Progress is...

rtandon27

@beanielou - I ended up ordering two pairs - as I'd prefer one without a strap, but history has show that my ankles fair better when my feet are laced or strapped into the shoe. I ordered these and these - both leather and sent and returnable in the UK!

@Cherryfudge - I change up my lotions and potions quarterly - most products have a 24month shelf life once opened so I don't mind storing 1/2 full products for the next year! Now that I'm through 99% of my samples, I'm working on the full size items I have in the cupboard! The Finnish serum & moisturizer is Lumene & it's the vitamin C version - bouth at 75% off in the January sales. As far as I know the grapefgrapefruit scent is just fine, as I used it previously with a medication that was contraindicative to consuming it!

@KajiKita - I didn't end up ordering the ones you suggested as they unfortunately did not have my size. Also have had really bad luck with drop-ship companies from China as returning is a pita & expensive! Currently I have 3 bits of armature that do not fit despite the correct size being ordered! Returning them is double what they cost to get them here & they took over two weeks to arrive! I'm much more of the 1-2 day type with the option of handing the return to our lovely postie if it doesn't fit!

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, I never thought about changing scents with the seasons! Mind you, my lotions and potions are such a random assortment of scents that it probably doesn't make much difference 😬 Lotions I tend to buy as unopened charity shop finds so they're a bit of a random assortment - currently a very nice Body Shop cherry blossom!

rtandon27

@Cheery_Daff - Cherry Blossom is perfect for spring! A few years ago I was gifted a sample size set of that particular Bodyshop scent and hung onto them to use in the spring. Also had a sample size of l'occitaine cheery blossom hand cream - wasn't the same brand but scent was similar and used it along side.

I've also got plans to swap out my make-up in particular the eye stuff & sponges - mascara & eyeliner & eyebrow pencil & gel - also a quarterly ritual - but towards the end of the month!

Cheery_Daff

An excellent ritual! I feel like I need to just empty the whole bathroom out and start again, it's such a disorganised hodgepodge 😬

rtandon27

@Cheery_Daff - I used some of the ideas from Project Pan!

I started with Sample Smash - used up most of my travel-size, then progressed to Seasonal Rotation - which I still do, swapping items as seasons change

Found those two things alone made everything manageable, but general principles are only replacing low-stock when something is finished, and pan that palette which is using up make-up products until only the empty container remains. I also swapped with two friends who are as addicted to lotions and potions as I am for things that i didn't use. I'm big on scent and have a couple of friends who love blush and eyeshadows - neither of which I use, so I ended up with six months worth of my favorite frangrances and decluttered all the unopened blushes, bronzers and eye-shadows. Also gave away all the unopened mascara that was not waterproof as I have terrible spring and autumn allergies and can't use the regular stuff.

beanielou

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81922860#Comment_81922860

Thank you. They look ok. Good price and free postage too.

Cheery_Daff

Ah, I'd not heard of Project Pan, just had a quick scout around. All good stuff! I saw a picture where someone had laid out all their items, putting like things together, and I dread to think what it would look like if I did that 😬

beanielou

@rtandon27. Thanks for the link. I bought some flit flops awhile ago that were similar but in gold and sadly they did not suit my different feet.

Cherryfudge

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81922893#Comment_81922893

Thank you! I've had a look and am tempted! I will make a note to myself and stick it in my makeup drawer so I can give myself a budge when the current batch runs low.

rtandon27

An update on the shoes - surprisingly the pair with the strap did not fit as the toe box was too shallow and cut into the metatarsal on my left big toe - this has been the problem with almost every pair I've tried to purchase. Good news is the slip on pair that are labelled high-cut do fit well so finally I can check that chore off the list! What I've learned is that I'm going to have to keep an eye out for shoes/brands that I know fit well while they are on sale!

So another package to return - but at least OH will have an excuse to go to the door and have a chat with our lovely postie.