Anyone want to use up half finished products in a virtuous and smug manner

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I have waaaaay too much beauty/cosmetics. I have boxes full of new stuff and haven't used up the old stuff first. As a result, I have lots of half used lovely cosmetics and face/body products lying around. I also have tons of samples and GWP - all cluttering up the place. Since I am not going on holiday any time soon (damn you children) there is no point in keeping them for putting in my weekend bag (sob! those were the days) .

So I am on a mission to use them all up. Upside - saves money in the short term. Use lots of nice stuff on a more regular basis. Will force me to actually wash my face/put cream on, rather than rinsing face with water in the shower and whacking some hand cream on my scaly bits once a week.

Anyone else in?

So far, I have:

• cut the top off my smashbox primer and using the dredges. I have got an extra fortnight out of it so far. I use a bulldog clip to close it over afterwards. I will use the 3 tubes of clarins beauty flash balm as primer afterwards. I have no idea why I have so many!
• refilled up my spray toner bottle with a freebie smaple bottle of Avene stuff. Not as nice as my normal one but totally fine for the short term.
• fished out 3 tubes of hand cream and put one in the kitchen, one in the utility, one in my office drawer. Need to find another one for my bedside table - I have about a million tubes of hand cream and never put it on so hopefully this will help.
• started using a bottle of conditioner i don't like to shave legs.

my cupboard is full of odd bits and pieces. umpteen deodrants, hair products, mascaras from gift sets. I do use my stuff but I do have too much.

my mum gave me an aldi facial serum the other day and it is pretty good.

loads of lip balms too.

Okay so we are also allowed to chuck stuff out? I'm in if that is the case.

Like OP I have enough GWP remnants to set up my own Lancôme counter. I've started using the full size toners from GWPs this year and already on second bottle!

I just combined a MAC foundation that was a bit too dark and yellow with a Revlon one that was too light for a good match (and sent the unopened identical bottle of Revlon to my sister- damn you 3 for 2 offers- get me every time!)

Not sure what to do with the six unopened bottles of St Tropez I got from TK Maxx when they changed the packaging though...might have to bin those. Have put a bottle of the exfoliator in the shower caddy which will hopefully become part of my routine.

Am using up a bottle of baby shampoo on self and used a shampoo I didn't like for washing my hairbrush.

Re the collections of old nailpolishes- pour the dregs from similar shades into which ever bottle has the best brush and add some of a thin clear one or base coat etc if it's too gluggy. I usually get a nice sheer pink from this.

Random uses for things (might help!)
Conditioner for shaving legs
Bubble bath/shower gel (if you really hate it or allergic!) works for scrubbing the toilet, or handwashing bras, or a quick scrub of sink/bath
Body spray/horrible perfume as air freshener in the bathroom
Keep a hand cream/lip balm in the car for when you are waiting about or stuck in a traffic jam
Baby powder - use as sand remover, sprinkle on bed sheets, use in smelly trainers

Yes, if it's something that doesn't agree with your skin and there is no alternate use for it, then chuck. I am super fussy about the scent in cosmetics which is also why so many gifts are languishing in drawers. I now get rid to my MIL for the church jumble sale if I don't like on first sniff. That way, someone gets some good out of them.

But if it is perfectly serviceable, then use (or sell on Ebay maybe?)

I am continuing with the using up three hundred tubs of moisturiser. I even put night cream on last night (first time in about 4 years...) - it's little sample size tube but I am determined to use it all up. Advantages I am currently seeing are that I am slapping cream etc on with abandon and actually using a bit more is quite good for my skin.

I got the dregs of my shower gel out by adding a bit of water and giving a good shake. I reckon only a day or two more and it will be done. Maybe I should give myself a reward for each empty bottle!? Hmmm, one to ponder!

I have used my elemis bubble bath as shower gel this morning.
I have the cold from hell and can't smell much, but it was very scented so just used a tiny blob, on a warm wet sponge and it was lovely. I was worried that the perfume would irritate me, but no.

Whatever I use, though I still have to lather on the e45 after.
I never get any e45 in my stocking, which I really would appreciate very much.

I also have a lot too over the years. Some are not useable really which I am going to bin properly this time round. forget keeping the nice bottles and things like that. Ditch ! How silly to keep an empty bottle just because it looks nice, right ? I actually have stopped having friends, and I also do not buy any more for quite a number of years. I have started to use the nice ones recently which my sister gave me for Christmas. Never knew that Decleour is indeed quite nice.

Some of your ideas amuse me. I like the perfume being used as an air freshener. It is doable. I will also probably use the moisturiser on hands and feet too. Good idea actually. I've started to go minimalistic too. I will only put out items which I will use where I can see it. Then I won't get confused or be distracted I think. Maybe I can get through them all. If I run out then I run out then. But not to buy when in sales and I forget I have a lot at home. I always have this fear that I do not have enough, I don't know why.

I also keep crap hand creams etc in my handbag
Work colleague "have you got any..?"
"Sure"
Pass over shit you want to get rid of

is there anyone or anywhere to give stuff away to? not make up obviously but lotions and potions?

Yes I was wondering that too ^

I like perfume but not the overly fragranced lotions and shower gels that come with. This week I just received a big bottle of Gucci body lotion!

I have plenty of unopened bottles of stuff I'd like to get rid off without being wasteful.

Freecycle

Local women's refuge

Church Jumble - you need my MIL for that but you really don't want her!

Ask at your local charity shop too. Not a big chain one but a small local one who might have more flexibility on what they take.

onsera I've tried the 'nice' body moisturisers that perfume brands sell, and yes, they are way too strong IMO. I use them on my feet to get rid of them. Socks contain the perfume.

I need to stop reading MN. You guys are so useful and resourceful. After reading this thread, I put all my lotions, potions, make up into a trolley box. I cannot believe I have so much junk. I need to say to myself "I shall never pick up a hotel sample again for the bottles."

I guess I was never prepared when I used to travel at the drop of a hat. Now I have gazillion when I put it all in one place. Onward and upward for the minimalistic house. Must plough on, plough on. In hindsight, I should've prepared for like an overnight bag or a travel kit. It would've stopped me from picking up random things. I cannot believe it.

I've been doing this for 3 months :)

I've already used up 6 products it was SO satisfying rinsing them out and chucking empty pots and tubes in recycling!

Unused soaps, shampoos, shower gels, etc could go to a food bank.

One moisturiser done

One toner done

One conditioner in the bin

One body lotion almost there

Used up some samples at the weekend at the in laws

Getting there!

I've been going about it the wrong way round I think. I've decided to use up all the samples and little bottles first now and keep the big ones til the end. I'll see if that tidies things up more quickly.

No7 Protect & Perfect Serum, standing in bathroom, top snipped off, ready to have the dregs removed this evening. Excellent!

Also, took a bag full of Hotel shower gels and soaps etc to the charity shop. Would have taken to a homeless/shelter/food bank but don't have one locally. Next batch my DH amasses (he travels to Europe every week with work) I'll source a better cause as I've recently heard from an "insider" that charity shop staff riffle through donated goods and sort the best stuff for themselves!

Still pressing ahead. I need to snip off the top of my face scrub. It is almost done and I will be able to use up some samples.

I have realised that when income near the end of something, I stop using it. Weird!

Using up some little shower gel samples - not as bad as I thought it would be actually. Lush grapefruit flavours stuff. Although another bottle is suspiciously runny so t might get binned!

Still on board here as well.

I sorted out Thr samples and I'm working my way through them. For some reason I've always held on to them "in case".

I've put aside some of the little samples to make an advent calendar for dd1 this year, she's 14 and I think she would like it but otherwise it's full steam ahead.

I bought a couple of 1 litre shampoo bottles for DH and DS ( Sainsburys Tea-Tree and a bottle of the Apple)
He has a litre pump bottle of shower gel that I top up with random gels (he hasn't noticed)

DD is an Aussie Addict - when I cleaned the bathroom I found dozens of bottles so we've put a stop to shampoo.

I went through my make-up last week, I had so many lippies in the hunt for the Holy Grail that is the perfect red, gave them to DD (she likes to practice )

I have been doing this for a year now and it is fantastic.

I do stock up on products we use regularly that are on offer though. So today the DD's hair stuff was on offer in Boots and so I brought some more even though we haven't run out yet. I never pay full price for it.

But I have made massive progress. Today I brought a new eye cream and day cream after completely running out of both last week.

I have a few Clarins bits hanging around and it makes me realise how little I use these days. Will hopefully finish them up on summer hold this year.

It feels great. I have applied these principles, with varying degrees of success, to my life for a year now and I am richer for it. Still have work to do in the kitchen dept though.

Please can I join you?

I am using up ex Holy Grail products as body / feet lotions.

Finished Nivea Skin Soft (the one in the large tub) and Lancome Tresor Shower Gel over the weekend. Coming to the end of Clarins Foundation (this last, I'm very proud of as I rarely use up a foundry before eyeing up/buying it's replacement ). Bought another black/brown mascara though to add to the pile of those that make my eyes puff up. Have used same Lloreal one for ages and they've now discontinued it. WHY DO THEY DO THAT?

Finished two face cleansing balms. One of them is SO lovely it nearly made me cry to finish it and I want to buy a replacement
Also used up a moisturiser sample and a toner. Oh and a toothpaste and a bottle of conditioner!

Ohhhh, I need this thread BADLY. I'm terrible for buying stuff....whether I need it or not. I have a ridiculous amount of bubble baths, lipsticks, eye shadows, foundations, nail varnishes....all usually bought in the pursuit of the 'holy grail' product. It's not good......