No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries March 2024

Hodgepodge

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.

Thanks to @Clutterbug07  for starting last month's thread.

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!

Hodgepodge

I'd like to start with an announcement... I have bought no toiletries or make-up since last year!!

This is a first for me and I still can't quite believe it..

So if I can do it, so can you!!

VALM

Thanks for the new thread @Hodgepodge.  My PP List

Carried forward 

Skinsense Mask

Pure toner

Bondi Sands SPF

The Inkey List Retinol Serum

Laura Geller Peach Sorbet

Added

Rituals Mehr body lotiom

The Inkey List Vit C serum

The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray Mini

Yorkshire Soap Co Naughty Soap

DONE 

Garnier body lotion 02.03 24

INS ELF Concealer

Love the Garnier body lotion. Have replacement in stash but want to use the Rituals one up first.

VALM

Updated PP List
Carried forward 

Skinsense Mask

Pure toner

Bondi Sands SPF

The Inkey List Retinol Serum

Laura Geller Peach Sorbet

Added

Rituals Mehr body lotiom DONE

The Inkey List Vit C serum

The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray Mini

Yorkshire Soap Co Naughty Soap

UU Rituals Mehr body lotion. This was gorgeous. Would probably not purchase for myself but would put it on my Christmas list.

I also finished a fragrance sample of Bleu Chanel.  Was ok.

VALM

UU Essie Angora Cardi. This used to be a favourite colour and I felt nostalgic when I pulled it out to use. I didnt feel bad about finishing it though.

Clutterbug07

@VALM there's you finishing nail polishes and I'm over here not being able to stop buying more!   Probs why I haven't updated anything on here this month cos it all got a bit out of hand and I'm embarrassed about doing so badly!

I do have some outs though:

UU

• Collection- Gloss Me Up lipgloss tube in Pink Fizz: From my PP list- this has been sooooooo close for ages and I just can't get anymore out.  Love this, it's so sparkly and silly and fun.  I have a backup in the stash already cos I love it so much.
• Boots Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover 200ml: Repurchased this the other week (last month) as I knew I was running out soon.
• Sure 72H anti-perspirant spray- 250ml- Uplifting and Fresh

Gave Away

• ORLY Bonder - Nail Polish Rubber Basecoat 18ml: These just don't work for me. My mani lasts all of about 5 seconds with these, and I don’t think the base coat is good for my nails- makes them flakey
• ORLY Shining Armour - Polish Topcoat 18ml:  ditto
• Red nail polish from Christmas cracker: This was a gift, it came in a beauty Christmas cracker thing.  It's proper red red, which is not my colour, I won't ever wear it, so seeing if anyone at work wants it.
  
• Black skull nal polish - 'Horror Show':  Don't know the brand, the bottle is skull shaped so it's cool, but as a black it isnt black enough. It has a bit of sparkly which makes it slightly grey (v dark gray)- I never use this, as I'd rather use an actual black or grey.
  

INS

And here comes the embarrassing bit

• 7 nail polishes and 1 top coat......
• Isntree Chestnut 8% AHA Essence - Mini (20ml):  Want to reintroduce an AHA and this is 4% glycolic and 4% lactic, so a bit gentler than full glycolic.  I've also used this before and it has been fine, however I would not get through a full one of these before the expiry as I will be taking it slow, so I ordered the mini to 'trial'. Replacement.
  
• IUNIK Beta Glucan Moisture Cream - Mini (15ml): I probably won't use Cetraben Cream forever, so this looks like a gentle moisturiser with no crazy ingredients. Mini to try out.
• Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner - Mini (30ml): I love this toner, nice and gentle and soothing ingredients.  Again, mini size to trial it.  It never bothered my skin before but want to be careful.
• Free Sample- Pyunkang Yul- Cleansing Foam
• Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream  SPF 40: I used up my last BB cream a long time ago and have wanted to replace for a while.  I currently have 2 x foundations that are both not far off being finished and one is the colour I like (ivory) and one feels a little too dark (rose ivory), so I plan to have just the Klairs BB cream and the Ivory foundation moving forward.  Replacement.
  
• L’Oreal Paris Infallible 32H Freshwear Foundation- Ivory (20): current one running low- replacement.
  
• Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Oil Control Setting Powder - Translucent: current one has huge pan- it's more pan than powder. Replacement.
  
• Sure Women Cotton Dry Antiperspirant Antiperspirant Deodorant 150ml: bought this in a pinch when I ran out
• Sure Women Uplift Antiperspirant Deodorant Nonstop 250ml: full size.  I'll use the other for travel. Replacement.
  
• 17. Gorgeous Gloss Lipgloss in 001:  A pretty yellowy orange gloss in a squeezy tube. My current peachy gloss is almost done and I like a squeezy tube with a super light tint for the day to day ease, so trying this. Colour looked pretty.  Sort of replacement....
  
• 17. Gorgeous Gloss Lipgloss in 003: An orangey lipgloss in a squeezy tube. This one I did not need, but I wanted it based on the colour.  Because it was inexpensive I added to cart
  

Not a great start, so many ins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am hoping that for a bit I have got the nail polish purchasing bug out of my system- at least for a bit!  I am clearly very much a work in progress with this no buy/low buy.  You'd think I'd be better by now!!

But I am slowly working through old items, so that is pleasing.  I think I should have a toner and perhaps 2 serums done this month (expired ones I'm using on my body) so that will be amazing to get them gone. :-) 

Clutterbug07

PP list- 24 for 24: 5 gone so far!

1)      Tony Moly - The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Skin toner: tbh I think the TM toner is actually gone, as I kept topping up the bottle with other toners!  But since I called the toners I used to top up the bottle the empties, and not the TM one, I will say that I still have this to use up.  I wont refill now, and then when finished the bottle I can finally call the TM toner an empty!

2)      Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Body Oil- I WILL use this this year!!

3)      LilyLolo Mineral Blush- Goddess: a deeper more rusty rose red colour. I actually quite like this now after trying to pan it last year, so I'd rather it wasn't gone, but I've started so now I have to finish!

4)      Benefit Gogo Tint: bright cherry lip n cheek tint.  Probs will last a hundred years!

5)      Sugarpill loose eyeshadow in Absinthe:  A sparkly green, of which I have many.

6)      Sugarpill loose eyeshadow in Penelope:  a super reflective metallic copper with extra large particles. Too flakey and annoying, and not really my colour.

7)     DR. CEURACLE Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence:  expired, will use on body.

8)   Barry M eyeshadow pot in 44:  a copper shimmer

9)   Ample N Ceramide Shot Ampoule:   expired, will use on body.

10)   Mad About Skin antioxidant cream:  expired, will use on body.

11)   DERMATORY - Hypoallergenic Cica Gel Cream 50ml

12)   NEOGEN - Dermalogy White Truffle Serum In Oil Drop

13)   Benton - Deep Green Tea Toner: expired, will use on body.

14)   The Body Shop- Body Yogurt in Strawberry

15)   I'm from - Mugwort Essence

16)   MAC Black Cherry Glow Play Lipbalm:  bought in 2021.... probably should use this up now!

17)   Skin1004 Brightening ampoule toner: used this on my neck for a few weeks before Christmas and no adverse reaction, so might attempt this on my actual face soon!!

18)   Collection- Gloss Me Up lipgloss in Lychee: pretty shiny gloss in a peachy dusty pink colour. Not far off being done.

19)   The Body Shop hand cream in Winter Jasmine

COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence:  expired, will use on body.

No 7 Hydraluminous lipbalm in Coral  DONE!

Lilylolo lipstick in Love Affair:  browny nude sheer shade- very balmy.

Isntree - Onion Newpair Essence Toner:  expired, will use on body.

Collection - Gloss Me Up lipgloss in Pink Fizz:  a pink sparkly lipgloss that I LOVE- it’s very fun and silly!  It’s almost finished.

VALM

@Clutterbug07 I get the nail polish thing. I used to be enticed by value kits and would buy the OPI Fall collections each year. Nail polish is a fairly inexpensive item to collect and takes a long time to go off so is never really wasted.  

The only thing ive learned is I never truly finish a bottle. Ive tried nail polish thinner in the past and find it changes the formula so much that the polish isnt worth using. 

VALM

Updated PP List
Carried forward 

Skinsense Mask

Pure toner

Bondi Sands SPF DONE

The Inkey List Retinol Serum

Laura Geller Peach Sorbet

Added

Rituals Mehr body lotiom DONE

The Inkey List Vit C serum

The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray Mini DONE

Yorkshire Soap Co Naughty Soap

Ive had a crop of UUs this week

Bondi Sands. Have a replacement ready

I had already mentiined the Mehr body lotion however i have replaced this. It came in a Look Fantastic box  Both myself and Emma received this box and she doesnt like this lotion. Swapped it for a Sakura lotion with me. We also did this with the Percy & Reed mousse I recently got. Swapped for the WOW Balm which I love and Emma doesnt.

Urban Decay Setting spray mini. This is the last sample size i have. I have a full size to use and then will have no setting spray left.

Will post my updated list in a new post.

VALM

Carried forward 

Skinsense Mask

Pure toner

The Inkey List Retinol Serum

Laura Geller Peach Sorbet

Added

The Inkey List Vit C serum

The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum

Replaced with

Yorkshire Soap Co Naughty Soap

Bath & Body Works Into The Night handcrean

Bath & Body Works Iced Sugar Plum body cream

OPI Nail Envy

Ive ordered a Sunday Riley kit from QVC to try their Vitamin C serum. I think ill try it as soon as it comes then maybe get another kit if I like it.

VALM

More UUs not on my PP List

Phil Smith Cocolicious dry shampoo. This is my HG one now however I have the Percy & Reed one now from the recently purchased kit.

Blabzbeautybar cuticke oil pen - Clementine fragrance. Have 2 more of these.

TA - Colourpop Super Shock shadow called Birthday Girl. I had used it a lot previously however its now dry. I rehydrated it with Duraline but find irs too chunky/icy for me now.