No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries - December 2024

Clutterbug07

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 @@Hodgepodge 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

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!

One will be finished before the new year, maaaaaaaaaaaybe two.  Lets see how we go!

Clutterbug07

First UUs of the month:

• John Frieda Frizz-Ease Daily Miracle Leave-In Conditioner 200ml: Bought the replacement for this last month. Light spray format.
• Boots Anti-Dandruff Ketoconazole 2% w/w Shampoo: Like this for my second wash, once I've cleansed I use this and leave it on for a bit.  Supposed to help with hairfall and I have been using it more regularly recently and I think it helps a bit
• L’Oréal Extraordinary Clay conditioner for oily hair 200ml: I liked this, though since I don’t really put conditioner on my scalp/roots, the clay aspect is a bit pointless.  I think I had to order this from Notino as it wasn't stocked at Boots, so for now, not going to bother replacing with the same- will use my hair mask as conditioner till I pick up something from Boots.
• Revolution Hydrate & Fix Fixing Spray 100ml: I like this one, nice setting spray, large bottle, reasonably priced.   Was going to repurchase but then remembered I bought the Mehron barrier fixing spray for Halloween so will see how that does.  It might be a bit too 'strong' for every day use, but we'll see.

INs

Most of these are replacements- some are ever so slightly early replacements because of Christmas and not wanting to risk running out when the shops are closed/not wanting to have to go to the shops for any of this on like, Christmas Eve or between Christmas and NY!

• Boots Anti-Dandruff Ketoconazole 2% w/w Shampoo
• L'Oréal Elvive Bond Repair Conditioner 150ml: Thought I'd give this one a try.
• Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Oil Control Setting Powder- Translucent: Current one has a big pan.
• 17. Gorgeous Gloss Lipgloss- Almond: I have managed to lose this, AGAIN!  I only re-bought it in September cos I lost it, and now I've done it again somehow!!!!!  It is my absolutely favourite, so I'm not going without. Had to replace.
• L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara Black Waterproof: Mine will be v dry by Christmas, so will be swapping out to a new one for the holidays. Tbh it's dry now but I will persevere till closer to Christmas before I crack the new one open!
• Umberto Giannini Texture Boost Volumising Dry Texture Mist: Liked this so decided to rebuy it (mine is low) rather than get the expensive Moroccan oil one, which was lovely but v pricey!
• Boots Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover 200ml: Current one is lowish and since Christmas = more glitters, I'm gonna need all the remover!
• e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
• L’Oréal Paris Infallible 32H Fresh Wear long-lasting liquid foundation shade 20: Usually 20 is called Ivory, but this one was called Ivory/didn't have Ivory printed on the top…. But it was my number and the shade looked the same…. Fingers crossed!  Used Boots points, so I didn't spend any money on this, it was "free"

Ooof that was a lot.  All replacements, buuuuut in one go, it's a lot.  

And one surprise pan this morning- in my Beauty Bay Earthy 9 pan in the shade Trance- a light bright yellow green I use for blending out.

Clutterbug07

Aww is it just me, myself and I this month?  And I'm not a very good example of the no-buy spirit either this month- sorry anyone who might be reading this!!  I've been shopping for replacements slightly early, as I don't want to run out over Xmas/NY/early Jan when I figure the postal service will be awful, so I have many buys rather than no-buys this month    And I bought an eyeshadow palette too.....

UU

• Travel/sample tube - M&S Discovery Perfume in White Coconut: This one smelled lovely, I would purchase a full size.
• Sanex Zero% Gentle Moisture Shower Gel for Sensitive Skin 225ml

INS

• Cosmic Brushes - Tis the Season 20 pan eyeshadow palette: I caved and bought an eyeshadow palette!  It is absolutely stunning and has all my favourite colours in- green, orange, reds, and some purples- it looks so beautiful and I know I will get a lot of use out of it.  It reminds me of the Odens Eye Christmas Day palette from a few years ago, except Cosmic Brushes apparently has a much better formula!  I had been eying up much more expensive palettes and I am so glad I waited because this one really speaks to me so much more than those other ones!  Still unnecessary, I do feel guilty for buying it, but I also am really glad I have it!
• Batiste Dry Shampoo - Medium & Brunette 200ml
• L'Oreal Paris Elvive Hydra Pure 72Hr Purifying Shampoo: Has Salicylic acid in, meant to be good for keeping scalp clean and less greasy. Replacement as my current shampoo is running lowish.
• Garnier Micellar Water Facial Cleanser For Sensitive Skin 700ml: replacement as current is low.
• Garnier Micellar Water Oil Infused Facial Cleanser For Waterproof Makeup 400ml: slightly early replacement....
• e.l.f. Stay All Night Setting Mist 80ML:  Currently using my Mehron spray from Halloween, and I like it for Halloween makeup, but it is NOT good for regular all-day setting. If I rub my face later in the day all the makeup balls up and comes off- it's so bad! It has 30m expiry, so it'll be good for next Halloween so it's going back in the spooky makeup bag.  Will use this instead.

See?  Not good.  Don't come for me!!   

I do have a couple of pans though: 

• Beauty Bay Earthy 16 pan palette in the shade Pickle (a dark olivey green)- I have 6 pans in this palette now so that's pretty cool!  
• Beauty Bay Botanical palette in the shade Lily- just a cream lid-setting shade, so an easy pan. I don't often use lid-setters but a few palettes I have do require them of the sparkly shades crease.
• Oooooh, and I also hit pan in a highlighter    My Beauty Bay powder Highlighter in Aura.  It's a v baby pan, but I still see it there!  "Highlighter"- on me, it's waaaaaaay too dark for a highlighter, it's quite bronzy and I actually use it as like a glowy blush and I absolutely LOVE IT!  

lynseydee

Hi everyone, I used to be a big follower of these threads every month but over the last few years life has gotten in the way and I haven’t participated in any way except I can say my stash has gone down slowly over the years, albeit not as much as I would like but I’m certainly not buying anywhere near what I used to.

I don’t want to enable anyone but thought I might get some good advice here.

My niece turned 16 in November and i wanted to do something special for her like i did for her brother.  I had a couple of ideas but have decided what i want to get her is a nice makeup set.  Depending on cost will depend if it’s just birthday or also a Christmas gift.

She suffers with dry skin on her face and gets a moisturising cream from the doctor. I’m looking for something that would work with her skin.  I vaguely remember one of the regulars in the early days talking about a makeup brand but can’t for the life of me remember her name or the brand but think it was one she got from QVC.

if anyone is able to suggest something it would really help me out as I don’t know anything about makeup what with only occasionally wearing a bit of lipstick.

Clutterbug07

lynseydee - you might have gathered from my posts above, but same same- I'm not perfect by a long stretch, but better than I was and that's the important thing isn't it- progression over perfection!

Hmm, are you in the UK?  If so and you were thinking eyeshadow, I do recommend the Beauty Bay eyeshadow palettes- excellent colour pay off, both matts and shimmers, they last all day, and they're inexpensive- I don't know how they do it!!  Or Cosmic Brushes is a UK indie brand that do really nice eyeshadow too- they're also not too expensive, and do some beautiful colour stories.  I only have one of theirs, their new Christmas palette, but I love it already (infact I am wearing it today)!  If you wanted something more traditional, Natasha Denona eyeshadow and Pat McGrath eyeshadow are also meant to be lovely- more expensive, but good quality and a bit fancy.  

Or if USA-based, Unearthly Cosmetics and Bella Beaute Bar for some stunning indie eyeshadow, though they are not cheap. They do also ship to the UK (which I have done before!), or they sell some on the Monolith EU website.

For other makeup-type items I'm not sure tbh what's good- eyeshadow is my thing!    You could check out Angelica Nyqvist on Youtube, she'll be posting her faves/best of 2024 soon so you might find some good suggestions there.

For dry skin, if sensitive, K Beauty has some v nice gentle skincare and on some of the UK resellers like Skinsider or PureSeoul they do bundles for specific skin-types/issues so you might find something good there. I recommend the Dr Ceuracle vegan kombucha tea essence for dry skin, it's lovely!

lynseydee

Clutterbug07 said:

lynseydee - you might have gathered from my posts above, but same same- I'm not perfect by a long stretch, but better than I was and that's the important thing isn't it- progression over perfection!

Hmm, are you in the UK?  If so and you were thinking eyeshadow, I do recommend the Beauty Bay eyeshadow palettes- excellent colour pay off, both matts and shimmers, they last all day, and they're inexpensive- I don't know how they do it!!  Or Cosmic Brushes is a UK indie brand that do really nice eyeshadow too- they're also not too expensive, and do some beautiful colour stories.  I only have one of theirs, their new Christmas palette, but I love it already (infact I am wearing it today)!  If you wanted something more traditional, Natasha Denona eyeshadow and Pat McGrath eyeshadow are also meant to be lovely- more expensive, but good quality and a bit fancy.  

Or if USA-based, Unearthly Cosmetics and Bella Beaute Bar for some stunning indie eyeshadow, though they are not cheap. They do also ship to the UK (which I have done before!), or they sell some on the Monolith EU website.

For other makeup-type items I'm not sure tbh what's good- eyeshadow is my thing!    You could check out Angelica Nyqvist on Youtube, she'll be posting her faves/best of 2024 soon so you might find some good suggestions there.

For dry skin, if sensitive, K Beauty has some v nice gentle skincare and on some of the UK resellers like Skinsider or PureSeoul they do bundles for specific skin-types/issues so you might find something good there. I recommend the Dr Ceuracle vegan kombucha tea essence for dry skin, it's lovely!

Hi Clutterbug07, thanks for responding.  I remembered it was VALM who used to post about her makeup and she also recommended Beaty Bay.  I’ve gone a bit mad and spent a bit more than I intended but managed to get a couple of eyeshadow palettes, lip gift set, multi use palette and a mascara and eyeliner duo and it cost me £51.65 so pleased with everything I got and hope she likes it all.

Clutterbug07

lynseydee no problem!    sounds like an amazing gift you've got your niece, am sure she will love it!

UU

• Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Plump in Angel Shimmer: From my PP list.  A lovely plumping clear gloss with goldish sparkles in- have enjoyed having this, but as I got it in Dec 2022 I am glad it is now gone!
• L’Oréal Paris Infallible 32H Fresh Wear long-lasting liquid foundation shade 20 Ivory: Replacement bought at the start of the month
• L'oreal Lash Paradise Mascara- waterproof, black: my HG. So dry now, I couldn't wait till just before Christmas to swap to my new one.
• Tesco Nail Polish Remover- 250ml
• Barry M - Fine Glitter Dust in Wildfire (27): Use this on the brow bone area, nice sparkly without colour. Have another in the stash so will break that out now
• Sure Invisible Aqua anti-perspirant deodorant - 250ml
• RNW - DER. CONCENTRATE Ceramide Plus serum [30ml]: Quite a thick serum. Not sure how I feel about it tbh- it does feel nice, esp on days after I have used a retinal.  I did get quite a few blemishes on my chin earlier in the month and this was one of the newish products I was using so not sure if it was this.

INs

• Sanex 0 shower gel: replacement
• Sure deodorant - 250ml: replacement
• IUNIK Beta Glucan Moisturiser: My current moisturiser is feeling quite light/emptyish soon. I had quite a few blemishes earlier this month and I think it might have been that moisturiser (or that serum...), so going back to this one as my skin was doing well when I was using it. I'd prefer something heavier for winter, but it's quite moisturising so should be fine since I do have oily skin
• IUNIK Beta Glucan Serum: Moisturiser came in a set, so got a mini serum too!
• NYX Professional Makeup Pro Fix Stick - 0.3 Yellow: My undereyes have quite dark circles and I currently use a yellow mineral powder, but it's making my 40 year old undereyes look crepey n dry now, so I wanted to try this as I heard good things.  Wasn't sure if the pink or the yellow would correct best, so I ordered both.
• NYX Professional Makeup Pro Fix Stick - 0.2 Pink

Clutterbug07

Updated PP list- 24 for 24: 19 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!

        

Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Plump in Angel Shimmer

VALM

@lynseydee hope your niece loved your gifts.

Ok, you may all recall that i made a list of 24 products to finish in 2024. I had 4 products left which were my Bobbi Brown Clementine blush, Marc Jacobs mini Goddess lipstick, Colourpop Garden Date eyeshadow and MAC Golden Leaves Scattering eyeshadow. Ive made up a list for 2025 and these are carried over together with my Escada Cherry in Japan which I stopped working on as it was too light for Autumn/Winter. Below are the other itens which I finished/met goal on or decluttered:-

Blush

MUA Cupcake

 Urban Decay HUSH 

Benefit Rockateur

Luminous Glow - hit pan

Eyeshadow

Too Faced Classy & Sassy 

 Morphe Lolli 

Made my fortune 

Sweet Harmony 

Rem Cosmic

Lips

 Floss Ath lip gloss

Bare Minerals Wired lip liner 

Too Faced Gingerbread Man lip lacquer

Fragrance

Very Valentino Yellow Dream 

 Burberry My Burberry 

Decluttered

Maybelline Molten Rose highlighter BROKE

Bite Beauty Chai Expired

Sephora X OPI Break a Leg Warmer Expired

Nail Polish

OPI Wooden Shoe Like To Know 

OPI No Turning Back From Pink St

Powder

 No7 powder 

Clutterbug07

Hello all, happy New Year!

Squeezed in a few more UUs before the year was out:

• Garnier Micellar Water Facial Cleanser For Sensitive Skin 700ml
• The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density 30ml: Got the replacement in Novembers Decium sale- and I didn't realise the replacement I bought was 60ml as opposed to this one which was 30
• Mad About Skin- Protect & Hydrate Sunscreen- SPF 50, 100ml: Love this. Already got the replacement for it the other month (when I inadvertently ended up with 3 of them cos the 2 I ordered got lost in the post!
• OPI Repair Mode: I like this for trying to help my nails between polishes. I have one in the stash so no new order required as I already ordered it a month or so ago.
• Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Oil Control Setting Powder - Translucent: Knew this was running out, so got the replacement at the start of December.  And look- if I didn't, I'd have run out right before Christmas!!

And do have a few final INS for December too:

• Klairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter eye cream 20g:  I haven't been using an eyecream for at least a year or so, and I think the undereyes are needing a bit of extra tlc.  I've used this one before and really liked it, so giving it another go.  Not cheap but it's large at 20g so should last a good while!
• IUNIK Black Snail Restore Cream: I had a £14 voucher for Skinsider that was going to expire by January, so had to use it up.  Have tried this in store and it's very nice, looking forward to trying it on my face.  A bit thicker than the Beta Glucan one, so should be good for evenings
• Purito Sea Buckthorn Vital 70 Cream: Because apparently I cannot simply order one item of skincare- with the shipping it seems so wasteful…. So here we are.  I have two toners and a few serums already waiting in the stash so moisturiser seemed the most logical thing to get....Have used this before and liked it.

And I got a Christmas present from a friend- she got me the Beauty Bay- Bright eyeshadow palette- 42 pan.  Very sweet of her, have had fun playing with it already!

So that's that for 2025.  Out of my 24 for 24, I finished 19 of them, and have these remaining:

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!

Overall it's not been my best low/no-spend year if I'm honest.  I still brought in A LOT of products, and spent far too much money, so it's time to get serious about this next year.  Progress over perfection- I will still buy things no doubt, but I want to do better.  I want my money to overpay my mortgage and build an emergency fund- not buy more stuff to clutter up my house!