Musings on Makeup Stashes

Every once in awhile, someone on Makeupalley will make a post musing about the ridiculously large size of the makeup collections of other members, like this thread below. I also often see similar snarky comments on Cozycot, for example in response to other members who post photos of their personal collections or makeup hauls.
http://www.makeupalley.com/m~61757385

My buddy Makeuphor had just told me about some of the awful comments that she had been receiving in response to her video blogs about her stash. Unfortunately, it seems that some people feel that the anonymity of the Internet is a license to be rude and judgemental about other people's passions and hobbies. What I hate most are the crude questions that many like to ask about one's occupation or means of funding such a lavish hobby. Most irritating are the ones that start, by going, 'Oh, I'm being really nosey but what do you do for a living?" If you know that's a nosey question, why ask it? Is it really any of our business how someone else likes to spend her money? We makeup addicts post photos of our collections because we've spent a lot of time and effort building them up and are proud of our collections, not to mention it's great fun sharing makeup tips and new discoveries with other fellow addicts.

Everyone has different spending habits and vices. As long as our makeup collections are not driving us into debt, why should we be made to feel guilty about having a large stash? Most of my fellow makeup buddies are working professionals who have every right in the world to pamper themselves with their own hard-earned money. We're not relying on sugar daddies, prostitution or taking out a second mortgage to buy ourselves the latest lipstick. Yes, makeup is trivial and frivolous in the larger scheme of things. But it can work wonders for improving one's appearance, self-esteem and confidence. Like any other hobby, it's something that people have fun with and get passionate about. Are there better, more worthwhile ways of spending our money? Probably, but that's a value judgement that's up to the individual person to make. If looking at big makeup stashes and hauls makes you feel physically ill, then you're seriously probably better off staying away from Makeupalley!

My makeup stash is worth easily more than $10,000 and I have enough to last me the next 5 years without buying anything else. But so what? That's still less than what an average Singaporean would spend on a car in a year. What my colleagues spend on one parking fine is enough for me to buy a dozen Gransenbon blushes! I don't smoke, drink, go clubbing/pubbing, buy $5 cups of coffee or drive. I also don't buy lottery, gamble or have maids (that great indispensable luxury for many Singaporean households) to pick up after me. I also don't buy designer bags (except for LeSportsac Tokidoki but that's hardly in the league of Louis Vuitton or Prada), shoes, watches and jewellery which, by the way, I think is the biggest scam ever visited on womenkind! But if that's your thing, then good for you.

I've enjoyed working on this blog tremendously and deeply appreciate all the positive feedback that I've received. Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to leave comments! I'll try to keep it up even after I leave Japan although it'll be a bit more difficult not being able to see all the new collections in person.