Recently we've been having a big clear out to get rid of stuff we don't use and to make more space in our house. As I am on leave for a few weeks, I have plenty of time to crack on with this and in the midst of clearing my lounge - I keep my makeup in the lounge as it's where I get ready in the mornings so as to not wake the husband - I started clearing out my makeup collection.
Here are some things I learnt about my makeup and purchasing habits:
I'm always on the search for the perfect shade of red - even though I know that there is no one shade of red that will suit all my needs. This has resulted in me collecting over 30 different red lipsticks, ranging from berry to bold.
Despite having so many red lipsticks at my disposal, I tend to stick to the same five shades and so 30 odd lipsticks stay in boxes, with some of them being unused. This has made me realise that I have far too many red lipsticks, however, I refuse to get rid of any of them as I'll probably regret it.
I've discovered that all of the pound shops get discontinued makeup from both high street and designer brands, which means you can get all sorts of products at ridiculously discounted prices. If you like to try as much different makeup as I do, this can save you a lot of money.
One of the main things I buy for £1 is nail polish, as I refuse to spend a fortune on something I change every few days - besides, we all know that it is the top coat that really matters. I always have a quick look in-store and online to see what nail polishes I can get, which means that my collection is growing fast. Too fast.
I've discovered that I have several bottles of the same colours, which shows that I need to stop buying bargains and use up what I already have.
We all experiment with our makeup as we try to discover our look and it seems that I did a lot of experimenting. In fact, some of my makeup collection led to 'what was I thinking?' moments.
I went through a phase where bright colours and glitter were my main choices when it came to putting on my face, which was a lot of fun but not really who I am any more. I am now firmly in the classic makeup realm, opting for good brows, red lips and wings that are so sharp they could kill a man.
However, there are some really beautiful products in my collection that deserve to be used, so I'm going to start experimenting again and get out of my comfort zone.
I don't think my makeup collection would be a lot for my husband to deal with if it didn't also come hand-in-hand with a Lush Cosmetics collection that makes our bedroom and bathroom look like shops, as well as a perfume selection that has something for every taste.
But it does come with all of those things - and that's without also mentioning my penchant for shoes, all my full-circle skirt dresses and obscene amount of books.
As I started putting makeup into two new boxes - my collection has grown a lot in the last six months since my last clear out - I realised that I am very lucky my husband doesn't really care about how much beauty and fashion take over our home.
He's got his games room and I seem to have the rest of the house, which isn't particularly fair but it works for us.
Even though my collection is massive and I don't think one lifetime is enough to use everything I have already, I won't stop buying and playing with makeup. In fact, I knew at the start of the week that I was going to have to sort out my collection and yet I still ordered 10 new lipsticks (watch this space for reviews and swatches) and a new eye palette - they were all on offer and I had a voucher so can you blame me?
I find the act of putting on makeup - whether to go on a night out or just to head to work - relaxing and interesting and I'll always want to mix things up a bit and try something new, even if I do end up falling back on my favourite standby look.
On the plus side, I can give honest reviews and help other people find the right makeup for them, so really it is all for the greater good.