No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries - November 2024

Hodgepodge

If your beauty and toiletries are taking over your life, then this is the thread to help you work through the stash and motivate you to not buy anymore (hopefully!)

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 @ruby_eskimo 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!

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without

Clutterbug07

Thanks @Hodgepodge for the new thread!

Didn't finish anything on my PP list last month, so it remains the same.

PP list- 24 for 24: 17 gone so far!

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

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

3)              DERMATORY - Hypoallergenic Cica Gel Cream 50ml

4)              NEOGEN - Dermalogy White Truffle Serum In Oil Drop

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

6)              Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Plump in Angel Shimmer: Got it in Dec 2022 so time to get this used up. It's almost finished!

7)             Umberto Giannini Grow Tonic

No UUs yet, but did hit a pan in my Ace Beaute Flair Palette, in shade Sherbet- it's a bright chartruesey yellow- love it for an inner corner.

Clutterbug07

A few INS for me:

• Mad About Skin- Ultimate Anti-Aging Oil: a replacement for my retinal oil that ran out the other week.  I am soooooooo glad to have this back, I missed it!
• Mad About Skin- Maximum Impact Moisturiser: replacement also. Nice thicker texture for winter
• Mad About Skin - Multi-Active Super Serum: I needed my moisturiser and retinal oil as both had run out, and they were doing an offer- spend £15 and get a free super serum.  This serum I have bought myself multiple times in the past, so pretty excited to get a free one!

VALM

Thanks for the new thread @Hodgepodge. I want to finish my MAC This Rounds on Me eyeshadow and my MAC Dare You lipstick before the end of the year.

My PP List
Lacura hand cream

Bobbi Brown Clementine hit pan

Skinsense facial oil

Percy & Reed hair primer

Q&A eye cream

Faith in Nature body lotion

The Inkey List Retinol Serum

Lacura Tropical Essence Body lotion

ADDED

ELF Concealer

Lacura moisturiser

Clutterbug07

UU

• The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter- big size 73g: Love this balm.  I have a cleansing oil to use next though, but no doubt at some point I will switch back to this.
• Sample sachet- Hanskin Vitamin A Retinol Serum (0.1%): Creamy retinol serum sachets. Used up on my body. I like my retinal oil so wouldn't purchase these I don't think. Of the two, I preferred the texture of the Somebymi as it's a little thinner.
• Sample Sachet - Somebymi - Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum (0.1%)
• Concrete Minerals Electric Eye Primer: My fave eyeshadow primer, colours really pop when using this, and stay all day.  When I bought this one last year I bought two as it's from the US, so I can dig my replacement out of my stash.
• L'Oreal Paris Infallible More Than Concealer - in Bisque: Got my replacement in Sept so I wouldn't run out in Spain but as always with concealers- you think you're done and then you can still get a lot more out!

IN

• The Ordinary-  Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum - 30ml: Have wanted to try copper-peptides for a while, need to maximise that anti-aging, and I figure when the Ordinary have their great November sale would be a good time to pick it up
• The Ordinary-  Multi-Peptide serum for Hair Density: Also picked up the hair growth serum as a backup (I know, I know), but I am going to be making more of a concerted effort with the hair serums, so thought I would save a bit of cash and buy it now.  Did I do girl math?

And one pan in my Bella Beaute Bar- Strange and Unusual eyeshadow palette, in shade Lost Souls- a green-gold-orange duo/multichrome- it's beautiful!

VALM

UU The Inkey List Retinol Serum. I have a replacement but for now am concentrating on the Skinsense facial oil.

My Bare Minerals Pressed Mineral Veil is nearing its end. The ring around the edge has now broken up. At the moment I cant afford to repurchase this and considering this particular pot has only lasted just over a month i wanted a cheaper alternative. Ive purchased the No7 one. I also bought a lipstick in Deep Rust to qualify for the free gift. Add to that the money off voucher abd i ended up paying £13 for 3 items.

Clutterbug07

UUs

• SKIN 1004 - Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule [100ml]: Like this serum, has tranexamic acid and a vit C derivative and centella.  Think my skin likes it too, so I have ordered a replacement
• Umberto Giannini Grow Tonic:  From my PP list!  I don’t think this really did anything, and I have been using it more frequently for this last bit too.  I am looking forward to going back to the Ordinary peptide serum for hair (already in stash) as it has more positive reviews. Fingers crossed!
• CuticleLAB - cuticle oil pens - Margarita scent: Like these, have 2 left now- one for work and one for my bag. Will repurchase when they run out- they're super handy!

A few INs too as I did a Yesstyle order.  I needed a replacement for my Skin1004 and it was cheaper direct from Korea/Yesstyle, so I placed an order for some of my favourites to save some cash.  Perhaps a bit of girl math there for you....  I usually only do a Yesstyle order once a year- the last time I did was March 2023.  Interestingly, in March last year I also ordered the Skin1004 brightening ampoule, the propolis toner, and the Isntree bifida serum, so they are faves!

• SKIN 1004 - Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule [100ml]
• SKIN 1004 - Madagascar Centella Toning Toner Mini [30ml]: Super gentle PHA toner/exfoliator. Trying a mini incase it doesn't agree with my skin.
• Isntree - TW-Real Bifida Ampoule - 50ml: I loved this serum, and is meant to be a good dupe for the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair!  Have been wanting it back for a while.
• COSRX - Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner [150ml]: I LOVE this toner.  Am not loving the IUNIK one I currently am using, so want to go back to this once that's complete, and then the onion one when it is warmer again, as it's good for acne n oily skin
• Isntree - Onion Newpair Essence Toner  - 200ml

Clutterbug07

Updated PP list- 24 for 24: 18 gone so far!

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

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

3)              DERMATORY - Hypoallergenic Cica Gel Cream 50ml

4)              NEOGEN - Dermalogy White Truffle Serum In Oil Drop

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

6)              Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Plump in Angel Shimmer: Got it in Dec 2022 so time to get this used up. It's almost finished!

Umberto Giannini Grow Tonic

Realistically I think only 2 more from my list might get finished now before 2025, but I haven't done too badly