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

Checking in!!

I'm in! I'm keeping Beauty Drop but I need to get through my stash. I have Liberty and Clarins to open, and a Flannels perfume cracker for my Christmas stocking (if it ever arrives).

I also need to enforce some kind of first in, first out system. It's hard to see what's there as it's all spread between various boxes and wash bags.

@JMAngel1 I think at the end of it this is where I'd like to be. I've certainly liked some products more than others and I've got plenty of others to find out about. I plan to make a list of the ones I really like and stick to it when I'm buying more rather than just choosing what's on offer.

Those of you who have done this successfully already thanks so much for joining - it makes me feel better to know that you've managed it

I was on one of these threads a few years ago. I have got better, but still not perfect yet.

I also did this with clothes. I sold a lot of the things I wasn't wearing and made £500 out of it. I've only bought one thing this winter, and witnessing what I sold for a fraction of what I paid has made me think twice about purchases.

With makeup and toiletries I divide them into sections. I have a "use up" small box that I use for work where I don't really care what I look like.

Then I have a "below the neck" pile. There is a line halfway across my neck, and all my favourite things go above this, and the things I want to use up below and down to my boobs. It's still very good stuff.

I pass things I am not using, such as shampoo and conditioner I've tried, to my DH and DC. Or, I'll decant it into my liquid soap pumps.

I'm off for a few days and I am planning on getting a box together of things I should be doing every day, and hoping that I will dip into it in the evening and give myself a mini facial and foot/ hand moisturise.

Just to say, if there's a women's refuge near you, they would absolutely love any unused, unopened items. Even little samples. Many women leave abusive situations suddenly and have very little with them, and certainly not the funds for skincare treats.

You could contact Women's Aid in your area or even ask your GP, Health Visitor or local councillor for details - they should be able to point you in the right direction to donate.

Some refuges will keep their location secret for obvious reasons so your drop off point may be different. I can assure you these treats would be very welcome to help the women feel just a tiny bit better, and doing some self care is a lovely way to boost self esteem.

Thank you (from a volunteer).

For me it's perfume, I'd almost got down to 2 bottles and then a thing happened and I was back to square one.

I've been trying to get plastic out of my bathroom for a while now, the shower is down to solid shampoo, solid conditioner and a bar of soap.

But I signed up to Liberty and slowly stuff is accumulating, again.

@woopdedoodle I was doing quite well and then the Liberty Scent with Love email landed in my inbox and it's going to take me a veeerry long time to get to the bottom of it all!!

I think this is a great idea, however this thread actually lead me to ordering the QVC Elemis deal! Doh. I do have stuff to use up, but not excessively so. Think I'll join in on a ban going forwards and work through what I have, including the goodies incoming.

I'm currently in the using things up phase so no advent calendar for me. I think I might be sad in December but at least year I should be able to justify it! Unless I've found the holy grail product for everything of course...

I think there is another thread like this, with reporting their stash as they use it to encourage each other?

I think my Holy Grail products are all Elemis, along with Paula’s Choice 2% BHA exfoliating toner. I feel I can’t buy any more Elemis/PC until I’ve used up all the other - expensive/high-end - stuff I’ve received in ACs and beauty boxes, but nothing matches them so far.

I used to envy beauty journalists/bloggers for all the free stuff they get to try, but now I reckon they probably yearn to use their favourite go-to products for a few weeks.

My stuff is in various boxes in a wardrobe. I actually sorted it so that similar products are in the same box so all serums together etc. I wrote each item I had in a notebook with by category and am checking what I have in a category before buying any more. I was very good for the first part of the year - I was on the beauty addicts thread - but did regress a bit towards the end of the summer.

I still have about 90 items to use up. I never need to buy any more make-up, except maybe some foundation in about another 3 years. Excluding shampoo and condition, I have enough hair products to see me to the end of time. I have quite the collection of serums/treatments too. Surprisingly, I am down to 2 or 3 eye creams but given they last forever that is at least a couple of years worth.

I definitely recommend organising the stash and doing an inventory. It's much harder to convince yourself you need it with that.

I need to clear out what i don't use. I've been theoretically on a ban for years but got an advent calendar last year (it was such good value, and I really wanted one of the items in it) and found some £1 clearance goodies the other day that I didn't need but hey it made me happy for a few minutes.

The 'must have' item was put somewhere safe and I can't remember where.

Remind yourself that it doesn't make the slightest difference. No one will notice if you use soap and water and Nivea creme.

I'm not bothered about what others think or notice. I just like trying out new things and pampering myself.

No I can’t do it; my beauty stash is a thing of joy that I look at like an art collector looks at her Monet’s.
If you want some help I can send my address; I’m always happy to add to the pile.

You don’t happen to like black eyeliners and red lipsticks, do you? I have loads of those, unused.

@MavisMcMinty , I seem to like buying them.

I can never seem to find a red lipstick that suits. That might be the point I crumble tbh!

This thread has inspired me to organise my stash into categories. I now have a 'use now' basket of open things that I'm going to try to use by Christmas and boxes with cleansers, serums, night and day creams etc to go to when something needs replacing. Thanks for the ideas everyone

True... BUT I enjoy buying and using the products.

I don't drink or smoke. I rarely wear makeup. I don't have a cleaner. I don't wear designer labels or buy expensive handbags... but I do like nice skin, bath and hair care products.

I know it's a privilege and they'd be the first up for cutting if it became necessary but I'm going to enjoy it while I can... and with the quantity I've got I can enjoy it for quite some time

@dullandgrey what were you thinking? Still it should last you a while

@OchonAgusOchonOh I will wait until January when the advent calendars are opened and use a long cold wet night to do some sorting although I'm still in 2 minds as I actually quite enjoy rummaging through like some kind of kid's toybox.

Lurking. I actually have SHELVING for my stash

However it has all been purchased at discount/sales, it gets used slowly and when covid hit then people stopped mocking my love of hand wash when I had ten bottles and a stash of bar soap

Don't judge the mess
This is the back up stash. Not including makeup, perfume or the majority of my hair products

I do it to cheer me up. Nothing like a gorgeous new body oil or a flattering lipstick to make you feel good about life!

@RazorstormUnicorn - the Beauty Addicts/hoarders thread? I’m on there too! Ended up buying things after recommendations on that thread which isn’t in the spirit really!

I definitely need to do an inventory again. I’d did one a while ago but of course I’ve added things since and used some things up.

@MrShady - that is some stash! I would have a great time organising and labelling all of that into categories!

My stash is semi organised but could be better. Travel sizes are in labelled ziploc bags in one drawer. Main skincare stash is in another. Face masks and hand creams in another. Body lotions etc in another. Hair products in a drawer in the bathroom. Soaps and shower gels in another bathroom drawer.

I’m going to start a Sunday morning bath/face mask/body lotion routine to start using those up.

@Memberofstaff - skin care etc is definitely self care for me. I get a lot of pleasure and enjoyment from it. Love my morning and evening ritual of sitting at my dressing table doing my skincare. I find it very relaxing and something just for me.

@MrShady Wow... just wow that is some stash, how long did it take you to accumulate all of that?

Out of interest I just wondered if those of us who stash beauty products also stash other things... I tend to have enormous amounts of food put away for example.

I'm planning to buy SIL some bath oils (probably aromatherapy associates) for Christmas and it's going to take a strong will not to buy something for ME too. I'm likely to get some things for DD too although I'm going to wait to see what's in the ACs and pack a little bag of stuff for her to unwrap all at once. She will take the mascaras, lipsticks etc. that I won't want.