IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe Goddess Kabuki Brush

Back in August 2019, I learned It Cosmetics had discontinued its amazing Velvet Luxe line of makeup brushes after visiting Ulta intent on buying a 2nd brush. This was a crazy business move as my review of the superior line of brushes describes:

This and all of the following photos relate to the last paragraph of the blog. :) Wow, I especially love the oval ring, post earrings, and matching necklace.

Here's a snippet of my review: "'Last year I bought a quality makeup brush from the IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe line. The brushes in this particular line, are plush, soft, firm, precise in the application; and never, ever shed. In other words, everything we want: It is hands down the best makeup brush I've ever used!'"

Fortunately, I found 4 of the coveted sizes of the brushes on eBay, paying bargain prices for them as it turns out! Unfortunately, the one that got away I still pine for, namely the Velvet Luxe Goddess Kabuki Brush. I can make do with the brushes I now own, but every now and then I still go online to see if somebody, somewhere, anywhere is selling my longed-for kabuki brush. Makeup brushes must be sold new-and-never-used for me to buy them, and as we get further and further away from 2019, there's little chance the kabuki brush will be listed on eBay or elsewhere. A makeup maven who buys closeouts would have to discover it stashed in her basement for us to see it listed for sale again, but if I ever find it, my set will be complete.😍

By becoming a more mindful shopper and an under buyer, I make fewer mistakes, avoid buyer's remorse and save a few bucks along the way. But the other side of the coin is, I also must accept losing out on a few desired articles. However, on balance, I think I come out ahead. 

Material things will come and go. Something new always replaces an old wish that vanishes.

No engagement is needed, I just love this ring.😀

All the lovely things posted today on this blog are on my Fairy Godmother Wish List but wisely I decided not to buy them. However, the kabuki brush I'll snatch up for a good price if ever, ever I see it again!

You can't always get what you want

But if you try sometimes well you might find

You get what you need.🎶  Mick Jagger

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A Jewelry/Luxury Buying Mindset: Rule #5 Is Don't Buy Pretty

An example of a pretty I don't buy, but what a temptation of emeralds, white and black diamonds in 14k gold.

YouTube Luxury Mavens talk about their collections. Often I find the amounts they spend and especially the quantity they continue to unbox alarming! Where does it stop? At $100,000!? $200,000!? $500,000!?! Even if you earn highroller-level money, when is enough ... enough?

Today I'm using my rules on when to purchase jewelry as a guide for describing a mindset that applies to buying all luxury goods for anyone on a budget. Think of luxuries as big-ticket items we love but don't need. Hard as it is to believe, I love💙, but don't need this gorgeous tanzanite and diamond ring over to the left! It's so pretty!!!😍

We're not millionaires, and luxury goods nearly always cost us more than what we make in a week ... or a month! We have to save up to own a piece here and there, therefore I'm super selective on what and when to part with a chunk of change. Plus I put a cap on the amount I'm willing to drop on a single luxury good. It's a splurge, not an essential or an investment (as you'll never get the full value of what you pay if you have to sell it). So let's begin ...

The Jewelry/Luxury Goods Buying Mindset -- the rules explained:

1) Don't collect - You don't need a collection. Pick a few articles of fine jewelry you really love that can be mixed and matched, plus worn daily, as well as, to galas. A person on a budget can't afford signature rings or necklaces that stay inside a box except for a few days a year. After saving and sacrificing to buy a piece you love, be sure you get your money's worth by being able to wear it often instead of storing it away.

2) Discriminate - Figure out WHAT you really love (white, yellow, or rose gold); your favorite gemstones; and forgo everything else! Don't buy fashion jewelry. Save up for fine jewelry and buy only the gemstones, size, and style you most relish. You won't miss everything-else!

3) Stick with the classics - Usually, you won't get your money's worth in terms of how often you wear cute animal motifs or signature rings, earrings, bracelets, or necklaces. They're for people with more disposable income who can afford impulse buys and surpluses of fine jewelry ...  folks with crazy surplus money.😄 Savvy Shoppers on a budget focus on a capsule of classic jewelry to be worn nearly anytime and anywhere.

4) Never settle on the "c" (cut, carat, color, or clarity), the main detail most important to you - Save yourself the cost of having to size up or rebuy jewelry because you compromised your true love away. Don't buy a tiny gemstone if you really want a big rock. Likewise, don't pull the trigger on the wrong gemstone, say ... a blue topaz, if it's really sapphires that make your heart sing. Save up for your true loves of attraction like a bigger carat weight or your most loved gemstone.

And of course, be realistic: I adore the quality of the diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds sold by Tiffany & Co., but can't afford more than a minuscule size of Tiffany-top-quality gemstones. But! I'd be terribly unhappy with the carat sizes of stones I'd have to bring home after spending a ton of money there. I understand myself well enough to know I don't want to pay top dollar for a teeny-tiny gemstone. Always at Tiffany, my true loves of attraction are their HUGE flawless, solitaire stones -- the 5+ carats of diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and tanzanites, therefore I can look without temptation, despite the beauty and glitter blinding me! This leads us to my 5th rule ...

5) Don't buy pretty - I love all gemstones but only own a few. I don't have opals, tanzanites, alexandrites, yellow diamonds, black diamonds, red or green garnets, and a slew of other pretty jewels in my "collection" because I have a capsule, not a collection. Personally, since I can't afford every spectacular stone, adding a piece over the years to my capsule doesn't include the softer more delicate gemstones, nor the most expensive stones per carat. Alexandrite is one of my birthstones, yet it's too pricey per carat for my consideration. As mentioned, I refuse to spend big money on a tiny stone! So I own my other birth gem, pearls for much less. I did not do without; did not go broke; do not use spectacles to see it; still ended up with beautiful birth month jewelry.

All of the Effy jewelry uploaded today are beautiful pieces I do not own for various reasons cited in the blog. If not selective, I'd be happy with all of the uploaded pieces. Ooh and ahh, Mr. Effy!😍 The tanzanite and diamond ring above, costing $14,250, proves how more often than not, I don't buy pretty.

Amethyst, sapphire, and tsavorite stones.

In summary: A luxury buy is always about loving, not needing a costly material thing. Owning "it" should result in a happy dance every time you touch it. Discriminate. Don't settle. Create a capsule, not a collection. Buy your true love (the gold, carat, gemstone) even if it takes longer to save up for "it"; then don't waste your money by keeping the purchase in a box/closet/safe. 

And finally a bonus rule: If you love "it" too much or not enough to wear after "it" is yours, sell it! By keeping "it" in a drawer, you've wasted the money spent, so try to recoup what you can.

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