Decluttering since mid-2016

Hi there! Because I have time that I am writing a post now. Just want to give an update with my decluttering. As I mentioned before some poor people are afraid with the words 'minimalism' and 'decluttering' for the fear that someday they might need the items they have discarded but won't have money to buy. In my case I do not think about that because since day 1 of my decluttering I do not have any plans of replacing the items I have given away or thrown away. Most of those items anyway are garbage found inside the flat. Then my earthly possessions that consist only of shoes, bags, clothes, cosmetics and some kitchen items. No more. No less. As per my experience a piece of clothing can last for more than a decade. In the past I discarded a lot not because the clothing has gone bad but because I gained weight. Same can be say about the leather shoes and bags. I have given away some shoes and bags not because they are no longer useful but because I grew tired of them or I am not really using them anymore.

I am also poor and I am a living example that this current minimalism thing is not only for the rich. But if you do not want to believe me it is completely okay. Just the same that I am not pushing anyone else to do the same. In the photo are the latest beauty products that I have given away. I have given everything a lot of thought. I was also afraid that what if I lose my job then cannot buy anymore the cosmetics that I am buying? Guess what? I do not really care anymore. I believe somehow I will still be able to buy but I will truly be a minimalist as I will buy only face cream and sunscreen. Then I will buy only what I will use. Use it up to the last drop before buying another bottle again. If I have to choose only one item to buy then that will be sunscreen only. Most Japanese sunscreens are moisturizing anyway. Also nowadays they now have a lot of drugstore brands that said to be all in one cream. So I will do just fine in that department. Then when my makeup runs out? I will just really stop wearing makeup. Problem solved! But that is just me. I also do not know the flight of others. 

This time my decluttering session has really been serious than ever as opposed to the last one and half year. Though I no longer hoard I make sure that I have stash for at least 3 months to 6 months. But with the thought that I might move anytime soon whether I like or not helped into choosing what are the items that will stay. And I never came to this point before. The only body gels and facial washes I have are whatever are on the bathroom all my extras I put in the box to be given away to my younger siblings. I noticed that in a year I can only consume one tube of hand creams that I had taken away all my lotions from the drawer to be given away too. At least 20 pieces maybe? But I know number is higher than that but I do not count. No plans of leaving even one bottle of lotion in the house. Just bought a small containers from Daiso then put on some lotion in them that I will be using as hand cream at work. Portable. I still have some oils because my skin is really dry but even the oils I might give away some of them. In the future if I can no longer buy lotions or body oils? Just keep on wearing pants to hide my dry legs then. Haha. Problem solved. So that's all for now. 

Goodbye #191: Daiso Mesh Bag 🌸

Just another Daiso mesh bag I am letting go of. Purchased for only 7AED and used as storage for some lipsticks. But then I now have to let go.

Goodbye #190: Daiso Mesh Bag 🌸

Bought this Daiso mesh bag during my hoarding phase. Used it to store some lipsticks. Now giving it up. If you want to be frugal and minimalist avoid buying organizes in any form. The more organizers you have the more you will be tempted to buy things.

Goodbye #189: Sachets 🌸

Hello!!!!!!! I am back again in being a Purging Queen because in just a few days the month will end and we will enter 2018. I wish to be fully done with all the decluttering. So I keep on looking around as there might be useless items I missed. Like these sachets or envelopes. When I made the online orders in the past. It has been a month since my last online order. There's no point in keeping things like that. So goodbye! Adios! Sayonara!

Goodbye #188: Daiso Charcoal Cleanser 🌸

Daiso is a Japanese shop that the idea is just like the dollar shop in USA. It is available in UAE and used to be very affordable. And me being a hoarder, used to be a customer. I used to do Daiso hauls and does not even matter if I badly needed the items I purchased or not. When I have first seen the Daiso Charcoal Cleansing Cream I bought at least 6 pieces without thinking twice. As an end result? For how many years I managed to finish only 3 tubes of it. As being a hoarder that I was, I have almost all the known makeup remover. Even though I am not using makeup on daily basis. So as of December 2017, I am getting rid of the 3 tubes left.

I am not sure if this product is still available but in UAE not anymore. And as of the charcoal it has been said to be good in our skin. I believe them. Daiso Charcoal Cleansing Cream is a good makeup remover. But no matter how good the product is I cannot finish it for the simple reason that I have way too many. 

For the last 3 days I had been very busy decluttering the PC I have at work and at the same time my space in the tiny flat. I mean I had been decluttering for the last one year and half but only now that I felt the urgency to finish it as soon as possible. As my goal is that everything I own will fit into 2 luggages only. End of the year there will be mass termination across the country. And so for sure mass termination of my stuff will help me in the long run. That's all thanks for dropping by.

Pan Project 2016 - 2017

I started this Pan Project mid 2016. But the thing was in spite of it there were still times that I found myself purchasing new items. So as an end result after a year and half I am still not yet finished with that I have started.

I was a hoarder for far too long that inside the small flat there were a lot of paper bags as shown in the first and second photos; with too many items inside. I was able to get rid a lot of it. But then they are just simply far too many. Aside from Pan Project I have done as well the Goodbye Post Series. Where I am letting go of anything no matter how small that happened to be no use to me anymore.

Managed to finished a forgotten batch of razor which can be seen in this photo only to find out that I still have 2 or 3 packets of different brands of razors. That I will be using on 2018. Great. Just great. I do not see any end to this Pan Project and Goodbye Series this way.

L'Occitane sunscreens. Ahhhh I did not managed to finish them I left them behind when I went on vacation. Again you know the reason. I was over with the allowed weight of the baggage that I have to leave a lot of things.

Beauty Products????? Well I still have at least 100 of them!!!!!!!!!! I am now preparing another balikbayan box to send back home. Daily I am taking out an item out of my closet and with a heavy heart of course but then what can I do? With a heavy heart as I truly regret the money I wasted. And the money I am about to spend in sending the box. It would not have come to this had I been smart enough in spending since Day 1.

Funny thing is: I used far too many beauty products but then they did not really improved my appearance. Guess what? I still have sunspots. The dry skin stays dry. The hair is still the same. That I am considering having a hair rebond again even if it means migraine for 2 or 3 days again. As I cannot tolerate the heat coming from hair blower. 

Last photo are body scrub and hair mask. In 2017 I did not repurchase any of it. Only one brand of body scrub satisfied me and that's Bath & Body Works but then it is far too expensive for me that I chose not to buy again ever.

2017 I made a few mistakes once again when it comes to money. I hope 2018 I will be a better version or smarter version of myself.

Goodbye #187: Biore UV Aqua Rich BB Cream 🌸

Biore is a Japanese brand of cosmetics. I think the company name is Kao. And until now I am not sure if this is related to Biore from America. Anyway this brand is not available in UAE. Maybe because it contains alcohol as that was the reason why DHL won't bring here Shiseido Senka Anti Ageing Sunscreen from Japan. The only way you can buy Biore is through Ebay where I purchased them for the first time a year ago. But you have to wait for one month as they are using only the normal post.

But if you are in the Philippines, Biore is available through Watsons. So that is where I've got the complete variants of Biore. One of them is this Biore UV Aqua Rich BB Cream. I bought two bottles of it but my skin does not like it that I had given away the other one. While I tried my best to finish this tube to avoid wasting it but then as you can see the year is about to end with no such luck. That now I do not have a choice but to just throw it out.

I do not have anything but love for all the Japanese sunscreens I ever tried but I cannot say the same for Biore UV Aqua Rich BB Cream. Maybe I just got a bad tube. Maybe I just have a bad skin. Maybe bb creams are not just for me. Japanese cosmetics do not have expiration date on them but I read before that sunscreens are good for one year only from the date of the production. This Biore BB Cream was produced on May 25, 2015 so by 2017 is it expired already? Also I noticed that this was made in Taiwan. While the rest of Biore I have were all made in Japan.

Actually since Day 1 I never liked foundations. Honestly I do not know how they should look like or feel like on the skin. But back in Philippines I do not use them. I found them to be expensive. And you will really feel that there is something in your face. It transfers to anything you put close to your face like phone, handkerchief. Lastly it clogs the nose that produces white heads 24/7 so no, foundation is not for me. But when BB Creams came out in the market and people were raving about it that I joined the band wagon. But then out of all the creams I tried none works for me.

Feels like they make my skin drier. And if you will look closely on my face there seems to be specks of it. It highlights the fine lines of my skin. Also I do not believe in using creams to conceal the dark spots or imperfections of our face because I do not like temporary solutions. So there is no other way for this Biore UV Aqua Rich BB Cream but the garbage bin.

Took a lot of photos to show the product and this is the best that came out from the camera. Forgot to take a photo when spread though. So this is the start. I could be throwing out all the remaining bb creams at home. And at the same time never ever to buy them again. 

If I have the money I will just to straight to dermatologist and have them remove my sunspots. Do something for my nose if they can. As I am never without white heads and using bb creams making the large pores and white heads more visible. Those are my concerns why I started buying cosmetics in 2014. Plus the dryness of my skin especially near the chin that seems to happen every October. I eat vegetables. Do not smoke. Do not drink. Sleep well. Drink loads of water. But all to no avail. 

Goodbye #186: Garnier Light Oil Control 🌸

Hello there! Please do not expect much from this post. The story was I purchased Garnier Light Oil Control cream during my hoarding phase. Since it was very affordable anyway. But it turned out to be not a product for me. My skin does not like it. In short my 16.00AED was wasted. And as I can remember it leaves a white cast on my face. So even though I am someone who does not want wasting I have to get rid of it.

That's all and thanks for dropping by. The year is about to end but in a few weeks time but then I still have a long way to go in my minimalist goal.

Goodbye #185: Lorac Pro Palette 2 🌸

PHOTOS overload. I am still not yet done with my Goodbye Series post as I feel that up to this day I still own a lot. I still have many items inside the house. I just cannot face them fully nowadays as I am busy with other things too. And I keep on uploading videos online before deleting them in my external disk. Anyway back when I was a hoarder I used to own 3 western brands of eyeshadow palette that I never used. Or used them once. Last year I was able to get rid of my Urban Decay Naked Palette. And it has taken me a year before finally letting go of another palette.

It is not easy for me as my stuff are usually together in a bag or any packaging and put in every corner of the place. And it is very messy that pulling a package out from a corner to check it out can be.. I do not know the correct word? Annoying perhaps? Because taking them out will create another clutter. This year I am trying my best to declutter my makeup but then for a few weeks now I had been side tracked with learning languages and uploading videos. So now I am trying to get back on track with my decluttering project. So here it is.

Correct me if I am wrong for saying that Lorac is an American brand of makeup. In UAE it used to be available via online sellers. But in 2017 I am not sure if finally some shops do carry this brand. I got mine online from AlShop I guess? For 249.00AED. Back in the time that I was a stupid hoarder. And the story of my Lorac Pro Palette 2 ended up just like most of the beauty products I own. Had to give up without using. This is what happens if you buy something you don't need and do not really love. Sorry if no swatches or no in depth reviews. I am just really all about my minimalist project. But if ever I found photos of swatches I will immediately share them over here. Ciao!

Goodbye #184: Gosh Lipsticks 🌸

Gosh is a Danish brand of makeup available in Centrepoint across the UAE. I stumbled upon this brand last 2015 when I was looking for alternative to Mac Lipsticks. Price was 45.00AED per tube but I got them on sale for only 33.25AED each.

I got myself at least 11 shades and it was unintentional. I think the sale lasted for a month. So a few trips to the shop, voila! I found myself with 11 shades in my drawer.

It was affordable. And the current price was around 72.00AED now. I think everything there is to say I have said before but I will tell them again. It does not come with a box which is fine. It has a matte tube which the shiny part on the middle. And numbers and shades at the bottom of the tube.

The only thing I dislike about Gosh lipsticks was being too creamy. To the point that one has to be extra careful when applying on the lips. It breaks easily. I am not even putting it somewhere hot. Feels like one should keep it on the fridge. Just like a butter that would melt easily. 

Swatches for those who are interested as most of the shades are in permanent collection. I doubt that they have limited edition. And the brand is still very much available in UAE. As of me since I am continuously decluttering while avoiding hoarding that these all has to go. I've gone back to Mac since it is really my favorite brand. 

Goodbye #183: Violet Shorts 🌸

Goodbye as it no longer fits me. Reminding me that I have grown so big and so it is now time for me to take diet seriously.

Goodbye #182: Deodorants 🌸

Both are good brands do not get me wrong. I am discarding them as both are expired. It expired without me using them as I have a dozen of deodorants and I do now know why. Because I wasted a lot of money/products that I really, really learned how to be frugal and minimalist. Now going back in raiding my closet again to see what else I can get rid of.

Goodbye #181: Daiso Mascaras 🌸

If you are looking for an affordable and waterproof mascara I would definitely recommend Daiso Ellefar Waterproof Mascara to you. But nevermind the Daiso Ever Bilena Clear Mascara as this one is good for nothing. But then even if the Daiso mascara is good I now have to throw them both away. I do not use makeup on daily/regular basis that both of these has been sitting in my drawer for more than a year now. And since I am trying my best to get rid of something per day to unclutter my place that they have to go. You know on my way to minimalism.

Goodbye #180: Daiso Sunscreen 🌸

Impulsive purchased. Never used. So no review/feedback. But most Daiso skin care products I bought in the past were all okay.

Goodbye #179: Timberland Orange Shoes 🌸

My first loafer shoes from Timberland. I love it but I cannot say the same for suede materials. Suede and me does not get along together. I am bad at cleaning them.

As I am still in the process of decluttering this one has to go to. And because of this that made me decide to just stick on black shoes. Even though at times it can be boring. At least easy for me to clean. I am into finding ways how to save time too. So colorful shoes are now a no-no in my vocabulary.

Of course not unless someone else will clean it for me. As of Timberland I cannot think of anything negative to say to them. Friend said that he just wish the brand will not go bankrupt and stop making high quality shoes. In the market can anyone think of a brand like Timberland? When it comes to leather shoes that can last for many years?

As of the price I consider their prices fair. Not high end prices but not cheap. Besides in UAE I get to visit Dubai Outlet Mall where they sell the old models on almost 90% off. If I want something from their new collection then I have to wait for the sale. But even without the sale I am willing to pay for the quality of their shoes.

But as I stated above I will just keep on buying black. Even brown shoes are not meant for me. I do not know how to clean them that I end up ruining them. Because of this that I have given up quite a lot of decent shoes since last year.

The items I am taking out of the house may be little items only, but it is enough to put a smile on my face. Because my mess consists of these little items. It is a slow process but I am cleaning out my space.

Goodbye #178: Saccoo Amsterdam Red Leather Bag 🌸

I love leather bags that I bought more than one in the past. Saccoo Amsterdam leather bags used to be available in Safeer Malk. But they had to remove the brand as it not a big hit among customers. Those ladies probably thinking that they are saving money in buying cheap PU bags. But are PU bags are really cheap? When they are almost the same amount with the leather bags?

Anyway I managed to buy 4 Saccoo Amsterdam leather bags before they were gone on the shelves of Safeer Mall. And I got them all during on sale period. But then this year I had to let go of my brown leather bag. And this red leather bag as I declutter my tiny space. Those bags will not go to waste anyway. As my siblings will be using them. Right now I have only 2 leather bags and thinking if I should hand them over to my other siblings as well. The older I get, the less things I need in this life. And my most used hashtag in Instagram are #LiveLikeATraveller #ThinkLikeATraveller.

So that's all for today. Thanks for dropping by.

Goodbye #177: Ramarim Brown Shoes 🌸

Ramarim is a Brazilian brand of shoes. In UAE you can find it in Safeer Mall. I used to think that they have expensive prices. Not until I get to see the prices of shoes in City Centre. It is affordable if I were to compare to shoes from Pay For Less that meant to sell cheap shoes!

I bought this shoes during the time that I was on my hoarding phase. If not on sale the amount was around 100.00AED but since I bought it on sale I got it less than that. But since it is not made of genuine leather and I was not using it much that over time the condition deteriorated as can be seen in the next photo:

I admit that I did not use it much hence a waste of my hard earned money. But then during that time how can I use it much as I have a dozen or more pairs of shoes. Started discarding them in the process of decluttering the tiny space I own. Will I recommend Ramarim shoes? Yes if you will get the leather ones. No if not genuine leather. You may think that their genuine leather are expensive for the price between 100.00AED to 150.00AED, just wait till you see the prices in other shops.

Aldo for example: As I see this brand in each City Centre I go to. Aside that I do not have a size in that brand, prices are from 200.00AED and above. And as I had been telling repeatedly based on my experiences as long as it is not genuine leather then no matter how much you paid for it, it cannot last for a very long time. Coming from someone who wasted a lot of money in the past.

Also based on my experience with heels like this is a big no-no. I tried different height of heels and different shapes. So I can say that I know well what kind of heels to take and what not. The height is just right but the shape affect the shoes. When there is a pain, it is not worth it. Sometimes you will really do trial and error until you find which one will suite you well. And when you find the one, stick to it. Just like a love life, eh?

Lastly what I like about Safeer Mall is the sales associates are helpful but not annoying. Choosing a shoes is crucial. There may be hundreds of them in the same size but not all with bring your feet comfort. So you have to take your time to try each one of them. And it is a hassle if there seems to be a lost puppy following you around and trying to sell things fast. I take my time well. I do not buy on the spot. I even take photos of them and sleep over it. Then come back once I made up my mind. 

With this I became a regular customer of Safeer Mall (Shoe Mart) and no plans on switching to any brand in City Centre. I said that I am on my way to a minimalist and frugal life but it did not stop me from buying 6 pairs of shoes and sandals from the shop which I might share some other time. But as of this Ramarim brown shoes it is totally useless that I have to throw it away.