No Buying Toiletries - August 2022

ruby_eskimo

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 @dolly84 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

Also, why not reward your efforts by banking and recycling your use ups/throw aways with Boots scan2recycle points at participating Boots stores: Recycle at Boots - Get rewarded for recycling - Boots 

Alternatively, simply drop them off at Maybelline Recycling points: www.maybelline.co.uk . Unfortunately, you won't be rewarded for the latter but the earth will thank you :-)

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!

ruby_eskimo

Kicking off August with my PP list:

TBS Avocado body butter
Foot Cream
4 sheet masks
1 body lotion
NYX Iced Mocha eye pencil
UD Smog eyeshadow
1 lip balm
1 hand cream
UD Primer Potion
1 deodorant

A mix of things I know I can finish this month and other things that I need to concentrate on to finish sooner rather than later because they've been open a while!  We're going away at the end of the month so we'll see how much progress I can make before we go.  Will be decanting most of my face care so that may give me the impression that stuff's finished when it's actually just in smaller packaging!

ruby_eskimo

First UU of the month:

Lush Lord of Misrule shower gel - WBA because I love the scent.  This one was a gift last Christmas and now I'm on to the last of my other christmas gifts, a Cath Kidston Lavender and Camomile shower gel.

ruby_eskimo

Another UU this morning:

LRP Serozinc Spray - WBA, this is a staple in my skincare routine.  Replaced with the last one in the stash.

Clutterbug07

Thanks @ruby_eskimo for starting the new thread!

Project pan list 2022

Oooh I got through a lot of these last month!

• The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C and EGF serum: 
• The Inkey List Alpha Arbutin: 
• The Body Shop Drops of Youth Concentrate
• Lily Lolo mineral green colour corrector: 
• 1 x e.l.f. Hydrating Satin Camo Concealer
• Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid: 
• The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

I might go through my toiletries later and see if there is anything to add to this list, but for now, the remains of my list:

• Haruharu WONDER - Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner: got down to halfway, which is good since I use it on hands and body, not face, so maybe only a couple of times a week.
  
• Isntree Spotsaver Mugwort Ampoule
• Simple Protect 'N' Glow Radiance Booster SPF30
  
• 1 x big Tresemme shampoo (my Mum had too many, so she gave me this. it's HUGE)
• Concrete Minerals mineral Eyeshadow in Ruse: a very dull light rusty brown colour- v boring!  I try to use it on WFH days when noone will see me.. 
  
• Lily Lolo mineral concealer
  
• Lily Lolo mineral yellow colour corrector: work for hyperpigmentation marks, since it's meant to be good for dark under eyes

Clutterbug07

UUs

Quite a few things were clearly on their last legs last month, so they all finished literally as the month turned!

• Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance free 4 hr water resist lotion: Used up the splutterer!  Got my replacements already, so I am fully sun-safe rn.
• OGX- Limited Edition Vanilla & Chai spice shampoo:  This is SO nice, it smells like gingerbread and autumn and Christmas all rolled into one!  Hopefully they will re-release it at Christmas time, as I like to use this as a once a week treat
  
• Boots- Fresh and Fruity Raspberry and Pomegranate Conditioner:  Use this to shave my legs rather than expensive shaving foam. It's alright, lasts ages, and it's cheap.  Do currently have actual shaving foam so I will use that first before reverting to cheapie conditioner
  
• Nina Ricci Travel mini- 4ml:  Can't remember which one this was- was from a set with 4 x 4ml little apple perfume bottles- they're very cute and excellent for travel.  All four smell lovely. Bella (green), Luna Blossom (purple), Luna (blue) and Nina (red)
  
• Boots Nail Polish Remover:  Prefer acetone-free so unlikely to buy again- only bought this one as it was the only one in the shop last time I ran out!  Had enough left to remove 2 nails- good job I have one on order from Boots
  

Throw Away

• eSalon Tint Rinse-Golden Mahogany:  Lockdown purchase…. Nuff said.  Where I've had balayage in the past this would stain too much, and I don't want super patchy hair, so in the bin it goes.  I did use up one tube a while back, and it wasn't great for my hair either, felt very drying.

INS

• Mad About Skin- Got You Covered Super Serum:  Replacement as I am down to the dregs of my current one.  I love this- my vit C, azelaic acid, Q10, urea, peptides. Had a code so got 20% off this purchase :-)
• Mad about Skin Maximum Impact Moisturiser:  My current night moisturiser (this one), is spluttering, so this is a replacement as I really enjoy it- it's very thick and nourishing.
  
• Mad about Skin Nourishing Lip Conditioner: Lips have been super dry and regular lip balms doing nothing, so trying this nourishing lip conditioner- contains vitamin E and lots of good oils, so hopefully will have super soft lips in no time!
  

Busy start to the month.  Have a few replacements on the way from Boots and The Body Shop too, so will be more ins coming- will note them when they arrive.

dolly84

Thanks for the new thread ruby_eskimo.

I'm still plodding on with my yearly list.

Makeup I want to finish in 2022

1. Soap & Glory nude pink eyeshadow from a quad

2. Soap & Glory dark brown eyeshadow from a quad - has fallen apart and I am using it from little pot

3. The Balm Down Boy Blush - lots of pan and product thin in other areas

4. Brillo lipgloss in a pale coral colour - keep this in the car to use

5. Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara mini

6. Model Co Cream Blush

7. Bare Minerals Plum Eyeliner

8. Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in rsvp

9. Max Factor Fusion Mascara - starting to dry out a bit now

10. MAC Foundation

11. Max Factor Facefinity Foundation

12. Wet n Wild Foundation

13. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation - nearly gone now

14. Matte brown eyeshadow single (any of the ones I have taken from a palette and put into my magnetic palette.

15. Lipstick Queen Thrilller Lip Crayon

16. Revlon lip crayon in Honey - using this regularly on non work days

17. Bobbi Brown concealer

18. Too Faced Shadow Insurance - use this regularly but still loads left, or it could be air.

Will not need to buy in 2022

Shower gel of the liquid variety
Nail polish
Hair serum/oil
Makeup  (except possibly foundation and mascara) Foundation purchased in February
Perfume - was gifted one in January, another purchased in June

Soap - 3 minis brought home from a holiday

May need to buy in 2022

Shampoo bar - 2 purchased June

Cleanser - one purchased in March

Facial Oil /Moisturiser - 2 oils purchased January/4 Moisturisers purchased February
Curl cream - 2 purchased January and 1 NBI April
Deodorant 

Hand cream - 2 purchased April, 1 purchased June

Foot Cream

Hair Conditioner bar/refillable bottle of conditioner

Solid shower gel bar - 4 puchased May, 2 purchased June

Body Lotion/Bars - 2 body lotions received as a gift in March

Clutterbug07

So looks like Boots are doing the partial order delivery thing, as I got two of my items today:

INS

• Elf Matte Magic Mist & Set: Waited till pay day to replace this as I ran out of it last month.  Will give it another go and then maybe try something else next time, as this is small and doesn't last very long
• Soltan Once Face Advanced 8 hour Protection- SPF 50:  Getting a little hard to squeeze out of my current tube, so this is a replacement at the ready.
  

VALM

Hi everyone, I've been AWOL due to work being busy (School Summer Holidays for the two ladies on my team) and last weekend I was away in Edinburgh.  I have UUed recently

Burberry My Burberry deodorant.  This came in a gift set I got for Christmas.  Would not repurchase.

Too Faced Oh My Gourd eyeshadow from the Pumpkin Spice palette.  Lovely pink shimmer.

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue.  HG.  Will repurchase but at the moment I am using a tube of IT Cosmetics CC cream.

MAC mascara - the new one.  The formula was lovely but the wand was too spikey.  WNBA.

Then today I UU my small pot of Bare Minerals Warmth bronzer.  This brings me up to item no 19 in my Finish 22 in 2022 Project.  3 items to go.  I have two other eyeshadows with pan in and am also working on a small blusher by Bare Minerals. 

VALM

Updated PP List

Brought forward:-

Urban Decay setting spray mini

Comfort Zone Hydromeory Cream - this will be done soon.  I bought a tub of Hydo Lado (sp?) cream yesterday to replace this as I can't find a good price for the Comfort Zone at the moment.

Pure night cream (can't remember it's full name but I use it as night cream)

John Frida styling gel

Aveda leave in conditioner

Added in

Laura Geller Kiss lipstick

OPI You Callin me a Lyre nail polish

Philosophy Melon Dacquari body wash

Skinsense Overnight Mask

dolly84

uu

Korres Jasmine Body Milk 250ml - lovely scent.