Skincare Struggle

 

    So I really like DHC skin care( https://www.dhccare.com/DHC/) and right now I am using some clinique powder foundation and some old mineral powder I have from an old job at a beauty store and a concealer that works fine to cover ALL that needs to be covered! My problem is, I had asked a friend what she uses because her skin was glowing- the thing I want for my ruddy looking skin. Well she uses Bare Escentuals. Great stuff. Well all of a sudden I thought to myself- I need that! So I spent time online looking at all the products that I wanted. This isn't a big deal, except I still had plenty of my other products that I was happy with. I just wanted the new thing, now. In addition, the weather is now making my summer oily skin go flaky and dry- so its time to bring out the extra moisture and moisturizing face wash, right??? Well my problem is I don't have any. Now let me clarify that every month my husband and I follow the envelope system shown by Dave Ramsey (https://www.daveramsey.com/home/). Every month I get $30 to spend on skincare, makeup, hair products- whatever. But since I don't have any products for the winter, the season would be over before I would have the money enough to buy the products I need. The key word here is need. Do I NEED "winterized" face wash? Do I need to wash my face at all? Will I get sick or even die if I don't? Absolutely not. I understand the unintentional "need" label we women place on things that we include in our daily lives. But to even think to ask my husband to go in debt to get these things is bizarre. I do have face wash. I do have toner. I do have a moisturizer. They might not do as good of a job during the winter months, but they will still do better than having none at all.  This may sound silly to you. But it is such a reality to me. I grew up in the Cosmetology scene- colored my hair every color, wore an inch of makeup to clean house, had my nails done bi-weekly... So for me to not be able to buy a simple cleanser was a really hard hit. Trust me though, not being able to have food on the table would be much worse. I am just showing you the importance I placed on 

unimportant things. The worst part of this was that it consumed me!  I was getting frustrated and stressed out because I couldn't have these things. I was treating my family differently as a result of the stress. I had listened to a lie, the lie that I needed these products. And why did I need these? To make my skin look better. Having the best skincare isn't going to make me happier... having glowing skin and a flawless face isn't going to bring me joy. You might be rolling your eyes at me as you think its not a big deal to have good makeup or skincare, or even charge these purchases on a credit card if you don't have the cash to pay for it. Heck, you might even have 3 foundations you pick from on a daily basis and a collection of wasted skin care in your closet of junk. Maybe so. But the Lord has shown me my slavery to the idea of needing these things. I don't think it bad to spend money on good skincare or makeup- not at all- if you have the money to spend. What price will you pay for beauty? Is it really making a difference? Trust me, I know there are products out there that DO make a big difference. I own a few of them. What importance are you placing on the difference? What sacrifices are you willing to make for them? My husband and I see ministry in our future. Not sure what kind of ministry, although we are both passionate for missions cross-culturally. Joey asked me a couple days ago, in the midst of my consummation, "Leanne, if we live in a country where other women don't wear makeup or can't afford to wash their skin with anything but a bar of soap or water, will you still be doing the regimen you do, despite how good these products are?" That question smacked me center in the face. If God is preparing me for ministry, maybe that's why I am seeing these things in a different light.  Even two months ago, I would have never seen this as a big deal- a year ago, I did have 3 foundations to choose from, I did use a credit card to buy more makeup that I didn't need and I didn't see it to be an issue. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter what skincare I use or what makeup- its what not having it does to me. I hope some of you see eye to eye with me. Others of you will think I'm a lunatic. But that's okay. As I mention in the beginning, some of this I'm sharing is just for me. If you're spending hundreds of dollars on products I'm not judging where your heart is at. I would always encourage everyone to always monitor your intentions and anything that might be consuming you, but I'm not saying that is in fact the case. I will challenge you however, to take a look at your heart. What importance do you place on skincare and makeup? What value does it have on your life?