Every woman is obsessed with one makeup item or another, and for Amanda, that product is mascara. She is the woman who doesn’t leave the house without mascara. Not just any mascara – she loves how her already blonde eyelashes look when she brushes them with Lancôme’s Le 8 Hypnôse. As if the actress wasn’t already beautiful enough, this mascara brightens her face and adds the right amount of color to those lashes.

Amanda Seyfried is an extremely famous actress – that means she gets the attention of countless paparazzi cameras the moment she opens the door. Being ready with a favorite makeup product that brightens her up some more doesn’t seem like the worst idea. She knows this and relies heavily on Lancôme’s L’Absolu Rouge Drama lipstick. There’s something about the color that makes Amanda’s natural lips stand out a bit more and make her feel more beautiful – if that’s even possible!

What more is a girl to do when wanting to look even more beautiful? There are so many products she can choose from – rouges, cheek highlighters, bronzer eyeshadows, and so much more – the variety truly is endless! And a watched woman like our dear Amanda Seyfried should choose something appropriate every time the cameras follow her. So, she chooses a third item that sets her beauty on a pedestal – Lancôme’s Brow Define pencil. Her eyebrows are a slightly lighter shade and not so defined, so she gives them assistance with a brush of the pencil. Her brows immediately become incredible and define her face!

If Amanda has to choose another item to have handy in all situations, she will choose gloss. Simple lip gloss that all women were adamant about in the early 2000s. And don’t put it past our famous woman to wow the world with clean nails – color-free. She is a mom of two and lives on a farm – that doesn’t sit well with nail color, as it will just chip away.

Keep it classy, keep it simple. More is not always better, as Amanda Seyfried shows the world. She may only use three makeup items at all times, but the work defines her and makes her into a gorgeous woman – even more than she already is!

Even people who have a good understanding of their finances may find themselves questioning where their money goes. The urgency of this question is further heightened during times of economic turmoil, where a rise in living expenses and little to no increase in income results in a struggle to reconcile the disparity between their budgets and bank accounts.

Monitoring Finances Shouldn’t Be Abused

With limited opportunities to save on necessities such as utilities and food, people are seeking inventive ways to cut down on their expenses. These days, “no spend challenges” have emerged as a popular trend. Individuals aim to abstain from spending on non-essential items for a week, a month, or even longer while tracking their progress on social media, which makes frugality almost enjoyable.

While this is alarming, building good habits regarding finances, such as savings, can promote better financial practices in an approachable manner. Some technology companies have even incorporated game-like features and challenges, such as setting aside money every time it rains or establishing specific targets, to keep users engaged.

Saving Money Should Be Rational

Although saving money is beneficial, the no-spend trend can be problematic, and this is evident in its similarities to crash dieting. The weight loss industry has contributed to long-lasting psychological damage related to food, and the same disordered relationship with money can potentially be caused by no-spend challenges. By examining the trend on Instagram, it becomes apparent that there are many familiar themes that mirror the culture of starvation diets. These include color coding, with green indicating good days and red indicating bad days, self-criticism by individuals who purchase a new toothbrush, and critical or tough-love comments from others.

Similar to the discomfort experienced when eating unhealthily during a diet, spending can cause physical and psychological unease during a no-spend challenge. Just as a diet promises an easy solution to a complex problem, the no-spend challenge offers a simple fix with the click of a button. Despite all that, there is a positive side to being mindful of spending habits. It can increase self-awareness and prevent impulsive purchases that often result in anxiety and remorse. Sharing one’s spending habits with thousands of people can promote accountability, foster meaningful conversations, and provide a sense of solidarity through comments. This engagement can keep individuals motivated to continue saving and offer illuminating insights in various ways.

Rational saving can make a person feel more connected with their money and put more focus on how to stay in control of finances. It certainly is the first step of an ongoing process rather than a simple test done through a challenge based on deprivation and punishment. So, while challenges can be fun and saving is necessary, it can be said that no-spend challenges that go too far can have a detrimental effect and should be replaced with rational personal financial policies.