No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries November 2018

sstevo19

Here we go again for another month. As usual this initial post has been shamelessly copied from the many previous months. A big thank you to, me, sstevo19 for starting us off last month.

Welcome all newbies and regulars to this very friendly and chatty thread where we give lots of lovely tips on how to use up your stash and lots of support and encouragement if you need them.

Keep up the pampering and keep down the spending: let's make the naughty step an empty and lonely place this month (rather than one so long that it can be seen from space)! Will this be the month when the "usual suspects" rein it in a bit? Let's see..... (but I doubt it!)

Remember - those products do nothing for you while they are stashed in drawers, boxes and cupboards!

We are eternally grateful to Katie Clampet who set up this fab challenge in January 2010. Here's her original challenge post:

"No buying any new toiletries, cosmetics, perfume etc... until I have used up ALL the ones I already have. I got a huge amount of (really nice) stuff for Christmas but I am going to resist the urge to browse Boots, Asda, Superdrug etc, and pop another tub of cream, face scrub, shampoo or conditioner into my basket. I reckon the stuff I have will last me until possibly June. I have decided that the money I save I will put into my special holiday account. Anyone else?"

Lots of us have taken part in the challenge over the past few months (and some of us even years!!) and are making great progress in reducing our stashes and unnecessary/excessive spending.

Regulars can ignore this, but a quick resume is always helpful for newbies:

Why not add the challenge to your signature as a reminder?

How about taking a bit of time to do a stock-take and see if there are any gaps in your stash that you might need to spend on this month? Some of us set a budget for the month for essential purchases or to help with withdrawal symptoms, others like to go cold-turkey!! Other ideas which some people find useful: Listing everything out so you can cross things off as used to increase the sense of achievement, and putting a sum of money in a pot each time you use up an item to save for something you really want, or simply to assist in making future essential purchases "cash neutral".

Remember the challenge is about making the most of your money, enjoying your products, finding which products really suit you best and are worth buying, giving yourself a well-deserved pampering and breaking the habit of buying for the sake of buying. In money-saving tradition, it should also be about making your products l-a-s-t as long as possible (although the temptation of using an unloved shower gel extravagantly to finish it off is sometimes too much to bear!).

Brand new products (or opened perfume) sell well on eBay.

Unsuitable products can be repurposed and used for other jobs (shower gel/shampoo as handwash etc).

Some items can be returned to certain stores for exchange (for essential items or gifts!!) without a receipt.

Unwanted items can be recycled as gifts or for gift hampers (saving the money you'd have spent on gifts).

Unsuitable items can be donated to charity or a local women's refuge as mentioned earlier

It helps to avoid the places where temptation lurks for you; be it QVC, Boots, Body Shop, email newsletter, the supermarket toiletries aisles, Grabbit board, online toiletries browsing, seductive department store beauty counter offers etc. Remember retailers are making offers and promotions all the time, so there will always be another deal! Honest!

Good luck all for February 2018 and indeed the coming months, and remember to keep your stash lists updated, keep popping in for inspiration and support and to report your UU's and IN's, especially any sales bargains - we want a nosy!

Welcome to all newbies - the more the merrier. Please introduce yourselves so we can welcome you properly! Do de-lurk if you are lurking, this is one of the friendliest threads on MSE.

Oh - and anyone thinking "OMG my stash is FAR bigger than all of theirs, I cant possibly join" - believe you me, we have been doing this challenge for well over a year some of us - you wont scare us, and I can almost guarantee that someone somewhere will have had more and survived.... we are very supportive (and protective - so don't be scared!!) oh - and did we mention that are nosy??!!

Useful abbreviations and jargon!

WBA - Will Buy Again
UU - Use Ups
IN - Self explanatory - stuff you've gained into your stash - warning: lines may be given out for unnecessary purchases or you may be sent to the naughty step!
NBI - A non-bought item such as a present, gift with purchase or free sample
WNBA - Will Not Buy Again!
Glitch - when a shop/online store make a pricing mistake so you end up paying less or even get freebies!
PYN(M/T/W/Th/F/Sa/Su) DELETE AS APPROPRIATE! - Paint Your Nails Monday/Tuesday...... it allows everyone to try and finish those dastardly nail varnishes with group support! You can never be too groomed for this thread. Also see PY(T)N... - for toenails!
Splutterer - the stage where an item is nearing the end of it's life and spluttering - also the most annoying and seemingly never ending stage!
GWP - Gift With Purchase - a sample or mini sized item
HG - Holy Grail - this is the product you would go back for time and time again, it does the job brilliantly, and is either economical, or so fantastic price becomes no object!
NPI - Near Purchasing Incident (OMG we all have those!)
LHJ - Long Haul Job - for those products - love 'em or hate 'em - that never seem to end no matter how often you use them
PRCP - Pink Rose Candle Philosophy inspired by Erma Bombeck who said: 'If I had my life to live over again I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose that melted in storage'. Don't keep things 'for best' or 'for a special occasion'. That day never arrives. Give the best to yourself now and enjoy it. (Thanks to McCulloch29 for introducing this thought provoking sentiment to us)
GA - for an out that was given away to charity, as a present, or "just because" rather than binned or UU
TA - for an out that was thrown away due to going off (generally as it has been lurking at the back of a stash since time immemorial) or for any other reason such as a broken container or spillage
PP - Project Pan: a list of specific items targeted to be used up

If anyone can think of any more we can add to the list so newbies won't be intimidated by our jargon!

Graduates

Here is a list of our lovely,fragrant ladies who have polished and pampered their way through their products and managed to get their toiletries stash under control. Ladies - congratulations, you are an inspiration to the rest of us, xx . Thanks also to InaPickle who suggested we start the Graduate list. To join the list of graduates let us know by posting that you are graduating in big colourful letters, that way the OP can easily spot you and add you to the list, or better still - PM the OP as the thread can move really quickly! You may also wish to add how many products you have used up during the challenge. Good luck ladies! xx

1. mineallmine - graduated with honours March
2. Bronnie - graduated with honours March 2011
3. lostinrates - graduated with honours around June 2010
4. Ruby_Eskimo - graduated with honours June 2012
5. Seaside dreamer - graduated with honours October 2012
6. InaPickle - graduated with honours September 2014
7. Fiasco55 - graduated with honours May 2017

Previous threads

In case you need to refer back to a previous stash list or product review, here are links to past challenge threads. Click on the date to take you straight to it:

January 2012
February 2012
March 2012
April 2012
May 2012
June 2012
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
January 2013
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
August 2013
September 2013
October 2013
November 2013
December 2013
January 2014
February 2014
March 2014
April 2014
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
September 2014
October 2014
November 2014
December 2014
January 2015
February 2015
March 2015
April 2015
May 2015
June 2015
July 2015
August 2015
September 2015
October 2015
November 2015
December 2015
January 2016
February 2016
March 2016
April 2016
May 2016
June 2016
July 2016
August 2016
September 2016
October 2016
November 2016
December 2016
January 2017
February 2017
March 2017
April 2017
May 2017
June 2017
July 2017
August 2017
September 2017
October 2017
November 2017
December 2017
January 2018
February 2018
March 2018
April 2018
May 2018
June 2018
July 2018
August 2018
September 2018
October 2018

sstevo19

And I'm back in for another month. I'm going to be good and only purchase something if absolutely necessary.

My PP list this month is:

The Body Shop Almond Milk and Honey Hand Cream 30ml
Aderma Sensifluid Cleansing Micellar Lotion 400ml
Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner 180ml
Pyunkang Yul Moisture Cream 100ml
La Roche Posay Nutritic Levres Lip Balm 4.7ml
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Levres Lip Balm 7.5ml
Tresemme Heat Defence Styling Spray 300ml

A few are carried over from last month, and some are items I would really like to finish this month. I'm trying to work my way through products that have disappointed me.

ponypal

Excited to take part in this if I can! I'm super obsessed with Project Pan videos on YouTube so am loving the idea of participating in this, I have never really got involved on this forum before.


I'm also doing No Spend November (or at least trying!) so also plan to complete a No Buy month!


PP List:
Crazy Rumors Mint Chocolate Lip Balm
Essence Stay All Day 16h Concealer
Lush Sparkly Pumpkin Bubble Bar - I have half left, will cut in half again (so quarters)
Tisserand Wild Rose and Geranium Leaf handcream
Anovia hand and body lotion
Barry M Base and Top Coat nail polish
B. Superdrug Day Cream with SPF

MarinaMidnight

Hi everyone, I'd like to join please. For years I'd got my toiletry buying under control, so much so that six months ago I said to my OH 'This is the fewest toiletries I've ever had!' and as I said it, something in my subconscious went'ping' and now here I am. I know it could be worse but I have a small budget and a tiny bathroom so something must be done! I think I can make it to Christmas without buying anything else, except maybe toothpaste.

My PP list for this month

Avon Professional Colour Protect Shampoo and Conditioner
Avon Anew Comforting Cream Cleanser and Mask
Feather and Down Shower Creme
B by Superdrug Hyaluronic Acid Facial Spritz


Good luck to everyone else

VALM

Thanks for the new thread ssteveo. I'm back, of course. I want to only purchase a new pot of Elemis PCMC, bottle or eco-refill of Australian Body Care Tea Tree Skinwash and maybe the highlighters from the Laura Geller TSV (or whole kit if I can't get these individually) and have requested these all on FB QVSELL.

My PP list is cleanser heavy:-

Murad cleanser (the blue coloured one)
Murad cleanser (mini)(the pink coloured one)
Lacura foaming cleanser
Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom cleanser
Ameka mini spray (haircare)
Nivea Factor 50SPF for face
Laura Geller Bronze Spackle
No 7 Cuticle and nail cream
Elemis PCMC 15ml
Batiste dry shampoo


Welcome also to the newbies. Love watching YouTube panning videos too.

makeupmad03

12 by Christmas list:
1. Benefit goof proof travel size brow pencil
2. Hourglass diffused light finishing powder in Ambient Lighting Edit Volume 2 - aim to hit pan
3. Bare Minerals original foundation 8g
4. Mac sable eyeshadow - aim to hit pan
5. TBS aloe toner
6. The ordinary Glycolic toner Alpha H Liquid Rose Gold 100ml
7. Banila Co Clean it Zero balm cleanser
8. Ouai Memory Mist
9. The ordinary argan oil
10. Pureology Colour Fanatic mist
11. L'oreal coconut hair mask
12. 12 x 1-2ml perfume samples (a challenge within the challenge!) will still leave me with 20 of this size in the stash.

Just went to use the Ordinary Glycolic and had to TA as I think it has gone off. It is just under a year old and half UU. It absolutely stank and really stung the back of my hand when I then tried to check if it was ok. Will replace it for my (more recently opened) Alpha H Liquid Rose Gold 100ml and get that one finished ASAP before I start on any others!

Have UU a sample of Prada Les Infusions Mimosa. I wouldn't purchase this, think it would be nicer as a room spray than a perfume.

Also UU a l'oreal fibrology mask - WNBA.

VALM - to answer your question from last month, I've been using the hour glass for about 4 months. It is starting to look a little bumpy in places so I think its getting near pan. Think I may cheat a little and really concentrate on using one half of it:rotfl:

sstevo19

Two UUs this evening:

Lush Sparkly Pumpkin Bubble Bar WDBA and I will purchase one next year. Such a lovely scent.

Lush Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb WDBA and will do next year. One of my favourite bath bombs.

pinkfluffybabe

Thanks sstevo, I'm in for another month.

Aiming for 6 UU, I know I have a few INs in the way from an Aveda order

PP list:

[STRIKE]Eve Lom Cleanser[/STRIKE]
Dr Haushka Rose Day Cream
Odilyque aloe vera shower gel
Aveda Shampure shampoo
Aveda Shampure conditioner
Aurelia Firm and Replenish Body Serum
Laura Mercier Creme Brûle body lotion

UU this morning:

Eve Lom Cleanser. WNBA. This is ok but I have other cleansers I like better

IN:

Dr Haushka Rose Day Cream. My skin loves this in winter and I've been feeling really dry recently so felt it was needed

sstevo19

Another UU tonight:

Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner sample WNB. This was nothing startling and it had a strange smell to it.

sstevo19

Two UUs this morning:

Lush Blousey Shampoo sample WPNB. This was alright, not stripping, but it had a load of tiny bits in it which is off putting.

Lush Retread Conditioner sample WMB but the smell is off putting. It did nicely condition my hair though so I'm undecided.

Tolteca87

In again. Especially as I seem to have fallen off the wagon with a new lipstick lip pencil, more soap and facemasks. Ooops.