I rarely wear makeup, so the only thing that gets replaced regularly is my mascara because it gets clumpy after a few months. All I ever buy is eyeliner, brow pencil, mascara, powder mineral foundation, powder mineral blush, Clinique "chubby stick" lip stuff.

All my variation / experimentation comes from free samples, either from Sephora or Clinique. Thanks to a Clinique freebie pack, I found a real red lipstick that works for me (All Heart). I never would have bought a bold lipstick, but now that I have it, I will definitely replace when the sample runs out. Same with bold eyeshadow (Clinique sampler) and dramatic mascara (many Sephora samples).

I'm sensitive to a large, unknown list of makeup ingredients so if I do buy new things, I go to Sephora first and try them for a day before buying. Sephora has a great return policy but I'd rather not abuse it too much so trying samples is safer.

Thanks for all the input! It's interesting that many of us can pinpoint a specific weakness: lipstick, interesting eyeliner colors, etc.

I see that a lot of you have eye shadow palettes instead of singles. I'll have to look into that. Like Grayscale, I am very sensitive (even to natural makeup), and so I haven't spent money on palettes because I don't want to spend the extra dough if I can wear only half of the colors. But I'll have to check into them again. Maybe I can find a smaller one of two or three where I can tolerate all the colors.

Janet, I have been thinking about getting interesting colors of eyeliner too. It seems like a relatively inexpensive but noticeable way to change up a look that is made up primarily of neutrals, which my looks tend to be.

Peri, you make me laugh! I may be joining you in not wanting to count my stash after this year's shopping. The good news is that a lot of what I buy is pressed powders (eyeshadow, blusher), and I think that will keep for years.

Part of my problem (if you want to call it that) is that my natural coloring is a mix of warm and cool--I have warm eyes, neutral skin, and cool hair. So I can skew my coloring either warm or cool, depending on what makeup I use. But if I want to skew warm, for example, I need a whole set of warm makeup, as warm blusher won't look good with cool lipstick. So I feel like I may need to have a larger makeup stash than others whose coloring is clearly either warm or cool and not much of a mix. A first-world problem, I know!

I realise I forgot a couple of things too- like a concealer and a bronzes, which I rarely use and may toss.

I am definitely warm toned and really only like peachy blusher on me, and really only like charcoal liner and black mascara. So I minimise with these things and have fun with the things that I can mix up, lip sticks and nail colours:).

With the eyeshadow palettes a couple have been gift with purchase, but you are right, of the 3-4 colours in the palette I often only wear one!

I hear you on the warm/neutral/cool issue...I am pale and warm-toned (pale olive) but with more gray/blue in my dark blonde hair these days. One eye amber, one eye green. Always done better in silver jewelry than gold, generally really bad in blue-based lipsticks (which most are). I find it quite challenging sometimes to negotiate the warm/cool divide. But, speaking of shadow palettes, I inadvertently covered the issue last year by picking up both cool (denimy blues) and warm (goldeny browns) eyeshadow palettes from Wet 'n' Wild that I alternate with brown and blue eyeglass frames (e.g., the bluey shadows with the brown frames) in most everyday applications. I have a decent-size collection of makeup already, but much of it tends to get used as occasional accent, whereas the basic neutral tones (denim/brown/gray) are where I go for everyday wear. Wet 'n' Wild is one of those dirt-cheap but quite high-quality drugstore brands, so, great for experimenting with, and spending extra money isn't really a problem.

To answer the question, though--each year I might add a few shadows in colors I don't already have (usually palettes as they're more bang for the buck, save space, and are great for travel), maybe an eyeliner or two in fun colors (possibly a colored mascara as well), and a few lipsticks to add finer distinctions to my collection of warm tones (my faves: Revlon and M.A.C. Latest buy: M.A.C "La Vie en Rouge"--which is a warm, dark pink, ironically). I go through foundation slowly (good, because it's really hard to find the right pale-enough and yellow-enough-but-not-orange combo), so that's not a frequent buy. Same with concealer, which I use but slowly. I think mascara might be the most frequently replaced thing (I use Cover Girl LashBlast. I figure that $7 mascara looks exactly the same as $20 mascara.) Oh, wait, also powder--I do go through a compact of that every year (again, cheap--Cover Girl and Wet 'n' Wild have some that work for me). I forgo blush even though I'd probably look better with it...my skin has never tolerated it. You don't even want to know how old my fave eyebrow pencil is...I wish Guerlain still made that color.

What has changed majorly for me in the past 10 years: skin care. Very few commercial products and all very economical. I take off makeup/cleanse with extra-virgin olive oil. A Paula's Choice AHA (day) and BHA (night), which last me more than a year each. Oil of Olay knockoff from Trader Joe's at $4 is my day moisturizer/sunscreen, lasts me quite a while. Night moisturizer when I feel I need it: a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil mixed with a couple of drops of EVOO for pliabilty, kept in a cosmetic jar thingy I got at the drugstore. I don't really buy big in skincare, so I figure I can play a little in the makeup area but I still keep it pretty unspendy.

Ugh, skincare is a much bigger expense for me than makeup. I've always figured that more on one reduces the need for the other. So I spend more on cleansing (Clarisonic), serums, retinols and sunscreen. I am currently using Latisse instead of mascara. Otherwise, I generally just wear a bit of tinted moisturizer, sometimes powder or oil blotting sheets in the summer, eyeliner and lip stain.

Unfortunately, I purchased a sampler pack of StriVectin products. Two days after beginning using them, I have little bumps ALL OVER my face. It is horrible, and I've never experienced anything like this before with any product (I tend not to have sensitive skin). I stopped using the new products immediately, and went back to using the ones I have used for months. But 5 days later, and my skin is still covered in tiny bumps. I don't know what to do to get them to go away.

I love makeup, but actually have a fairly limited range of looks I can wear, in part due to my very fair, warm coloring (I have "redhead" coloring, but with blonde hair that has some red in it), in part due to my work, which requires a fairly understated look, and in part due to my very very sensitive skin.
For skincare, I use pretty much all Paula's Choice, because of the lack of coloring/fragrance and the fact you can try things out extensively in samples and they have a good returns policy (essential for me prior to buying full size packs, as my skin sometimes reacts immediately, and somethings likes to react after a week or four!). I also use their foundation- again, I find foundation has to be very thin textured, or it looks mask like.
Eyeliners and mascara are definitely the most problematic purchases for me, due to sensitive eyes (plus I need a neutral brown mascara, black is too harsh, and they are tricky to find!).
The one product I wear daily is blush- either a pink (Elea Blake Wicked Cute) or peach-orange (Dior Coral Cruise), it gives my whole face a lift. My most basic face would be some concealer over anything that needed it, blush and tinted lip gloss, and usually mascara too.

Make-up addict here. I couldn't begin to count how much make-up I have! I find it as an inexpensive way to alter my look/style - so fun to change it up that way! I wear make-up everyday - really cannot imagine going without it! I wish I owned a Sephora store.

Echo, don't panic! I've had this happen before. It's probably clogged pores or rash. If you can, get a gentle salcyclic acid product (aka BHA) and use it once or twice a day. It will help unclog and calm your skin. Sometimes it takes a few days or even a week for mine to clear. But it does. Be patient and gentle. It will be okay.

I love makeup and skin care. I have an esthetician and use her products. I buy one or more of the following every 6-12 weeks:
Cream cleanser
Exfoliant beads
Extra gentle cleanser
Anti aging serum
BHA serum
Benzoyl peroxide 10% (few evenings a week, keep my now clear skin clear)
Moisturizer with SPF
Hydrating gel

Makeup... Jeepers. I have enough and just cleaned it out this spring I have a lot of lipsticks. But this year I find myself wearing a lot less, and doing natural looks. However...I still love heavier makeup, and especially the glamour looks--Rita, Sophia, Brigitte. Some days I wear a lot of eye makeup, conceal,ight my contour my cheek bones, pat on luminizer, blush, lipstick/gloss. Only thing I skip is brows; just a quick brush through. It's not caked on, just a full face. I will buy a more expensive foundation. Otherwise, everything else is mostly drugstore with occasional high end product. I love the Urban Decay eye palettes and Mac eyeshadows. But it's all expensive, and right now I'm trying to save my pennies. I always buy drugstore mascara, usually Loreal Voluminous. I don't know how much I buy. I just bought several Colourpop eyeshadows, first eyeshadow purchase in a year. But I buy foundation, mascara, and lipgloss once a month!

Until recently very little other than lipstick. Recently thanks to my 18 year old niece, I've become a Sephora addict and spend way more than I should on stuff like contour kits...

I tend to wear makeup most days, and always at work. I like a polished look, and my hair is not necessarily naturally polished, so I try to make up for that!
Each year I buy:
1 x CC cream (Clinique) for run around days and weekends
1 x foundation (Revlon) for work and evenings out
2 x powder (Revlon)
1 x concealer (swap around, quite like Napoleon The One)
1 x blush (Clinique)
2 x Chubby Sticks (Clinique) - one pink based, one a bit more peachy

I tend to buy Clinique and Lancome skin care, so get GWP, and I rarely ever buy eyeshadow, mascara or lipstick, but use the ones that come my way. Luckily most colours suit me okay for lips and eyes, it is cheeks that I am fussy about as I am pretty fair and too much makes me look like a clown!
Once in a while I will splurge on something extra, maybe once a year, such as YSL Touche Eclat. Makeup and skincare is so much more $$$ here in Australia than in the US!

Makeup tools which I use each year

*Eyeshadow:2 or 3 (I'm using GIVENCHY and SkinFood, the formar is great!!)

*Mascara:3 or 4(using Japanese ones, black and purple)

*Cheak:2(GIVENCHY and SkinFood. almost pink)

*Eyebrow:2(pencil type and powder type)

*BB cream:1(MAYBELINE)

*Eyeliner:2(pencil type and liquid type, black)

*Fake eyelash:3 or 4?(using Japanese one, add volume and length)

*Lip:2(Japanese, pink)

and I think I usually spend under $80 each year.

Everyday I make up, but I use only cheap tools(cuz' I'm a student still). Usually, I use eyeshadow, eyeliners and cheak(to make bigger eyes and healthy face). Sometimes, like at party, I use the others too.

Asian cosmetics are cheaper however they are useful and good. If you don't want to spend much money for cosmetics, I recommend Asian ones.

I buy around 24 to 30 pieces of makeup every year. Some of it is replacement - like mascara or eyeliners when they finish.
I think the answer to this really depends on what role makeup plays in your overall look. Some people are quite content with neutral shades that work across outfits. I belong to the group of people that use makeup as a bonafide accessory - on par with shoes and bags - as a part of my look. If I'm wearing mostly neutrals or clothes that are of similar color for eg: light sky blue shirt with dark navy blue pants, I will wear a bright tangerine lipstick to bring interest to the outfit. A monochrome black & white outfit will get red lipstick, but a busier print or color will get grey smoky eyeliner with neutral lips. It really just depends on what function makeup serves in your total dressing up routine. Conversely I also go barefaced when I'm unwell to avoid contamination or if I'm attending a funeral.

Hmmm . . . . I usually buy foundation every 1-2 years (I buy pumps or tubes, so the bacteria contact is minimal), powder and concealer about once a year. Mascara once a year (I rarely use it, I'm more of an eyeliner girl since my lashes are already dark). I use a pot of cream eyeliner and have a powder blush and 2 eyeshadows and one lip stain.

I used to love makeup, but haven't been able to get the hang of doing my face again after being ill and having my appearance change because of medications, etc.. Plus, visible makeup is a no-no at work.

I think I wear mascara maybe three times a year and buy a new tube each time, for hygiene and safety reasons. Other than that, a couple of 3-in-1 sticks and maybe a couple of eye pencils. A few nail polishes. I waste a few more bucks on trying out things like tinted BB creams and so forth. I don't get to wear make-up that much, so I've stopped buying so much.

Thank you, Keturah! I wish I had read your message earlier today, but I will be going to get a salycilic acid product to wash with tomorrow. I could definitely see it being clogged pores, but I've never seen anything like this. I never knew they could all clog at once! I've been cleansing regularly with my old standby and using no products at all, but it is still persisting. So I'll be happy to try anything that might help make it go away!

I like a touch of makeup for polish--eyebrow pencil, liner, mascara, blush, concealer (as needed), and a lip color balm--but I reserve most of my funds for skincare. Occasionally, I'll use a foundation mixed into my day cream/sunscreen for a bit more coverage, but I really don't much like the look of foundation on skin. I definitely prefer an understated, natural look when it comes to hair and makeup.

Given my preference, it probably comes as no surprise that my make-up kit is pretty small. I replace everything in it once a year (except for mascara which gets replaced every three months) and I use that occasion to experiment with new shades and techniques. My preference is to head to a Bobbi Brown, Lancôme, or Clinique counter and have the SA demo what's current. If a Sephora is close, I'll go there because it is easier to compare across brands. If I like what I see, I ask for samples to check out at home for a few days before deciding. I generally practice "one in, one out" so my kit stays more or less the same size. I've been using this system for years and it seems to work for me. My makeup shades and techniques stay current, the stuff I put on my face is clean, and I don't end up with a drawer full of half-empty tubes and bottles.

At major life changes, especially job switches, I go and get a makeover and may splurge. But otherwise, on yearly basis I am fairly minimal:

I reorder my Lancome day & night moisturizer about 4 or 5 times a year, as I use that up fairly fast. It's pricey, but worth it.

I replace my (usually drugstore-brand) foundation in the late fall, because I use that in the cooler months. And switch over to (drugstore-brand) tinted moisturizer/ CC cream in the late spring, as I use that in the warmer months.

I replace my (drugstore) mascara about twice a year (whether it's run out or not).

Lipstick... is my downfall. I don't bother with department/high end brands for that either. Whenever I go into a drugstore, I inevitably add another tube. In fact, I have never run through an entire tube of lipstick. I carry around 5 or 6 different tubes in my handbag at any one time. I am weird in that I will reapply different shades every few hours, as whim hits. Lighter in the morning, increasingly darker/more dramatic as night falls.

I don't wear blush, or powder, or eyeshadow, or much else. So if I'm to experiment with seasonal make up trends, it's going to be the lipstick color.

Wow, thanks for all the input! It looks like I am probably a bigger spender on makeup than most of you, but I like what T said: makeup for me is more like an accessory, like shoes or a bag. I don't do handbags much (no patience to change out the contents), and I lack many "third-piece" completer items, so maybe makeup can be my "third piece," ha ha.

Makeup, maybe $150 a year. Skincare, on the other hand...

I have neutral coloring that can go either way also. I don't have any blushes--I use whatever lipstick I'm wearing as a blush. I also don't buy foundation--I exist on free samples from Sephora (I wear too little foundation to justify a purchase.)

My lipstick stash, however, is like the liquor store. We've got the reds, the burgundies, the ports, the wines, an occasional brandy (and yes, these are all the names of the products!)

I wish more brands sold travel-sized and single pans of product. That way I could customize a small palette and be done with it.

Em, I agree that smaller sizes would be nice. But I suppose the retailers would not make as much money on the smaller items, because as you point out, the smaller sizes would be enough for a lot of us.

I love your description of your lipsticks! I would splurge more in this area, but it is really difficult for me to find lipsticks that look good with my features for some reason. I know that Janet has this problem also. So I have to stick to basics on the lipsticks and have only a few of the bolder shades. But it is sure fun when I find one that works!

GiGi, I had a similar issue with lipsticks. I don't entirely know the story with lipsticks for you, but I'll jump the gun and share mines just in case it helps. For a long time, I used only eyeliner coz no lipstick suited me. This was pretty sad for me as I actually have pouty lips and loved the images I saw online. I could tell lips my shape & size were meant to wear lipstick - but it looked horrid on me. Then some changes and epiphanies happened, in the order as listed below:

1. I discovered I was cool toned and I had been buying warm toned peaches and corals, or nudes that were tinged with yellow shades of brown.
2. I got MAC Ruby Woo - a cool toned red. It looked weird on me initially, but then I realised it was my eye that was unused to seeing me wearing lipstick.
3. I discovered that Matt & Satin finishes look best on me.
4. I discovered Vaseline at night time on my lips does wonders - it plumps them up, cured the chapped lips I had suffered from for years, and made lipstick look awesome on me.

I hope this helps!

T, thank you for your words of wisdom! My lips aren't pouty like yours but are just normal looking. However, I do think that part of my problem is that I'm just not used to seeing myself in lipstick, as you mentioned. I should really get an unbiased third party to give me an honest opinion.

I am finding that I look best in colors that are not matte but are glossy or shiny somehow. I think that is because my lips are a little on the small side, and mattes seem to make them appear even smaller. So I guess I am learning! It's funny how such a small thing can make such a big difference.

I think you are right about being careful about the warm vs. cool shades. I am finding that I need something that is very close to neutral. Blue-based reds make me look sickly, and if I recall, I have problems with the yellowy ones too. I did manage to find a lippie a couple of weeks ago that is very neutral and has just a tad of orange in it, and that one is marvelous! I didn't think I could wear reds until I found this one. I am amazed at how spot-on the lipstick color has to be for me.