MAC Matters: Building a Core MAC Collection with (less than) $21 a Month!!! May 2013

 Affiliate Link

It is time for my monthly MAC Matters update!!!

This series was born when I realized that I could build up a great MAC Core Collection with (less than) the cost of my most expensive monthly beauty sample subscription. So, I cancelled said subscription and put my theory to the test!

For me, this MAC Matters Challenge is just a fun experiment to help me curb some of my beauty spending. I find that I am spending very wisely when MAC shopping for this challenge. Plus, the items that I have purchased are things that I truly love! No matter what your stance is on beauty boxes, a well researched purchase of a needed makeup item is always a good idea. If beauty box samples are just cluttering up your makeup drawers, then you might consider this challenge! :) I think you will be thrilled with what you can do with an average of $21 a month at MAC (or any of your favorite brands)!

A few other amazing bloggers like Quinn from Mama Fashionista and Rachel from Rachel Makeup & Skincare have joined me in this challenge! Be sure to visit their links to see how they are doing on this challenge! :)  Join if you like! I just ask that you link back to me in your post as the creator of this challenge. :)

The Challenge Rules:
Build a MAC Collection using an average of $21.00 per month:

• Purchase at least one item a month: If the item is under $20, save the remainder for the next month. While there are many items priced under $20, there are plenty that are over the $20 range that can be "saved" for. 
• Do a monthly blog posts for one year to share what you get. Lets see what kind of core collections we can build in a years time! 
• To coordinate with my "Build a Core MAC Collection" purchases, I will also be posting "MAC Matters: From the Stash" reviews! These "stash" items are MAC items that I love that are already in my makeup collection. Some months, I will be "saving" my $21 to go towards a bigger MAC purchase. This is when you will most likely see the "stash" posts. Or, I might include a "stash" item mini review within my "Build a Core MAC Collection" posts because if you are reading this because you want to build your own MAC collection, you might enjoy reading about what I am already using and loving! 
• If this series is popular, I will repeat the series with another brand upon completion of 12 months with MAC. 
• If you decide to join this challenge: Please be sure to include a link back to my blog in your post crediting me as the creator of this challenge! :) Also, feel free to send me your links to your MAC Matters posts that I can include in my monthly postings.  
• Note: You do not have to cancel your monthly beauty sample subscription to join in! You can certainly do this challenge *in addition* to being a beauty sample subscriber! The whole point is just to see what you can do with *the same* amount of money that you might spend on a $20 monthly beauty box. :) 

If you missed my previous MAC Matters Challenges, please check them out here:  Be sure to check out: MAC Matters: Building a Core MAC Collection with $21 a Month (Intro Post), MAC Matters November 2012,  MAC Matters December 2012 , January 2013 MAC Matters, February 2013 MAC Matters Challenge, March 2013 MAC Matters Challenge, and April 2013 MAC Matters Challenge.

Find out what I got this month, May 2013, by clicking "read more" below!

MAC Matters: Building a Core MAC Collection with (less than) $21 a Month!

Hello lovelies! It is time for an update in my monthly MAC Matters Blog Challenge! This month I have an amazing MAC Pro Store experience to share!!! Seriously, a great story! :)

This series was born when I realized that I could build up an amazing collection of MAC Wishlist products in a years time with (less than) the cost of my most expensive monthly beauty sample subscription (GLOSSYBOX). So, I cancelled my subscription and am putting my theory to the test. While I no longer pay for a GLOSSYBOX subscription, I do occasionally review press samples of GLOSSYBOXes. I am still a fan of the boxes; but, I would rather put my own money towards my MAC Challenge. No matter what your stance is on beauty boxes, a well researched purchase of a needed makeup item is always a good idea! Less buyers remorse! Plus, it is likely something that you need...rather than a random sample from a beauty box that you may or may not use.

Some of you that have joined me in this challenge have cancelled a beauty box to do this challenge and some have not. You can certainly join in and do the challenge in addition to having a beauty subscription! Actually, I still subscribe to Birchbox (still loving) and Julep (adore!). So, no matter what your method, I think you will be thrilled with what you can do with an average of $21 a month at MAC! I am slowly realizing how darn afforable MAC is for a high end brand! If this challenge intrigues you, I hope you join in! We are all having so much fun with this!!! Plus, it is amazing to see my MAC collection grow with some great basics!

A few other amazing bloggers have joined me in this challenge! If you have joined in and haven't sent me your link yet, please either leave your link in the comments below or email me your links and I will edit and add them to this post (see the bottom of this post for other MAC Matters Challenge blogger's links!). Also, some of you are joining me who are not bloggers (so cool!!!). Please update me with how you are doing in this challenge in the comments section. :) I love to hear about what everyone else is getting!!! I wish that I could take *all* of you shopping with me each month to MAC! :) Anyone can join in the fun of this series anytime! If you feel so bold, please leave a comment with your link to any MAC Matters Blog Post that you do. I just as that you link back to me in your post as the creator of this challenge. :)

As I mentioned, I still love participating and reviewing sample boxes (and sometimes I even still review PR samples of GLOSSYBOXes)! I just needed to cut back a bit on my beauty box subscriptions. I don't need 3 sample box subscriptions, lol!  So, I cancelled one of my subscriptions and this MAC Matters Challenge was born. Now, I am a still a bit of a beauty sample box lover. So, you will still see beauty box subscriptions reviewed here on my blog. :) In addition, you will continue to see my monthly MAC Matters Challenge posts too! This way you can see how much you can get when you spend the same amount of money per month on a brand that you already love (with the goal of building a core collection).

The Challenge Rules:
Build a MAC Collection using an average of $21.00 per month:

• Purchase at least one item a month: If the item is under $20, save the remainder for the next month. While there are many items priced under $20, there are plenty that are over the $20 range that can be "saved" for. 
• Do a monthly blog posts for one year to share what you get. Lets see what kind of core collections we can build in a years time! 
• To coordinate with my "Build a Core MAC Collection" purchases, I will also be posting "MAC Matters: From the Stash" reviews! These "stash" items are MAC items that I love that are already in my makeup collection. Some months, I will be "saving" my $21 to go towards a bigger MAC purchase. This is when you will most likely see the "stash" posts. Or, I might include a "stash" item mini review within my "Build a Core MAC Collection" posts because if you are reading this because you want to build your own MAC collection, you might enjoy reading about what I am already using and loving! 
• If this series is popular, I will repeat the series with another brand upon completion of 12 months with MAC. 
• If you decide to join this challenge: Please be sure to include a link back to my blog in your post crediting me as the creator of this challenge! :) Also, feel free to send me your links to your MAC Matters posts that I can include in my monthly postings.  
• Note: You do not have to cancel your monthly beauty sample subscription to join in! You can certainly do this challenge *in addition* to being a beauty sample subscriber! The whole point is just to see what you can do with *the same* amount of money that you might spend on a $20 monthly beauty box. :) 

If you missed my previous MAC Matters Challenges, please check them out here:  Be sure to check out: MAC Matters: Building a Core MAC Collection with $21 a Month (Intro Post), MAC Matters November 2012,  MAC Matters December 2012 , and January 2013 MAC Matters.

So, are you curious about what I got this month? Keep reading to find out what I purchased and to hear about the amazing experience that I had at the MAC Pro store in Atlanta! If you love good customer service stories, you will love this!