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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if anyone likes receiving these things?

49 replies

Twicebakedroastpotatoes · 20/12/2022 17:23

I get these every year and from people am still working my way through last Christmas's.

Sheet masks
Solid shampoo
Solid conditioner

I hate the feeling of sheet masks on my face, and find solid shampoo and conditioner almost useless!

OP posts:
DrManhattan · 20/12/2022 18:10

Donated to charity straightaway

FOJN · 20/12/2022 18:11

Also those plastic puff things with twine handles that come in gift packs with body and hand lotions, does anyone actually use them?

Everyday instead of a sponge as PP said. I also use body lotion and hand cream everyday but I prefer specific brands.

YellowTreeHouse · 20/12/2022 18:11

I find it so odd buying beauty gifts/smellies for other people. Unless you’ve specifically asked then you’re not buying them something they’ll use.

They’ll just get chucked; it’s such a generic, lazy, thoughtless gift.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 20/12/2022 18:15

I use solid shampoo and conditioner and the bath puffs. The conditioner isn't supposed to lather.

SomethingOriginal2 · 20/12/2022 18:19

I have never bee bought those. I would the shampoo and conditioner though, my hair really doesn't care but I would never buy those things for anyone.

BertieBotts · 20/12/2022 18:23

Solid shampoos are often SLS free so won't lather, you don't need a lather to wash your hair. Shampoo is for washing your scalp anyway. Conditioner should be worked into the hair.

But yanbu, I'm the least beauty/pampering person ever, can't stand that stuff but even I like to choose my own shampoo. I would never presume to choose shampoo for somebody as it's so personal.

Face masks I can't comment on because I don't see the appeal of them at all.

BertieBotts · 20/12/2022 18:24

Should add, I have used a solid shampoo before and find them okay, but you have to experiment a bit to find the right one. They seem to react differently with different people, one made my hair look so greasy I gave up on it and used it as body soap.

fancyacuppatea · 20/12/2022 18:24

No.
They go to the food bank (they welcome toiletries too).

OrigamiOwls · 20/12/2022 18:26

Sheet masks is be okay with. Solid shampoo and conditioner I wouldn't be keen on. I have specific products I use, I wouldn't want to mess with what already works for me.

ScarlettSunset · 20/12/2022 18:27

I love solid shampoo but I'd probably rather choose my own. Rather that than most other toiletries though

ColdHandsHotHead · 20/12/2022 18:29

I like solid shampoo but rarely bother with conditioner. I hate candles and love body lotion, always use it.

ScarierThanBoo · 20/12/2022 18:51

Dr Botanics Shampoo bars lather really well, I love the cardboard wrapper as I get the guilt with plastic bottles. I get rashes from anything other than Dettol soap but I'll give any toiletry a bash tbh.

SlashBeef · 20/12/2022 18:55

Definitely wouldn't use shampoo unless they got the brand I use, which I wouldn't expect anyone to because its expensive.

Sheet masks...meh. I don't love them but would probably get round to using them. I really hate the big gift boxes of dove body wash. Always get like 3 every Christmas.

DorothyCannoli · 20/12/2022 19:00

Just came to say that your local food bank would probably welcome donations of unused sealed toiletries, toiletry gift sets etc. My local one does. Please think about looking yours up if you have things you won't use. We usually have 5-6 sets after Christmas which we can't/won't use - they used to go to the primary school tombola but my DC is older now!

AffIt · 20/12/2022 19:03

I have curly hair and very sensitive skin and have spent a lot of time (and money) working out what suits both - I'm very brand-specific as a result, and wouldn't thank you for anything like that unless I had been asked in advance.

I just send anything of that ilk in the direction of the charity shop / food bank.

NuffSaidSam · 20/12/2022 19:09

Twicebakedroastpotatoes · 20/12/2022 18:00

Also those plastic puff things with twine handles that come in gift packs with body and hand lotions, does anyone actually use them?

I use those.

I don't use solid shampoo, conditioner or sheet masks though and wouldn't want them for Christmas. Luckily no-one has ever bought me any.

The thing I've got a massive over supply of is those toiletry bags that come with a set in them. I use the stuff, the bag is too nice to throw away, but I don't need 27 toiletry bags!

KylieCharlene · 20/12/2022 19:10

I'd love any beauty/personal products.
My Christmas gifts consist of joint gift tins of biscuits.
Individual gifts stopped when I met my partner.

NumberTheory · 20/12/2022 19:16

Toiletries for anyone out of their teens is normally just a filler gift that you shouldn’t expect to necessarily use.* Just thank the giver and donate them. Maybe consider suggesting no gifts for adults next year.

*Obviously, if it’s something they know you use, that’s different. And there are people who are pleased to use just about anything. And I did get the best hand cream I’ve ever had from an otherwise banal lotion set when I was in my 40s. But normally, for most people, it’s just a gift chosen to have something to give, which is generally fine, a social nicety, and something you should learn to with deal easily by your early 20s.

Bluekerfuffle · 20/12/2022 19:21

I didn’t know solid shampoo and conditioner existed. The things you learn on MN…solid shampoo, pegging…

PorridgewithQuark · 20/12/2022 19:38

I use solid shampoo and solid shower soap and bars of hand soap exclusively - no liquids - much better environmentally than all the plastic bottles and far less build up on the hair and skin. Liquid soap especially is really drying and bar soap far less so. Woth solid shampoo I no longer need conditioner.

It takes a bit of getting used to but most people use far more liquid shampoo and shower gel than they need. Once I'd made the change and stuck with it both my hair and skin improved visibility and I got a lot more compliments on my hair.

I don't want body lotion or hand cream - only one type suits my skin, others make my skin worse rather than better.

I don't want candles. I don't want books although I love to read - choosing my own is part of the pleasure, I usually buy second hand and I feel guilty about unread new books that really aren't my thing sitting on the shelf or duplicate copies of things I've read already.

Chikapu · 20/12/2022 19:43

I have a friend who bought me bubble bath sets from The Body Shop every year despite being told and seeing for herself that we only had a shower at our house 😐

XenoBitch · 20/12/2022 19:50

YANBU
I hate sheet masks. My face is the wrong proportions for them, and I can't even sip at wine/tea with one on. Sheet masks for various body parts seems to be a thing right now. I have seen ones for your buttocks. I mean, who is going to stand there half naked for 20 minutes with damp paper on your arse?

Shampoo/conditioner and face stuff is very personal to each individual, so hard to get right as a gift.

Outtasteamandluck · 20/12/2022 19:56

Bath bombs!! I just cannot use them as upset the delicate p.h balance of vagina. I'd end up with a horrible case of thrush.

Every year without fail, I end up with some.

Not ungrateful just cannot use.

Inkyblue123 · 20/12/2022 20:01

i have a regifting box full of this sort of crap.

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