Beautynomics – The Economics of Vanity » Blog Archive

Hi! Im Sophie, and I’m a Shopaholic.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not endowed with a fat bank account, nor was born with a silver platter.

Through the years, I’ve learned to work hard, but the thing is, I always like to spoil myself rotten, as my ultimate gratification.

Through the years, I’ve been addicted to makeup, because I believe that it is a vehicle, or a way, to boost my self esteem. It started with a pressed powder way back in grade school, and magazines would be my inspiration, as I would swoon over products that promise to improve one’s looks and make us feel great about ourselves. Self esteem has always been my motivating factor, and strange as it seems, I chose beauty products and makeup as something that would lift and boost my confidence to a higher level. To be honest, I feel better, even great, most desirable, and most confident when I look beautiful in makeup. That’s the reason why I never go out of the house without even a single layer of foundation, and lipstick on my face.

There was a point in time wherein my makeup shopping addiction was just plain crazy. When I was in makeup school, every after class, my friend and I would go to the MAC Cosmetics counter, swoon over the stuff, and end up with bagsful of makeup. Even staying at home and imposing a self-exile won’t help. There was Amazon.com with all the latest cosmetics that are hard to find in Manila! Not to mention, all the great mineral makeup companies were internet-based, embracing the wonderful world of e-commerce. Hail, modern technology! I’ve never been happier. My wallet’s been draining, but hey, my smile just kept on getting bigger and bigger, I felt more beautiful, and you know what, whatever makes you feel great, I believe, no price can ever match the feeling that you have in your heart.

That’s the reason why on every trip or place that I go to, the cosmetics counter always seem to be my happy place, just like a little girl with sparkling eyes getting all giddy over her Barbie dolls. This is the luxury that I’ll never let myself be devoid of, but of course, there are limits. Sometimes, something too addictive such as shopping can be counter-productive. Makeup have shelf lives, and you just can’t finish using them, and yet, you still keep on buying, and buying. Sometimes, I try to pace myself to purchase at a slower rate, so I wouldn’t be too guilty when I would see my stack of makeup, with some, unused. Dozens of lipsticks hardly on their halves, eyeshadows swiped a few times, mascaras threatening their early death, opened, with time ticking for 3 to 5 months, and mineral makeup, so luckily, not having expiration dates!

One good thing that sort of justified my makeup addiction would be my newfound profession as a makeup artist. I could always use them for my shoots, and my gigs, and still be a happy makeup addict.

Well, is my makeup shopping addiction well justified?