topic Re: Only Using What's Open LOL in Beauty

Only Using What's Open LOL

justashopper — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 15:15:28 GMT

Morning Beauties!!

I have been trying to cut down my stash of products. It is like a never ending battle over the years. I know someone here can relate. I buy back ups of things I love. Then I find new things I love. LOL

I have purged many times through the pandemic and I think I got it down to a manageable mountain. LOL But I dream of being that person that is like, "this is my routine. I use this. The end"

So my new thing is-- I am only using products that are already open. This is an attempt to use up some products or force myself to toss what I don't want to use but have not been able to part with thus far.

Wish me luck.

Anyone have a trick they use to help keep their stash down?

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 15:32:34 GMT

It's a goal, but I'm not doing so good meeting it.

My husband finally finished assembling my new vanity/desk/dressing table (whatever you want to call it) yesterday. My stash is spread among several boxes, so my next step, today, is to wade through it all, pitch what I know I won't use, inventory and organize what m keeping, and push out any auto ships that can wait.

Good luck to both of us!

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

depglass — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 15:34:20 GMT

So you have a bunch of stuff sitting there unopened? What are you going to do with it? Too bad we don't have a Q Marketplace for posters.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

just bee — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 15:39:04 GMT

@justashopper wrote:
Morning Beauties!!

I have been trying to cut down my stash of products. It is like a never ending battle over the years. I know someone here can relate. I buy back ups of things I love. Then I find new things I love. LOL

I have purged many times through the pandemic and I think I got it down to a manageable mountain. LOL But I dream of being that person that is like, "this is my routine. I use this. The end"

So my new thing is-- I am only using products that are already open. This is an attempt to use up some products or force myself to toss what I don't want to use but have not been able to part with thus far.

Wish me luck.

Anyone have a trick they use to help keep their stash down?

@justashopper

Yes. I don't bring it into the house.

Years ago we had a thread here called the ComPact. The goal was to reduce our collections. The most effective way to do that is to stop buying the items you have already.

My house burned in 2019 and I had to pitch most of what I'd collected over the decades. Clothes, books, furniture, art, toiletries.

When you see all that headed to landfill, the "joy" of collecting just goes "poof."

Ideally, we should find items that we can rely on and just stick with them. But too many of us are always looking for something better. Sometimes it's just better to settle. Find something and stick with it as long as possible.

And use what you have.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

justashopper — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 16:29:20 GMT

@just bee

I am sorry for the fire and all that was lost. That must have been a very tough time for you and yours.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

justashopper — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 16:30:48 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch

How fun! I hope you post a pic of your vanity!!

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

Still Raining — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 16:37:33 GMT

Someone once preached "one out, one in" regarding clothes. Along with use or lose it. That I did take to heart.

The recents events made me turn the beams on skin care. Works there too.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

justashopper — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 16:39:19 GMT

@depglass

I am going to use it. I am using up or pitch the open stuff first. And this might take some time. So I think if I leave the un-opened sealed, it will still be good when I get to it. Instead of have more open and apt to spoilage.

As for the open bottles.... It's like how to pay off a lot of credit card bills--- stop spending. Then pay off the smallest balances first. LOL. So like now, I am using what's open with the least amount of product first. Use that up or decide to pitch, then on to the next.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

justashopper — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 16:45:15 GMT

@Still Raining

Yes!! I have been doing a lot of that, too. I

keep a bag in the closet and if I buy something similar to something else I already had, I put it there. Then when it fills up, I drop it off at one the donate boxes in my area.

I've always tried to buy quality over quantity, but things do get old and need replaced.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

just bee — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 17:15:32 GMT

@justashopper wrote:
@just bee

I am sorry for the fire and all that was lost. That must have been a very tough time for you and yours.

@justashopper

Thank you. But it made me realize that most of what I'd collected over the years wasn't being used and was unnecessary.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

x Hedge — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 17:27:52 GMT

@justashopper ,

I can relate to what you're going through. I use these two:

I've found taking a complete inventory of my stash at least twice a year (right before I'm going to be most tempted to buy more) really helps me say "no" to things I want, but really don't need.

And, between mid May to mid Sept: In those four months I try to use up every beauty/cosmetic product I already have opened.

I separate those and put others out of sight.

I find I use up the ones I really like first. Then, by Sept it becomes much easier to toss out what I've avoided using.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

SurferWife — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 18:18:11 GMT

@justashopper

Good thing you & I are not roommates! We'd be the next season of The Hoarders...Skincare episodes.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

Katcat1 — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 18:18:58 GMT

@justashopper I need help with shampoos. I have so many it's ridiculous and I am going to clean that up shortly and quit buying every shampoo I see, well, just about. lol One for body and conditioning, clarifying, dry scalp, voluminizing, etc. Enough already.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

Etoile308 — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 18:28:17 GMT

I realized I need to avoid the cosmetic area in Marshall's and TJMaxx. That's been the source of the new items I've picked up and stashed away.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

Shanus — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 18:51:44 GMT

@justashopper wrote:
Morning Beauties!!

I have been trying to cut down my stash of products. It is like a never ending battle over the years. I know someone here can relate. I buy back ups of things I love. Then I find new things I love. LOL

I have purged many times through the pandemic and I think I got it down to a manageable mountain. LOL But I dream of being that person that is like, "this is my routine. I use this. The end"

So my new thing is-- I am only using products that are already open. This is an attempt to use up some products or force myself to toss what I don't want to use but have not been able to part with thus far.

Wish me luck.

Anyone have a trick they use to help keep their stash down?

@justashopper Since it takes 8-10 wks. to know if a skincare is working and you see a change, by then, I'm almost down to the bottom of the jar or bottle. If not and I don't like it, if a cream, it becomes a lotion for arms and legs.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

Shanus — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 18:58:15 GMT

@Katcat1 I'm pretty well set with my shampoo rotation, but my styling products are piling up....long hair, short hair, staright with blowing it out or curly needing a gel or mousse. I have every size of flat iron, curling iron, diffusers, etc. too.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

SurferWife — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 22:34:35 GMT

This post has inspired me to review all of my open skincare products. I'm enjoying a rare moment of being home alone...well, besides my puppy who is going to get his bath in a little bit. I did some research to find out what the 3M, 12M, 24M, etc. means on bottles & jars. I then reviewed my purchase history of my products & realized some had expired over a year ago! Woops...in the trash they went. I now only have open, current bottles of my skincare products. WOW! It goes to show you what I actually use vs. those that sit around and look pretty.

Thanks @justashopper for starting this thread!

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

tsavorite — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 23:42:33 GMT

I have been attempting to do this and get down to just a few things that I use. BUT I still have a long way to go. Last yr I had picked up some items and I have to use them up before I buy any new things.

Just looking at my Purity....that will take me at least 2yrs to use up and I have been working on this one bundle purchase from Q for 2 yrs now! I got the 2 large bottles plus 2 8oz small sizes included...great price but this is easily a 5yr supply for me alone to use.

As for daily am skincare forget it....I can only use spf and then foundation....maybe a primer. So using up all my moisturizers takes forever as I only use at night some over top Retin a. I am to oily and need very little hydration.

Going to take another yr based on what is open BUT I won't be buying any as I know it will go bad on me for sure!

Body lotions....geez or peez! I am finally at that last tiny amount in the bottom of WEN Tuscan Pear and Winter Vanilla Mint....these really lasted a LONG time as I purchased them more then a yr ago. Then there's my BBW stash....8 tubes to go there....LOL! I bet WEN will have a sale on these body lotions and I know I will want to get them again as they are great LOL!

Yep I do NOT need anymore. In truth I should not be buying any of these kinds of things for several years. Will I be able to resist a new body lotion fragrance? So far I only caved 1 time in last few months.

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

justashopper — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 23:47:21 GMT

@SurferWife

That is excellent! It is nice to clear out the things don't use but keep for some reason. I know my main reasons are because a lot of this stuff is expensive and i hope to use it at some point.

@Shanus

I have heard that 12 week rule before. And I think your approach makes a lot of sense. After 12 weeks of continual use, it should be about gone. And that's the time to decide to buy again or try something else. If only I could do that. LOL I am going to blame qvc with all the super size deals. LOL

Re: Only Using What's Open LOL

justashopper — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:48:27 GMT

@tsavorite

I hear you! At the beginning of the pandemic I cleaned out so much make up, skin care and hair products. It was very freeing. The un-opened products are the hardest to let go of. It seems like such a waste. It's hard to not buy more. Make up and the such is fun to buy and try.

It does take a long time to get through every thing.

Stay strong and if you decide to buy something, enjoy it!!