Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Finish Your Products
In beauty circles, there’s an unspoken rule: never wait until you finish a product to buy the next.
As a working professional in Japan—where grooming is considered part of basic etiquette—I’ve always followed a strict “one-in, one-out” routine. One cleanser. One foundation. A few seasonal switches. That’s it.
But on platforms like Xiaohongshu or TikTok, the dominant culture feels completely different: rotating skincare by season, mood, or micro-concern. Lipsticks in dozens. Eyeshadows by function. Entire drawers categorized by “dewy,” “matte,” or “meeting-safe.”
The logic? Part impulse, part identity. For many, beauty isn’t just functional—it’s expressive, collectible, even therapeutic. But here’s the friction: overbuying leads to wasted products, overspending, and cluttered routines.
I’m not against variety. But I do wonder: are we still buying for skin—or just buying for the thrill of it?
#beauty #makeup #consumption
