No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries May 2026

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!

I_Love_comps

UU- Oh My Beauty Ultra Glazed Primer 34mls.- WBA

MillQueen

Hello, I'm new and it's nice to meet you. This is mainly to work on using up my makeup. I'm not including staple stuff that I use everyday that I always repurchase (micellar water, face powder and BB cream).

PP Eyeliner: Using up my eyeliner stash, first working on a No. 7 brown pencil (nearly done in a few weeks) and an inner corner highlight UD Midnight Cowboy. Then pencils in various stages of use: UD Binge, UD Stash, UD Whiskey, UD Bourbon, UD Perversion, Clinique Brown Sugar, Scandal Eyes Chocolate Brown, S&G Super Cat, No 7 Smoky Powder and lights UD Yeyo and Inika White Crystal. I have more elsewhere.

PP Blush: I have two almost used full sized Benefit Hulas, which are down to the pan and have only the corners left. A few months should finish those off, as I use them daily and generously. After this, I have 18 blushes of various brands that I decanted into a magnetic palette. I don't remember what they all are. I have others elsewhere, but I will focus on using the ones that are already in my palette after the Hulas. (ETA - 1 x Benefit Hula now used up and onto the other one).

PP Eyes: I am currently panning a Dr Hauschka eyeshadow palette in Stone with 4 neutral shades. I love this! I have hit pan on three of the 4 shades, but it's going to take me a while to finish. I have tons more eyeshadows (most of them brown). Next up is a couple of Clinique mini palettes in various neutrals. I would buy the Dr Hauschka palette again but probably won't as I have years worth of eyeshadows already.

PP Eyeshadow Primer/Base: Using up a No.7 Stay Perfect Smoothing Eyeshadow in Bronze as a primer, as I didn't like the Elf primer I got to replace my usual UD primer potion. I'll use the Elf soon, just so it's not wasted, as the No.7 one is nearly gone. I'll find something else in my stash after that, as I think I probably have some liquid type products that would work, otherwise I would re-buy the UD potion.

PP Lips: I am using daily a Mango Korres lip butter pot. I don't know if they still make these, but it's very easy to use and as I am putting it on every morning it should be gone in a few months. I have a box of lip products that I can't be bothered to look through, so I'll decide what's next in the queue after I finish this one.

PP Brows: I have a Benefit Brow Zings Palette (Light-Medium) that's actually several years old. I bought it when they got discontinued because it was my favourite and I had worked through a few of them before this. I have almost finished the darker wax shade that's my preferred one, but I'll use the lighter shade next, probably won't bother to use the clear wax, but there's still loads of all three of the powders left. I own several other brow products but there's a lot of life left in this one, so not planning another yet.

PP Perfume: I have felt inspired to add a perfume in here - a mini version of Escada Pacific Paradise.

PP Concealer: I have a few I'm not using, so I have added Clinique Air Brush Concealer in Fair.

PP Shower Gel: I have added in a Rose shower gel and scrub glove in the shower.

PP Shampoo: Around my usual shampoo I've added a half used Simple shampoo to finish off.

PP Face Scrub: This has inspired me so much I've even added a Simple face scrub to work on.

Currently trying to work through a multitude of other hair products too, but I'll update that another time.

Hodgepodge

Thank you @Clutterbug07 for the new thread

And welcome @MillQueen. My stash is skincare rather than make-up but all are welcome here. I do like reading about other peoples make-up and all the lovely colours. I tend to stick to the same neutral palette.

1 UU so far in May

Treat Tincture - Decree wnba Got as part of a CH kit. It's a retinoid serum, probably best suited to someone new to retinoids. I prefer something with more welly. Also quite expensive!

I have a few INs to report later, as my Look Fantastic beauty box has just arrived.

Allthatglitter

morning everyone,

First UU of the month - loccitane Nèroli Orchidèe perfumed shower gel, I love this scent but £19 for a shower gel is a bit steep in my opinion so would probably not buy again.

I need to have a look through my stash and get together a proper pp list but my ‘problem’ areas at the moment appear to be lip products,shower gels,body lotions and scents (perfume/body sprays)

Hodgepodge

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989780#Comment_81989780

I don't count lip products in my stash but as I have a bag full of them perhaps I should…

Allthatglitter

weekly roundup!

UU

Lush shoot for the stars body scrub this had a lovely smell would buy again.
Loccitane Neroli Orchid Perfumed Body Lotion - same as the body wash lovely smell but £29 a bottle I probably wouldn’t buy again.

IN 

NYX vivid rich liner in truffle diamond, my morphe eyeliner is nearly sharpened all the way down now 
Revolution IRL filter finish concealer HG item for me 
Revolution silk blush stick in rosy cheeks,this I didn’t need oops!

Hodgepodge

4 more UUs for May

Moringa Renewal Treatment Mask - Emma Hardie wnba Nice to use just not sure what it did?

Jeju Daily am/pm Moisture Superinfusion - Beauty Pie wnba A really nice balm type moisturiser with a lovely fragrance, like all the Jeju range at BP. However, there are creams I like more.

Ceramide Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Hydra-Plumping Serum Capsules - Elizabeth Arden wmba This was a small pack of 7 capsules. Not sure how much a full size would be but would consider these while travelling.

Exfolikate Cleanser - Kate Somerville wba My first time using this cleanser and it is lush and leaves my skin so so soft.

Hodgepodge

Only 3 minis IN so far in May, all from a beauty box

Pro-Collagen Hydrating Cleansing Mousse (mini) - Elemis

Green Tea Ceramide Milk (mini) - Innisfree

Moisturising Lotion (mini) - Cetaphil

Clutterbug07

A few INS and OUTS to declare- I'll start with the UU's:

• No 7 Sheer Temptation Lipstick in Coral Peach: This is the second one of these I have used up, I love it, such a fabulous orangey peachy balmy 'lipstick'. I used some Boots points a while back to repuchase this when it was getting low. Have been scraping it out of the tube for a while now, and I finally give up!
• Pampers Harmonie Aqua Baby Wipes
• essence All About Matt! Fixing Compact Powder: This didn't last very long. Yes it was cheaper than my normal, but had to buy a new face powder sooner than I'd like, so I've gone back to my usual Maybelline
• Nivea Black & White Invisible Clear anti-perspirant- large can
• Body Shop - shea butter hand cream- mini/travel size: Lovely thick product, feels so moisturising. Don't love the smell though. Was a gift, but I'd not repurchase
• 17. Gorgeous Gloss Lipgloss- Almond: My fave lipgloss, a beautiful light brown colour, looks very natural on me. I have one already in the stash as I have been eeking this last bit out to the last drop, so I've known for a while it would be finishing! Yes I have other lipgloss, but this is a HG for me, so had to repurchase it

And I hit a pan in my Ace Beaute Flair palette in shade Acorn- a dark brown. Was using it in my brows. Onto the next brow shade to try and get another pan 🤣

INS

• Radox Mineral Therapy Feel Uplifted Shower Gel 675ml: replacement, current running low
• Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Oil Control Setting Powder: replacement- lasts longer than the Essence one!
• NIVEA Lip Balm, Peach Fruity Shine: My other chapstick kind of broke, so it doesn't fulfil it's 'handsfree' purpose, so got this one. Like the peachy tint 
• Maybelline Tattoo Liner Gel Pencil- white: replacement- current is getting stubby and will be hard to sharpen soon.
• Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water- Sensitive 700ml: replacement as low
• Garnier Micellar Cleansing oil in Water: ditto
• Milani Stay Put Eyeshadow Primer: Current one is running low. I do have a Beauty Bay one in my stash, but I've never tried that and I know I like the Milani one…. So if the Beauty Bay one is absolutely crap, then I don't have to put up with it. Soz not soz- eyeshadow is serious business for me!
• M&S Discover- White Coconut Eau De Toilette (100ml): My sea salt neroli one ran out a while ago and I like to have a warmer weather scent that’s not too heavy. Spent a while smelling all the perfumes in there which was fun, and liked this one the best, so didn't feel bad about it
• KB Shimmer Stay Put Hydrating Base: more of a want than a true need, as I have other base coats. But my nails are a bit flakey so wanted to try a different one to see if it helps.

Clutterbug07

UU

• Facetheory - Glow-C Tranexamic 5% Serum: I like this, but I have found a product that has both tranexamic acid AND azelaic acid in one serum, so I am shifting over to that one for a bit of streamlining. I think I do have one more of these in the stash though…