Hey dolls and gents;
If you follow me on social media, you know that my biggest indulgence is traveling to teh US whenever I can. I save for months and as soon as I reach my travel budget, I hop on a plane and go.
I used to compulsively buy everything I need on a daily basis. I remember once I traveled to cincinnati, and I didn't have anything in my bag. First thing after I reached the hotel was to go to the Macy's that was few meters away. I bought everything from socks to undies to makeup and even my suitcase.
In 2013, I went to NYC 3 times and I loaded on drugstore items each time. That is when I realized I have a problem. Especially that since then, we had 2 malls in Casablanca and few stores started opening in Morocco.
As of 2014, I decided to be more targeted in what I bring along. My only trip was in October and I was quite moderate.
Here are the items that old Ouga would have bought and why I did not bother this time.
1- Rinse off Conditioner
As a curly girl, my biggest struggle is finding good products for my hair texture.
I know it is counterintuitive to say this because I live in Morocco, Africa. Alas I have to travel to another continent to find products suitable for African hair.
Every bottle weighs 1 kilo and I noticed that even when I lug back 4 huge bottles, they still won't last me a year. So I decided to start buying local cheap conditioners especially that I am no longer as strict on the no-silicones thing. I figure that paying twice the price is still OK since I have the product available whenever I want. The few dollars savings do not justify the extra weight in my luggage.
If you are curious about my hair routine, here it is in video:
2- Body Butters
I have an important stock of body butters because I would buy at least 3 tubs each time I travel.
Now, the body shop opened in Morocco so no need to stock up. And it would take me at least 2 years to finish everything I have in stock.
3- Secret Deodorant:
This has been my favorite for years. Then one day, I went overboard and bought so many that I got bored with it. I think I might be at my last stick now. When it's done, I will use some of the Avon deodorants I have in stock. Once all of these are done, I might try the Lavanilla deodorant because I heard so much about it. But this won't happen till at least a year or 2 :)
4- EOS Lip Balms:
I discovered these randomly and since then, every time I traveled I'd buy 5 or 6.
At the end of the day, I realised I don't love them that much and I can have many other lip butters available in Morocco. As of now, I have 3 open and 2 in backup and I will not repurchase.
5- Lipsticks:
There was a time (circa 2011) where my entire lipstick collection was a 2 MAC lipsticks and 1 Lancôme Rouge. I had tossed all my Wet n wild and other drugstore lippies that I had hauled in 2006 (long story but let's say I went crazy on inexpensive makeup).
Then starting 2012, I started slowly building my collection. I probably have around 50 lipsticks and some of them are not open. Every time I went to the states I bought a dozen (or two) from the drugstore. I also was gifted many lippies.
I am proud to say that in my last trip, I only bought one Revlon matte balm and one burt's bees lip balm. If ever I go again, I will buy zero lip product (maybe the agave lip mask but it doesn't count).
6- Victoria Secret Bras:
These don't come cheap, but I felt like I didn't have any choice since in Morocco we have little choice and inflated prices. However, few months ago, I went on a mission to find good brassieres locally. I bought from La Senza and didn't like them, then got a couple from Etam, and judging by how many times I wore them, I think we have a winner. So as of now, I'm replacing all my bras with Etam ones but very slowly because they're bloody expensive.
7- OPI and Essie Nail Polish:
Here again, 5 or 6 nail polishes whenever I traveled. Also friends would always give me nail polishes.
But last time, I went shopping for an acrylic nail polish holder, I needed several sets and it wasn't enough to hold my 79 polishes. This stops now.
8- MAC Cosmetics:
This is my love brand, the first brand where I found my skintone, the first brand where I splurged while being happy and excited each time I stepped into a store.
MAC opened in Morocco few years ago so since then I exclusively bought from the local store. I didn't appreciate how everything used to be out of stock, but their supply is fixed now so I'm a happy customer.
9- Teas:
There was a time customs at Charles de Gaulle airport wanted to check my bag because I carried so many tea tins. I would go to whole foods and grab a dozen cans and be so happy about it.
Now, we have a wide tea selection in Morocco, I have found brands like Tchaba, and even found Tazo sold in Casablanca and Rabat.
10- Socks:
Believe it or not, my first purchase every time I set foot in America was several packs of socks that I would wear throughout my stay.
I mean seriously, socks can be bought everywhere. Time to stop this nonsense.
If you follow me on social media, you know that my biggest indulgence is traveling to teh US whenever I can. I save for months and as soon as I reach my travel budget, I hop on a plane and go.
I used to compulsively buy everything I need on a daily basis. I remember once I traveled to cincinnati, and I didn't have anything in my bag. First thing after I reached the hotel was to go to the Macy's that was few meters away. I bought everything from socks to undies to makeup and even my suitcase.
In 2013, I went to NYC 3 times and I loaded on drugstore items each time. That is when I realized I have a problem. Especially that since then, we had 2 malls in Casablanca and few stores started opening in Morocco.
As of 2014, I decided to be more targeted in what I bring along. My only trip was in October and I was quite moderate.
Here are the items that old Ouga would have bought and why I did not bother this time.
1- Rinse off Conditioner
As a curly girl, my biggest struggle is finding good products for my hair texture.
I know it is counterintuitive to say this because I live in Morocco, Africa. Alas I have to travel to another continent to find products suitable for African hair.
Every bottle weighs 1 kilo and I noticed that even when I lug back 4 huge bottles, they still won't last me a year. So I decided to start buying local cheap conditioners especially that I am no longer as strict on the no-silicones thing. I figure that paying twice the price is still OK since I have the product available whenever I want. The few dollars savings do not justify the extra weight in my luggage.
If you are curious about my hair routine, here it is in video:
I have an important stock of body butters because I would buy at least 3 tubs each time I travel.
Now, the body shop opened in Morocco so no need to stock up. And it would take me at least 2 years to finish everything I have in stock.
3- Secret Deodorant:
This has been my favorite for years. Then one day, I went overboard and bought so many that I got bored with it. I think I might be at my last stick now. When it's done, I will use some of the Avon deodorants I have in stock. Once all of these are done, I might try the Lavanilla deodorant because I heard so much about it. But this won't happen till at least a year or 2 :)
4- EOS Lip Balms:
I discovered these randomly and since then, every time I traveled I'd buy 5 or 6.
At the end of the day, I realised I don't love them that much and I can have many other lip butters available in Morocco. As of now, I have 3 open and 2 in backup and I will not repurchase.
5- Lipsticks:
There was a time (circa 2011) where my entire lipstick collection was a 2 MAC lipsticks and 1 Lancôme Rouge. I had tossed all my Wet n wild and other drugstore lippies that I had hauled in 2006 (long story but let's say I went crazy on inexpensive makeup).
Then starting 2012, I started slowly building my collection. I probably have around 50 lipsticks and some of them are not open. Every time I went to the states I bought a dozen (or two) from the drugstore. I also was gifted many lippies.
I am proud to say that in my last trip, I only bought one Revlon matte balm and one burt's bees lip balm. If ever I go again, I will buy zero lip product (maybe the agave lip mask but it doesn't count).
6- Victoria Secret Bras:
These don't come cheap, but I felt like I didn't have any choice since in Morocco we have little choice and inflated prices. However, few months ago, I went on a mission to find good brassieres locally. I bought from La Senza and didn't like them, then got a couple from Etam, and judging by how many times I wore them, I think we have a winner. So as of now, I'm replacing all my bras with Etam ones but very slowly because they're bloody expensive.
7- OPI and Essie Nail Polish:
Here again, 5 or 6 nail polishes whenever I traveled. Also friends would always give me nail polishes.
But last time, I went shopping for an acrylic nail polish holder, I needed several sets and it wasn't enough to hold my 79 polishes. This stops now.
8- MAC Cosmetics:
This is my love brand, the first brand where I found my skintone, the first brand where I splurged while being happy and excited each time I stepped into a store.
MAC opened in Morocco few years ago so since then I exclusively bought from the local store. I didn't appreciate how everything used to be out of stock, but their supply is fixed now so I'm a happy customer.
9- Teas:
There was a time customs at Charles de Gaulle airport wanted to check my bag because I carried so many tea tins. I would go to whole foods and grab a dozen cans and be so happy about it.
Now, we have a wide tea selection in Morocco, I have found brands like Tchaba, and even found Tazo sold in Casablanca and Rabat.
10- Socks:
Believe it or not, my first purchase every time I set foot in America was several packs of socks that I would wear throughout my stay.
I mean seriously, socks can be bought everywhere. Time to stop this nonsense.
