What I Learned from Not Buying Makeup

February 17, 2012 by


This year, instead of making one huge resolution (that I would inevitably break!) I divided up my intentions into monthly goals. You can read the whole list here. (Well, at least the goals for the first six months. I haven’t decided for sure what I will do the rest of the year.)

The basic premise, of the whole year, however, is to cut back on excess. 
Excess of whatever: clothes, food, computer time, it’s all too much.
So each month I will focus on cutting down the excess in one area.

I did an update for our January’s goal here, which was no eating out. I mentioned in that post that God really knew what he was doing (doesn’t he always!) leading me to make that choice for that particular month since our finances were very tight in January.
(on a side note, seriously, who decided that every.single.major.bill in our lives should be due right after Christmas? We had property taxes, our HOA bill, car insurance, house insurance, and life insurance all due within about 20 days!)

Anyway, this month, I chose to buy no new make up.
That may not seem like a huge goal or sacrifice, and in the overall scheme of life, it’s not. 
(source)

But when my makeup drawer (a whole drawer, people!) looks like this, it’s time to cut back.
Something about buying a new lipstick just makes me happy. And there’s nothing wrong with that occasionally. But those $5 here and and $5 there adds up.

And the question is, do I need that much makeup? Definitely not. And honestly, should I depend on what color my lips are to make me happy? Most assuredly not.

And again, this month, God knew what he was doing. We have had a stressful month so far and I needed something to make me feel better. Running out and getting a cute new lipgloss would have been a temporary fix, but that’s it. I would have felt better for about 5 minutes, if that.

And you know what, many times in the store this month I’ve had to make a conscious decision to not buy makeup. It may sound silly, but each time I’ve been tempted, I’ve had to think upon the reasons I’ve chosen this challenge. And each time, I am reminded first of all, that I need to cut back on excess. And secondly, that nothing material will fill my heart.

Not buying makeup is not even really the end goal, is it? It’s learning to live with less, and to find better ways to deal with stress. 

Ultimately, I needed this month to learn to depend on God for my strength. 
And some days I have, some days I haven’t.
But it’s a process, as is everything in this spiritual walk.

And I can say, I have learned to say this with more assurance: 
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.”
Psalm 18:2

What is something that you depend on to feel temporarily better?
What has God taught you about depending solely on him?

(Oh, and I should mention that ULTA is one of my favorite stores ever. The end.)


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Filed Under: a few of my favorite things, faith, make-up, pray
About Kelli Hays

Kelli Hays is a wife, mother, writer, and friend. She has been blogging since 2008 and loves sharing inspiration for the everyday woman!

Comments

  1. Sarah {the fontenot four} says
    February 17, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    What a great challenge. I would have to cut out food. I think food is my love language and my feel good language.

  2. Michelle says
    February 17, 2012 at 5:33 pm

    I’ve definitely had an addiction to Estee Lauder makeup lately, I need to stop it!

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