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

@LittleMooli You almost certainly donn't need it. Look at what you've already got in stock - have you got so much that if you buy it it will take you ages to get to the stuff in the kit while it sits on the shelf and goes off? You probably do Keep your money for something else - new bag, jewellery, shoes or just cake!!

I don't dare do my new net figure but going to try

In since last post

Macmillian advent calander 24 (I'm awful)
2 facewash
3 tubes of hand cream given to me for birthdaY
and since beauty drop is coming next week I'll add a tentative 7 as it will (hopefully) turn up

36 items in such a short time ... that's dreadful!!

Last total IN was 53 and is now 89

Last out figure was 106. I've listed another 15 items on the finished thread so OUT is now 121.

Net is 32. At least it's positive - for now

I am still recovering from the great bathroom flood a month or so ago. I purchased the Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette directly after the event and I love it. Sephora here might just be having a sale and the I Need a Nude Palette is on it's way now. I think I can probably bin all my remaining powder eyeshadows and just keep one or two one-and-done creams for work. (Revlon Colorstay is brilliant for this.) I found some of the eyeshadows I thought had survived the flood must have been damp as they had gone all weird - the textures had changed completely. Gone all flakey and lifty. BINNED. My eyes are sensitive at the best of times not risking it.

That's a shame @Fraaahnces about your retired eyeshadow but I agree, better safe than sorry especially involving your eyes.

On that note, I've bought an eyeshadow palette on a discount to replace one from Dec 2021. It's lovely and still performing OK but it's nearly 3 years old and has had over 500 uses, and two tiny pans, in that time. (Yes, it's a bit sad, I do have a spreadsheet...) I've put it away for a Christmas gift 'from ds' for now!

So far haven't got any advent calendars and DH didn't get the John Lewis one for me before it sold out. 😩 So I'm being mostly good, I guess, although I'm sure I will be tempted if any go down in price. Good luck everyone!

@moimichme I thought I had better check all of them. It would seem that Creme and Creme to powder foundations fared even worse than the powder ones. 🤢 I had about eight Rituel de Fils eyeshadow pots and two have survived. (Perhaps they were also ancient - probably should bin the surviving two, if I’m honest.) Blushes had almost all evolved. Gone. I kept a couple of liquid ones in pump bottles, but not my fave formula. Wooden eyeliner pencils literally stank. I didn’t love the smell of the wood before but it’s going to be a long time before I use one, if ever again. Took the opportunity to bin a couple of antique mascaras. I was utterly ruthless. My dodgy old concealer will probably go too.

At the same time I used up some skincare!!!

TirTir Hydro Boost Enzyme Cleansing Balm. Fancy name for a very fine but very boring cleansing balm. Does the job but then again, don’t they all? I wouldn’t repurchase as I prefer something deliciously scented for this stage in my routine. It’s the only place I feel I can indulge. This smells like… nothing much.

Laneige Cream Skin Refiner Mist - Old School Variety. Loved this. Has been reformulated. Idiots. The new juice has really fabulous packaging, but it just doesn’t cut the mustard. Whatever were they thinking? This was probably the first of it’s kind. I kept the mister bottle.

COSRX Balancium Ceramide Mist - This was amazing, too. I use Tretinoin so I’m all about the ceramides. I love this after cleansing, prior to Tret. Adds a layer of protection and in theory it also improves the efficacy of the Tret. Then I slap on moisturiser & Cerave Healing Ointment before bed.

I have swapped from the two mists above to either the Thank You Farmer River Toner or TirTir Milky Toner (Esp the TirTir) which suit my skin sooooo much more. The TirTir was in a glass bottle which was slippery and heavy so I tipped what was left into the mister bottle. Doesn’t squirt as well, but I’m less paranoid about dropping it.

No don't tell me that @Thereislightattheendofthetunnel lol, I really don't need anymore perfume.
I was very good and didn't buy any perfume in duty free when I was on holiday. I'm not going to lie it was a struggle lol, as I usually do buy myself a bottle when away. The sales assistant let me have a sniff of a Michael Kors perfume,it smelt amazing- might have to ask Santa for it 😂

Well done, @Fraaahnces - a ruthless declutter can be quite satisfying and well done on the skincare empties, too.

In a change of my beauty fortunes, DH got me a JL advent calendar after all. Quite exciting, especially since I've used up lots this year and have only one or two items left in several categories now. I also bought myself a skincare edit that had several products I use constantly at a great discount. 😊

Otherwise I've been very restrained despite seeing a few tempting bargains and deals here and there. Thankfully work has been so busy that I don't have much time to browse anyway! Good luck everyone at this often spendy time of year.

My kids offered to buy me the YesStyle advent calendar for Christmas. I thought initially that it was a great idea but I looked at the products and realised that it’s aimed at a younger demographic, and most of the makeup items wouldn’t suit me. I decided to chip in and take advantage of the sales and buy the Medicube Age R Booster Pro. (Kind of like a Nuface or Ziip, but with other features as well.) I’m a bit excited about this as I have never invested quite like this before. Given that I’m not currently tickety boo, this might be just what I need.

Here is the doodad… I bought it from YesStyle but don’t suspect the sale is over and I don’t want to hit you with the nauseating spam links…
Here is the Amazon link… I didn’t spend that much.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IT.. .as you know I bought the Macmillan and the M&S - and guess what I've just been given as a late birthday present... that's right the Liberty AC. I've decided all my female relatives will just have to have beauty products for Christmas it's the only way... that and another buying ban starting NOW I've surely got enough to last until Dooms day FGS. There are 3 Liz Earle in the Macmillian which I know is my SIL favourite brand so they're going, DD and my mum always share makeup between them as I never use it, Mum loves Liberty candles so she's getting that - I'm going to have to be a little bit ruthless!

Grasping at straws 2 of the Macmillan items are tweezers and eye brow curlers so at least they're useful and don't need using up

On the other hand if I hadn't pulled back before imagine what it would be like now I'd be actually drown in beauty products you have to send a rescue team

What a lovely present though @listsandbudgets! I have the Liberty AC too. And I bought the most recent Caroline Hirons Kit. And went to the US and went to. Sephora….. although was pretty restrained really. And bought some things I wanted on the last Amazon Prime Day for DH to give me for Christmas. I think I’m good now for quite a while!

Definitely on a buying ban next year! (I seem to say that every year!)

I got a notification by email that you had updated @listsandbudgets and was almost too ashamed to look as after a good start resisting the LF AC and selling a few bundles on VInted, I then bought both the M&S and the Space NK ACs, it's ridiculous! Like you, am going to try and separate the must haves and bundle the rest for relative's Christmas presents. My problem is the Caroline Hirons FB page which has me talked into things! Already started using a few products and my skin does feel nice and soft, so there is that! I feel I not only have enough stuff to see me out but also see my pre teen daughters out too.

Oh well we've mainly been really restrained this year - I guess it was inevitable the spare cash would burn a hole in our pockets eventually!

I love the Liberty calendar and was upset about not having got it and I'm going to enjoy using it all.

I've not dared look at Caroline Hiron, Space NK or in fact any other beauty sites for a while or it would be even worse I promise

I got carried away in Boots £10 Tuesday but did buy a couple of Christmas presents and I liked the Lumene serum

What is this £10 Tuesday you speak of??

On Boots website every week on Tuesdays

Oh really! I had never heard of that

I finished two body products :- One of a Kind Hyaluronic In Shower Moisturiser with Cucumber & Seaweed Extract. Nice. Fresh scent. Not too slimy. No miracles, though. Bath & Body Works Mimosa & Mint Body Lotion. Loved the scent, but I am convinced that their products dry my skin out more than if I skip this step entirely. Make it make sense. I know this sounds terrible, but until I deplete my stash entirely, I am going to use stagnating “til later” products on the bod until they’re gone .I am going to be very liberal with application too. I will be applying eye creams to my neck & deck… damnit - anywhere. If I thought it would help, I’d slap it on my bum!

Oh @Fraaahnces you have me in stitches.

I am currently working on those products too. I can’t just bin them. It is not justifiable in my head. Love the image of eye cream somewhere else 😂.

Hi everyone , I have not posted here in a while now.

I think I mentioned somewhere upthread that I needed to get my a into gear and make space and my dd and I were going to an event where you get A LOT of goodies.

We went. I did not make enough space!

I tried to make as big of a dent in the stash that I could, but wowzers, now we have a stash and a half.

I'm not in UK so I don't know if this is done anywhere else, but one of our big pharmacy chains (like Boots) holds an event and many of the suppliers attend. You buy a ticket (that are like gold dust) and attend the day. The vendors all have the most stunning stands on the day and just give away free stuff! Some sample size, but most full size products. It was amazing! They also have competitions with prizes and masterclasses for products as well.

My dd lives quite far away so flew up for the event, and as she couldn't take everything back with her, I had to find space for her haul, as well as mine.

When we unpacked in an attempt to sort out the hair, body, make up things, we had managed to fill 3 boxes. Phew.

I kid you not, we will not have to buy much for a year at least, we have more than 20 deodorants. Soap...years worth.

A few people have now received a goodie bag, and I will also use some of it to make up some Christmas present hampers as well. Will also make a donation to our local shelter.

I have so much fun sorting it all out though. I keep opening the now very organised cupboard that it is all in, and just sigh. A good sigh.

My dd only managed to be here for the weekend of the event, so it was really such a rush but the most amazing bonding time ever. We were so spoilt on the day. She had a makeover by Fenty and now has a vast wishlist of these products for Christmas...

I attached a photo of deodorant drawer. This brings me a whole lot of joy. 😃 When dd sends me her list of what to send her, there will be a bit of a dent. My ds is also sorted for a fair while.

@isthismylifenow Well, if you are indeed in my hemisphere, you will be one of the few (phew?) people I don’t want to arrest for crimes against olfactory systems when I go to the supermarket. I do not understand why the wearing of deodorant (and of course, showering prior) is not legally mandated.

I finished a tub of (Shiseido) Fino Hair Mask. It’s the best I have ever used. It has a gel-creme texture and doesn’t leave my fine hair greasy or weighed down, but soft and somehow stronger. You can leave it on for 2mins or an hour. I love it. (Also the shampoo & conditioner). Now I know that you blot hair after shampooing, apply this, rinse out, condition and rinse again before applying leave in conditioner and heat protectant, I am seeing real growth and strength from my hair. FINALLY.

Right that's me back for accountability (but not before checking out that hair mask mentioned above!) Have managed to get rid of a lot of my stash via Christmas presents but have been on a huge spending spree based on FOMO after reading about things on the Caroline Hirons group so in the last month have bought U Beauty resurfacing compound, a Vintner's daughter serum, some lovely Huxley stuff, a May Lindstrom balm amongst others so that honestly has to be me not buying one more thing until 2026! (Except that mask above and the matching shampoo and conditioner...)

I'm back as well. I bought the liberty ac and the plan was for it to be the only one I got, well I ended up with 4🤦‍♀️
I ordered birchbox as a pp on another thread said you got it free when you ordered a one time beauty box, they posted 2 out as 1 of them "got lost", when I emailed them they said I could keep both as it was their mistake.
I bought myself a rituals one that was reduced in tk maxx after Christmas, my way of thinking was I have a big birthday coming up in January and this was a treat to myself 🤦‍♀️

@mcmooberry is that the hair care that @Fraaahnces mentioned? I actually ordered it on her recommendation here- I'm struggling to find a shampoo that agrees with my hair so thought I would give it a go. Will have a chance to get through some of my other shampoos first as delivery could take up to 30days 🤦‍♀️

Yes that shampoo and hair mask would love a review once it arrives! Your post made me laugh and feel a bit better at my lack of restraint!

Checking in as this thread really helped over the last year. I still have far too much stuff but I bought much less than I would have. I didn’t have a beauty AC this time, I had Harrods and HN perfume, but I opened them before December as I wanted to use the contents and scent’s spent birthday money.

I was a bit envious reading the Waifs and Strays AC thread, but when I was tempted I checked one of my stash boxes and found things I’d forgotten about.