January No Buy Challenge - Toiletries

To kick start the New Year, I have decided to set myself a challenge, one that involves NOT buying any toiletries for the month of January.

As 2015 came to a close, I found myself spending an inordinate amount far too much money on toiletries and natural beauty products, overstocking by far too much, so in order to rectify the situation, I thought I'd try to spend a whole month without buying anything at all.

As well as hopefully helping me to kick my recent habit of spending money in this area, the ban will also help to ensure that I use up the products that I have already purchased and which have caused me go over budget in this area for the last three consecutive months.

So, what is currently in my stash? Aside from what I am currently using on a daily basis, I have the following new, unopened products waiting to be used:

1 Peppermint Hand Soap
1 Bottle of Urtekam Nordic Birch Shampoo
1 Bottle of Urtekam Nordic Birch Conditioner
1 Tube of Timotei Organic Conditioner
2 Bottles of Sarakan Anti-Plaque Mouth Wash
1 30m Reel of Silk Dental Floss
2 200ml Bottles of Distilled Witch Hazel
1 Bottle of Organic Surge Nourishing Rose Day Cream
2 Bamboo Toothbrushes
1 Tube of Neal's Yard Geranium and Orange Body Lotion
1 Tube of Dr Bronner Peppermint Lip Balm
1 Pacifica Stellar Gaze Mineral Mascara in Brown
1 Tube of Madara Brighening Peel Mask
1 Bottle of Skin Blossom Reviving Eye Cream
1 Small Tube of The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm
1 Pacifica Nude Eye Liner
1 Pacifica Roll on French Lilac Eau de Cologne
1 Alva Organic Blemish Stick
1 50ml tube of The Organic Pharmacy Calendula Hand Cream
1 Bottle of Yardley English Bluebell Eau de Cologne (a Christmas gift)

Here's a photo of most of the stash.

(Please note that this photo was taken before I started to have problems uploading photos and some of the products pictured are currently in use and some additional items have been added)

Hmm, quite a lot when you see it written down and in a photo. I tend to buy products well before finishing the current one I'm using, especially where I buy them online or can get a good deal on buying 3 for the price of 2. (i.e. dental products)  If it is something I use regularly, then I will overstock to save money, time and postage costs .

A few of the above items have been free with magazines, some were brought back from the US in August/September and not yet used, the odd one came in a beauty box or was a gift, but otherwise I think it is safe to say I've been doing a little compulsive over-shopping in this area, so I need to take back control.

If I do run out of anything essential i.e. toothpaste (which incidentally I haven't stocked up on before beginning this challenge, as the brand I use didn't have an offer on), I may purchase one more tube to see me through the month, as it is something that I really can't go without. In addition, if OH and LB need something that I do not use, I will repurchase it for them, as I don't feel it is fair to inflict this blog challenge on them.

I do also have my stash of ingredients in the cupboard that I can use to make whatever products I need to, so the challenge might also encourage me to get making some more home made cosmetics and beauty products.

I'll keep you posted on progress.