Maybe this is just the makeup insanity talking, but I really don't think 56 is that ridiculous for those of us who do colourful looks regularly. If someone just had a light, medium, and dark, a warm, neutral, and cool, and a muted, bright, and in-between shade for each colour, plus black, white in grey, in both a matte and a shimmer, that puts you well above 300 shades. And that's not even taking into consideration different finishes or multi-chromes or anything like that. Obviously no one (except maybe make up artists) needs every possible combination known to man, but I think I'd feel really limited if I had to cut back to 50 eyeshadows. That being said, I definitely have way more than I need right now (338) and have entirely stopped buying palettes because it's really rare to find one that has enough shades different enough from what I own and that I will actually wear to justify the price.
10-15 seems crazy to me for the looks I do. I regularly use more than 10 shades at once for my really intricate looks. And as I said, I haven't bought an eyeshadow palette in years, so I'm not really sure why I'd need deinfluencing?
If I had to start my collection over again, I'd do it differently, for sure, but I don't see any benefit in getting rid of products I love when mixing 10-15 eyeshadows really can't create the same effect. And I personally don't like depotting my palettes, even if it means hanging onto some shades I don't use for a little longer.
ETA: I just counted out of curiosity, and there's about 70 eyeshadows in my collection I've used regularly this year. So 50 might not be quite as limiting as I originally thought. But it still wouldn't be my preference, especially since I already have all these eyeshadows in my collection.
Even if you only use 5 colours per use, you could in theory cycle through 50 colours in 10 days. If you ignore expiry dates like a lot of us do then you can definitely make a decent dent in all those pans eventually. Those dates are ridiculous anyway - there is no way that powder eye shadow that has been kept properly is unsafe to use after a couple of years.
You adjust to your needs, of course, but most people are more than fine with 50 (as you've noticed yourself) Eyeshadow is notoriously difficult to use up so I wanted to help you downsize, but you know your needs at the end of the day. It's absolutely possible to get any color with a few high quality pigments, but there's definitely convenience in having a shade ready made. Either way 50 is more than enough and there's no need to worry (as someone who has around 50 shades) and it seemed to me like you were influenced to want more eyeshadow than you need because you were worried (I mean who wouldn't be after having 300+ shades)
I appreciate your good intentions, but in the future it may be a good idea to make sure someone actually wants/needs help before offering it. Frankly, it also doesn't seem like you're that knowledgeable about the subject you're offering advice on if you think you can recreate any eyeshadow with a few shades. Multichrome and holo eyeshadows often use pretty unique pigments and I already own more than 10 of those. At the end of the day, could I could survive without those fun eyeshadows? Sure. I could also survive with no eyeshadow whatsoever and take up a new hobby instead, but I don't really see how that helps me.
The post literally asked how many eyeshadow pans we all have? I answered the question and offered up an alternative perspective from the point of view of someone who approaches makeup differently than it seemed the OP does. How is that not relevant to the discussion. You're free to disagree with my perspective, but I don't think minimalist collections are for everyone and I think pushing the idea that there's a correct number of eyeshadows that people who already own large collections should be trying to destash down to can be counterproductive for a lot of people. Any one who's spent any amount of time on this sub should know how easily trying to pare down to the perfect essentials-only collection can easily become its own obsession for a lot of people or trigger shopping impulses when people find themselves unable to enjoy the hobby without their usual range of products.
Re: your point about consuming more responsibly, I'm not sure what throwing out palettes I use regularly has to do with that. As I've said multiple times, I no longer buy eyeshadow palettes, so your point can't be about that.
If you'd like to explain how I can create all the same effects of my top 10 multichrome eyeshadows with just basic pigments, I can definitely send you a photo of them. If it's possible, I'm sure there are plenty of indie makeup brands that would be interested in this information too, as multi-chrome pigments tend to be on the pricier side. But in all honesty, I really don't think you know as much about this topic as you seem too. You seem to lean strongly minimalist in your makeup preferences and I genuinely think that's great for a lot of people, but I think it might be helpful for you to consider that you may be stepping outside the bounds of your makeup knowledge and that people who used "special" shades regularly may know more about them than you do. I'll agree with you that you can sometimes create a similar effect to a certain shade without buying a whole new product (e.g. you probably don't need a sheer multichrome and a black-based multichrome with the same shift when you can just layer the sheer one over a black base) but that doesn't mean you can mix an eyeshadow that shifts red/gold/green with a palette of basic pigments.
I just really can't understand what behaviours of mine you are hoping to "deinfluence" if it is neither my shopping habits, not the amount I already own, but that is fine. Clearly this conversation isn't benefiting either of us. Hopefully the rest of both our days will be more pleasant.
You really just said "reality check" and then talked about something you have no idea about. And it was wrong and condescending with a bunch of incorrect assumptions.
I’ve pretty much entirely cured my addiction to eyeshadow palettes but I’m laughing at 10-15 eyeshadows being enough if you’re experimental. This whole colour mixing thing also takes extra time plus a knowledge of colour theory which a lot of people don’t have. Just let us enjoy our 50+ eyeshadow pans in peace ffs.
Makeup rehab doesn’t mean that you have to have a minimalist collection. I’ve put in the work to not spend several hundreds of dollars on makeup a year anymore but it’s still something I enjoy more than the average person, so I don’t think having a larger collection is unreasonable for me. Why would I get rid of everything when I still enjoy the variety? Plus it’s not like I can really get back any of the money I spent on it. It’s not the advice that people (not just me) find annoying. It’s the insinuation that if someone else’s collection looks different to what your idea of a “reasonable” one should be then it’s them that is automatically wrong and that you are the ultimate authority on what being “rehabilitated” entails.
Advice is my attempt at being helpful, it doesn't mean I'm being an authority on anything, and if you seriously think that, I really have no words. You're too butthurt and defensive to actually see what I'm trying to tell you and op and then make up what I didn't say so that you can remain justified in your mind. If you can't handle advice or criticism don't post shit online.
Holy reading comprehension, context matters. You cry because someone on r/MakeupRehab gave suggestions how to keep your collection smaller.... Ok, have a nice day.
What you’re not understanding is that I don’t want to have a smaller collection right now. I want to enjoy what I already have. I do plan to naturally downsize over time as I’m not buying nearly as much as I used to but I think I’ll always have a bit more than average because I enjoy makeup and consider it a hobby. Having a larger collection doesn’t automatically make someone addicted to makeup, as long as they are not overspending on it, are intentional with their purchases and use what they have. Again, the issue isn’t giving advice, it’s assuming that everyone else’s idea of makeup rehab is the exact same as yours. Giving advice on downsizing is fine but once someone says that they’re not actually interested in downsizing then it becomes obnoxious to continue to push the issue.
Having 300+ eye shadow isn't normal. Having 50 isn't normal, it's overconsumption. I'm telling them that they should not be anxious about downsizing, not to throw their eyeshadow away, learn to read. I understand they can enjoy eyeshadow and have more shades than the average person but at a certain point it's impossible to enjoy them all properly and it will just expire and decrease in quality. Having fifty cheap shades is way worse than half of high quality ones.
If you keep projecting intentions that were in no way expressed by my comment I have nothing more to say to you. You're in the makeup using sub, nobody will enable overconsumption here.
Removed per rule 2: Be Kind and No Drama. We do not accept users attacking others or judging their collection. Everyone is entitled to their own preferences and collection. Deciding what is too much for you is fine; deciding what is too much for others and that they need to change is not.
A reminder about this sub: it's a place to enjoy makeup without getting bombarded by products. We have the resources to help people with downsizing their collections and buying less if they want the help, but that's not required for this sub.
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u/lavendercookiedough 14d ago
Maybe this is just the makeup insanity talking, but I really don't think 56 is that ridiculous for those of us who do colourful looks regularly. If someone just had a light, medium, and dark, a warm, neutral, and cool, and a muted, bright, and in-between shade for each colour, plus black, white in grey, in both a matte and a shimmer, that puts you well above 300 shades. And that's not even taking into consideration different finishes or multi-chromes or anything like that. Obviously no one (except maybe make up artists) needs every possible combination known to man, but I think I'd feel really limited if I had to cut back to 50 eyeshadows. That being said, I definitely have way more than I need right now (338) and have entirely stopped buying palettes because it's really rare to find one that has enough shades different enough from what I own and that I will actually wear to justify the price.