The Beauty Diet Update and New Spending Challenge

I’m still going strong with my beauty diet, where I’m trying to use up my old products that take up space in my bathroom and elsewhere, and stretch out products that I’m running out of to save money.

Shower Gel/Bubble Bath

My challenge with this was to not buy any more shower gel until the end of November.  I’ve used up all my shower gels, apart from some of my Neals Yard shower gel, and all of the Hello Kitty one.  There’s loads of Hello Kitty in there.  So, I’ve decided to extend this challenge, and not buy any more shower gel until Christmas.  That would mean an entire year without buying any shower gel, as all I’ve used this year were Christmas presents, or shower gels I already had lying around.  Even the Hello Kitty one was bought for me from my boyfriend when he was stranded in Hong Kong.  This would really be an achievement, as I shower twice a day usually.  And I’m sure I’ll be getting a load more at Christmas.  I have on order The Sanctuary set which is on offer at Boots at the moment, which does include a shower gel.  However, I’m not planning on using this until the new year, so it doesn’t count!

Face Wash

My aim was to not buy any more face wash until the end of January.  I’ve got most of a bottle of Nivea left, a teeny bit of Neutrogena which I’m eeking out and using as a face mask as well as half a bottle of Shiseido Tiss Oil Off.  I’ve also accumulated a face wash from Clinique as part of a Bonus Time Deal.  So I’ve still got loads left.  I intend to make the Tiss Oil Off and Nivea stretch until the end of January – I’ll see after that how long the Clinique will last.

Facial Scrub

I had aimed not to buy any more scrub until the New Year, and I’m well on track for that.  I still have most of a Clean and Clear Exfoliating Daily Wash left, as well as the Warming Scrub and the Blackhead Clearing Scrub left.  I’m focusing on using up the Blackhead Clearing Scrub, as it is terrible.  It’s clearly the worst scrub for my skin that I have ever used.  It doesn’t seem to be disappearing though, despite using it daily!  It looks like there’s exactly the same in the tube now as there was when I took this picture back in August!  I really want to use it all up by the end of November, so I can move onto the other scrubs.

Shampoo and Conditioner

My challenge was not to buy any more shampoo until the end of October.  I’m just about to meet that, finishing off a small bottle of L’Oreal shampoo I found when I did my beauty audit.  I’ve got enough left to last me until the end of the week, and I’ve got the new Liz Earle shampoo on order for when that finishes.

I had also planned to not buy any conditioner until the end of January.  I’ve still got 2 ½ bottles of Timotei left, so there’s not really any problem meeting that challenge, as I have a couple of deep conditioners left as well.  But I have bought the Liz Earle conditioner to go with the shampoo - I’m only planning to use it once just to try it out, before going back to the Timotei.  I do like the Timotei conditioner, and in the past I’ve stocked up when it’s been on offer, as it suits my hair.  However, I am looking to try some new products, so I just want this stash gone!

Samples

 

I think that my sample stash is finally starting to diminish.  I thoroughly recommend doing the Sample Sunday idea to help you use up your stash (I know you’ve all got one)!  I’ve found some interesting products, and some terrible ones!

Moisturiser/body cream

I’m still using up my body moisturisers.  I’m down to some of the dregs, although there are still a few left, mainly fake tanning moisturisers (I’ve been pale all this year), and glittery/shimmery ones which I don’t tend to use very much.  I should just about have enough to last me to Christmas, and will probably get a load more then.  As I said in a previous post, I’ve finally moved all the remaining ones to my usual beauty storage to free up the hamper I’d had them all stored in.

I’m currently using Peace Be Still Balm by Temple Spa as my facial moisturiser and loving it, as well as the Body Shop Vitamin E Night Cream, and Clinique Moisture Surge on top.  I’ve got a couple of samples of moisturisers, but not much more.  Nevertheless, I don’t intend to buy any more facial moisturiser until Christmas.  I think I have enough left to last me until then!

I hadn’t originally included these in my Beauty Diet, but they are now!

Make up

I’ve totally blown all my makeup targets.  Every time I set a new challenge or target, I totally blow it!  Nail polish is my worst offender – I’ve got all the hottest shades, some of which cost A LOT of money and have only been worn once.  Others haven’t even been worn! 

I’ve decided that I will not be buying any more make up or polish until 6^th December, which is the date the Beauty Bloggers Christmas Weight Loss Challenge also ends.  I will review my makeup spending.

Perfumes

No update on my perfumes really – I’m trying to use up the cheaper ones and ones that I like least, but I don’t have any targets set really.

New Spending Challenge

When I originally started doing this, the plan was to help my finances which have had a bit of a battering recently.  Surprisingly, my finances are not on too bad a footing at the moment.  But, Christmas is coming, my car needs new tyres and a headlight, I’m in need of a haircut and I have some big events in December that will need some cash.  I've a couple of big holidays planned next year to save up for as well. So I still need to reign back the spending.

So my new spending challenge is to not spend any money on cosmetics, beauty products, or anything related until 6^th December, other than by using a £10 note I currently have in my purse and about £7 worth of Boots points I've accumulated.  This includes things like toothpaste, shaving gel, anything really!  This is a tough challenge, but one I need to do to save my wallet from a battering.  I’m making my lunch every day for dieting purposes, as well as to save money, so I’m not tempted to pop into Boots at lunch, which is helping. You’ll be hearing no excuses from me.  This is a total spending ban (apart from the £10 and Boots points which are for emergencies). 

As I have some Liz Earle stuff and The Sanctuary set on order, these are already paid for and are outside the challenge.  I also need to book a haircut, but I might wait until my November wages for that, and I have a Brazilian Blow Dry booked and paid for already.  But anything else is banned! I’m also including all clothes in this.  I’ve recently bought quite a few new clothes which I will blog about over the next few weeks, so I don’t need any more.  

It’s less than 6 weeks – can I do it??  Of course I can.  I’ll keep you posted!

Thanks for reading! xx