No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries July 2025

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 Clutterbug07 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!



25 for 2025 PP list: 4 down, 21 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! 

I don't think I picked my list well this year, it's over halfway through the year and I still have 21 items to go from the official list.....  I have two other items that are close, I reckon they will be done this month, but even so!

UU

• Essie Apricot nail and cuticle oil:  Started the month strong and finished something off my PP list!  Going to refill the bottle with my own oil mix.  
• Soltan Protect & Moisturise SPF50+ 75ml travel size sun cream Spray

And I hit a pan in my Beauty Bay Tropical 9 pan palette in shade Sun- a yellow gold shimmer. 

itsthelittlethings

Reminded of this thread walking to the station for a training day in my nice big buckle Birkenstocks. They are getting worn but why save them in my flat for a day that never comes.

I am running down my toiletries.

I have three cans of mousse hair spray for work. My niece thinks it’s hilarious that I wear mousse but we can’t all be young and beautiful. Some of us actually have to work in a corporate job. I have one spray thing, Tresemme I think. Then I have a load of hair sprays that I got off the Olio app that I use at the weekends. Plus something in a purple bottle that I got from Asda for about £7, again for weekends. I also have some Argan oil which I’m saving for when I’ve used everything else up and some hair treatment oil I made in a dropper bottle with a stopper.

Moisturisers - three Niveas including one in a tin which I found at B and M. When I got to France with my mum next year I will get the real stuff. I also have 2 Upcyle moisturisers which I would use every day if I could but they are £30 for a smallish jar. Also The Ordinary moisturiser, one or two left I think. Might give a closed one to my sister as I have too many toiletries and she doesn’t get many luxuries.

I have some Lush bar shampoo and co-wash that I will use when I’ve used up the current Upcycle shampoo and conditioner (beautiful stuff, again £30 for a smallish jar).

Also about three or four Superdrug stopped bottle own brand facial oils. These are god-tier! Only £5.

I don’t really wear perfume but I have some DKNY (that’s my basic scent brand) and some Adidas unisex scent which I’m actually not sure keen on as it doesn’t make me feel classy. I got some Nivea Sun off Vinted as well. It’s a perfume that smells like sun cream. I tend not to wear perfume even when I go out as it can be triggered to people with allergies or short tempers.

Hodgepodge

itsthelittlethings said:

Reminded of this thread walking to the station for a training day in my nice big buckle Birkenstocks. They are getting worn but why save them in my flat for a day that never comes.

I am running down my toiletries.

I have three cans of mousse hair spray for work. My niece thinks it’s hilarious that I wear mousse but we can’t all be young and beautiful. Some of us actually have to work in a corporate job. I have one spray thing, Tresemme I think. Then I have a load of hair sprays that I got off the Olio app that I use at the weekends. Plus something in a purple bottle that I got from Asda for about £7, again for weekends. I also have some Argan oil which I’m saving for when I’ve used everything else up and some hair treatment oil I made in a dropper bottle with a stopper.

Moisturisers - three Niveas including one in a tin which I found at B and M. When I got to France with my mum next year I will get the real stuff. I also have 2 Upcyle moisturisers which I would use every day if I could but they are £30 for a smallish jar. Also The Ordinary moisturiser, one or two left I think. Might give a closed one to my sister as I have too many toiletries and she doesn’t get many luxuries.

I have some Lush bar shampoo and co-wash that I will use when I’ve used up the current Upcycle shampoo and conditioner (beautiful stuff, again £30 for a smallish jar).

Also about three or four Superdrug stopped bottle own brand facial oils. These are god-tier! Only £5.

I don’t really wear perfume but I have some DKNY (that’s my basic scent brand) and some Adidas unisex scent which I’m actually not sure keen on as it doesn’t make me feel classy. I got some Nivea Sun off Vinted as well. It’s a perfume that smells like sun cream. I tend not to wear perfume even when I go out as it can be triggered to people with allergies or short tempers.

Welcome to the thread, you are in the right place and we are all friendly :-)

You are right not savings things for best, get it used now. Especially the more expensive stuff. If it were to go bad whilst being kept, that would be a costly disaster.

And if you are planning on getting some nice stuff from France next year, you want to use up the stuff you have now. Think about re-purposing stuff you have open but are not a massive fan of. So moisturisers as hand creams, foot creams, etc.

I wear fragrances that I don't like quite as much when I am at home, so they get used up. Then I save the nice stuff for more special occasions. I keep them all in a cool dark drawer so they keep well. Fragrance generally lasts a long time if kept in the cool and dark.

Good luck!

Murphybear

Hi everyone

I’m an old MSE hand but new to NBUT.  I’d  like to add to the list of abbreviations BAC which stands for Beauty Advent Calendars.  I’ve been getting them for years, my husband often buys me one as a Christmas present.  I’ve gone from cheap and cheerful to Harrods.  . Not exactly money saving unless you want to buy eye wateringly expensive products anyway.  

Do I really feel more beautiful because the stuff I use on my face is a favourite of many wealthy Hollywood A listers or Royalty?  Not really.  

Ive been sorting everything out recently and was a bit stunned at how much I have.  Hubbie says if I buy any more we’ll need to clear the junk out of the spare bedroom and put my “lotions and potions” in it

We were thinking of having a car boot sale and I might take some things to it.  The problem is how much would someone pay for a brand they’ve probably never heard of even though I could show it cost £100 online.  

Oh well, back to the sorting out 

Clutterbug07

Murphybear hmmm, no idea how much it should be priced at I'm afraid, but well done for going through it all!  Perhaps sell it on Vinted instead? Everyone will want it for 5p at a boot sale, but you could probably get a little more on Vinted!

UU

• Garnier Micellar Water Oil Infused Facial Cleanser 400ml
• DERMATORY - Hypoallergenic Cica Gel Cream 50ml:  From my PP list!  Woah I've had this one a long time (Sept 2022 apparently, tho that's not when I opened it!!). In the end used it on body and hands, as I've found other moisturisers I like for my face better.  Bit of a dupe for the Klairs calming midnight cream (but without the EGF- as a freckly pale person, I have concerns about products with EGF in so I tend to avoid)
• 17. Gorgeous Gloss Lipgloss in 001 - yellow: also from my PP list!  Like this, but prefer the brown n rosey pink versions to the yellow as the yellow doesn’t give any real colour at all and was hoping it might be a bit tropical. Nice to finish a lipbalm though!  Wont repurchase this colour I don’t think

Throw Away

• Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in the shades Dancer (orangey red), Dreamer (pale baby/dusty pink), Inspirer (dusty deeper pink, still 'nudey'), and Poet (pale peachy nude.): These are OLD, and I think they smell a bit, and they sort of go flakey on the lips (perhaps because they are old?)- am not using them and just hanging onto them, so finally throwing them away!
• Revolution Colour Correct Primer- green: from the PP list.  Doesn’t do anything, an extra step that does nothing for me, I'm not even gonna hate pan, it'd be indifference pan, so I'm binning.
• Barry M Dazzle Dust eyeshadow x 4- in various nudey shades I got as GWP that I am never going to wear.
• Concrete Minerals- sample in Bat Wing: A grey with multicolour shimmer particles.  It is pretty, but I never wear grey eyeshadow tbh except maybe Halloween, and I have enough greys sprinkled throughout my palettes if I needed one.

INS

• Revolution Sport Fix Fixing Spray 100ml: current is running low and thought I'd try the more max fix one, esp with the heatwave we've had!
• Carex Aloe Vera Anitbacterial Hand Sanitiser Gel 300ml x 2: More for the house than me specifically, but adding them in here as I know I would want to include when they're used up! 
• Garnier Micellar Water Oil Infused Facial Cleanser 400ml: replacement.
• Tesco Nail Polish Remover- Acetone free - 250ml: current is running low.

Clutterbug07

Updated 25 for 2025 PP list: 7 down, 18 to go!

1. MAC Black Cherry Glow Play Lipbalm:  carried over from last years PP list.  Bought in 2021.... need to finish it!
2. 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.
3. Klairs Supple Preparation Toner: accidentally bought the fragranced one last year, want to get this used up on my body.
4. 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.
5. Lilylolo mineral blush in Beach Babe
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. One loose eyeshadow: unspecified: but I want to finish one this year.
10. One nail polish: ditto.
11. The Body Shop British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask
12. 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.
13. Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter liner in Grind: the pinky one.
14. The Body Shop Festive Berry hand cream
15. 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.
16. Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream – 500ml: want to be better at moisturising!
17. 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.
18. Collection Glam Crystals  Lip Rocker lipgloss: bit too frosty rather than sparkly, so don’t love this.

Essie Apricot nail and cuticle oil
DERMATORY - Hypoallergenic Cica Gel Cream 50ml
Revolution Colour Correct & Fix Primer- Green
17. Gorgeous Gloss- yellow

itsthelittlethings

WBA - Upcircle moisturiser. Comes in refillable glass jars that you refill.

UU - Targeting my face oils and moisturisers at the moment

IN - Superdrug SPF30+ booster. £9.

NBI - I got a lot of samples when I bought my Aesop Parsley Seed toner (so I should have as it was £50). It relaxes me before bed, I don’t use it every night, will try to use it more.

WNBA - I bought Aveno as a moisturiser when I had a tiny eyelid infection which is gone now. Maybe I’ll use it up as body cream.

Splutterer - My Lush Happy Hippy shower gel is unsatisfying to use and it’s still nearly half full.

HG - Nivea ordinary moisturiser. My mum used to use it and so do 

TA - Have given up wearing mascara as it just used to go off. I only wore it when I went out which is about once a year and mascara goes off after a year.

PP - I will use up that bloody Lush Shower Gel!

angieb15edin

Can I ask that if anyone has any unused toiletries or make up that they know that they won’t use puts them in the food bank collection point 
nice for someone to get a wee treat 

lynseydee

Hi, I used to participate in these threads a lot a few years ago but life kind of took over.

Anyway, apart from not really buying any more toiletries I’m being really bad at using them up especially the cleaners, toners and moisturisers and hand cream.

Maybe I need to come back so I can get a bit of motivation to use things up.

VALM

Hi everyone. Nice to see newbies and returnees. @Murphybear most skincare items have a lengthy lifespan if kept unopened. I wouldnt be in a rush to get rid if I were yoy.

Ive been away and then was ill when i returned so have been a bit lazy with skincare and makeup however yesterday I finished my mini Marc Jacibs red lipstick called Goddess. It was the perfect red.  I have 15 items left on my UU 25 in 2025 list.

My PP List this month:-
Carried forward 
M&S Fragrance Society hand cream

B&BW Mad About You shower gel

B&BW Mad About You body lotion

Lacura vitabase primer**

ADDED

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue

Tarte Coral Blossom 1

Beauty Bay Slippers 1

Playful & Righteous 2

NARS Decatur

Too Faced Crisp

Im going to bring the hand cream home and use it as body lotion. Its starting to congeal.

The shower gel, primer, tinted moisturiser and blushet got a lot of use on holiday and are capable of being finished this month. The blusher keeps getting hard pan.