Oh, and a fun aside:  as a part of finishing up this challenge, I purchased a Method o-mop at Target.  We have mostly wood floors so of course got the wood floor kit, but I also got the lemon-ginger all purpose floor cleaner.  It’s not AS clean as if I’d bleached and chemical-ed the crap out of it, but it’s better and it smells lovely.  Heavier on the ginger, actually.  I can’t wait to try it on the (wood) kitchen floor!!!

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Use it Up Challenge: The results!

First off – I tried a new Bath and Body Works wallflower in Kitchen Spice.  I had heard great things about this scent, and it really didn’t disappoint.  Except, that is, when I walked into my kitchen and thought R. had baked cookies.   No dice.  Hopefully I will be running low on these around the time of the semi-annual sale.  About four packs (eight bulbs) is a year’s supply, I think.

A few of my candles are about to be used up.  This includes the Illuminations candle I rec’d as a gift about a year ago.  It is a great-burning candle but the smell is fairly weak.  The problem is that it burns so slowly.  I cut it in half and melted it in the tart warmer instead (with an extra-big dish).  This helped, and now it’s out of scent so into the trash it goes.

Finally, one of my fave candles in a while is also about to bite the dust.  It’s a lovely berry lemonade scent from Bath and Body Works.  The cute stripey candle jar is going to be a keeper though.

When I finish most of these, I’m moving on to one of my NEW favorites – Aromafloria’s pomegranate candle.  I can’t believe how well this burns for a soy wax candle.  It’s really going to last a long time, it looks like.  And the wick is the perfect size – I HATE IT when candles ‘tunnel’ and leave a lot of unburned wax on the outside of the jar.  That is the mark of a chandler who didn’t do enough product testing.  Aromafloria has obviously done their homework.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

It’s Candle Week!

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Speaking of hair…

2 Scrubs – MadCitySue’s whipped sugar scrub in Vanille Abricot (probably the best scrub I’ve ever tried and when I finally finish all my other scrubs I’m switching to hers exclusively. In my first assignment I found many products I had tucked away during our move and totally forgotten. Now that we’re settled in I consolidated them into one spot and started using just one of each type of item. This included a scrub from Teravita, which came in a clearance gift set I bought myself (natch) in the post-christmas sales at Target. It was a salt scrub with an interesting, thick, almost gel-like consistency. The salt was from the Dead Sea, and had an interesting marine fragrance (one of my faves!). It was just a sample size, maybe 1oz at most, and after the gym yesterday I finished it off straightaway and had great glowing skin. Yesterday afternoon I was able to toss both of them in the recycling bin and go shop in my stash again.

1 shave product – Skindecent Shaving Cream in Pink Sugar. I really liked the consistency of this product as well, and being able to shave with a fun, candy-like scent sure makes it better than the boring scents of commercial shave gels. Since I finished this product I’m now working on my second shave product, Isle of Eden’s shave and bath creme. I think I let this one go a bit too long, it’s sort of hard and doesn’t dissolve easily, instead remaining in chunks. The “Blood Orange” scent isn’t very true, nor does it last very long. I’m thinking that oncec I finish this up I won’t repurchase anymore shave products commercial OR retail. I can just use conditioner, 3-in1, or my epilator.

Since I can’t focus as much on the in-shower products like scrubs and shower gels, I’m working more on the lotions, perfumes, and home fragrances.

2 Home Fragrances: About two weeks ago I caved during a Bath and Body Works sale and bought two sets of Wallflower refills. I like them because they are fairly strong and good to put in the kitchen outlet right above where my trash bin is. So I had a bit of a backslide there but now one of the bulbs is almost used up. Not sure if I’ll stick with the Clean Linen scent or switch to the new Black Raspberry Vanilla. In the meantime, due to the sewer work we did in the basement last weekend I really went through some home fragrance products. I used up 3 Blueberry Muffin wax melts from Candles from the Keeping Room and finally finished the Old Navy Ruby Red Guava candle I purchased a few months ago. This one burned very well but eventually when there was about an inch of wax left the flame got somewhat erratic. I decided to prevent any danger by extinguishing the flame and transferring it to my electric tart melter. The glass container worked perfectly and I was able to burn the candle for 16 more hours on the melter before the scent pretty much gave out.

I purchased a beautiful ring for myself a few weeks ago, and realized that pretty rings + ugly fingernails was not a good look. So I redoubled my efforts to stop biting them and use up the stash of nail polishes I bought earlier this year. The good news is that if you shop at sites like 8ty8beauty and Transdesign there are great deals to be had on salon-brand nail polish like OPI, essie, and Creative Nail Design. The bad news is I have a lot of nail polish thanks to my monthly beauty column and I wasn’t even polishing my nails on a regular basis. I decided to change all that, doing a manicure every few days using my favorite hand products once more. I’ve all but finished my Manicure in a Minute, and after it’s gone I’ll probably just use whatever body scrub I have open at the time. I own a pair of “gel gloves” and apply a whipped shea butter, which melts into a luxurious moisturizing oil. Slip on the gloves before bed and wake up to perfect cuticles. I mean, absolutely flawless. And with these flawless cuticles, I’ve been going through my nail polish collection and doing a manicure with each shade. If I like the shade, it goes into the ‘keep’ tray on the opposite side of my dresser. If it’s just not me, it goes up for swap. I’ve already swapped away maybe four or five polishes (but already I got three in return, and another as an extra!)

I’ve been taking fish oil supplements regularly for other reasons, but one side effect is that I barely need body lotion anymore (to say nothing of conditioner). So the only times I use lotion now are on my hands (which get dried out from exposure to soaps and cleaning products) and feet. I finished a bottle of one of my favorite products ever, Suds and Light Goat’s Milk and Honey lotion in Un Bois Vanille. Even a 4 oz bottle lasted me months. Now I’m working on another bottle of the same product in a different scent, Red Currant.

So, even though I’ve finished quite a few products, given away, swapped, and tossed more. Due to an impending sewer repair bill, I’m going to soldier on with my no-buy (excepting, of course, products and samples for review purposes). Hopefully soon I’ll be able to shop again and replenish the products I’ve run out of. I’m glad I’ve been able to discover some products I’m just not going to buy again from any brand, and realize that I really need to cut back on lotions since the healthy Fish Oil supplements make them much less necessary.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Use it Up: Week 3 Results!

Consolidating:  I’m kind of a tinkerer at heart, and that includes my skincare.  I found Skinactives‘ website less than a year ago, and I’m a champion of what I like to call Open Source Skincare.   With a small investment I was able to create lots of products to do acne peels, Alpha Hydroxy peels,  make eye cream, everyday moisturizer with Beta Hydroxy Acids, etc.   I’m finally running low on my first batch of BHA 2% lotion, so I made a new batch today, and of course, using up several products in the process.  I had two small 1oz tubes of moisturizer from a L’Oreal Glycolic Peel kit I got during the post-holiday sales that I barely touched.  I also had a small tube of moisturizer that came with a shaving kit I got the BF (and he never showed much interest in), and so that went in as well.  Now I’ve got another 6 months or so of moisturizer, and it cost me next to nothing.

Swapping:  How could I have forgotten to mention swapping as a great way to trade products that just didn’t work for you (or that you maybe  just went a little overboard shopping for).   I went through my stash closet and listed several lotions, potions, and polishes to perhaps find new homes for.  I’m still committed to giving away some products,  so if they don’t swap quickly, out they go.

Use it Up:  I had to break my rule this week and break out a smaller version of shower gel for my trips to the gym for showering.  However, in doing this, I discovered something that might help me use up more shower gel.  I forgot my shampoo and had to use Bath and Body Works’ Temptations 3-in-1 as a shampoo as well as shower gel.  The scent I used, Raspberry Taffy-ta, was sweet and tart, like a raspberry coulis, and I could even smell it on my hair an hour after I showered.  But the big surprise was how my hair LOOKED after this alt-shampoo.  It actually looked decent when I left it down.   So I’ll continue to use this as a shower gel AND shampoo,  and that way, I might not have to buy shampoo for a while longer if I run out.

I’m considering often this week the financial implications of my use-it-up challenge.  Obviously if we were all able to buy only out of need and not from desire, we’d have a lot less stuff.  But we’d probably have a lot more money, too.  And less stress about wondering where to PUT all this stuff, especially if TOO MUCH STUFF means having to buy a bigger home, an expensive garage or basement organization wall, or rent a storage locker.  I buy a lot of products for reviewing purposes on this blog, as well as for my beauty column on Richmond.com.  All that stuff really adds up, even if it is a ‘job related expense’.  I’m working on ways to reduce the amount of stuff that I buy that hangs around my vanity or bathroom by doing makeovers on others instead of just testing products on myself.  That way, a deserving person gets to keep a bunch of fun new products,  I get to write my article or blog entries, and everyone’s happy!  In addition, using the things I purchase for reviews means I don’t have to go out and buy my normal everyday staples like shampoo and conditioner.  I’m also hoping that in listing products up for swap, I can swap for some additional staples (Mitchum unscented deodorant, anyone?!  O.B. Tampons?) further saving myself a few bucks at Target.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Use it Up Challenge! Week 2…

Just yesterday I finally made a bit of progress – I filled up the handsoap dispenser in the downstairs bathroom with A WHOLE TUBE of shower gel (Boots Orange Lemon Grape – the scent was too delicious to keep under wraps so I figured I’d use it more quickly this way).  I finally finished the Palmer’s Cocoal Butter Cream, and almost finished the second small lotion I’m working on (Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Orange Ginger).  Yesterday I took the opportunity to shower at my gym, and I brought ALL my bath goodies.  I think I finally finished the Skindecent Shave Lotion, so it’s time to go shopping in the stash!

In any case – this week’s assignment is all about desktop beauty.  I want you to find a few products that you might have duplicates of, that will come in handy at your desk.  Your desk  may be in an office, or it may be in the spare bedroom at home, but there’s no reason to go without a lovely lotion, a small perfume, some antiperspirant (trust me), etc.  I just realized I had two cuticle creams, so one goes in my work bag to my desk drawer tomorrow.  Leave them sitting out (if you trust your co-workers and the cleaning staff) and you’ll use them often.  I also find this is about the only place I can actually use up an entire lipgloss, because I reapply every few hours out of boredom.  I’ve nearly finished a 4 ounce lotion (since march) just by using it on my hands everytime I go to the restroom and use that harsh anti-bac soap.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Use it Up Challenge – Week 2!

Organize the Stash: Taming this beast is no easy task. Before I even started taking pics, I put all the ‘dupes’ (a few scrubs, a conditioner, etc) into the linen closet. I also rounded up all the sunscreens and sunless tanners and put them in a box to keep them together. All my skincare went on to one corner of the vanity where I do my makeup. I also started a box of items to take to the women’s shelter.

Pamper Others: I just did an article on sunless tanners. One was so bad I returned it (save those receipts!) but the rest are perfectly fine. I got an e-mail from a friend who loved the article and I’m going to surprise her Monday with two of the products.
Pamper Yourself: No scrubbing this week, but I did shave once and use a good bit of the Skindecent Shave Lotion (love!). I also used a good dollop of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion on each of my feet every night after the shower and before I put on some socks.

Consolidate: Not a whole lot I could do to consolidate, but I did combine the last bit of Savannah Bee Blackberry Honey Handsoap with a new-ish bottle of Kiss My Face’s peaches and cream liquid soap. Also, I consolidated a box of rainbow sparkle band-aids with a box of Barbie band-aids.

Kiss it Goodbye: although I thought I did a pretty decent job getting my stash in order before I moved, I found some things that were just past their prime. These included Cover Girl Lash Exact Mascara, a bar of handmade soap (at least a year old, I don’t use much bar soap and I figure it’s not going to ever get used now), an almost-finished can of CVS brand sunless tanner, and an un-labeled skincare experiment (the bottle is reusable, so I just cleaned it out and put it away).

Found: I found some things that I had forgotten I had, including several containers of floss (we just bought more because I thought we had run out), several facial moisturizers, some Biore strips, & etc., and finally a stick of deodorant.

My totals this week:

Used up: 0

Given Away: 2

Thrown Away: 5

Consolidated: 2

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Use it Up Challenge – Week 1 results!

1. Consolidate. This is really easy with certain types of products. Basically, the less fragranced the item, the easier it becomes, but you can also get creative and blend two complimentary-scented products. I frequently consolidate shampoos, dish soap, sunscreen, nail polish removers, and some skincare items like toner. Obviously you don’t want to go consolidating ammonia with bleach, water with electricity, or anything like that.

2. Get Creative. As I mentioned in the kickoff post, just because a product is labeled shower gel doesn’t mean you HAVE to use it in the shower. Use conditioner as shave cream, body spray as linen mist, shower gel as hand soap. I’ve even used cheap shower gel to scrub my toilet. Can you think of any more ways to use things creatively?

3. Pamper yourself. Try to use more products, more often. Take a bath with a bath bomb every night for a week. Light a candle just because, not because you’re expecting company, or because someone did something smelly. One of my favorite ways to really make a dent in my stash and pamper myself is to take a generous amount of body butter or thick body lotion, massage it into my feet, and then wear thick socks to bed. I have heard of people that do this before the gym, which sounds like a great idea as well. In any case, it helps use up lotions which, as you probably know, can turn rancid before you say boo.
4. Take it Back! In the USA, stores have fairly liberal return policies. If you can find the receipt, why not return a few products? Alternatively, many stores like Bath and Body Works will accept returns of new merchandise without a receipt for store credit. You can then gift the credit to a friend, or keep it for a rainy day when you need a quick gift.  I usually only use this method if I’ve bought something that either doesn’t work for me (skincare) or just isn’t to my liking (fragrance).  Be careful, as stores do track what you return and you can actually get blacklisted for chronic returning.  I’m suggesting this only as a one-time fix to help you get a jumpstart on this particular challenge.  The real challenge is learning not to buy because we feel sad, bored, lonely, hungry, or other reasons for ‘retail therapy’.  In addition, SALES are a double edged sword because although we can get good (or great!) deals, sometimes we buy too much.  Think of sales as the Chinese Food Buffet of shopping.  Once in a while is okay, but not frequently,  and even when we do decide to indulge, there is still a need for moderation.

5. Pamper others. Speaking of gifts, you can make someone’s day a bit brighter by surprising them with a bit of scented happiness. And finally, if you’ve REALLY got a big stash, consider donating it to a homeless or battered women’s shelter. Think of how useful and treasured your items will be to the shelter residents, and think of the tax deductions…

There is actually a sixth way to clean out your stash, but it is not recommended to everyone except the die-hard pack rat. If you’ve really let things go, there may be a few or many products that are just not fit to use anymore. Sadly, the best thing you can do at this point is to empty out the container and recycle it. You wouldn’t keep spoiled milk in the fridge would you? Maybe you would, but if you think you might REALLY have a problem with compulsive shopping, hoarding, or other OCD-type issues, my little list probably isn’t much help. The FlyLady is also not for everyone but her method will help chronically disorganized people recover their homes and their lives.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Use it Up Challenge – 5 Ways to Shrink your Stash

To begin,  gather up ALL your products.  Shower, dresser, under the bed, linen closet – wherever you have it stashed, pull it out.  This might seem like an excellent time to clean the bathroom while you’re at it, but don’t let yourself get distracted just yet.  You will probably find stuff you totally forgot about buying.  I like to call this “shopping in your stash”.  This is the extent of the shopping that you will do during the challenge.

Count how many of each type of item (perfume, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, etc) you have.  It helps to write it down even if you’re not making a spreadsheet.

Now, the key step: pull out ONE of each type of item.  Generally you will want to grab the one that is the most used up.  Leave EVERYTHING ELSE in the hiding place.  In the case of perfume, you may want to use the one that is most appropriate for your current mood and/or weather.  Perfumes are less of a concern right now because they are smaller and also have a very long shelf life (especially if they are kept in a cool, dark place).  Lotions, scrubs,  and oil-based products (perfumed roll-ons, massage oil, etc) have a short shelf life.  Bath bombs and other bath treats also degrade fairly quickly especially if they’re kept in the humidity of a bathroom area.

If the above steps take you more than 30 minutes, you’re either doing it wrong, or you have a really large stash.

Hopefully, in less than a week, you will have finished at least one product.  Make sure to recycle the container if possible,  then head back to the hiding place, and grab the next product.  Again, you will make the most progress if you choose the most used up product.

Sooner or later, you may run out of all your stash of a certain product.  For us product junkies, it’s a crazy feeling when you actually need to buy something because you’re out, instead of feeling compelled by advertising, in need of retail therapy, or etc.  If you’re used to picking up a bottle of this or that everytime you’re at the mall (especially if your mall has a Sephora), this may be somewhat of a shock.  But trust me, it gets easier with every day, and your financial situation will be that much improved.

And keep an eye on your consolidated ’stash’ – we’ll be revisiting it in a few days.  Not that it’s going anywhere…

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Use it Up Challenge – Assignment 1