As part of my intentional living aim, I’ve been taking inventory of some of my possessions and have identified a few things that I just have so much of, they will not need to be repurchased for a long, looong time to come. What also strikes me is that these are mostly discretionary items that fast fashion and consumerism have encouraged us to purchase by constantly updating the offerings to entice us back.

In falling for these marketing tactics, I’ve ended up with so much more of these items than I would ever realistically use. Therefore, presenting my ‘No Buy’ list for 2022.

Makeup

I have a huge collection of makeup, and that’s still after doing a purge and cleanout. In my pursuit of being a makeup artist in the past, I stocked up on cosmetics and aspired to break into the makeup industry full time. For a while, it really was a fantastic experience! I was involved in everything from catwalks to music videos, did beauty counter and bridal work, and even found a permanent position as a travelling expo makeup artist to celebrities. However, being a person who is very simplistic with my own makeup and style, the glamour and fun eventually wore off. I realised I enjoyed looking at makeup, appreciated the allure of new products, and loved bringing out the beauty in people. But I didn’t have enough passion to give up on job security and financial stability.

But I digress. So after whittling down my collection and throwing out products I don’t like and the older items, I’m still left with a huge personal selection. No more purchases needed there!

Skincare/Haircare

This is a category I’ve touched on before in a previous post. I’ve really pared back my skincare regime to just the bare minimum, and any more steps seems just too convoluted to me. The only products I need regularly are makeup remover, cleanser, serum, and a seperate moisturiser for day and night. I like the separate moisturisers as the one for daytime will usually have SPF, and I prefer a heavier moisturiser for night use so my skin can soak up the hydration while I sleep. I will also put on the occasional sheet mask as I find the tub masks take extra effort to apply and wash off.

The one other product in this category would be body lotion. I already have my current one, and a few more bottles for backup. I don’t usually apply body lotion all over and only prefer it on my legs and arms, so these bottles will take a while to completely use up. However, post-pregancy, I’ll be trying my hardest to fade those new stretch marks, so I may make purchases only to replenish products.

A few months back, I also made the mistake of stocking up on haircare, not realising a large bottle of shampoo lasts me a good 5-6 months. I’ve pared back washing my hair to twice a week as I was finding that products were over-stripping my scalp, causing it to become dry. As a result, it was overcompensating by producing more oil at the roots. After paring back my routine, I’m finding much healthier strands and a less oily scalp. That said, if I were to buy more haircare in future, I wouldn’t mind spending a bit more on quality products and brands.

Bags

Specifically, handbags.

This is one area I think I’ve kept a good reign on as there was only a short period of time where I keenly started buying designer bags before quickly realising neither my wallet nor lifestyle could accommodate. Being an expensive purchase, I thought very hard before buying, so the bags I currently have are all very practical and I am happy with my little collection. For everyday, I find that I reach the most for my little Coach crossbody, my small Longchamp Le Pliage, and my small backpack (for handsfree activities). Otherwise, I have one slim backpack for work that can fit my laptop, and the rest are clutches or designer handbags for special occasions (few and far between now!). I find that’s really all I need and won’t require more purchases unless I go by a one-in-one-out philosophy. I’ve also repurposed some of my makeup pouches/cases as little clutches. They’re good for phone, keys, and cardholders for those short errand runs.

Tableware

Just how many plates, glasses, cutlery, bowls, pots, or pans does a family really need? For us, I’m inclined to cap the setting capacity at 6 people. This is so that I have enough to both serve, and use. There is likely no valid reason to buy more except for replacement in the event of damages (like me accidentally smashing one of my favourite mugs the other day. Fortunately, we still have plenty of other mugs). I’ve luckily had the foresight to keep all our dishware white and plain, so at least everything semi-matches, even if they’re slightly different styles. We don’t entertain often either, so I feel if we are desperate for more, we can always resort to single-use tableware. 

Homewares

I find that clutter builds up fairly quickly around our small unit, so there really is no further need to buy decorative homewares. Both hubby and I are not big on displaying pictures or photographs around the house, and I prefer the clutter-free look without extra vases, candles, bowls, and other ‘nice-to-look-at-but-otherwise-useless’ ornaments. I did go through a phase where I bought a few bits of homeware, but moving house meant that some no longer suit, or took up too much space in the smaller rooms. I’m forever re-assessing our homewares to check if I can reduce ones that are no longer useful or relevant.

What other ‘No Buys’ for 2022 should I add to my list?
Are any of these categories part of your no-buy list for 2022?