Ashamed of my beauty product hoard! - Part 2

[IPokeBadgers]

Hoping link to previous thread works!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2320549-Ashamed-of-my-beauty-product-hoard?pg=1

Continuation of the thread where I realised I was not alone in my hoarding of all things make-up/beauty/skincare/toiletries.

Lots of lovely mumsnetters who encourage each other to use and enjoy all those lovely products, and at the same time try to reduce our spending on unnecessaries!

Hippy that is amazing! You should get a gold star!

☆☆☆

I have bought some fake tan so will review later. Also enjoying choosing some new body moisturiser that I need because I have NO back ups!

My name is kwick and it is 12 hours since my last splurge on beauty products
Not sure if there is any hope for me and my addiction....

I have done it :)

I've been a long time lurker on this post, but wasn't able to post every time I finished something. These have been my rules:

If I really disliked a product I either gave it away or binned it. Binning things was the hardest thing for me as it seemed a waste, but then using a hair product daily for weeks or months that I didn't seemed more of a waste.

I only bought things that I needed, or really loved. Technically I didn't need the chanel eye make up pen, but as soon as I saw it I knew it was perfect and I've enjoyed it every time I used it.

Unsubscribed ftom space nk and Harvey nicks - their goody bag offers often led me astray.

No online shopping for scented body products, to reduce chance of buying something that I didn't like the scent of.

My only spares now are of practical things that either always come in multi packs or I need a spare of a regular favourite ie toothpaste or deodorant.

It feels so liberation to enjoy using products I love and no longer be ashamed of my beauty product hoard.

Thanks everyone for all your tips, advice and inspirational stories along the way, and letting me know I wasn't the only one.

Katy

A showergel finished (and loads of random shower gels waiting)
A Soap&Glory conditioner that DD was using. I didn't like it.
I have some Soap&Glory scrub that will get used tomorrow (I need to buff my spray tan , its a week old and looks a bit tatty now)
Some Superdrug Coconut Hair Mask - I need to henna my hair , I use conditioner to remove it , so might use this up. It makes my hair soft but smells a bit bleurgh .

Wow katy what an inspiration and SUCH strength

I have another empty:
Body Shop oils of life intebsly revitalising facial oil - I got this in a Glossybox & I have really enjoyed it. I am going to look at some other options before I buy a full size.

Thanks kwick. The marie kondo book also helped but I just decided it was going to happen :) I decided I wanted no stash rather than more stuff.
Good luck with your efforts.
Thanks Katy

I have dug out an Original Sorce Coconut Shower gel. With my Coconut mask I'm going to smell like a Bounty bar

I really want a new perfume. I tried the cadulie sprays in the pharmacy and loved them. Decided I need to finish one perfume before I can buy one. Good incentive to use them up. So going hard on Gucci today.

Just realised why the Original Source shower gel was banished to the basket. It smells like butter

I knew this thread existed but have never as much as looked at it until now. Dear Lord, I need to join you ...

Today I decided to declutter all my make-up and toiletries, sort them into separate boxes and bags and restore a bit of order.

I have 127 nail polishes.
I have 9 eye creams
I have 14 bottles/tubes of body lotion
I have 16 lip balms
I have 12 hand creams

... not to mention the gazillion cleansers, toners, night creams, day creams, masks, serums, shower gels (god, the shower gels ... I must have at least two dozen), and let's not even talk about the make-up.

I don't think I have bought half of this lot (except most of the nail polish, and I'm a sucker for the M&S beauty boxes because they are GOOD ... oh actually, I have bought quite a lot of it). Everyone knows I like skincare and toiletries so every birthday and every Christmas I get a stack of lovely products from friends and family that I can't possibly use before the next birthday/Christmas comes round again. They are so kind and the products are (mostly) things I really like, but there is just so much of it. It doesn't help that I work from home so I'm not putting a full face of slap on every day.

My mother's go-to shop is the Molton Brown outlet so every time she comes to visit she brings a box of 12 miniature products with her. I just get can't through it fast enough before another one arrives. It is lovely of her and I love the products but I would have to shower a dozen times a day to get through it all. I'm still using shower gel I bought last summer.

I am sitting looking at a lovely gift box of 4 Cowshed products that my husband bought me for my birthday last September. Haven't even opened them as I'm still working my way through a giant stockpile.

It has to stop. No more purchases. I'm joining you.

Finished the liquid yoga bath stuff from the m & s advent calendar. Really liked it

Threw a clarins hand cream that was starting to look yogurty - not good

Bought the m & s beauty box - I know I shouldn't but they are so good

Lurking that's a hoard and a half!

I KNOW!!! Honestly I am mortified .

It's annoying how long some products actually last when you're trying your hardest to work your way through them, isn't it?

Lurking My stash was a similar size when I started this. Well, not the nail varnishes, as I bite my nails so wouldn't use varnish to draw attention to them, but everything else. My massive fail was shower gels and body lotions. And cleansers. And hand creams. Everything, really. I do sympathise.

I had loads and loads of miniatures (Molton Brown, Cowshed, L'Occitane especially) but masses of full size things too, and it has taken ages to feel that I am making a dent. When you feel overwhelmed, and don't think there is an end in sight, my advice is to start with your smallest sizes. Whether that is a load of sachets or miniatures, you will get through them quicker and feel that you are making a difference. Also, use liberally. I use body moisturizer at least once a day now, sometimes twice, just to try and get through. There is a phrase that other posters use that I've forgotten, but its really about re-purposing products, So if you have a facial moisturizer or a serum that you don't like very much, use it up on your neck and chest. You get through things quickly that way, and also feel less guilt than you might about just chucking it.

I also gave away a lot of my unopened stuff that I knew wouldn't be my first choices of things to use. My cleaner was very grateful!

I was also ruthless with make up. I knew that I would plough through shower gels etc, but when it came to make up, if the colours really didn't suit me, I just got rid.

Have been away for the week-end and used up some samples -
2 Face Moisturisers L'Oreal ReVitalift, still have a few more of these.
2 Head & Shoulders shampoo, which I really liked. Do not have dandruff but it left my hair smooth and shiney.
1 30ml BeeKind Body Moisturiser

But, I have to confess to buying the M & S Beauty Box for £10!

Lurking - I too have been amazed just how long some things last. Before posting on here I used to use one product and then move onto another and another ..... - I never finished anything.

Such good tips, thanks Well and Five.

Yes, another thing I always do is save the samples that come free in magazines ("for holidays") and bring home any half-used nice toiletries from hotels. Dear lord. I'm going to start with them and then move onto the small unopened bottles so thanks for that tip; it does make sense.

Have a tube of hand cream on my desk and am slathering it on every five minutes at the moment. Have instructed my husband to use body cream after every shower with the excuse that it will prolong his tan.

Everything lasts forever, doesn't it? A miniature Molton Brown shower gel could easily last me 4 showers. One generous glug onto the sponge seems plenty. Will try to be more liberal with everything ...

Lurking I'd have some very bubbly bubble baths with the Molton Brown minis.

Keep the Eucalyptus ones though for when you've got a stinking cold. Works a treat in a steamy shower.

lurking welcome!
If it is stuff you do not really want and is unused you could sell on ebay or give to me?

Great advice welltidy
I went through all my makeup on saturday... But only managed to wrangle 2 items to give to SIL as I know I will never use... I am a hopeless case!

Lurking - I like the sound of your nail varnish collection. It sounds great fun.

It just seems to take me forever to finish things and now I've gone and bought the M&S box too. I'll never empty the cupboard.

Repeat after me:
I will not buy the M&S beauty box
I will not buy the M&S beauty box
I will not buy the M&S beauty box
I will not buy the M&S beauty box
I will not buy the M&S beauty box

I love my nail varnish collection but realised last night that if I wore a different colour every week it would take me more than two years to wear them all once. Argh. I did put six (small) things on EBay, though, which will make a massive dent, I'm sure

Kwick, I think you should buy the beauty box #enabler

lurking please do not encourage me!! I bought the one last summer which contained a DEVINE sunsmart aftersun which they have since discontinued!!!! but I may have found 4 bottles on ebay which I may have snapped up!

I have another empty: Clinique 7 day scrub cream - will not buy; this was a gift, I prefer acud exfoiliants.

I have also finished the Lancome miracle cushion in pure porcelaine - I was a bit disappointed with this - you have to blend with a brush to get an even finish. I am going to try the loreal one - yes I had it in stock waiting!