No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries - May

pinkfluffybabe

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!

pinkfluffybabe

Back in for May

May PP List (more everyday stuff):

Arran Aromatics Hand Cream
Drunk Elephant Protini
Caudalie Grape Water
The Ordinary Niacinimide and Zinc
Aveda Nutriplenish Shampoo
Aveda Nutriplenish Conditioner
Aveda Nutriplenish leave-in Conditioner
Laura Mercier Handcream
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
Odylique Conditioner

Summer 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

dolly84

Thanks for the new thread pfb.

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, foundation purchased April
Perfume (was gifted one in March)

Deodorant

Solid Shower Gel Bar (purchased one in Feb)

May need to buy in 2023

Shampoo bar

Cleanser - cleansing butter purchased April

Facial Oil /Moisturiser
Curl cream - mousse bought February

Hand cream - 2 purchased February

Foot Cream

Hair Conditioner bar/refillable bottle of conditioner - hair mask purchased April

Body Lotion/Bars

I don't plan on buying anything in May, I bought quite a few things in April and don't want to slip back into old habits.

VALM

Thanks for the new thread @pinkfluffybabe.

My PP List

Carried forward

Ultrasun SPF

Garden date eyeshadow 

OPI Big bow energy mini

OPI You've got that Glasglow 

Percy & Reed serum

Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray

Skin Saints Vitamin C serum 

Pure Toner 

Added

Amika scalp treatment 

Aloe hand cream

I will have some INS soon because my favourite Etsy seller for the cuticle oil i love had a clearance section today. £1.50 each pen so i orfered 3.

VALM

First UU MAC Stack mascara.  WNB. This came in a kit. Will give it away next time I get one. The wand is too spiky. The struggle is real. Lol

ruby_eskimo

Thanks for the new thread @pinkfluffybabe.

PP List for May:

Cath Kidston Lavender Hand Cream
Glossier Rose Balm Dot Com
Nars Rikugien lip pencil
4 Sheet Masks (the last of the stash!)
2 body lotions
S&G Foot cream
Yves Rocher Coconut EDT
Umberto Gianni Scalp Scrub
Biossance lactic acid serum
Bobbi Brown Java eyeshadow

Few things carried over from last month but a few stretch items as well.  Bit behind on the weekly pampering so can see a few things being used up tonight.

Nelliegrace

Scottish Fine Soaps, 6 large shaving soap refills £17.15 with delivery from eBay. 
DH is very pleased.

ruby_eskimo

Lots of UU to report from last night / this morning:

Erborian My Beauty Shot Sheet Mask: didn't really like this, had a creamy essence to it rather than a watery one. Think it was a freebie with something and I definitely wouldn't buy it. It didn't really hydrate my skin like I would expect a sheet mask to.

Bayliss & Harding Jojoba and Vanilla Bubble Bath: another mini from the advent calendar. Have 4 more of these so should be done with in early June, if not by the end of the month.

Rituals The Ritual of Mehr Body Scrub: I love this scrub, probably my HG. I like how scrubby it is without scratching my skin and then it is quite moisturising as it's oil based. Want to try to make my own but have a Soap and Glory one to use up first.

H2O Sea Salt Conditioner: this was a mini from my last Disney holiday. Housekeeping staff ended up giving us absolutely loads of the free toiletries as they were trying to get rid of them because they've been discontinued in favour of refillible bottles. Does an OK job, have a few more to work through.

Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm: Picked up a gift set of three of these in the boxing day sales. First time I've tried the Farmacy balm and it was quite nice, texture was good, similar to TBS Camomile one but a bit less waxy in texture if that makes sense. Have replaced with another one in a tangerine scent (this one was prickly pear)

Wet n Wild Brulee eyeshadow: I love this shadow, it's cheap and cheerful and really blends out well. It's a cream toned matte that I lay down as a base to all my other eye looks. However I think it's discontinued as it's shot up in price on all the sites I would usually buy it from. Luckily I've realised that Sephora make a very similar one, which I've cracked out to try. It's a little more expensive than the Wet n Wild one but still not too bad. Plus I've realised that you can pop the pan out quite easily but it's a smidge bigger than the standard MAC sized pans so won't fit in my MAC travel palette but might fit in my free form one.

Have a Stylevana order on it's way to me finally with some replacements for things that will be empty soon so will declare those IN's once they actually get here.

ruby_eskimo

Another UU:

Cath Kidston Lavender and Camomile Hand Cream: this was part of a Christmas gift and TBH I hated it.  The scent reminded me of cheap air freshener and it left a strange coating to the skin.  But I persevered and worked my way through it.  Have lots more hand creams to work through so have replaced with TBS coconut.

VALM

@ruby_eskimo thanks for your mini review of Farmacy cleanser. I may try it when I run out of my TBS Cleansing butter.  

I have a H20 body butter in my stash. Couldn't recall where I got it. If it was from Dusney it's very old as we haven't stayed there for about 8 years at least.

VALM

VALM said:

Thanks for the new thread @pinkfluffybabe.

My PP List

Carried forward

Ultrasun SPF

Garden date eyeshadow 

OPI Big bow energy mini

OPI You've got that Glasglow 

Percy & Reed serum

Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray

Skin Saints Vitamin C serum 

Pure Toner 

Added

Amika scalp treatment 

Aloe hand cream

I will have some INS soon because my favourite Etsy seller for the cuticle oil i love had a clearance section today. £1.50 each pen so i orfered 3.

UU Skin Saints Vitamin C serum.  Wasn't working for me any more.  Looking forward to trying the Loreal one.