No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries June 2025

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 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!

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

Clutterbug07

I'm not loving my list, and think some of this will just be chucked rather than UU'd (looking at you, green colour corrector!), but here's my list at present:


25 for 2025 PP list: 3 down, 22 to go!

1. DERMATORY - Hypoallergenic Cica Gel Cream 50ml: carried over from last years PP.
2. MAC Black Cherry Glow Play Lipbalm:  carried over from last years PP list.  Bought in 2021.... need to finish it!
3. Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Oil 200 ml: had this a while. I’ve figured out the best way to use it now- mixed in with some moisturiser makes it less greasy.
4. Klairs Supple Preparation Toner: accidentally bought the fragranced one last year, want to get this used up on my body.
5. Redken 11 Thermal Spray: heat and hold spray. Don’t like it, too thick/heavy for my hair- want it gone so I can get a lighter heat protectant spray.
6. Lilylolo mineral blush in Beach Babe
7. iUNIK Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner: don’t love this, too thick for a toner, would like it gone so I can go back to one I love.
8. 17. Gorgeous Gloss- yellow: like this, but the soft brown is my fave. Not heaps left, I could finish it this year!
9. Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner- mini 30ml size: like this from pre-skin issue days, so want to try the sample to see how I like it now.
10. Skin1004 Centella Toning Toner – mini 30ml: has very mild form of AHA exfoliants. Want to see how my skin does with this as I’d like an AHA in my routine but am very wary of going OTT and destroying my skin.  If I put it on this list, I will have to try it- currently a bit scared still about introducing new products.
11. One loose eyeshadow: unspecified: but I want to finish one this year.
12. One nail polish: ditto.
13. The Body Shop British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask
14. Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter liner in Distortion: iridescent glitter liner, bought in 2021…. Still using it but really shouldn’t.  Sadly they don’t seem to make these colours anymore so I’ll be sad once they’re gone.
15. Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter liner in Grind: the pinky one.
16. The Body Shop Festive Berry hand cream
17. Mad About Skincare Gentle Jelly Cleanser: putting this on the list cos I am being FAR too lazy and using micellar too frequently instead of actually washing my face. I have one back up of this in my stash so I don’t mind finishing my current one either as I won’t need to replace it.
18. Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream – 500ml: want to be better at moisturising!
19. Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse – 50ml travel size: don’t really use this, would like it gone. Or at least used frequently enough that I can see whether I like it.
20. Collection Glam Crystals  Lip Rocker lipgloss: bit too frosty rather than sparkly, so don’t love this.
21. Revolution Colour Correct & Fix Primer- Green: I don’t think this does ANYTHING, so I would like it gone.
22. Essie Apricot nail and cuticle oil: would like to try different oil for nails, so got to get this one used up! 

Allthatglitter

Hi I’m back in for June going for a small but manageable PP list for this month.

1.Bloom remedies serenity bath oil 

2.Morphe moon canyon eyeshadow 

3.Revolution juicy pout in grapefruit 

4.Superdrug caramel and pistachio body spray 

5.Bath and body works sugared snickerdoodle body lotion 

6.OPI flashbulb fuchsia mini 

7.Urban decay highlighter Viserion (from the game of thrones collection)

The body lotion and revolution lip gloss I should finish this month but the others are going to take a bit longer.

beckstar1975

Gosh I need to join this but due to recent onset allergies, skin cancer and being menopausal 99% of the stuff I have is no longer needed but I'm loathe to throw it out. Perhaps overkill but I have the Yuka app too so I'm using that to help me find alternatives to try that so far seem to be helping my skin more. 

I need to motivate myself to do a full audit/stocktake and then decide what I'm going to do with the no longer wanted products, so much money's worth Local refuges weren't interested last time I tried, though anything unopened I can donate to the foodbank at least if my teens aren't interested.

Such a waste

Clutterbug07

@beckstar1975 welcome!  Sorry to hear you've been having issues recently- that's not fun at all!  For skin allergies (if that's what your allergies are)- I recommend cetraben cream and the ointment.  They're super basic but they brought my skin back to health when I had allergic reactions to god knows what a few years back.  I still use the ointment every night as my last slugging step to seal everything in!

Good start to the UUs for June:

• Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless oil control powder- translucent: Got the replacement already in May when it had huge pan.
• L'Oreal Paris Infallible More Than Concealer- Bisque: Got the replacement for this in April, that's how long it clings on!
• Mad About Skin- Protect & Hydrate Sunscreen- SPF 50, 100ml: So sad this is used up cos they're out of stock on the website. They have an update to say due in within the next two weeks, buuuut in the meantime I'm gonna have to use my Soltan Once from the stash- bit greasy but it'll have to do till my fave comes back.
• Soltan Once Age Defence 8 hr SPF- Face: finished the dregs of this Soltan, and now onto a full tube from the stash.

A few INS too:

• La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ balm (100ml): Blimey this is expensive- £19.50!!  I like for my face sometimes, and my hubbie likes it on his hands. I did look up, they have a handcream but pricewise it's literally the same (equiv for smaller handcream bottle that is but price per ml/g), so I got this one as it's multipurpose. And I had run out.
• Carex Aloe Vera Anitbacterial Hand Sanitiser Gel 50ml: another for the handbag/backpack/every bag I own so I'm not forever moving handgel around
• NYX Professional Makeup Control Freak Eye Brow Gel - Clear: Currently have a little wax thing but I don’t like it, doesn't hold and I hardly have the craziest brows going.  Plus for colour I just use eyeshadow, so purchased a clear gel as I preferred that when I had one.
• Mad About Skin - Ultimate Anti-Aging Oil (30ml) x 2:  Buy one get one free on my retinal oil, and the one I have has been open a while so I'm moving that to body retinal and this will be my new face stuff.

And I hit a pan in my Bella Beaute Bar Strange and Unusual eyeshadow palette in the shade Betelgeuse- a fabulous matt olivey green colour.

Allthatglitter

Some UUs - Bloom remedies serenity bath oil WBA this was lovely and helped me relax and Lush posh chocolate shower gel. This was nice but at £10 for a teeny 110g bottle would probably not buy again, I find lush so expensive these days luckily I tend to get it gifted for birthdays and Christmas.I have replaced the bath oil for a bubble bath - Baylis and Harding moonlight Fig.

Also and in to report the June look fantastic beauty box.

VALM

Hi all. Work and life have been hectic lately plus Ive started reading a lot and cutting down on screen time.  I am still working on various products and finished another eyeshadow last week - Colourpop Garden Date.

Will catch up with you all again soon.

Clutterbug07

Well done for finishing an eyeshadow @VALM- always impressive!  And enjoy your books and reduced screen time- is a good thing to do, we're all addicted to our phones, aren't we!

ruby_eskimo

Hi all, back in for June - have been without internet access for a week and a bit so haven't had a chance to check in till now.  

Already have 3 UU's for the month:

TBS Camomile Cleansing Butter - WBA and already replaced with the same

Beauty of Joseon Eye Revive Eye Cream - WBA and already replaced with the same

Charlotte Tilbury Stick Foundation Sample - found a quite chunky sample in the stash and tried to use it the other day.  Looked great to start with and after an hour had melted off my face so definitely on the no buy list!

Allthatglitter

Some ins to report I’ve had a busy week at work so have treated myself to the M&S summer beauty edit - lots of things in there I know I will use.

Also had to throw away my pixi brow tamer I dropped it on the bathroom floor and it broke it two, wnba I’m not a big fan of clear brow gels (I’ve not got enough eyebrow lol!)

VALM

Another eyeshadow done Urban Decay 1987 from the Gwen Stefani palette. Lovely chartreusse shade.