Tidying Up my Beauty Products

After my initial burst of tidying up, I finally went through my papers from school and recycled another garbage bag filled with papers, bringing my total to 11 large garbage bags of stuff taken away after following Kondo's advice. 

Beauty products were another area where the tidying up process made me feel like I didn't necessarily have much to discard. From looking at my collection "before," it might seem clear that I don't have a particular habit of buying (or using) makeup, outside of lip products and nail polish.  I also used to hoard samples a bit, even when I had no real intention of using them. 

Before

There were, however, quite a few old products that I didn't have a particular intention to use again. Although I am a fan of oil as a moisturizer for face and body, I never really liked Jojoba Oil, the first thing I tried. Now that I am a bit more knowledgeable about skincare, I no longer feel the need to try and use makeup primers intended to cancel out redness. I don't particularly like color cosmetics outside of lip products, and going forward there won't be a need for more eyeshadow palettes. 

After

One thing I am finding is that I don't think tidying up is a one time only, in one fell swoop-type process for me. Although I definitely believe what Kondo says about one time being enough and that her clients who fully follow her advice never need it again. I will certainly be much more thoughtful about acquiring new items from this point forward, and the process made me reflect further on what my makeup needs are. However, I feel like the process of really making decisions about what to keep and what to discard can't always be completed in one go. (I discarded that small eyeshadow palette to the right of the NYX eyebrow palette shortly after I took this picture. I will probably choose to throw out more samples soon, etc. etc.)

I think that the lesson about making decisions and only keeping items that bring joy and that are important to you is one that sticks after one large tidying-up session. However, the process of living that more pared-down life is likely an ongoing one.