The problem for everyone, when you develop an interest in a subject like beauty or skincare, is the tendency to go overboard. I attribute this to FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out. A real concern.
Sure, we say we are interested, and we are restrained, but in actual fact, we aren’t. We proclaim we love a product, and then we say in the next breath “I need a back up!” Youtubers and Instagrammers don’t help. They show off their full cupboards and their “shelfies” and they tell you “I need a backup!” and “Look at all my beautiful storage systems” And we run out and buy a back up, and we build our own shelfies. And we see a sale happen. And we buy new items to try, or a back up. And we look at our beauty cabinet with pride, and think “Ah, I have a wonderful stash of products!”
I have news for you – STOP!
I am not immune to FOMO myself. I am not ashamed to confess this. I have said this year, that I have scaled back on my beauty purchases substantially, when compared to previous years. The reason was because I had built up a substantial stash, and I wanted to try to make a dent in my stash.
I did quite well till towards the year end, when the sales began, and my roving eye picked out new products and skincare brands I was interested to try, that had finally come online. All resolve flew out the window!
But something happened to me, that knocked sense back into my skull. Stop hoarding. Stop buying new stuff. Stop owning back ups. Just stop!
Here’s what happened.
A friend of mine was waxing lyrical about the Niod Copper Amino Isolate Serum that she uses, and I vaguely remembered having bought one from DECIEM during one of their sales. This was some time last year (2016) when they would still ship worldwide for free with a reasonable amount purchased. It’s now very prohibitive and this Black Friday sale, they only shipped to a few countries. While their products are very attractive and, from what I can tell, effective, I do feel that their business practices have left me questioning if I want to buy from them anymore. But that’s another tale.
What I did, was go home and dig through my stash. It is a substantial one. I work with brands and I am gifted with new products now and again, but I do buy a lot of beauty items myself because often, it’s easier to buy your own stuff than to depend on handouts that come with cables attached. Also, my interest reaches far beyond the local beauty industry, and I need to get my beauty fix! :D
I did find I had 2 boxes of the Niod CAIS 1% serum. Happily, I opened up one of them that came in a smaller quantity (15ml), and activated it. I will not be talking about this serum, because Niod has discontinued this one and there is now a new version. I am not qualified to talk about it, but you can look it up online.
What I found is that after mixing the activator into the serum, it was a dull dark grey-brown sludge. I was curious. That didn’t look right. So I looked online to be sure, and I saw that CAIS should be a clear bright blue serum when activated.
I then opened up the other box, which was a 30ml bottle of CAIS, also bought last year, about a month or two after the first bottle (don’t even ask – FOMO remember?!). Upon activation, the serum was a bright, clear blue. As you see in the picture above.
Further reading told me that the dull grey-brown sludge was an oxidised product. I found it odd, as both products were bought within months of each other, and were further, kept in the same conditions – in a dark cupboard, away from heat. Yet, one was fine and the other wasn’t. I also noted that the 15ml bottle came without a seal, while the 30ml bottle was sealed.
The short story is that I’ve written to Niod about this, and they’ve told me that I cannot be given a refund or replacement, as it is just over a year old. I chose to not quarrel with that, as I suppose it was partly my fault as well, for not checking on the condition of the product immediately upon receiving it. I was waiting to put it into rotation and the opportunity did not arise till now.
But this incident was a wakeup call for me.
Reminder: Skincare products expire.
They have a shelf life that is not very long, especially if you use natural or organic products. This Niod CAIS serum was not cheap. Perhaps, if it was defective at the start (as I suspect, due to the lack of a seal), I’d have discovered it earlier, and received a replacement. As it stands, I am out of pocket for a product that I cannot use (Niod advised to not use the oxidised product).
This isn’t the first time. I occasionally run through my skincare cabinet, and weed out products I’ve bought over time. These usually go to family and friends. A lot of them were bought, because I was interested it in at one time. I just don’t get round to using them, because I have just 1 face, I use other products, I have some obligations, or I lose interest. And using skincare products takes time. This is not like makeup, where you can just swatch and remove and form an opinion quickly. Skincare is technical and takes time. I also read about skincare, and I follow accounts on Instagram about skincare, that have me wanting more than I can practically use.
I will have to stop. Not reading, but wanting.
So, I’m making myself a promise (not a resolution), that I will be cutting back on skincare purchases for a while. I will still make the odd purchase, I know. FOMO doesn’t die just like that. But I will be more restrained. I will stop hoarding, and I no longer believe in buying back-ups. Most of the time, by the time I come round to using my back-ups, I am bored of the product, or I have found something better.
Do let this incident be a reminder to you as well. If you have a skincare cabinet with backups or a range of new products in there, you likely have too much :P It’s really not something to be proud of. Stop hoarding, start using!
Have you experienced a similar problem? Do you find yourself hoarding skincare too?
Makeup is different for me, as I find there is a longer shelf life. Powder products especially, seem to work well even years later. But skincare doesn’t. I am going to learn to curb my enthusiasm, and control my FOMO. Let me know if you have the same problem! :D
Paris B
Hear, hear! This year has hearalded a skincare seachange for me due to a rosacea diagnosis. Since then, my attitude to skincare has not only taken a more conscious turn toward simplification but I’ve also developed an interest in more natural products that incidentally have a shorter shelf life. Adding to that that life is short and space is shorter, and that’s a recipe for being more sensible with my skincare purchases.
I think we all need that wake up call now and again. Also, I think often, it’s easy to forget that our skin changes and so will our skincare needs, as time goes by. Hoarding doesn’t help us then!
Oh no, using oxidised product is worse than not using any product at all, for it adds more stress to the skin. I was scratching my head why the need to activate so I googled for Deciem to find out that they have reformulate CAIS (copper amino isolate serum 2:1). So, nay to hoarding even though I am guilty too. My mum is guilty as well from hoarding the skincare I gave to her and she enjoys shopping too which I found out while running through her vanity table!
Yep when I realised it was an oxidised product, I wasn’t going to use it. It really does look horrible and gunky! This is a unique product by Niod and one that has lots of raves. But I think it breaks me out LOL! So, no real love lost there. And yes, they’ve reformulated it to be more stable, they say. Well, I’m laying off these brands for a while. I think they are good, but it needs too much work to get it right, and sometimes, I just don’t want to go there. I’m glad my Mom has depended on me to supply her skincare for now (coz she’s lazy to go out and buy) so at least, some good comes out of my hoarding! LOL!
This is interesting because I don’t have backup skincare but I do end up having a lot of it. My issue is that I buy when I see something I like and want to try but because I haven’t finished using up what I currently have, the new item goes into a sort of backlog of products. FIFO, that sort of thing. So in the end, it still takes ages for me to get to that “new” item which by then will probably be close to a year old. :(
So my issue isn’t hoarding skincare because I buy backup. It’s because I see it, get googly-eyed over something new, buy it but end up not using it immediately because I haven’t finished what I have. Damn magpie syndrome. :P
I’m more like you Tine. I have less back ups (just the odd one that I now look at and wonder why I wanted a back up!) but more of products I want to “try”. I too operated off the FIFO system before. But I realised it would never work, and the products will actually expire before I get round to it! So, now unless I’m actually actively trying something, I slip in a new item now and again, even if I haven’t finished. It works sometimes e.g. oils or cleansers or creams or masks. But I try not to mess with actives and serums. So yes, I have magpie syndrome which leads to FOMO sometimes. I’m doomed :P
Oh yikes on the colour! The oxidised product is worse than no applying product at all. I googled for the Deciem CAIS because I was wondering what activation you were mentioning there to find out they have updated their formula! So this adds another downside to hoarding. I am guilty as well and so is my mum when I go though her dressing table so told her I won’t be giving her anymore products until she finishes her stock. But then she will continue her spending spree…ah well.
Oh no yikes on double posting. Thought it didn’t go through at first.
no worries! :)
Your post should be “Hangs Head in Shame”
I’m TOTALLY with you on this one Paris.
I’ve just moved to a new home – imagine my HORROR – I’m talking jaw dropping, self-cursing, face – slapping kind of horror when unpacking – I have half a dozen of unopened face cleansers, 3 bottles of eye makeup removers (the brand was being discontinued so I freaked), moisturisers (ok 2 were gifted), expired sunblock and shitloads of other makeup and bath stuff I won’t even mention here – so I “allowed” my Sephora status to get downgraded; stopped wanting new stuff and I’m praying that since I’m so FAR away from KL – I’ll be able to save myself some money and juz SSTTOP!!
Thank u for ur post – a wake up call indeed !
Haha “Hangs Head in Shame” That is so true! When I did my move a few years back I experienced the same shock and horror as you did. On a crazy scale. I gave away so much, and pared it down, and yet, there was no end in sight. I have to say, it was my first wake up call, which is why I have been more restrained in recent times. But I need to get it down further. Online shopping doesn’t help does it? Doesn’t matter where you are, you can still buy stuff! LOL!
Hahahaha! That’s how I found out and realized that I hoarded way too many stuff, not just skincare. I stopped hoarding for about 2 years but now, the old habit is back. Trying so hard not to hoard anything and trying hard to finish what I have.
I had this (stop buying too many products) period, and it’s being all good for a while. But recently I find myself buying backup again (sunscreen and toner) due to sales. Pharmacy ads on FB is the one to blame. I keep seeing more and more skincare ads on FB, maybe I should just avoid FB too ….. > O <
Haha this means the ads are very successful! ;) You know the algorithm really scares me. There I am, checking something out online and next I know, I’m bombarded everywhere with ads from that particular store or brand. And if you’re not careful, you fall into their trap! I’ve learned to block out the ads. No need to stop browsing, just browse more consciously :)
Same same. I had to toss out 10 yo foundations I found the other day. And ohhh the one u said about the sales, so true! And i have issues whereby i bought backup of items and realised they didnt work for me and I still have one or two left, i usually try to use on other body part, but I find it a waste lo.. :(
Oh dear, I may have 10 year old foundations lying around… LOL! I better do a spring clean at the year end! Yes I feel the same way about back ups. Except for my sunscreen, which I know works for me 100%, I often get bored or lose interest in a product after I’m done with it. Sometimes, something else more interesting comes in and replaces it, and back ups just feel so silly then don’t they? Well, we live and we learn!
Oh my! CAIS is probably the only product that I’d happily buy backups forever because I run through a bottle every 2 months. I think your first bottle might be the version that needed to be kept in the fridge once activated cos it was not as stable until the next version which didn’t needed to be refrigerated anymore. And now they are onto CAIS 2 (should be more like CAIS3) and I’ve been waiting for almost 3 weeks and it’s still not here yet. I’m totally guilty of buying backups of things I love but I do get round to using them. Didn’t buy much in terms of backup this year except for my favourite Emma Hardie cleanser cos it was a whopping 40% off . Totally agree with you about the FOMO but I think it is largely out of my system after spending way too much during Black Friday. Definitely laying low for the months ahead.
@Lezel, can I just ask you where you bought your EH at such a large discount? FOMO syndrome auto activated again…
@Paris- oh my I can also hang my head in shame. I had to fix a new cabinet in my bathroom for all my stock, and thats not counting my current 2-3 ikea trolley/shelving units for all my skincare…
I’ve also decided that’s it… no more buying skincare esp during this sephora sale/xmas/sale season… so far so good- staying strong…
But yeah I’m feeling overwhelmed by my in-case-an-apocalypse-happens skincare stash and actually using up all my stuff religiously
(says the woman with 10 cleansers waiting to be cracked open- hey 5 for first cleanse types/ 5 for second cleanse)…
Hello Su! I got my EH at feelunique.com which is based in UK. While it is not technically 40% off, the entire range was on 15% off and then I tagged on an extra 20% when the site had a coupon for extra discount on all sale items. Plus I bought the 200gm jar so that was already cheaper per gm so it was sooooo worth it. The FOMO is real especially being on instagram hehe. But a good bargain is a good bargain!
@Lezel- thanks for the info…I don’t think I have purchased from feelunique before/ or maybe once? But I will definitely keep that site in mind again in future…especially their discounts/bargains sounds like such a steal…sometimes the FOMO in me lives for these deals too- and it lets you try new brands you otherwise would not have blinked an eye at!
Hmmm your storage sounds like mine LOL! Ok, I didn’t fix a new cabinet, but I certainly had to buy some trolleys because my cupboard is fit to burst! :P It sounds like something I should be proud of but I’m not really. Time to use up the products. The apocalypse may never arrive! :P
Actually I bought the CAIS when they reformulated it. The first version was too fiddly, so I waited. I still think it was the fact there was no seal that erm… sealed the deal :( Oh well, expensive lesson learnt! I’m definitely laying low too. Didn’t get anything at Black Friday or its subsequent sales. I know I’ll capitulate now and again, but am going to be as good as I can for as long as I can! :D p/s Your ML samples will not help my resolve you know? :P
Oh, I have the case of FOMO too, but with skincare, I’ve been using up my back ups in the last 2 years. I scaled back on purchases, and I diligently use my skincare, including PR samples. Now, I’m proud to say I hardly have backups anymore. I still have a few cleansers and masks here and there, but for serums and moisturizers, I have drastically reduced them. I actually do NOT have any back up serum left!!
I’m working towards one in one out for all my skincare and I’m very close :-)
Good on ya Lily! I do have quite a few products from each category, but I”ve realised that my interests now lie in certain textures and formula only. Not so keen to experiment as widely as I used to before so I’m being very careful about accepting PR samples as well. Some textures don’t agree with me anymore. So am going to pack up a lot of stuff and pass them over to others to enjoy :) I know for a fact I can never have a pared down skincare selection (being minimalist isn’t my strong suit) but hopefully, I’ll get it down to a manageable level where I don’t feel so bad (or overwhelmed!)
That´s exactly my problem :( ? ?
As for all of us :) The first step is to recognise it
I’ve just started to take skincare seriously recently and FOMO is something I try to remind myself to be wary of. There’s so many developments in skin care over the past few years, and browsing the internet makes me want to try so many potions and lotions all touted to be the best out there. My routine is pretty streamlined as it is, but sometimes the FOMO is strong. I try to remind myself that my skin is actually doing pretty well with my routine, and why fix something if it ain’t broke? Let’s see how this goes in a few years, when the aging begins and I’d be more willing to throw my money to stop the march of time
The beginning is always the hardest because you want to try everything! :D Been there, done that. But once you’ve worked out what works for you, you’ll eventually settle down. In the meantime, enjoy your skincare journey!
Hi Paris,
I totally agreed with you!! I am typical skincare hoarder and FOMO ?.
Rachel
Guilty and guilty! :D
I have experience FOMO myself for both makeup and skincare. Reading thru Marie Kondo’s book & a few antihaul videos helped me. It’s a little difficult with skincare, but I’m making progress by getting rid of a lot of cleansers & a few serums; ended up giving it away. Hopefully, when I launch my blog next year, I can maintain this, because it’ll be a total waste of money if it just ends up in your shelf; it defeats the purpose why you bought it in the first place.
Be careful once you start blogging. It only gets worse because you want to try EVERYTHING! LOL! :D Good luck with the new blog! Marie Kondo actually did not help me at all. But I do plan to do a HUGE clear out just before the year ends, and hopefully then I’ll be able to get some semblance of order in my stuff. I am a little better about makeup than I am about skincare and body care products. Don’t get me started on the shower gels I’ve accumulated! :P
I’ve scaled down on the hoarding skincare thingy, since 5yrs ago. Needed space for baby stuffs. That was when i realised i got too many skincare that can last me years, from full sized products to samples and gifts with purchase… Now 5 years down the road, I consider myself quite good as I’ve cleared my cupboard, and I know now which items my skin likes and which to let go. Now, I only buy 1 backups for skincare that runs out fast like toner and cleanser during sales. As for pricier item like serum, I’ll keep an eye for sale after I’ve open the serum to use. This way, I have time to wait for sales and also wont run out of serum to use coz serum took 2-3 mths to finish. There are sales every month ! Still, I have my FOMO moment as well… but my stash is under control.
Another thing, don’t hoard skincare. Our skin changes over time. What we buy now planning for future use might not suit our skin anymore later. Plus, company likes to come out with new version now and then. All of us want New things, right ?! This is from experience, the saying : older and wiser. Ahem… XD
Babies are an excellent reason to declutter! Unfortunately I’m not so moved to have them as a reason haha! ;) But it sounds like you have everything down pat. I don’t think I’ll ever achieve that bare cupboard routine, because I’ve never really had it. I always used to hoard skincare, even when I wasn’t blogging. But of course, on a smaller scale than now. And you are also absolutely right about our skin changing over time. That’s why what I liked before doesn’t work for me now and I’m sitting there going “Why on earth did I buy that damn back up?!” :P
I used to hoard skincare products until I realized I couldn’t bear to buy another new product to try as I still have back ups. And I sat down with my storage box of products, did a list of the inventory I have and how many of which I own.
That list woke me up. As I scroll through the list, it was almost never ending. Now I could never buy things before I refer to the list and deem if it’s reasonable to buy. I still own backups of items that runs out quickly (cleansing creams and sunscreens), but I no longer hoard tons of items and my storage box is now 1/3 full.
I’m so happy that I could always buy new items to try when my current skincare is finishing :)
Good practice Kate! I dare not do an inventory list. I might faint LOL! Or maybe I should, so I know what I have and what I should use up first. Might be my pre-New Year project :D
I admit I still hoard the samples but I have gotten better about hoarding full-sized ones.
Good on you! I’ve stopped accepting samples. I find I don’t use them very much (except for shampoo) and there is often too little to make a difference to me. I’ve also found that sometimes samples may expire before we even realise it. But I cannot deny that they can be helpful to test texture and scent of product or for those who have sensitive skin :)
I have the same problem! I went a little crazy with the sales last year and I am still working through my hoard. I had to stop collecting hotel toiletries too because it was out of control. I had a little relapse with a sale last month but I am proud to report that I have worked through my backlog of hair care and bath products, and I am down to just 2 cleansing balms and one extra makeup remover. I still have a few sets of skincare to use up though. Skincare is the very slowest!
It looks like so many of us are in the same boat! Ah, the perils of being a beauty junkie eh? haha :D I am working hard to use up product though, being a little more generous than usual and you know what? My skin seems to like it! I guess I was using too little before LOL! :D Oh and hotel toiletries! OMG I collect them too! LOL! Now not anymore unless they are branded (and I don’t stay in swanky hotels enough!) but man, the days when I used to hoard them is scary :P
Even though I tend not to purchase back ups because I have to make sure that the product work well for me, I also have the tendency of FOMO, and tend to hoard all of the latest hyped skin care products. If there’s one lesson that I’ve learn through out the year it’s NOT to purchase Vitamin C from abroad and try to purchase it on local authorized retailers.
Because, oxidized products sucks! :( And they are do more harm than good to my skin! I happened to purchased oxidized Drunk Elephant Vitamin C mini size one time, and I can’t blame anyone because I also know the risk of purchasing something online. Moreover, I just can’t stand the hassle of the local custom here in Indonesia; let alone exchange the product to another country. Maybe I just have to be patient until local authorized retailers bring Drunk Elephant officially here in Indonesia! :-(
Amanda, that makes you a true blue beauty junkie for indulging in FOMO for hyped skincare! LOL Join the club! And I hear you about the Vitamin C products from abroad. I’ve been wanting to try Drunk Elephant for a while, but I keep hearing reports about how the Vitamin C serum oxidises even in the US itself. I can’t imagine how much of a toll it will take if I have it shipped here! I have been told by a friend in Indonesia that customs will confiscate and tax all beauty products you receive. What a bummer! But I guess, that also opens up a world of niche beauty stores and suppliers for these cult brands :) We don’t get Drunk Elephant here in Malaysia either!
Personally, I’m guilty of hoarding and having backups too (still trying to use up the stuff in my cupboards). I used to do that more often but nowadays, with brands being more accessible, I’ve significantly reduced the amount of hoarding.
What I do is that whenever I see a product that interests me, I’ll write them down into a notebook. Every time I finish up a similar item, I’ll either repurchase, or look through the list and purchase the one that I was interested. Sometimes, I even delete the the item from the list if I lost interest by then. But FOMO syndrome still haunts me now and then.
That’s a clever system Kaye. I shall have to try it for myself. I don’t think I can commit to finishing then buying, but I will certainly be able to look back and see if I’m still interested in the product to try it. Who knows, I might lose interest and that’s better than having me lose interest while it sits in my cupboard! :D
Oh yes, I hear you! I’ve had so many oils go rancid and creams separating. But I’m glad I’ve managed to reduce the amount of skincare I use and pretty much stick to the basics. And keep telling myself to finish something up before buying / opening another.
Hey, I always say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! :) Glad you’ve found products that work for you. I remember you had very reactive skin so perhaps playing around less is better in your case :D