No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries December 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 @Hodgepodge 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

Right last attempt to get rid of some things that I don't want to take into the new year with me - PP list for December:

Nars Afterglow Lipbalm - rollover from November
4 Sheet Masks - rollover from November
UD Chopper eyeshadow - rollover from November
1 Perfume sample - rollover from November
Glamglow Thirsty Mud Mask - had this mini size open longer than I want to think about and it's still good, so want to actually get it finished 
Pixi Glow Tonic - again had it open a while and stopped using it when I upped the retinol.  While I've been sick my skin has got a lot more sensitive so have stopped the retinol for now and gone back to this to help keep things ticking over.  Not a lot left so should be an easy one (she says...)
Avon Skin so Soft Dry Body Oil - love this in the summer but again just want it gone to be honest as have an unopened one for next summer already
The Body Shop Raspberry Whipped Body Butter - not too keen on this, texture is a little too whipped for my liking and doesn't sink in that well so going to hate pan this on my feet I think.
Apothaka Barrier Repair Serum - this thing is never ending but fairly confident it can go this month
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser - it's ok, but I have other cleansers that I prefer so just want this out (also so I can repurpose the bottle for travel)

Clutterbug07

ruby_eskimo and sorry to hear you've had covid again!  Did you get it badly this time round?  Hope you're on the mend!

Looking at my PP list, I don't think I'll be able to finish any of these items before the end of December, but we'll see.  The only thing from my list I finished last month was a Rituals travel-sized bottle of moisturiser!   finished plenty of other things, just not from my list.

• Haruharu WONDER - Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner: halfway through.  Use it on my hands and body as I found it drying for my face- perhaps cos I picked up the one with fragrance by mistake?
  
• Simple Protect 'N' Glow Radiance Booster SPF30: have actually been trying to use this up, on days I'm WFH so I'm not a shiny grease-slick in the office!  It's not terrible, but don't know how much glow boosting or sun-protection it gives, so it feels a little useless?  Maybe it does do stuff, I can't tell.
  
• 1 x big Tresemme shampoo: had this a hundred years, my Mum didn't want it so I took it, and then don't use it.... 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.. 
  
• Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drops: not sure about this, has EGF so am not sure I really want to use it.  Using up on my hands/body.
  
• Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum: soooooooooooo fragranced. Using up on hands/body.
• Sukin Original Hydrating mist toner: too rose fragranced for me, not a fan of the smell. Used it a lot when it was boiling hot to refresh my skin without worrying about wasting it. 

Have removed a few items I'm not actually hugely fussed about finishing (Isntree Spotsaver Mugwort Ampoule- I quite like it now.   Lily Lolo mineral concealer- will use it eventually)

Clutterbug07

UU

• La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 - 100ml: Saved my face the other week when I had my cold- I wouldn't be without a tube of this for emergency skin issues!  Picked up the replacement the other day.

INS
This is what I got from Superdrug with the 3 for 2 on makeup- counting now as I'd already had my payday so it was with Decembers money despite technically being bought in Nov.

• Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Oil Control Setting Powder:  My current one is almost done, loads of pan showing making it a pain in the bum to use, so got me my replacement now, as I'm away at the weekend and it'll be easier to have a fresh one rather than take the almost done one (which I will finish when I am back).  This was my free item.
• Collection- Gloss Me Up lipgloss tube in Pink Fizz:  Pretty pink sparkly lip gloss, I got suckered in thinking it'd be nice for the festive season (which it will be…)
  
• Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Plump in Angel Shimmer:  A lovely sparkly gold shimmery plumping lipgloss- it's quite minty. Not sure why I needed two sparkly lipglosses..... but apparently I did.
  

dolly84

Thanks ruby_eskimo for the new thread.

My regular list for this year carries on.

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

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 - some have been purchased
Nail polish - none purchased but loads decluttered
Hair serum/oil - none purchased
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, 7 purchased August

Cleanser - one purchased in March, one purchased October and again in November

Facial Oil /Moisturiser - 2 oils purchased January/4 Moisturisers purchased February/ 1 NBI August, 1 bought November
Curl cream - 2 purchased January and 1 NBI April
Deodorant - 2 purchased June 

Hand cream - 2 purchased April, 1 purchased June

Foot Cream

Hair Conditioner bar/refillable bottle of conditioner - 1 bought November

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

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

dolly84

GA

Burts Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter - DD needs a new lip balm so I will pass this on to her when she comes home this weekend for her birthday.

Nails Inc Gel Polish - I can't remember the colour name but it is an aubergine colour which looks lovely in the bottle but drab on the nails, I wore it this week and didn't enjoy it, plus it chipped quickly.

pinkfluffybabe

Back in for December, carrying over a lot of the list from November but some of it is very nearly finished...

PP List:

Ren Evercalm Moisturiser
Odilyque Conditioner
Fresh Grapefruit Body Lotion
Drunk Elephant Shower Gel
Sjal Face Oil
Odilyque Gentle Herb Shampoo
The Ordinary Niacinimide and Zinc 

Winter List of 4:

Eight Hour Cream
Espa Lip Balm
L'occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
The Inkey List PHA Toner

ruby_eskimo

@Clutterbug07 CV was definitely not as bad as last time (it was March 2020, so 4 vaccine doses ago!) but still pretty bad, but recovered a lot quicker - almost back to normal just a little short of breath and still can't taste or smell anything.

Have a couple of UU to report:

Avon Skin So Soft Dry Body Oil - Didn't think I'd finish this as quickly as I did but hey, it's gone now.  Used this in the summer to help stop insects biting me and it did work.  Not that moisturising though.  Focusing on the body shop raspberry body butter also on my PP list. 

Lush Baked Alaska Soap sample - this was ok, got it free when I last was in store.  

Sensodyne Deep Repair Toothpaste - If I have to spend this much money on a tube of toothpaste, then I'm going to count it on my outs list.  Picked some more up when it was on offer a couple of weeks ago, so replaced from the stash.

dolly84

It's DD's birthday today and we've been shopping in Harrogate, I have the following ins:

MUA Liquid Cream Blush in Dusky Rose - there is no way I needed a blush but this looked very pretty on the back of my hand.

Elf Wow Brow Tinted Gel - this is a replacement for the one I have which has run out.

Sanex Stick Deodorant - it's too cold to wait for my roll on to dry at the moment so this will be much better on cold, winter mornings.

Superdrug Vitamin E All Over Body Cream 475ml

Superdrug Vitamin E Intensive Body Cream with Hibiscus 465ml

Maui Curl Quench Coconut Oil Shampoo

Maui Curl Quench Coconut Oil Conditioner

2 x sample sachets of Hotel Chocolat Body Butter

It could have been so much worse tbh.  I need to stop visiting shops - immediately.

ruby_eskimo

Hope you had a lovely time in Harrogate @dolly84 it's been a long time since I was there but always enjoyed it as a day trip when I was up that way for uni.

The Pixi Glow Tonic has finally been UU - was ok but I think my skin prefers retinol now rather than an acid exfoliant.  Going back to my retinol tonight.

Have a few IN's on their way:

- Mac Wedge eyeshadow: this is a staple for me and my current one has a lot of pan showing, plus I got a discount and it was half price already.
- Bobbi Brown Moondust eyeshadow: have been on the lookout for a subtle colour yet sparkly eyeshadow for a while and this looks like it fits the bill (not that I need any more eyeshadow!)
- Whole bunch of freebies from Bobbi Brown as GWP (a lipgloss, lip balm and mini lipstick)

I also bought a new eye brush from BB to get the GWP (and to replace a cheap knock off that I've had for years that's now falling apart).

And I'm truly making a pledge to myself to be on a replacement only no-buy next year because I need to use some of these things up and don't need any more makeup!!!

VALM

I'm in.  Have been away for a  few days in the Lake District and finished a couple of other items whilst away:-

ABH Summer eyeshadow from the Norvina palette.

Elf concealer

I also hit pan in another eyeshadow:  Too Faced Old Money (Chocolate Gold palette).

I was going to put together another PP list but have decided to now go with the flow.

We did go Christmas shopping yesterday at Trafford Centre.  I took some lippies BACK TO MAC and got Just Wondering lippie for free.  I also picked up a free handcream from M&S as per their advent calendar offer on the App.