No buying unnecessary toiletries in May - Challenge

sunshineyday

SuiDreams wrote: »

Just to say have been good today, was in the supermarket and saw 2 magazines with freebies, but didn't buy. Very proud of myself.

I have to confess to going to the supermarket too today, but I was not as well behaved, now have to declare two ins

Nails Inc Bluebell
Nails Inc Peach Sorbet

I could say they were freebies but since I bought two copies of the magazine solely for the nail polishes then I can't use that defence, I'm also waiting on an auto-delivery of Nails Inc this month so there really was no need for these purchases today.

I am going to try and make sure that the rest of May really is a 'no-buying unnecessary toiletries' month. I want to see my stash list going down and my free cupboard space increasing.

Can't recall who suggested keeping a running total of money spent on toiletries, but thanks, it's a great idea :T I have decided to do this in the hope it will keep my spending down.

happy pampering, xo

SuiDreams

One UU but just another one 9f those Garnier Body Sachets, still not impressed with it think its a bit too runny and the skin on my legs felt dryer today than it has in a while. Think I'll finally have some proper UU tomorrow.

Using up the shampoo and conditioner stash seems to be taking ages, despite not buying any and giving loads away, but the shower gel/body wash stash seems to be going down a lot quicker.

skintscotslass

VALM wrote: »

I've practically graduated in foot creams. I have a smalll tube of the Elemis one on the go and a tube of Flexitol Heel Balm. I opened a sample tube of Origins Brighter by Nature the other day but don't like it. It's very oily so am going to relegate this to foot cream.

I will NEVER graduate in foot creams *sigh*

SuiDreams wrote: »

Just to say have been good today, was in the supermarket and saw 2 magazines with freebies, but didn't buy. Very proud of myself.

Well done you :T:T:T:T:T:T I did have a look at the Nails Inc one, but there was only one colour and I didnt fancy it. No great temptation

kiplingmonkey

HappyTorty wrote: »

Hey, a couple of questions I need answering please...

1. What do you use to remove make-up before you go to bed? The wipes I have used in the past sting my face, so any alternatives that are an MSE price?

2. Do you think buying samples is better than normal sized products? This is the first time that I've ever bought a beauty box with various samples in and I find it very exciting :j

Thanks!

Hi HT - I received some Champneys facial wipes courtesy of the MSE Easter Bunny and I am enjoying using them - because I have opened the packet I am using them up now so they don't dry out but I will definately be re-purchasing as DH wants us to go camping this year and they will be perfect for that.

Re samples - I like to try different things and the samples are cheaper than buying the full sizes and then having to persevere using something you are not too keen on or worse still having to throw something away because it is not suitable. Each to their own I guess and it comes down to personal choice. I have had 2 Amarya boxes and a couple of LIB boxes - I wouldn't subscribe to more than one box a month and have only bought the LIB if there have been specific things that I have wanted to try eg the Sisley moisturiser which I would never pay full price for but it is nice to be able to experience a £200 moisturiser just once in life. I have also found some great products at great prices eg the Fushi lip balm which is a total bargain - about a fifth of the price of my HG Decleor - and one which I will be re-purchasing when my pot runs out.

SuiDreams wrote: »

I haven't posted a stash list as yet, but do feel the need to list Ins as I think its good to declare them and justify them as it helps in preventing more purchases. Its also nice to get peoples opinions on wether you should purchase something or not? Not sure what other people think?

I agree - I have definately cut down on my purchasing by being on the thread as knowing I will have to confess to INs does make me stop and think before buying something - there are quite a few TSVs/department store offers that I have not bought that I know I would have purchased if I hadn't been on the thread - when I resist I add £5 to my sealed pot challenge, which in itself feels MSE to me?

However, I know that I will never achieve a zero spend as beauty items and toiletries are my treat - I don't smoke and hardly drink so this is my luxury/vice in life. If we are going for zero tolerance then I think the fun and chattiness will disappear from the thread but that is just my opinion. Zero tolerance may work for some people but it wouldn't me - it would make me more rebellious - like when I am on a diet and my DH says I shouldn't have a piece of chocolate - it just makes me think '**** you' and I eat 2 more pieces.

maddiemay

What is everyone's oldest product in stash?

Yesterday when looking for something found a large Lancombe Magie perfume bottle about 1/8th full of EDT, I bought it on my first ever plane flight to France in 1972, kept I think, because the bottle is a nice shape, it still smelt surprisingly good, thanks to a very tight plastic stopper.

Rosemary, I also found 3 very small (empty) pretty perfume bottles which had come from Universal Beauty boxes in the early 1980's, am I right in thinking that the owner's name was something like Doreen Millar?

Catriona_P

maddiemay wrote: »

What is everyone's oldest product in stash?

Yesterday when looking for something found a large Lancombe Magie perfume bottle about 1/8th full of EDT, I bought it on my first ever plane flight to France in 1972, kept I think, because the bottle is a nice shape, it still smelt surprisingly good, thanks to a very tight plastic stopper.

Rosemary, I also found 3 very small (empty) pretty perfume bottles which had come from Universal Beauty boxes in the early 1980's, am I right in thinking that the owner's name was something like Doreen Millar?

Wow maddie that's impressive! I wasn't born until 84, your oldest product existed before me .

I have some eyeshadows that are 'R', the teen girl range Rimmel used to do, I remember buying them when I was 11 and sneaking them into my school bag, which would have been 1995. Ah those were the days...

I tidied up all my sample pots tonight by putting them in the storage box I got for nothing from Dwell today thanks to Martin's email. It's amazing what this website's done for me.

No weaknesses here yet, but think I may give in and buy the Glamour mag that comes with the free Benefit gift on the 31st May...

Fiasco55

Some interesting points raised on the pro/cons of the Beauty Boxes. I have never bought any - they just didn't appeal to me. I enjoy reading about feedback and recommendations on products that some of you provide on the samples. This may sway me into trying an item. An example for me is the LE C & P but I will not go and buy it but rather find an alternative way of trying it - ie GWP in a mag IYKWAM.

I tend not to buy into the "latest break through" or the new "must have" as I generally shudder at marketing strategies. I want to "know" people who can give me an honest review.

I can see where And and others are coming from and did notice the change in tone of the thread when it is BB time - with people getting swept up and almost pumped up about their boxes. Which could tip the balance for some challengees?!? whose resolves are not as stiff as they would hope. Well we can't be :A all of the time .

I know that QVC has been raised too and again I still think that info does give us a choice and can offer a good deal on items that you may be going to purchase anyway. So I wouldn't want it not to be mentioned. Again I think this is more about tone of communication.

Kaz I did like you point on what items have been repurchased? I think this might highlight the perceived vs actual value of the boxes to some people. If a box costs £10 - you get say 5 items so £2 per item but you only like/use 1 item, is it worth £10?

I know its late so I hope this makes sense.

Anyhoo - back to my spluterers....My P & P beauty serum is now a UU. I have one in my stash but I think I will have a change as I feel my skin is getting used to it. So it is back to Clarins Flash Beauty Balm .

I am off work tomorrow so I am treating my mum to an afternoon tea treat with a voucher. Really looking forward to it.

ruby_eskimo

Hi everyone, have a few UU and OUT's to report:

UU's:

Lush New Shampoo Bar - WNBA, loved it the first 100 odd times I used it but in the end it didn't really do much for my hair (plus I'm trying to go SLS free)

Dove Intensive Treatment Nutri Oil Conditioner - WNBA, loved the first tube I had but have realised that if I use it too often it makes my scalp itch like crazy. Still have another one in the stash so may use it once a week or so.

Bayliss and Harding Lavender s/g - WNBA, nice scent but trying to go SLS free

Colgate Sensitive toothpaste - WNBA, didn't really do anything for my teeth and had a weird chalky after taste.

OUT's:

All the following were sold on ebay because they were just sitting in my makeup stash and I didn't use them.

Mac MSF in Petticoat
Mac Honey Light highlight powder
Pout Baked Sugar shimmer swirl
Pout Baked Spice shimmer swirl
TiGi Bed Head Foxy Curls Hi Def Curl Spray


So that's 9 gone already this month! And since I'm moving, a whole lot more will be going as well!

rosemary54

maddiemay wrote: »

What is everyone's oldest product in stash?

Yesterday when looking for something found a large Lancombe Magie perfume bottle about 1/8th full of EDT, I bought it on my first ever plane flight to France in 1972, kept I think, because the bottle is a nice shape, it still smelt surprisingly good, thanks to a very tight plastic stopper.

Rosemary, I also found 3 very small (empty) pretty perfume bottles which had come from Universal Beauty boxes in the early 1980's, am I right in thinking that the owner's name was something like Doreen Millar?

OMG that name is a blast from the past,the 80s would be right as I had my sons from 85 to 89(I waited 5 years to have them then 3 came along in 4 years:rotfl::rotfl:)I was really sad when they stopped sending out boxes as they were my only treat in those days when money was tight and would not dream of taking sons shopping anyway(long before internet:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:)I think you could still buy stuff from them but it was not the same as getting a surprise box:(

just uu perricone md serum from one of the boxes,no idea how much it costs but WNBA as nothing special and hard to get dregs out:(

SuiDreams

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

Hi everyone, have a few UU and OUT's to report:

UU's:

Lush New Shampoo Bar - WNBA, loved it the first 100 odd times I used it but in the end it didn't really do much for my hair (plus I'm trying to go SLS free)

Dove Intensive Treatment Nutri Oil Conditioner - WNBA, loved the first tube I had but have realised that if I use it too often it makes my scalp itch like crazy. Still have another one in the stash so may use it once a week or so.

I have a few of these in my stash and do suffer with itchy scalp with some products, not sure if I should use these now and if I don't not sure what to do with them. I also have a Dove Colour care shampoo and the conditioner in the stash that I bought last year, when looking for new products to cure itchy scalp, so hope that doesn't apply to all Dove haircare products.