No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries November 2013

VALM

TheOxfordOwl wrote: »

I've been thinking about my long term goals, and how much of a stash is reasonable to have in the long term in terms of 'graduation' - what do people think of these numbers? I think these should be excepting great deals on HGs - so if my day cream is on 2 for 1, then great, but 2 different day creams is not acceptable.

Body moisturiser: currently 12, reasonable 2 (for variety).
Hand cream: currently 5, reasonable 2 (one in handbag, one in desk).
Face moisturiser: currently 6, reasonable 2 (one day, one night)
Skincare: currently 10, reasonable 4 (cleanser, toner, scrub, mask)
Body washing: currently 11, reasonable up to 3(2x shower gel for variety, bubble bath)
Shampoo: currently 5, reasonable 2 (because my hair can't take one shampoo for too long a time without switching up occasionally)
Conditioner: currently 1, reasonable 2 (one normal, one deep)
Haircare: currently 4, reasonable 3 (heat protect, hair spray, serum/oil)
Lipbalm: currently 17, reasonable 3 (one in bag, one in desk, one in coat pocket)

Lush Stash

Shower Gel: currently 5, reasonable 2 (variety)
Soap: currently 13, reasonable 3 (variety)
Bath bombs: currently 5, reasonable 1 (want to start using them fresh and not stockpiling, only buying when I want one)
Bubble bars: currently 7, reasonable 2 (ditto the fresh, but they take longer than one bath to use, so don't mind having more than one)
Massage bars: currently 4, reasonable 1 (don't use often enough to warrant having that many)
Skincare: currently 5, reasonable up to 2 (face mask, maybe cleanser)
Other: currently 9, reasonable 1 (R&B)

So, stash is currently 118, but reasonably would be 31. Quite a reduction to make!

I loved reading this post and think it is basically what I have achieved as I try not to buy more of the same (with the exception of shower gels/soap/body lotions/butters which are my achilles heel toiletries wise). Hence I have four types of shower gel on the go at any one time for variety - sweet, floral, fresh and fruity (currently Philosophy Pumpkin Pie, Elemis Exotic Frangipani, Bath and Body Works White Citrus and Philosophy Raspberry Sorbet). I seem to have got into the habit of bulk buying at Christmas (or rather having MrM bulk buy for me so my stash is a proper stash then which I UU over the year). Problem is that I then get a little bored with things I have in the stash and also want to buy newer things ie the L'occitane Grasse fragrances have been yummy and I am probably going to get one today from the Trafford Centre.

Saying all this, I think your post is inspirational. Thanks for posting.

KT2802 wrote: »

Argh there are so many tempting eyeshadow palettes around at the moment, must resist! Has anyone tried mally make up before? There is a nice looking palette on QVC. Keep getting tempted by the Bobbi Brown palettes again too.

I know that maddiemay uses mally and kiplingmonkey did (has anyone seen her around for a while?). I've never tried it as I really like Laura Geller who features on QVC having picked up various bits in the US and then on QVC after seeing what the quality was like over there. I too like the look of the new Bobbi Brown palettes. Emma, knowing that we are off to the TC today, has produced a Christmas list full of MAC eyeshadows which I have a feeing MrM's toes will curl up at once he sees the price of them in Selfridges. I fear I have created a monster!:rotfl:

VALM

sam.4000 wrote: »

Has anyone thought about making there own advent calender to get rid of a few products. I have ordered an advent calender of bath/ body product samples (very small company only made 10 advents this year). I was thinking that I might do a few bath cocktails e.g. bubble bar, bath bomb and maybe re-purpose some massage bars as bath melts to make them handy to use up.

I actually have an old Thorntons advent calendar that MrM now reuses every year and I fill it with assorted chocolates. The only problem is that the boxes are really small and I have problems finding chocs to fill it let alone beauty products. Not a bad idea though - may keep my eye out for an old fashioned "fill your own" advent calendar that will work.

maddiemay wrote: »

VALM
No, I stayed strong and didn't buy the LD TSV, although I do like a lot of his colours and they cover well and stay on my nails. However, I did buy Zoya Pixie Dust in Chita, forest green with silver sparkles and a textured finish, also Zoya Remove+ in a dispenser, as my remover dispenser is giving up the ghost and spitting remover out in all directions.

Do you find that most OPI colours give the bottle colour in two coats, this is the one thing I really like about LD and Nails Inc, whereby a lot of my older OPI and some Essie do not and it really winds me up:mad:

Well done maddiemay. I only have a couple of colours that are disappointing on first application (one of those being the LD Steel Appeal) and another is an OPI one of a similar grey tone. Usually all colours look good with one coat yet I always use two for durability. Repainted my nails again last night as the Revlon Stormy chipped very easily grrr! Am now wearing OPI Skyfall (shamefully I think I own 2 or 3 bottles of this but then it was limited edition).

incognita wrote: »

I'm pretty close to using up a couple of my items ... so I'll post my successes as they occur.

A technical term for this is "spluttering" :rotfl: You'll get used to our lingo too.

Kiwisaver_2

Persistence does pay off eventually; I have another couple of UUs today.

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner 50ml - this was a GWP which I found a bit bland and not likely to shell out for full size. I have another just like it in the stash which will I feel be a bit of a chore to use, as I have other toners I want to move on to.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold Rejuvenating Cream 15ml - I'm I two minds about this; I was keen to try it after reading good reviews but wonder if my one was a bit off, as it had some unexpected hard lumps in it. I like the way my skin feels in the mornings after a night of this and would really like to give it more chance to prove its worth, however I'm not keen on investing the best part of fifty quid to find out.

If anyone has any recommendations for super-effective miracle night repair stuff that doesn't cost fifty quid or more I would be pleased to hear about it.

VALM

have caught up with you all and have another UU from Project Pan to report:-

L'Occitane 30ml Jasmine Passion hand cream. This was freebie with recent mag and was very lovely. However, the tube did not last long as I was applying it to MrM's foot/ankle/surgery scar. Am going to invest in 300ml of Molten Brown White Mulberry today though.

That's now 4 items gone from the PP list. Think the next one will be the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturiser as this is only a small tube and I can see that the product is a good 2/3rds down the tube already.

Have a great day everyone. I'm looking forward to my S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G. Did anyone else see Pet Shop Boys on Jonathan Ross. Thought they looked too old. Take That have a lot to answer for.

x

Sundaysgirl

rosemary54 wrote: »

http://www.youbeautydiscovery.co.uk/you-advent-calendar/

sorry no idea when they reduce this juts remember buying 3 last year because they did!(but still got lots of stuff left so probabaly not a good idea and many of the things are in this one too!)

Oh no, I looked and now I want it! Will have to keep checking and try to get it reduced as I'm trying to save this month!

maddiemay

My Project Pan list

50ml pot (about half left) A'Kin Intensive Moisture Complex.

50ml (about 2/3rds left) Nivea Crème

150ml (about half left) Avon Skin So Soft Body Cream.

60ml (about half left) Bio-Oil

125 g (Just started) Jason Vit E Age Renewal Cream

200ml No7 Protect & Perfect Body Serum (unopened but been in drawer for ages.

Anyone notice a theme here?:o I have had a silly habit of not finishing things before going on to the next thing. In my defence, I did keep some things in the motorhome and also some basics, along with hairdryer, slippers etc. at my Mums for when I came up to visit her.

Will take me forever to use these up, but I will plod on and only use my "nice" things for occasional special treats.

Catriona_P

sam.4000 wrote: »

Has anyone thought about making there own advent calender to get rid of a few products. I have ordered an advent calender of bath/ body product samples (very small company only made 10 advents this year). I was thinking that I might do a few bath cocktails e.g. bubble bar, bath bomb and maybe re-purpose some massage bars as bath melts to make them handy to use up.

I LOVE this idea. I've graduated in bath stuff (until the inevitable xmas presents arrive!) but I have lots of facial wash/moisturiser samples I could use instead. Might be a tough job to find and use 25 of them though!

I've been MIA for a while, with various illnesses between me and the little one we've been a sick household for the last few weeks. As of this moment in time we're ok though.

maddiemay

Catriona_P wrote: »

I LOVE this idea. I've graduated in bath stuff (until the inevitable xmas presents arrive!) but I have lots of facial wash/moisturiser samples I could use instead. Might be a tough job to find and use 25 of them though!

I've been MIA for a while, with various illnesses between me and the little one we've been a sick household for the last few weeks. As of this moment in time we're ok though.

Pleased you both OK, good idea re the advent calenders.

Catriona_P

TheOxfordOwl wrote: »

I've been thinking about my long term goals, and how much of a stash is reasonable to have in the long term in terms of 'graduation' - what do people think of these numbers? I think these should be excepting great deals on HGs - so if my day cream is on 2 for 1, then great, but 2 different day creams is not acceptable.

Body moisturiser: currently 12, reasonable 2 (for variety). Currently 11, I'd be happy with just 1 as I'm not a fan anyway!
Hand cream: currently 5, reasonable 2 (one in handbag, one in desk). Currently 5, would also like 2 for the same reasons.
Face moisturiser: currently 6, reasonable 2 (one day, one night) Currently 13, one of my Achilles heels as I've yet to find one that really suits me! I'd like 2 aswell - one at home, one at work.
Skincare: currently 10, reasonable 4 (cleanser, toner, scrub, mask) Currently 34! :eek: A major Achille heel as with moisturiser, nothing works for me! I'd be happy with just a good cleanser and a good toner.
Body washing: currently 11, reasonable up to 3(2x shower gel for variety, bubble bath) Currently 14 shower gels and no bubble bath - would like a 2 or 3 shower gels and 1 bubble bath. No pleasing me
Shampoo: currently 5, reasonable 2 (because my hair can't take one shampoo for too long a time without switching up occasionally) Currently 4, would be happy with 2, as I also like to switch sometimes.
Conditioner: currently 1, reasonable 2 (one normal, one deep) Currently 5, want to get it down to 1.
Haircare: currently 4, reasonable 3 (heat protect, hair spray, serum/oil) Currently 16, I have red hair so struggle as most products are really made for it, so I try lots of things! Would like 3 or 4 (heat protect, hair spray, mousse and oil.
Lipbalm: currently 17, reasonable 3 (one in bag, one in desk, one in coat pocket) Currently 2, 1 at work, 1 at home which suits me. I have 16 lipglosses though!

So, stash is currently 118, but reasonably would be 31. Quite a reduction to make!

I have lots of makeup products to add to this as I don't wear it much - overall my stash is 252 but it was 283 at the start of the year so even with purchases there is a downwards trend.

Love comparing stash sizes with others, funny how we seem to stockpile certain things while others don't!

emsjune78

I'm going to end up on the naughty step this month if I'm not careful, just ordered the Glamour LIB box, couldn't resist as there were a few bits that caught my eye and I really need some new eyelash curlers anyway, such justification! Will declare INs when they arrive.... Also got Elle in Tesco before for the Coralista lipgloss, don't count makeup items in the stash anyway That was the colour I wanted, just as well as they had about 15 magazines and they were all that one! Although I had seen it in M&S with Dandelion which was way too pale for me

Rosemary that sounds like one eventful wedding!! :eek: