product ingredients more and fully understanding the ingredients and products my skin type benefit from. So if you want to get more into skincare I'd highly recommend checking out The Ordinary as they know their stuff and provide reliable products at affordable prices. 

As for the type of skincare products I mostly spend my money on now, it has to be AHA-based exfoliators, moisturisers and non-greasy high factor sunscreens. This is worlds apart from when I was in my twenties, spending money on cheap ineffective spot treatments and harsh toners that would dry out my skin - I'm come a long way since then and I'd like to think that shows in my skin! 

Re-purchases

Repurchasing is a bit of a boring one, isn't it? I actually use to begrudgingly repurchase products and try to keep it to a minimum, preferring to try out something new. But over the years I've discovered so many great products that I'd be stupid not to keep in my makeup bag at all times. Below are some of my most re-purchased products! 

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation, Kiko Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara, Maybelline Eye Eraser Concealer, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Moisturiser, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Resisting the urge to buy similar products

I'm a bit unsure if this is something that others do or if it was a bit of a 'me' thing that I had to get myself out of the habit of doing! Basically, if I discovered a type of product I loved, for example, cream blush or say matte nude lipstick, I would find it made me pick up more of these kinds of product in a single month. So I'd find myself with 3 new lightweight foundations and 5+ nude lipsticks all in the space of a month! 

This was simply too excessive and not necessary and while I do still do this with candles (I can't help myself, especially come autumn!) I now don't allow myself to overbuy makeup like this anymore.

If you are nearing the end of your 30's or over that milestone as I am, I'd love to know how your own makeup spending habits have changed over the years! 

Fee xo.