Join me in a beauty product buying ban or come and give me moral support!

[listsandbudgets]

I can't do this alone folks. I've got TOO MUCH STUFF... I also have 2 beauty advent calendars

So I've set myself a challenge. Between now and June the 1st 2024 I will not buy any beauty products UNLESS I've run out of all of that particular type. If I've got a tiny sample bottle of shampoo or conditioner I'll use it all up. All those half used bottles of moisturiser, night cream, shower gel and toner and body lotion MUST GO... the mountain of soap must be surmounted.

My only concession is that I will not cancel the Liberty Beauty drop will get a couple of boxes to cheer me up

So if you want to join me make up your own rules and lets cull that stash

Hi everyone - long whingy post coming up.

sorry I've been a bit quiet on this been having a bit of a stressful time. Luckily it's Christmas so I've been able to direct some online retail therapy at things I plan to give away.

I'm opening the Liberty advent calendar this month which is a huge treat though I am now drowning in amazing oils and serums, I certainly won't be needing any of those for a long time to come .As for DD's stocking she's getting all the makeup and she's a very lucky girl is all I can say!

Oddly although I thought I had loads of everything, I am on my last bottle of conditioner except a couple of little hotel ones and a deep conditioning treatment from AC and I've also completely run out of toner with no good alternative having turned up yet in AC. I've been splashing on cold water instead which seems to work quite well especially as I never wear makeup so I've not go those tiny bits to remove in the same way. Boots keeping putting spend £20 on number 7 and save £10 vouchers in the papers and I'm half thinking of buying some toner along with a Christmas gift for someone but I have a bad feeling that if I do it might end up being a Christmas gift for ME.

Never struggled so much towards Christmas. Works sh*t. and stressful DD in middle of mock A Levels, DS in year 7 and hating his new school he just seems so sad. They don't break up until 22nd seems so late this year. DP seems worried about something and I can't put my finger on it and I burnt my foot on the 5th December by dropping a cup of herbal tea on it - it was a week before I could put a shoe on because of the blisters and pain and I'm still struggling. Poor dog has had her walks massively cut and I feel guilty

Have no wrapping paper, no food, no delivery slot because all those things I'd do over the last couple of weeks haven't got done - but I still seem to have spend an inordinate sum of money.

BUT purchased no books or stationery and no beauty products for myself since 2nd November (except tiny blip with free Joe Malone sample - damn) so at least I'm mainly in control of something

@listsandbudgets Sending BIIIIG Aussie hugs. So much pressure all at once. Going through similar with kids, have other things hanging over me atm too.
Just buy the toner and present for yourself, Darling. Start your engines in the new year.
Sorry it’s all weighing on you. Xxx

@Fraaahnces Thank you, you've no idea how much that made me smile. I've got a lovely Australian friend and I've heard her use those words or very similar I could almost her your post in her voice

Sending you some more long distance Saffa hugs @listsandbudgets . Things sound like they have been a bit much for you lately. So sorry about your burn as well.

I agree, go get the toner and the conditioner, there is a chance you may find some stashed at some point, so you can use that up another time. I know you made a deal with yourself, but with things being so stressful at the moment, it's quite okay to do what is kindest for yourself right now.

You can carry on your challenge you made for yourself when you don't have 3rd degree burns, two stressed children, an oddly quiet husband and a grumpy dog.

I find this time of the year challenging in many ways, so just be kind to yourself for now. Goodness knows we are our own worst critics most of the time.

💐

Can’t put it better than @isthismylifenow
The trouble with the stash I’ve realised is that it often doesn’t contain what you actually need. Exfoliaters and serums in quantity but SPF and shampoo not so much.
I’ve managed to be quite good on the beauty front but went away without any blusher so had to buy a new one at the airport. Of course I have loads of blushers at home so it definitely wasn’t actually necessary but I was too vain to manage without it (as if anyone would notice!). Totally get the spending loads and feeling a bit fed up with it all, so get yourself a treat I may have a lovely new Winter jumper

@listsandbudgets and another lot of long distance hugs from me. Look after yourself💐

Thank you all of you.

Right after a weekend during which I deliberately avoided my email and the fact that DD's last mock is this afternoon I'm feeling a little bit better.

Have planned with DP to go food shopping on Friday morning.

My foot has moved from really really painful to just painful and I've found my very comfy old Uggs from under the bed which are inelegant but really comfy (oddly enough bought back from Aus for me by my aforementioned Australian friend)

DP still secretive. DS still hating school but they finish for Christmas on Friday thank goodness.

Decided against buying anything for me for now saving money for jewellery in the sales instead

Sorry about all of the stresses @listsandbudgets. It’s really hard to get into the festive spirit when you have lots going on. I had to go back to Ireland suddenly last week as my sister was very ill. She had a liver transplant on Thursday. And obviously isn’t out of the woods just yet. I’m currently distracting myself by getting pissed off with the Christmas decorations! Nothing is quite how I want it. And I have a yucky cold and cough so no energy. Am tempted to go shopping to see if I can fix the Christmas decorations “issue”. But that is one of my big spend areas so we really don’t need anything else.

Packing to travel last week I discovered I’m almost out of small sizes of cleansers for travel so have given myself permission to buy a couple as needed. That should scratch my itch for a while!

@narniabusiness I was thinking about what you said about the uneven nature of the stash and you're definately right. I've got plenty of "interesting" things but so much less of the boring day to day things - I think because as a rule I literally just shove them in the shopping when I know I'm about to run out

@Peridot1 sorry to read about your sister. It will be a long road to recover for her.

Not sure where my habit of over buying came from, but I have too much of everything. Too many clothes, I have enough underwear to see me out! Too many perfumes, shower gel etc, too much cleaning stuff and the freezer and cupboards are full.

Ridiculous really, but I suppose I could have worse hobbies.😁

@Peridot1 I'm so sorry I thought I'd replied to you. I'm sorry to hear about your sister you must be so worried. I hope the transplant takes properly and she starts to improve soon, it's such a huge operation. How is she doing now?

Today I didn't order the sample of foot cream I was offered on facebook!!

Boots Premium. A meh day. I can't get excited about a sheet mask.

I’m with you @OchonAgusOchonOh. Given how hot and humid it is here atm, I’m going to put some in the fridge, I think. I have a feeling that the cold will be therapeutic.

Hmm. Maybe I should put mine in the microwave. It's not warm here.

I have been gifted a game-changing product… it’s mascara remover. This one
Has a weird mascara comb/brush thing that you just glide through your lashes then cleanse face as usual. As a natural blonde with hayfever, I use the kind of mascara that would survive a nuclear winter. This zips it off with no rubbing:
Finally braved up to snail mucin. (Ew…) It’s soooooo soothing. Mine had peptides as well, so if I look pre-pubescent by New Year, I’ll let you know.
Empty TG Purple shampoo. Wasn’t on sale anywhere so bought another brand. TG is very good and comes in a giant bottle.
Lador LPP keratin shampoo and treatment (conditioner). Meh. Went through it surprisingly fast. My previous shampoo was more expensive but it lasted for months and months. I don’t get it. I have a new one to try that supposedly smells like Osmanthus. I will use as body wash if it doesn’t work for me. (Bloody love Osmanthus!)
Usual boring toothpaste and deodorant empties, also hand soap.
Bioderma shower cleansing oil. (Instead of shower gel.) Love it, but don’t need it because my skin is sensitive. I want a fragrance it’s just dry AF. Going to try the Mustela one after Christmas.
Also purchased the Nars holiday blush palette. So many pretty shades. (I kind of like them mixed together.) Made a full-face with this and it really suited me!

I caved today 🙈

I was out doing Christmas meal shopping and we have a salvage type shop nearby which is perfect for things like relish, sauces etc. They have a toiletries aisle as well as I merrily just glanced as I strolled on by, not even a temptation.

But then, I saw an interesting box with Max Factor items in. And I ended up with two kohl pencils and the miracle creamy blush... They were pence really but I just could not leave them. Now I've tried the blush out, I am sorely tempted to go get another 🙈🙈.

If I go in the next few days, then I can do a restart again in January.

Sigh. December is difficult.

I don’t think that salvage counts at Christmas. It would have been a criminal waste to let it go to someone else.

I'm still here.

Today and tomorrow I'm decluttering in the room that has the huge chest of drawers . ( aka chester draws 😂). Most of my stash is held in it. I hope to get rid of a lot of items in there e.g foundation that just doesn't work for me, clown blusher etc.

I did buy a box of perfume tester sizes as looking for something new, and a new mascara as my current one is nearly finished.

Onward into 2024!

Hi everyone. I got a few beauty items for Christmas, but thankfully not an overwhelming amount. I'm hoping to use up some of the sample size ones in the next week or so travelling to visit family and at a friend's house for New Year.

Good luck all! We can do this!

Me too. It was just two very nice handcreams so not too much.

i've been given a HUGE bix if Nivea products.. night cream, day cream, shower cream, hand cream, body creamnand probably other bits.. intonthe stash it goes!

also some rather nice Neals Yard stuff and a mini bottle of bubble bath.

DD has "liberated" ny No 7 face cleanser.. apparently she really likes it.

i'm at my mums at the moment so using stash 2. need to decide whether to add all my nivea products to.that or take them home

desperately trying to avoid the sales.. very glad I managed to unsubscribe from so many marketing emails last month or I'd definitely be extremely tempted

those who ended up buying a few bits dint worry u bet that you bought less than you would have without the mental ban in place

@EuniceLopril Tell me about your perfume samples. Ive got so much perfume i reckon i will still be using it in 2034 so happy to hear about yours. the Liberty AC alone had 4 of them!

Perfume lover over here. Let me know. I have enough for 4 generations after me 😰

This is the thinking I'm going with 😀

I'll pop back tomorrow and get another one of the blusher as it's just a bit too good not to. (it's great as a lip colour too)

Happy belated Christmas to all on the thread.

@listsandbudgets the Nivea gift sounds quite amazing (I do rate most of their products). Did you decide which stash they will go into?

I have been using body lotion every day since being on this thread, it motivated me to be using stuff up. And I have to say that my skin is looking so much better. It's summer here so short sleeves, arms are uncovered and I have to say I have a nice glow. It's nothing fancy either, just Dove but it's making a difference. Not sure it's that easy to keep up in winter though, as it's out the shower and get dressed straight away. But I will try to keep it as a regular thing.

@isthismylifenow
I think using a body lotion on a regular basis does work. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, it’s just rubbing it in daily that makes the difference.

I used to be one of those people who would never use body lotion. I’m not sure what made me change my mind. I seem to remember it was being given a tub of body scrub and body butter and thinking that was a lovely gift, but I’ll never use it. But I decided that was a waste and now I’m a convert.
Re the stash though, I’ve written a list in a notebook thankfully because I had nearly finished my current body lotion and was thinking I’d need to buy a new one and break my no buy pact. The list however showed me I had several in stock including some body oil.
Sorry that was a bit boring but I was just trying to show that the list thing works.