No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries March 2023

VALM

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!

VALM

PP List

Carried over:-

Ultrasun SPF 

Too faced Old Money 

Bare Minerals Heart 

Lacura hand cream

Kiehls ultimate cream 

Superdrug shampoo

Added, for March:-

The Inkey List Caffeine eye cream

Superdrug conditioner

Glamglow Good in Bed moisturiser - mini tub

ELF concealer

The items carried over are capable of being finished this month, I'm sure. In fact I thought I would finish the Bare Minerals eyeshadow this month however there's product stuck under the sifter.  For the past two days I've been tapping the container upside down to release it. 

dolly84

Thanks VALM for the new thread.

Makeup etc I want to finish in 2023

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

2. Model Co Cream Blush

3. Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in rsvp

4. Wet n Wild Foundation

5. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

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

7.. Bobbi Brown concealer

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

9. Avon Supershock Mascara

10. Clinique High Impact Mascara mini

11. Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation

12. Garnier Eye Roll On

13. L'oreal Lumi Magique

14. Soap & Glory Gloss Stick in Ramplumzel

15. Nivea Raspberry Rose Lip Balm

16. Colourtrend Nude Lipstick

17. HD Brows Quad - aim to hit pan on the one shade I use for my brows

18. Elf Brow Gel

19. Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot - this has a good amount of pan showing

20. Urban Decay Primer Potion

21. Clinique Black Honey Lipstick mini

22.  Prada Candy Kiss 50ml

23.  Bloom Driftwood & Seasalt EDT

24.  Ralph Lauren Romance EDP 50ml

Will not need to buy in 2023

Nail polish
Hair serum/oil
Makeup  (except possibly foundation and mascara) - concealer purchased in January
Perfume (was gifted one in March)

Deodorant

Solid Shower Gel Bar (purchased one in Feb)

May need to buy in 2023

Shampoo bar

Cleanser

Facial Oil /Moisturiser
Curl cream - mousse bought February

Hand cream - 2 purchased February

Foot Cream

Hair Conditioner bar/refillable bottle of conditioner

Body Lotion/Bars

I bought a few things in February and have a couple of things due this week, I was placing an order with Beauty Naturals for some moisturiser that DS likes and I added in a couple of bits.

dolly84

I was washing my makeup brushes this morning and had a bit of a declutter.  I've gotten rid of the makeup brush roll that DD was getting rid of when she went to Uni, I've been using it but have decided to go back to a pretty pot instead.  Also got rid of the following:

Tanya Burr Lipgloss - lovely colour but it's old and I don't like lipgloss.

Body Shop Eyeshadow in a dark, shimmery brown called Brownie & Clyde - too dark for me

No7 Classic Rose Lipstick - lovely colour but it's matte and I hate matte lipstick.

Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Lovesick - way to bright for me

MAC Powersurge Eyeliner - I love the colour but it doesn't show up on my eyes, I don't really rate MAC eyeliners

There might be some other bits too, I'm really whittliing down my makeup to just what I will realistically use day to day.

ruby_eskimo

Morning all.  Thanks for the new thread @VALM

In February I used up 27 products, totalling £193.86 and had 12 INs totalling £102.73 (and all were replacements)

And already in March I've got a couple of UU's  to report:

Skin & Me Purifying Cleanser mini - didn't really like this but it did the job.  Have replaced with a deluxe mini of Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

Biossance Copper Peptide Plumping Serum mini - I actually really liked this and felt that it did make a difference to my skin.  It's expensive though so have gone back to my Vichy Mineral 89 serum.

Don't really have a PP list for the month but I think I might be able to make a bit of progress on reducing the stash down anyway.  Currently sitting here with a hair mask on while I have a day WFH without any calls and think I'll be having a nice bath this evening to continue the pampering theme!

Clutterbug07

Thanks for the new thread, @VALM!

My PP list for 2023- picked 23 for 23, so 5 down already!

1. Haruharu WONDER - Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner
2. Simple Protect 'N' Glow Radiance Booster SPF30
   
3. BIG Tresemme shampoo: Second HUGE bottle my Mum gave me. The husb uses this, but since half the time he cycles to work and showers there and it is HUGE, I think this may outlive us all!
4. Concrete Minerals mineral Eyeshadow in Ruse: the never ending eyeshadow, almost threw it out the other day just so I wouldn't have to keep hate panning it, but then I would feel cheated after having used this mediocre eyeshadow all this time!  It CANNOT be a throw away now!
5. Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum: soooooooooooo fragranced. Using up on hands/body.
6. No 7 Resurfacing Peel: this was a gift with purchase and I am too scared to use it- it's 15% glycolic and I think it might burn my face off.... I only use 7%!!
7. The Body Shop: Vitamin E Skin Cooling Gel Mist: think this will be good in the spring/summer
8. Tony Moly - The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Skin toner
9. The Body Shop- Aloe Calming Toner
10. The Body Shop InstaGlow CC Cream
11. Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner
12. Jackie's Hen Do Lip Balm x 2
13. Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Body Oil
14. Elf Jelly Pop Glow Stick: nice but I've had it a while and it's a creamy stick, so should use it up
15. LilyLolo Mineral Blush- Beach Babe: for some reason I ordered a few of these over time, clearly not realising I already owned it- *doh* and I don't love the colour that much, so would like at least one gone from my stash
16. LilyLolo Mineral Blush- Goddess: a deeper more rusty rose red colour, doesn't hugely suit me.
    
17. Benefit Gogo Tint: bright cherry lip n cheek tint.  Don't really use this very much (always prefered the cha cha peachy one), so would like to use it up this year
18. Sugarpill liquid lipstick- in Trinket:  keep thinking this is almost done.  And then it isn't!

Clutterbug07

UU

• Sure 72H anti-perspirant spray- 150ml- Invisible Aqua: Unexciting first UU of the month.
• Nivea Black & White Invisible Original anti-perspirant - Travel size 35ml: what a thrilling start to March
  

Throw away

• John Frida- Frizz Ease Original:  Not sure why I kept this so long!  I have actually almost finished it, but I just can't be bothered to keep using it (it is also old!) since it doesn't seem to do anything.  My hair is definitely still frizzy when I use this. WNBA.
• Chiltern Bee- Beeswax Lip Balm in Cherry:  Tin of lip balm we got at a random village shop in the Chilterns.  Went to use it today for the first time in ages, and it looks a bit yuck in there, so chucking this one
  

dolly84

in

Beauty of Bath Cashmere Musk Hand Cream - this is for my work bag

Naturally European Plum Violet Hand Cream - love this brand of hand creams, haven't tried this scent before.

Organii Cream Soap Rose Geranium - love anything rose geranium scented, this will be used in place of shower gel.

VALM

I bought 2 x donut shaped bath bombs from a market trader yesterday and put one in my bath. It was awful.  I've decided that I don't like bath bombs that leave things floating in my bath. Will donate the other to Emma.

pinkfluffybabe

Back in for March, thanks for the new thread VALM.

March PP List (more everyday stuff):

Medik8 Calmwise Serum
The Ordinary Niacinimide and Zinc
Ren Rose Shower Gel
Ren Rose Body Lotion
Aveda Nutriplenish Shampoo
Aveda Nutriplenish Conditioner
Aveda Nutriplenish leave-in Conditioner
Laura Mercier Handcream
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
Odylique Conditioner

Spring List (more long-haul stuff):

The Inkey List PHA Toner
Espa Lip Balm
Chanel Coco Noir Perfume
Burts Bees Cherry Lipbalm
Phillip Kingsley Elasticiser
Living Proof Healthy Dry Shampoo
Drunk Elephant Juju Cleanser
Drunk Elephant Pekee Cleanser
Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia
Laura Mercier Handcream

VALM

I have a UU. OPI Aphrodites pink nightie.  This is really old and smells like the old formula. Of late it feels like it won't self level and having gotten through more than half the bottle I'm calling it a day.

I've ordered a "free" Hyaluronic face mask (only paid shipping) and placed a free Boots order with points. Have ordered ELF lipstick in colour Limitless which looks a good dupe for my beloved and much missed Bare Minerals Gen Nude lipstick in the colour Love and the ELF fruit acid toner to see how it compares to the M&S one.