That's a Nice Box. I Like That Box

I’m a sucker for packaging. If it’s in a pretty box, has a nice cover, showcases a theme I enjoy, I want it. As I’ve been tidying up the skincare aisle in my good ‘ol drug store, I’ve looked at a lot of nice packaging. There. Are. so. Many. Nice. Boxes. I already want all the beautiful people stuff, but seeing it everyday, close up, as I organize it, does not help. It got to a point where I made a list of all the brands I enjoyed looking at so I can purchase them later when I run out of all the current skin bullshit I’ve hoarded. 
    Since my face isn’t picky, I tend to gravitate towards skincare the most when it comes to attractive displays. Because I know it’s something I can use and run out of and therefore won’t infinitely sacrifice space for something, it makes it more desirable for me. When my eyes land on sleek boxes, clean fonts, and fun colors, I just can’t help but visualize those items in my bathroom, adding a nice pop of color or uniformity. 
    This doesn’t stop at skincare though, as much as that’s the main thing I look at. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to journals, that’s all one can really do. I have so many empty journals and folders of fancy stationary that I don’t want to touch for fear of ruining it. What if I write poorly or say something stupid in my beautiful notebooks? I can’t risk it, so empty they stay. It’s foolish, I know, especially since I kept buying more. I can’t contain myself though, because again, when I see pretty thing, I picture pretty thing in my possession. 
    I bought a soup just because it came in a glass jar with a jam-style lid covering. I bought three ceramic succulents because the box made them look so lovely and adorable. I keep buying candles that have a woodsy-cabiny aesthetic since that’s the style my wee bachelor suite is in. I specifically seek out tissue boxes that feature trees or nature of some sort as those scenes make me happy despite it just being a box of snot rags. I mainly convinced myself to like tea and coffee so I could get a cute teapot and pleasant looking packages of said beverages in leaf and ground bean form. I mean, seriously, when tea comes in fun little tins and containers, it’s so hard not to purchase. And when coffee has enjoyable artwork on their bags, I want it, even if the flavour doesn’t appeal to me. I went to a Christmas market last year and bought a butt ton of honey from like three different vendors because the jars it came in were rustic and delicate and classy. I did the same with a chocolate spread and mincemeat, as well as some beeswax wraps, and dish cloths, and another candle, all due to appealing packaging. 
    Going on snack hauls, I would be tempted by bright or natural-looking bags of tasty goods. I would always feel more fun and interesting walking back home since my bag would be full of a variety of eye-catching snacks even though no one could see them. Shopping hauls for random other items usually went the same way. I would feel extra pleased when I not only appreciated the product itself, but its appearance too. I would fill my pack with body wash and shampoo and conditioner that all looked natural and good for you and high quality. I bought toothbrushes made from bamboo since that looks like a tree. I bought paper towels that were made from bamboo because that was better for the planet but it also looked like it was better for the planet. I treated myself to a new mug every now and again because the pattern or style was so irresistible. 
    My house has many little decorations that I bought due to the packaging making them look even more worthy of purchasing. My kitchen has mismatched cutlery since I found multiple types I liked the look of. My bathroom is full of skincare that came into my possession after I caved and bought it, largely for the boxes it came in. 
    I’m not a fancy person, nor do I try to be. I don’t spend more on appearances. I do however find a lot of temptation in fancy-looking products that are already something I need and in a reasonable price range. I still enjoy niceness and quality, but if I can’t afford it, finding something that comes off in the same way feels like a win. I feel like I’m taking better care of myself by acquiring more professional-grade looking items. If I’m buying healthy snacks and helpful beauty products and earth-friendly household goods, I feel better about sacrificing my money. I feel like I’m doing a good deed for my body, my brain, my planet. I feel like I care about the quality of my life, which on some days is actually quite hard, so by getting something that I need, but also looks like it’s worth more than it is, helps. 
    Good packaging, good advertising, it reels you in when done well. I only use old spice deodorant because the commercials were so funny. I have a Mous phone case because those ads were also funny, and it’s made of tree. I spontaneously purchased an M83 record because I loved the cover so much. It’s incredibly interesting, the things that catch a consumer's eye from color, to font, to type of box something comes in, to how something is displayed on a shelf. There’s an art behind persuading us to trade bills for items without even speaking words. It’s wild. It’s something that keeps me confident that online shopping won’t fully win for it can’t beat the feel and texture and sound that real life products give. There’s a satisfaction there that can’t be replicated online. 
    I’m currently on a buy ban, where I only buy what I absolutely need, but gods, is it hard to not leave with something a little extra because it looks so damn nice. When I have more money, that’ll change. I just need to get there.