Alternatives for basic toiletries?

x_raphael_xx

Hi all,

I was horrified at the latest grocery bill when bf returned home last night. He said it was due to the shampoo & conditioner I asked for. He usually does the grocery shop on his way home from work, so I've been out of the loop price wise and didn't realise you can't get bottles for £1 anymore. It got me thinking that I need to find alternatives to the usual stuff I buy.

I don't wear make up so thats a big chunk of toiletries I don't have to consern myself with, but what about the others?

Specifially:
Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Earcleaning (I use cotton buds, I know I shouldn't, but not sure how much of a gimmick the ear cleaners I see advertised are)
Deodorant
Shampoo
Conditioner
Bodywash/Shaving cream

I did try bar shampoo & conditioner once. I liked the shampoo, but as the conditioner didn't lather I felt I wasn't getting product out of the bar.
I used to use roll on deodorant years ago, but currently use sprays. I've seen a lot of applicator deodorants advertised recently on fb and tiktok etc, but again, I'm not sure if its a gimmicky overpriced thing.

Does anyone have any recommendations for good, cheap product replacements?

MovingForwards

Toothpaste I buy 2 -3 of whatever is on special offer.

Don't use mouthwash as that undoes what the toothpaste is doing.

Cotton buds from the baby / adult section, whichever is cheapest at the time.

Deodorant, whatever roll on is on offer at the time, again I buy a couple of them.

Shampoo I buy from the body shop, but I only wash my hair once or twice a week.

Conditioner, only use the one in my hair dye box when doing my hair, don't use conditioner otherwise.

Body wash/shaving cream, I use body shop or a bar of soap.

Sounds indulgent with me using the body shop, but timing purchases with sales brings the cost down.

Without knowing what you'd normally buy it's hard to recommend alternatives.

x_raphael_xx

MovingForwards said:

Toothpaste I buy 2 -3 of whatever is on special offer.

Don't use mouthwash as that undoes what the toothpaste is doing. I've been told by the dentist to use mouthwash while my braces are in place (if all goes to plan these should be removed feb next year)

Cotton buds from the baby / adult section, whichever is cheapest at the time. I didn't know if these sort of things were any good? I've seen lots of adverts. I'm hoping to find a safer alternative for my ears https://www.amazon.co.uk/Removal-Cleaner-Remover-Earwax-Smart/dp/B0B4WS5WGN/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?keywords=best+ear+wax+removal&qid=1671197088&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1 

Deodorant, whatever roll on is on offer at the time, again I buy a couple of them.

Shampoo I buy from the body shop, but I only wash my hair once or twice a week. I usually wash my hair every other day.

Conditioner, only use the one in my hair dye box when doing my hair, don't use conditioner otherwise. My hair always feels dry and frizzy if I don't use conditioner. 

Body wash/shaving cream, I use body shop or a bar of soap. 

I don't stick to brands, I'll buy whatever deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and body wash is cheapest. Alberto balsam used to be £1 a bottle

Spoonie_Turtle

If you were happy with Alberto Balsam (how much is it now?  From the sound of your opening post it was as if it were £££) then supermarket own-brand should be fine.  I don't know if they're any cheaper though. 

Savers is quite good for cheaper toiletries, also £shops.

Don't fall for any hype about products that are mainly/only available via social media, that stuff is at best overpriced and at worst downright dangerous.

MovingForwards

Depends where you shop, Tesco is still cheap

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/search?query=alberto balsam

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/search?query=dove deodorant&sortBy=price-ascending

Can't comment on 'alternative' ways / items, I stick with buds:

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/search?query=cotton buds

Aldi / Lidl have their own versions, I'm sure other supermarkets have budget brands / items.

x_raphael_xx

Spoonie_Turtle said:

If you were happy with Alberto Balsam (how much is it now?  From the sound of your opening post it was as if it were £££) then supermarket own-brand should be fine.  I don't know if they're any cheaper though. 

Savers is quite good for cheaper toiletries, also £shops.

Don't fall for any hype about products that are mainly/only available via social media, that stuff is at best overpriced and at worst downright dangerous.

Lol no not £££, but every penny saved ya know...bf came home with £2 stuff.

Last time I bought shampoo it was like £1, looks like I'll need to start shopping around. Glad it's still same cost elsewhere.

Spoonie_Turtle

x_raphael_xx said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

If you were happy with Alberto Balsam (how much is it now?  From the sound of your opening post it was as if it were £££) then supermarket own-brand should be fine.  I don't know if they're any cheaper though. 

Savers is quite good for cheaper toiletries, also £shops.

Don't fall for any hype about products that are mainly/only available via social media, that stuff is at best overpriced and at worst downright dangerous.

Lol no not £££, but every penny saved ya know...bf came home with £2 stuff.

How odd, I've never seen them that expensive!  I hope you can find something suitably budget-friendly.

MovingForwards said:

Aldi / Lidl have their own versions, I'm sure other supermarkets have budget brands / items.

Ooh Aldi/Lidl are good shouts, they do decent knockoffs of a fair range of brands. 

[Just beware their toothbrushes, sometimes they're great and sometimes they have weird plastic bits that bash your teeth ]

Edit: Savers tend to have large bottles of body wash for £1.50-£2, things like Dove and Imperial Leather.  The richer ones are particularly good for shaving too.  I don't know how the Lidl/Aldi shower gels compare, they could very plausibly be similar value too.

Edit 2: I've just remembered, Tresemmè big bottles were always really cheap when they were on offer (less cheap now but still not bad) - if you're struggling to find Alberto Balsam for £1 then 900ml Tresemmè for £2.99 is nearly as good value.

theoretica

One of the best ways of saving money is simply to use less.  I used to just dollop out shampoo and conditioner - but most of it goes down the drain without doing anything except maybe making added foam to look pretty.  Until you have washed your hair and it isn't actually clean afterwards you haven't found how little you can use.  Once I thought about that my shampoo lasted maybe 4 times as long!

p00hsticks

If you have a Home Bargains nearby, we find they are usually cheapest for toiletries....

https://storelocator.homebargains.co.uk/ 

Spoonie_Turtle

One way to get money's worth from conditioner is to leave it on for longer.  Though obviously there is a minimum amount needed to coat all of the hair that needs conditioning.

Depending on how long your hair is, scalp-only washing (keeping the lengths dry) is usually a technique used for the sake of hair health, but it can also have the benefit of being moneysaving.  Most people find they need hair waist length or longer to make it worthwhile though.

Pollycat

I'd second Aldi, Home Bargains, B&M, Savers and Bodycare (not to be confused with Bodyshop unless you buy like MovingForwards).
But I have access to all of these so can shop around.

No! No! No! to cotton buds in your ears.
Have you never heard the phase 'never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow'?
I use Earol, suggested by Specsavers to use before you have an earwax removal appointment. 
It isn't cheap but I use it once a fortnight and the bottle lasts for ages. Shop around.

I buy Sanex roll on deodorant, usually available here and there for £1.00 and I stock up.

I use Avon avocado body wash and body lotion because it suits my very dry skin.