No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries November 2020

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 er, 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 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. Click on the date to take you straight to it:

October 2020
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Comments

  • PP List

    - Oral B Floss Picks (b/f from October)

    - Baylis & Harding Moroccan Rose Body Wash 100ml (using as hand wash) (b/f from October)

    - Baylis & Harding Moroccan Rose Shower Crème 100ml (using as hand wash) (b/f from October)


    7 by Xmas List

    - Mandara Spa Amber Heaven Shower Cream 50ml

    - Boots Nail & Cuticle Oil 9ml

    - No7 Beautiful Skin Radiant Exfoliator 75ml

    - No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum 5ml

    - Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Strips

    - Pantene Smooth & Sleek Shampoo 75ml

    - Pantene Smooth & Sleek Conditioner 75ml


    I’m just going to have the items brought forward from last month on my PP list and will hopefully get clearing some of the items from my 7 by Xmas list. The shower creams that I’m using as hand wash should be finished within the next week at the most, and I think I have just over a week’s worth of the floss picks, as there were more in the bag than I thought. I’m not intending to buy any toiletries for the rest of the year.


    B x

  • pinkfluffybabe
    pinkfluffybabe Posts: 2,989 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Academoney Grad
    edited 30 November 2020 at 8:06PM
    Thanks for the new thread, am back in for November.

    PP List:

    Origins Ginger Body Cream
    Aveda Cherry Almond Shampoo
    Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
    Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
    Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturiser
    Burts Bees Lip Balm
    Bamboo Hair Oil
    Beauty Pie Night Cream
    Medik8 Calmwise Serum

    And the remainder of my Winter list:

    Soaper Duper Ginger Shower Gel
    Aveda Cherry Leave-In Conditioner
    Pixi Glow Tonic
    Phillip Kingsley Elasticiser
    Midnight Recovery Concentrate
    Beauty Pie Retinol Hand Cream
    Not buying unnecessary toiletries 2024 26/53 UU, 25 IN
  • dolly84
    dolly84 Posts: 5,851 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 23 November 2020 at 3:40PM
    Thanks for the new thread sstevo.
    November PP List

    Le Soft Stick Perfume  - b/f from October
    Rituals Shower Oil
    Philosophy Cinammon Buns Shower Gel 498ml
    Soap & Glory Righteous Butter
    Mandara Spa Butter Collection Shower Gel
    Blushberry Botanicals Body Butter Bar


    My 7 by Christmas list
    1. Gosh Brow Kit (has 3 shades and a wax but I only use the darkest shade for brows) b/f from the last challenge
    2. Burts Bees Lip Shimmer - Strawberry b/f from the last challenge
    3. Poppy King Lip Crayon in Smiling
    4. Barbara Daly Trade Secrets Sheer lip melt in Adorable b/f from the last challenge
    5. Clinique High Impact Mascara mini
    6.  Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Powder Pink b/f from the last challenge
    7.  Miss Sporty Stick Concealer

    Will not need to buy in 2020.
    Shower gel
    Body moisturiser - was gifted 3 in November
    Hair conditioner/hair masks
    Foot cream
    Nail polish
    Hair serum/oil
    Makeup (except maybe foundation) - already purchased
    Perfume
    Bubble Bath
    Still nothing purchased from this list.

    May need to buy in 2020

    Shampoo bar - bought 4 in July.
    Cleanser - 2 bought in September
    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

    Very small PP list this month.  My skincare stash is completely under control now so it is just body and hair products to get through, oh and perfume, I'm going in the right direction but it is a long job.
    Debt Free and now a saver, conscious consumer, low waste lifestyler


    Fashion on the Ration 28/66
  • VALM
    VALM Posts: 5,940 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks for the new thread sstevo. Final 2 months of the year so want to concentrate on getting 2 more makeup items done. Am up to 18 in my Finish 20 in 2020.
    Toiletries PP List this month is practically carried over from last:-
    The Ordinary Rose Hip oil
    Bath & Body Works A Thousand Wishes shower gel
    Colourpop lip scrub. 
    Liz Eerle Skin Repair
    Lacura hand cream
    ABC Body lotion
    Elemis Lime Blossom cleanser 
    Elemis Apricot Toner
    OPI Nail Envy
    Skinsense eye cream


    Back for the No Buying Toiletries challenge. I pledge to only buy when I run out of a product that is not already in my stash no matter what wonderful emails land in in my Inbox or threads I read on MSE re: glitches!

    SPC Member 046
    £2. Challenge member 55
  • VALM
    VALM Posts: 5,940 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Type your comment Finish 7 by Christmas
    Kat von D lip lacquer in Lovecraft.  
    Colourpop Birthday Cake. 
    Laura Geller Gilded Honey Highlighter DONE
    NARS Outlaw blush
    Too Faced Honey pot eyeshadow from the Natural Eyes palette 
    OPI Do you take lei away full size
    Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb Midnight fragrance DONE

    Hoping to finish the lip lacquer soon. The stopper has been out for ages.

    1 IN already. Benefit Hello Flawless foundation. Was in Manchester yesterday so picked it up before the new restrictions come in place. 

    Back for the No Buying Toiletries challenge. I pledge to only buy when I run out of a product that is not already in my stash no matter what wonderful emails land in in my Inbox or threads I read on MSE re: glitches!

    SPC Member 046
    £2. Challenge member 55
  • sstevo19
    sstevo19 Posts: 1,512 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    My PP list for November:

    Lush Fairy Dust Dusting Powder 
    Batiste Dry Shampoo & A Hint of Colour For Blondes 200ml 
    Lush Peachy Bath Bomb 
    Lush Goddess Bath Bomb 
    Lush Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar 
    Lush The Comforter Bubble Bar 

    I'm going to try and have some baths this month to UU up the bath products and to help me relax. 

    One UU this morning:

    La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water 150ml - WDBA and will do. Love using this with the Hada Labo lotion. Also helps soothe any irritated areas. 
  • My use up goals are to use up the oldest items this month
    1. I have a guerlain eye cream that must be five years old- it is still fine but sometimes it has to go. 
    2. I want to finish one conditioner this month
    3. I need to finish nuxe body oil as it is getting past prime but still good. 
    4. My citaplast lipbalm needs finishing - one final push will get it one
    5. La roche posey moisturizer. 







  • i tossed out 2 open hand creams that were open for years and years. I used up a small tester of citalplast balm. 
  • VALM
    VALM Posts: 5,940 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    VALM said:
    Type your comment Finish 7 by Christmas
    Kat von D lip lacquer in Lovecraft.  DONE
    Colourpop Birthday Cake. 
    Laura Geller Gilded Honey Highlighter DONE
    NARS Outlaw blush
    Too Faced Honey pot eyeshadow from the Natural Eyes palette 
    OPI Do you take lei away full size
    Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb Midnight fragrance DONE

    Hoping to finish the lip lacquer soon. The stopper has been out for ages.


    The Lovecraft lip lacquer is done. Of the items left I can probably also finish the Too Faced eyeshadow and OPI nail lacquer.
    i have pulled out a small Bare Minerals Blush called Golden Gate which I love and will pull out a Bare Minerals small lip lacquer. Hopefully one of these can be finished by New Year to make 20 products.
    Back for the No Buying Toiletries challenge. I pledge to only buy when I run out of a product that is not already in my stash no matter what wonderful emails land in in my Inbox or threads I read on MSE re: glitches!

    SPC Member 046
    £2. Challenge member 55
  • sstevo19
    sstevo19 Posts: 1,512 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    One UU from last night:

    Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Shampoo + Conditioner sample - WB as a full size but probably won't. I like how my hair feels after using this but I won't probably purchase this. Might try a light shampoo as my current one is lovely but sometimes a bit too heavy. 

    And one UU from this morning:

    Colgate Total Original Toothpaste 75ml - WDBA and have done. Cheap and effective :) 
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