No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries July 2020

pinkfluffybabe

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 sstevo 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 this month 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! 

Previous threads

In case you need to refer back to a previous stash list or product review, here are links to past challenge threads.

June 2020 

pinkfluffybabe

I'm in again for July. Think this will be the month that my INs move off zero as I am nearing the end of a few product stashes.

PP List:

Nuxe night cream
Beauty Pie Retinol Night Cream
Beauty Pie Retinol Serum
Burts Bees Lip Balm
Aveda Cherry Almond Shampoo
Aveda Cherry Almond Conditioner
Stratia Liquid Gold Moisturiser
Ren Evercalm Cleanser
Lanolips Hand Creme
Origins Grapefruit Body souffle
The Ordinary Squalene Cleanser

Seven for Autumn list:

Beauty Pie Retinol Hand Cream
Soaper Duper Ginger Shower Gel
Odylique Aloe Vera Shower Gel
Aveda Cherry Almond leave-in conditioner
Pixi Glow tonic
Phillip Kingsley Elasticiser
Keihl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

sstevo19

Thanks pinkfluffybabe for the new thread, I'm in again!

My PP list for July is:

La Roche Posay Lipikar Surgras Lipid Enriched Cleansing Bar 150g
Soltan Protect & Moisturise Active Suncare Stick SPF30 5g
Soltan Protect & Moisturise Spray SPF50+ 50ml
Impulse Instant Crush 75ml

Not many items but I want to hopefully finish these this month. I m going to try and use up what I have that's open and nearing empty. I will be buying myself a few things this month though, essentials and treats

ponypal

Thanks for the new thread!
Today I finally UU Mroobest anti-hair loss Shampoo - I don't know if it worked, honestly. 

7 by Autumn:

1. Elemis superfood facial wash UU June

2. Phytema Active Lotion against hair loss 

3. Yaoh Organic moisturiser

4. Green People Vita min fix 24 hour cream

5. Mroobest anti-hair loss Shampoo UU July

6. COOP Pomegranate Soap

7. One nail polish

wondercollie

Happy Canada Day!
UU:
Elizabeth Arden Grand Entrance Mascara.  Red tube full size.  Time for a fresh one.  The brush is interesting once you get used to it, it's great.  Has a few spikey bristles at the side of the tip to separate lashes.  Would buy again if I ever get through my gwp stash.
Essence eye lash primer.  Great and super inexpensive.  Just as good as the French one starting with L.

No project lists, but things are getting used up and thoughts about replacements are happening

dolly84

Thanks pfb for the new thread.

July PP List

Mitchum Shower Fresh Stick Deoderant

Korres Bergamot & Pear Shower Gel 250ml

Garnier Summer Body 400ml

Le Soft Stick Perfume

Nicky Clarke Instant Calmer 30m

Lee Stafford Argan Oil

Mandara Spa Body Lotion

Avon 2 in 1 Anti Dandruff Shampoo 400ml

My 7 by Autumn

1. Gosh Brow Kit (has 3 shades and a wax but I only use the darkest shade for brows)

2. Burts Bees Lip Shimmer - Strawberry

3. Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Lovesick

4. Barbara Daly Trade Secrets Sheer lip melt in Adorable

5. Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara

6.  Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Powder Pink

7.  Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

Will not need to buy in 2020.

Shower gel
Body moisturiser
Hair conditioner/hair masks
Foot cream
Nail polish
Hair serum/oil
Makeup (except maybe foundation) - already purchased
Perfume
Bubble Bath

May need to buy in 2020

Shampoo bar - almost running out of these so will visit Yorkshire Soap Co shop when they reopen.
Cleanser - have purchased a balm from Blushberry Botanicals
Facial Oil - have one in use and one back up
Curl cream - bought a can of hair mousse to try
Deodorant - have purchased a natural handmade one from Blushberry Botanicals
Hand cream - will be buying ingredients to make my own

VALM

Thanks for the new thread.  PP List

The Inkey List Caffeine eye cream. Status is the same. Will be carried over.
The Ordinary Rose Hip oil - at least 2/3rds left. Will be carried over 
Nivea Deodorant- probably 1/4 left. Will be carried over.
Elemis Apricot Toner - about half left. Will be carried over.

Benefit Goofproof pencil - this feels like it won't wind up much further

MAC Prep & Prime Radiance Primer

ELF 16hr Camo Concealer

Cerave moisturiser (20g)

Superdrug nail polish remover

Elemis Lime Blossom Cleanser

VALM

Finish 7 by Autumn and will include:-

NARS Gilda - I want this totally panned.

ABH lipgloss in Sunset Strip - am scraping the sides

Smashbox matte eyeshadow - again, I want this totally panned - have attempted to repress this but it's just loose now. 

Bare Minerals Queen Tiffany loose eyeshadow - to use as much as I can.

Liz Earle No 9 Botanical Essence fragrance - DONE

Laura Geller Gilded Honey Highlighter - I want this totally panned

Bare Minerals Love lipstick - it won't get finished but want to try and use it as much as I can.

Liz Earle perfume done.  I have a back up bottle of this.  Am going to rotate in a 10ml bottle of Kat vonD Saint perfume which is half finished as it is so early in this challenge.

sstevo19

One sample UU from last night:

Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil sample - I've really enjoyed samples of this that I've used before, and my skin always feels so nice after using it. May consider purchasing in the future. 

dolly84

sstevo19 said:

One sample UU from last night:

Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil sample - I've really enjoyed samples of this that I've used before, and my skin always feels so nice after using it. May consider purchasing in the future. 

DD uses a charcoal cleansing oil that she really likes, I think the brand is charcoal or something, she gets it from Superdrug and it is pretty cheap, works well on her hormonal teenage skin.

uu

Lee Stafford Growth Conditioner 250ml - nice enough but WNBA.

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser - I really like this as an alternative to lip balm as it does actually moisturise.

VALM

VALM said:

Thanks for the new thread.  PP List

The Inkey List Caffeine eye cream. Status is the same. Will be carried over.
The Ordinary Rose Hip oil - at least 2/3rds left. Will be carried over 
Nivea Deodorant- probably 1/4 left. Will be carried over.
Elemis Apricot Toner - about half left. Will be carried over.

Benefit Goofproof pencil - this feels like it won't wind up much further

MAC Prep & Prime Radiance Primer

ELF 16hr Camo Concealer

Cerave moisturiser (20g)

Superdrug nail polish remover

Elemis Lime Blossom Cleanser

UU Superdrup nail polish remover.  This was nice.  Very effective.  Using a TESCO one now.