No buying unnecessary toiletries in April - Challenge

VALM

mrsljsouth wrote: »

Hello,
I found this thread after having a lovely wander through the Forums and just wanted to ask how you all stay organised with the toiletry buying annd how you you reward yourselves for not buying?
I was feeling quite virtuous as I have managed to get my habit under control ( so I thought!) I reguarly give my mistakes/ UU's away on Freegle and buy most of the named brand toiletries in P****land however after checking my toiletry drawer(!) I realised I'm not quite as good as I thought!
How do you get organised ladies and how do you keep track?
Any help gratefully appreciated, I'm starting with the easier things working uup to the big scary financial things!!

Hi. Firstly welcome aboard. I suppose the first thing is to recognise what your achilles heel is re: toiletries. For me, it's shower gels and body lotions. I own far too many to be able to use them up in a reasonable amount of time even if I was to shower/bath three times a day! For instance I know I have some Philosophy shower gels that I received not the Christmas just gone but the Christmas before!

I also have a thing for nail lacquers but I choose to ignore this because you can't take all the fun out of life can you?

I think my main aim with this challenge now is to try and find products that I know work for me rather than going out buying whatever seems new on the market and then being disappointed and wasting my money.

What have you got most of in your stash?

maddiemay wrote: »

Happy Easter everyone and hugs and commiserations to all that need them. LadyM sorry that you have been feeling so poorly, and ValM, rotten luck with the e-bay thing. Rosemary, erghh about the cold sore, I used to get masses of them, about 5 years I spent £40 ish(seemed a lot of money then) on one of the light treatment wands, best move ever, it heals them up more quickly and eventually you get hardly any or none at all, as once the site is healed they do not come back in that exact place.

A few bits picked up from previous posts:- ValM I think I will be joining with with PCMC as my HG, I have a lot of bits to use up, before I go solely with that. LE Instant Boost Skin Tonic will also go on the list.
On the subject of eye creams and serums, I think a lot depends on our ages (I am officialy old!), skin types and lifestyle, when I was younger I couldn't go along with all that layering, just a moisturiser with SPF15, but as the years roll on I wish I had started using an eye cream earlier, only fine lines but I think I could have slowed them a bit, serum wise I started using Boots P&P as soon as it came out and I am sure that was a good move, I try various ones now, but no HG yet. The other point is as we age and need more age defying treatments, we have to layer, as many of the beneficial substances cannot be included in the same formula as an SPF. But on the whole I have to remind myself that the beauty business is only trading on our insecurities and trying to extract our hard earned dosh from us. I once asked pharmacist which ws the best headache remedy, he replied that it was the cheapest one that would do the job effectively without side effects! Sorry for rambling on.

Hi maddiemay. Once you do start using PCMC regularly try it without an eye cream as it can be used all over the eye area (so Keeley keeps saying!).

A couple of times I've tried to save money by not using it but have not been happy with the results from anything else I've tried.

I got one of those trial kits from Garnier (the cream that came in red packaging) and it had a "wrinkle reader" in it. There were 10 photos on it and you had to choose which best matched your lines/wrinkles. I put myself at a 1 because PCMC really does work well for me and plumps out my skin. The instructions were to use the Garnier cream and then match your lines again against the reader. Mine had gone up to a 3! That was a great moment when I could provide MrM with proof that the PCMC works! :rotfl: There is a TSV coming up at the end of April containing PCMC and I've already forewarned him of the purchase.

On the subject of TSVs have had a postcard from QVC today about the Philosophy one. Says it contains 4 full sizes - Summer Grace Fragrance and matching shower gel and 27 Wishes Balm. Doesn't mention what the 4th item is but says it is full sized. About the 27 Wishes Balm it says "From dry skin to cracked heels to fly away hairs, this multi-tasking marvel acts in 27 ways to remedy any beauty concern". Sounds like the Elixir of life, eh?

Willowbee

Happy Saturday everyone!

***Hugs*** to those that are feeling unwell. I hope that everyone gets better as quickly as possible

A small used up to report (my first of the month):

Cowshed Lavender Gentle Cleanser (30ml) - this lasted for ages and I WNBA. It felt quite harsh, which surprised me.

I am amazed by how long it takes to finish things! I've targeted a lot of travel/sample sizes and they seem to go on and on. Goodness knows how I'll cope with the mega sized things that I have 'in stock' :eek:

mrslgsouth - I have three lists on my computer and I cross things out as I use them (I have a complete stash list, a used up list and a total for each category list). I find it difficult to remember what I have so the lists are vital. I have a small bowl to hold the facial skincare stuff that I'm concentrating on. I have a smallish box which contains the sample sized things that are next on my list to use up (otherwise I'd lose or overlook things as they're often very small!) and I have a small basket with larger things that I'm targeting. (This sounds more complicated than it is!) I'm saving £1 for each thing that I use up and 10p for each sachet used up. Best of luck with the challenge

Emsjune - how is your skin today? I hope that it has calmed down a bit. When my skin went through a really reactive phase I just used almond oil on it (from Holland & Barrett). It worked as a make up remover (although I still used a separate eye make up remover) and a moisturiser. I have pale skin that reddens easily and I can get an oily t-zone (the almond oil didn't make any oiliness worse). Later on I used rosehip oil as my moisturiser and that was wonderful. Now if my skin gets grumpy I just switch to the most gentle, chemical free products that I have. I was amazed by the difference that a gentle cleanser made. When my skin is sore then it doesn't even like water on it so I use a cream cleanser until it has calmed down.

Fiasco55

sawan82 wrote: »

UUs

Biore Nose Strips: WIBA? Yes, but the Biore ones are pretty expensive over here; I tend to only buy this brand when away.

QUOTE]

Sawan82 - I have been thinking about trying these but I wasn't too sure if they would work on by blackheads. At the moment the seem to be rooted in and I am digging them out!! ouch!!

mrsljsouth wrote: »

Hello,
I found this thread after having a lovely wander through the Forums and just wanted to ask how you all stay organised with the toiletry buying annd how you you reward yourselves for not buying?
I was feeling quite virtuous as I have managed to get my habit under control ( so I thought!) I reguarly give my mistakes/ UU's away on Freegle and buy most of the named brand toiletries in P****land however after checking my toiletry drawer(!) I realised I'm not quite as good as I thought!
How do you get organised ladies and how do you keep track?
Any help gratefully appreciated, I'm starting with the easier things working uup to the big scary financial things!!

Welcome to the challenge.

For me I keep two lists - one is for everything that I had from the start of the challenge that Icross off items as I UU. I have this sorted into product areas with totals of UUs/Total No of products. But this got very messy when trying to post an up to date stash list here.

Hense the second list which is only the items I have left, again sorted into use of product type. This makes it reall y easy to see at a glance how much I have of something and whether or not I need an item.

The actual product storage is split into a few area. Once an item is in use it is stored in my cadies in the ensuite or make up bag.

All of this helps me stay on the straight and narrow (for the most part :A)

Another UU - Evolve Skin Action Cream. WBA as it worked well with my oily skin and went on really nice. The only off putting thing is the price :eek: I don't think I will be lucky like last time at getting it and 70% off at Waitro$e.

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending

Two UUs to report. First is TBS Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream which I used as a body butter as it had been open a while and smelt slightly dodgy - didn't want to risk it on my face. Also finished a Bobbi Brown lipstick in Sandwash Pink which was lovely - I already have another one in stock (one of my many lipsticks). I have a confession to make - this is the first lipstick I've actually finished ever :eek:. All the others I've either gone off the colour or I've had it for so long, it's gone off . So this thread is working for me

SuiDreams

Some freebie ins Nivea Pore Refining Day Cream Plus Q10 Anti-Wrinkle 1.5ml x3

I have been shopping but didn't buy anything unnecessary, just razors, soap and a small hairspray (the one at home is salon size way too big to take away. So very pleased with myself no UU as yet today though.

Kaz2904

I was very excited last night. I was putting my face on before work and saw a glint at the bottom of my eyeshadow. I thought it was glittery until I moved it into the light. I am down to the pan on it, how exciting! Only another several to go through when I finally finish this one up!
Still not sure if I will try the toiletries gift set I got or just use it as a gift. Will see how progress goes with other items.
Am off for a bath now and need to epilate. Can't seem to find my deodorant, hope it turns up this evening. Don't want a smelly kaz do we now?

skintscotslass

Afternoon all

INs

L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Protection Moisturiser with SPF20 50ml
L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Essence 30ml
L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Cream 3ml
L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Hand Cream 15ml
L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Cleansing Foam 50ml
L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Water 50ml
L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Instant Exfoliator 5ml
L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Shield 1ml
L'Occitane Fabulous Serum 1ml
L'Occitane Ultra Rich Face Cream 1ml

Hmmm, that looks quite a lot written down OK, well I needed serum, so I decided to get the Brightening Essence instead and the moisuriser with SPF. I do actually have some moisturisers knocking about, but want one with an SPF coming up to Summer. The rest were GWP. I was keen to try out the Brightening Head Cream, but I think I prefer the shea butter.

Kaz2904

Just had my bath and put on a face mask whilst I was in there. My face is very dry again so have put loads of serum on but think I will need to apply loads of night cream before bed tomorrow morning. I do think that this is one area where a bb cream will certainly help me out. I don't have time for faffing around and if I can get everything done with one product, it is almost certain that I will apply it every day. Much less certain to apply others daily .
Found and used my lippy today and am pleased to report that it's going down quite fast. It's a natural collection one and was only £1.99 so it's no problem to get through it fast. It stops me getting bored too and it won't go off. I am a big fan of this brand of make up. Very cheap and cheerful!

skintscotslass

Kaz, if you have very dry skin, then I can certainly recommend L'Occitane Ultra Rich Face Cream or Fabulous Serum. Fantastic for dry skin I have to say, I also notice a huge difference in my skin when I dont drink plenty of water.

Zoe.

Ooops, forgot to post my stash list this month!! Will do it tonight (probably).