There are certain things you ‘save’ for a special occasion, one such occasion that takes a damn long time to come. Whether it be a beautifully embossed eyeshadow palette or an expensive perfume that was a gift from that someone special, these beauties sit alongside the staples waiting for their turn to shine and be wholly loved. If they do manage to get a look in, they are quickly popped back on the shelf for fear of running out (the dilemma of the limited edition item, you see) Whilst I have a long list of things I’m sort of hoarding (Thierry Mugler Angel EDT, travel bottle of Bioderma, Rimmel Match Perfection Crème Gel foundation…the list goes on!) this beautiful perfume set is the one that has made me rethink my ways.
I can’t seem to put my finger on the occasion that this marked (it was a few years ago now, this was released early 2010) but I remember Chris handing it over, impeccably wrapped with a big ol’ grin on his face. I was elated as I always spritzed myself with Tresor in Love whenever I passed a Lancome counter, and now I was free to wallow in the stuff. Fast forward to last Christmas, I mentioned a perfume I had my eye on to the boy… his response was a firm no, followed by a stern word about the wasted gift set that still sat upon my shelf, unopened and pristine.
“Saving things for a special occasion is stupid. Put it on and let’s order Dominos.”
With that, I took it down and since then have been enjoying the fruity sweet rose scent and the love that it was given with. I want to enjoy the things in life that make me smile, the taupe shadows and the discontinued highlighters, the limited edition blushes and the hard to find lipsticks. Life is short, and I am going to enjoy the beautiful things (material or otherwise) while I can.
What are you saving for a special occasion?
I understand that tendency! I hoard so, so many lip products. It's like I think that they'll be currency after the zombie apocalypse. I have gotten much better about my obsessive moisturizer stockpiling, but the stash of lipsticks remains.
ReplyDelete@Sarah I think it becomes a natural tendency for a lot of women, though I do quite like the idea of lipstick as currency (as I would be very, very rich!)
DeleteAw, this is a lovely story, and a wonderful nugget of wisdom from Chris! I do think we should enjoy things as they come, rather than squirreling them away! My mum does that, and I always scold her! She's getting better.
ReplyDelete@Larie Sometimes Chris comes out with gold like this, and it is just wonderful. I think I am heading towards a good level of saving/using, and I sure am enjoying using all of the pretty things I have accumulated :)
DeleteI used to be like this too! Kept certain items for special occasions - same as you - the luxe body lotions, perfumes etc - then it dawned on me one day - life's too short to wait for 'special occasions'. If I want to wear my $160 Gucci Perfume whilst sitting on the couch watching crap tv, why shouldn't I?! I also decided life's too short to try and use up a product that I'm really disliking. Not to be wasteful or too fussy - but if I actually dislike something? I now hand it on to someone else, instead of forcing myself to get through it. #firstworldproblems :)
ReplyDelete@Lucy
DeleteI agree that life is definitely too short to hold onto these things, it pains me to hear of people reaching for their favourite or most beloved products to find they have 'turned' and gone off =( I often hand off things to others, though I don't like them I find that others really do, so it really is a win/win situation.
I used to be like this too! Kept certain items for special occasions - same as you - the luxe body lotions, perfumes etc - then it dawned on me one day - life's too short to wait for 'special occasions'. If I want to wear my $160 Gucci Perfume whilst sitting on the couch watching crap tv, why shouldn't I?! I also decided life's too short to try and use up a product that I'm really disliking. Not to be wasteful or too fussy - but if I actually dislike something? I now hand it on to someone else, instead of forcing myself to get through it. #firstworldproblems :)
ReplyDeleteHaha love the sentiment :) I don't save any makeup or perfume for a special occasion because I know I will not run out even with continued use for a prolonged period of time. And even if I do, it's better to enjoy things when they last and while you can! Also, randomly, your "discontinued highlighter" reference reminded me that last night I was suddenly overcome with the desire to buy Dior Amber Diamond HAHA. Except naturally I couldn't find it anywhere. Still remember last year it was on SNet for like $43, should've bought it but ... no. Though I did find Clarins Odyssey eyeshadow palette on there, but I resisted as well after deliberating/Googling for an hour LOL.
ReplyDelete@sleepandwater Good on you for using all of the good stuff, love that! Dior Amber Diamond is a pretty special product, but TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer tends to get more love from me since it came into my collection. I love Clarins palettes, a massive weakness of mine, so I won't comment on that ;P
DeleteGreat post hun. I used to do this too, save things for a special occasion and then when I went to finally use it found that it had gone off. So now I just use things whenever it pleases me, even if it means wearing my most expensive perfume to take Luca to playgroup! :-)
ReplyDelete@Lilit
DeleteThanks :) I'm sure that Luca loves how fancy you smell on 'ordinary' days, though I guess that every day with him is special anyway? ;P He will remember how nice Mummy smelt when he was little!
I tend to save beautifully embossed makeup that gets ruined with usage, but I'm quick to fish out perfume bottles from boxes and such. Lately I'm waffling on what is actually produced for use vs. what is produced for pure aesthetics. This is a timely reminder that I need to give some of the neglected products some badly needed attention!
ReplyDelete@Liz I find that taking a stack of photos of my embossed makeup makes it easier to use it and ruin the aesthetic. I am getting better with perfume, but one of my very favourites has been discontinued so I'm having trouble using that one =(
DeleteI know what you mean. I used to behave similarly but now just go for it. Life's too short to waste pretty things!
ReplyDelete@olgie Exactly right! too short and we should enjoy it while it lasts!
DeleteSo many things I've been guilty of saving for that special occasion... I've learnt that lesson too! Now I try and use even the most expensive items for everyday. Good, honest post Emma!
ReplyDelete@Vita
DeleteIt is wonderful to realise that we are entitled to use the nice stuff, every day!
I do this too! However I am starting to get over it, there's no way I am ever going to get through my entire beauty collection so it's nice to use the special things first!
ReplyDelete@Kimberley It is so common! I feel like I am wasting time using crappy items or ones that don't work for me, when I could be enjoying and indulging in the great ones!
DeleteOne of my most treasured childhood memories is staying overnight at my grandparents' summer house - at breakfast in the tiny kitchen we'd drink hot chocolate out of china cups with gold leaf decorations. My grandmother didn't believe in saving the good china for special occasions - and the same goes for beautiful perfume: the everyday is that little bit more special when you wear lovely things (scents, make-up, jewels, etc...). It's always good to be reminded xxx
ReplyDelete@Sabine Sab, thank you so so much for sharing such a beautiful scene with me <3 I agree with your grandmothers sentiments, I want to use our nice plates and glasses to make every meal lovely. I think that the ordinary days outweigh the 'special' ones, so we need to use our nice perfumes and shadows to bump up their value and make the weight even ;P
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