No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries April 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 me 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!

London_baby

Thanks for the new thread.

Starting the month with a TA: Revolution eye shadow palette. It was broken, cheap, and didn't spark any joy. Not worth packing to my new place.

VALM

Thanks @Hodgepodge for the new thresd.  My PP List this month:-

Carried forward 

Skinsense Mask

Pure toner

The Inkey List Retinol Serum

Laura Geller Peach Sorbet

The Inkey List Vit C serum

Bath & Body Works Into The Night handcrean

OPI Nail Envy

Very Valentino Yellow Dream

ADDED

Q&A Caffeine Eye cream

Essie top coat

Really want to fimish all of these this month.  I also want to fimish the Hush blush from the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette and am working hard on hitting pan in my MAC This Rounds On Me shadow.  I hit pan in the second shadow in the Charlotte Tilbury Rebel quad.

For March I finished 8 items and brought in 13.  I really dont want to buy anything this month. Am testing the Q&A Niacinamide cleanser to see if it works on keeping my oil at bay.

Clutterbug07

Thanks for the new thread, @Hodgepodge!

Hope everyone had a good Easter!

PP list- 24 for 24: 7 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)      Benefit Gogo Tint: bright cherry lip n cheek tint.  Probs will last a hundred years!

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

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

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

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

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

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

10)   DERMATORY - Hypoallergenic Cica Gel Cream 50ml

11)   NEOGEN - Dermalogy White Truffle Serum In Oil Drop

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

13)   The Body Shop- Body Yogurt in Strawberry

14)   I'm from - Mugwort Essence

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

16)   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!!

17)   The Body Shop hand cream in Winter Jasmine

COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

No 7 Hydraluminous lipbalm in Coral

Lilylolo lipstick in Love Affair

Isntree - Onion Newpair Essence Toner

Collection - Gloss Me Up lipgloss in Pink Fizz

LilyLolo Mineral Blush- Goddess

Collection- Gloss Me Up lipgloss in Lychee


Had a few UU's since April started:

• L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara Black Waterproof: My HG.  Got to the dry annoying stage, so its done now and has been like 4 months
• Rimmel Extra Super Lash- Black: I didn't like this one.  Didn’t provide volume or length!  This was a GWP so I didn't buy it, nor would I.
  

And I hit two pans:

• Karla Cosmetics Opal Multichrome Pressed Eyeshadow in Beauty Sleep: beautiful iridescent shifty shade I use on the brow bone area 
• Bperfect Antidote Palette - Pampas: peachy colour, love this one, like it for blending and inner 'cut crease' area when doing an orangey look.
  

VALM

Updated list
Carried forward 

Skinsense Mask

Pure toner

The Inkey List Retinol Serum

Laura Geller Peach Sorbet

The Inkey List Vit C serum

Bath & Body Works Into The Night handcrean DONE

OPI Nail Envy

Very Valentino Yellow Dream

ADDED

Q&A Caffeine Eye cream

Essie top coat

Banobiaji Caffeine Serum

UU Bath & Body Works Into The Night handcream. Love these although the RRP of £8.50 is steep for the size.

Have added Banobiaji Caffeine Serum to the list so I can work on fimishing this off.

Bare Minerals primer sample. This was the hydrating one. There was enough product to use twice. This was nice but MAC would have to discontinue the Radiant one for me to switch.

London_baby

1 out: Josh Wood root touch up spray, WNBA, hair had that 'sprayed' on look.

1 in: L'Oréal root touch up spray as replacement. May be my HG. Bit more expensive but more natural looking and I get it cheaper as part my nectar prices.

pinkfluffybabe

Back in for April, thanks for the new thread hodgepodge!

PP List:

Fresh Grapefruit Shower Gel
Odilyque Shampoo 
Aveda Nutriplenish Conditioner
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
Chanel Coco Noir
Elevate Facial Oil
Burts Bees Lip Balm
Lanolips

Have 2 UU already from my list:

Aveda Nutriplenish Conditioner. WBA. Onto next bottle.
Elevate Sensitive Facial Oil. WBA. Trying another make just now.

And two thrown away that were past their best.

VALM

2 more UUs

Sunday Riley Good Genes 8ml - this was a glycholic treatment. I cant say that I noticed any difference to my skin when using this. I have a night oil left from this kit. I may save it for when I travel in July.

OPI Ginger's Revenge - this is a dupe for Malaga Wine which I own in mini size.

I have ordered a tube of The Inkey List Vitamin   Serum as i dont have any Vit C in my stash and my current serum is feeling very light.

Still working at hitting pan in my MAC shadow. Hoping to finish Urban Decay Hush blush very soon as it is now depotted.

Clutterbug07

UU

• Nivea Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover: Ok this bottle lasted a month- eeeeeek!  I need to do something differently!
• L'Oreal Infallible 24hr Freshwear foundation-Rose Ivory (60): Like this foundation, think the 20 (Ivory) is a better shade match. I have a 20 that will be used up soon too, and bought its replacement last month so that it is ready to go.
  
• L'Oreal Paris Infallible More Than Concealer - 325 Bisque: Finally used this up.  Thought it would finish much sooner than it did- I bought the replacement for this in January- that’s how long this clung on, so note to self- when you think you are done, you aren't!
  
• Sure Women Cotton Dry Antiperspirant Antiperspirant Deodorant 150ml: Had one in the stash ready to go. In a larger size.
  

A few INS

• e.l.f. Power Grip Primer: Current one is running v low. Like this, nice and sticky
• La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 - 100ml: Current one is spluttering. Just checked price from the last time I bought this- it was £12 last time, this time £18.90!!!!!
  
• Nizoral Anti-dandruff Shampoo - 60ml: Supposed to help with hairloss and inflammation in the scalp, so giving it a go.  *sigh*
  
• L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara Black Waterproof: Replacement of my HG.  Currently using Elf Big Mood (a GWP), but I don't love it.  Will give it a bit longer a go, but then if it doesn't improve, I will switch to this (my fave).
  
• Revolution Colour Correct Primer- green:  Wanted to try this on my redness.  Used it one of the weekend days and the next day I had two giant spots (one on cheek, one on chin), so haven't tried it again since.  It might be coincidence, but I am scared now....

VALM

UU Urban Decay X Gwen Stefani Hush blush. This was lovely.  2 blushers left in this palette. Second product finished in my 24 in 202r list. 

VALM

I threw away 2 eyeshadows yesterday:-

Lorac Chocolate from the Pro Matte palette. I had depotted this when i duscarded the rest of the palette. I have been using it in my brows however its become too powdery to use and things have got messy. I am now using MAC How You Thrill Me instead.

A frankened shadow from the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette. Again, I discarded the rest of the palette because it had lost pigmentation.  The same has happened with this frankened one so its gone too. The result was a murky taupe colour.