Sephora

itsfi

Winter is officially here, and with it comes another seasonal edition of Shop Your Stash / Use Your Stash. Please feel free to use this space to identify and talk about the beauty product(s) you plan to use or are thinking about using or working through this winter. Products can be makeup, skincare, hair care, bath & body items, fragrance, nail care or other beauty products in your collection.

Winter 25 - 26 OP 3.jpg

Winter 25 - 26 OP 1.jpg

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What Is "Shopping Your Stash"?

"Shopping your stash" is the practice of using / making the most of the beauty products in your existing collection. Check out the posts below for more info regarding:

If you're interested in or looking to work on a year long project with the aim of using up / finishing or hitting pan on products check out Pan It! - 2025 Challenge - NOTE: I'll update the link once the 2026 thread is up! I can't believe that we're heading into year 9 of the pan it! challenge @ElleElleG! Brava, brava! It's definitely helped me use up some items I never thought I'd even make a dent in. Thank you!!

For those wondering, what's the difference between "Shop Your Stash" and the Pan It! Challenge or project pan?, great question, because they do have some similarities to them. Everyone has their own approach to panning projects. I've briefly noted in the spoiler below how I look at each and how I approach both challenges.

Spoiler

I use the Pan It! Challenge to work through products over the course of the year, with the aim of trying to use up the product, hit pan or to see how much I can get through in a year. The Pan It! Challenge has been great for accountability and encouragement. For myself, I have, in the past picked a smaller number of products to focus on panning during the year and the items I select are usually made in an effort to try to get myself into a routine of using them or reaching for something and being consistent with it. The monthly check-ins on that thread help me hold myself accountable and let's face it, they often spur me to use one or more of the items I've set aside for the pan it! challenge before it's time to check in, which usually causes me to be better about using those items at the start of the next month.
The Shop Your Stash challenge, on the other hand, for me, at least, have a more seasonal approach to them, whether due to the product's functionality or because it's something I want to focus on for a particular period of time (but not the entire year). For instance, while there are no hard line rules on what shades to wear during a particular season, I am more likely to wear deeper tones or do a smokey eye more often in the winter season. In that vein, in an effort to help me actually use those types of products in my collection, I may identify 1 or 2 blush shades or eyeshadows to primarily rotate through during the winter months. That's not to say that I won't use other products or buy other items but my focus is to try to get as much use out of what I already have during that time period.

I use the Pan It! Challenge to work through products over the course of the year, with the aim of trying to use up the product, hit pan or to see how much I can get through in a year. The Pan It! Challenge has been great for accountability and encouragement. For myself, I have, in the past picked a smaller number of products to focus on panning during the year and the items I select are usually made in an effort to try to get myself into a routine of using them or reaching for something and being consistent with it. The monthly check-ins on that thread help me hold myself accountable and let's face it, they often spur me to use one or more of the items I've set aside for the pan it! challenge before it's time to check in, which usually causes me to be better about using those items at the start of the next month. The Shop Your Stash challenge, on the other hand, for me, at least, have a more seasonal approach to them, whether due to the product's functionality or because it's something I want to focus on for a particular period of time (but not the entire year). For instance, while there are no hard line rules on what shades to wear during a particular season, I am more likely to wear deeper tones or do a smokey eye more often in the winter season. In that vein, in an effort to help me actually use those types of products in my collection, I may identify 1 or 2 blush shades or eyeshadows to primarily rotate through during the winter months. That's not to say that I won't use other products or buy other items but my focus is to try to get as much use out of what I already have during that time period.

itsfi

Time flies @ather; I didn't think it was that long ago that she released the passionfruit flavor. I'm close to being done with it but it was a reminder to reach for some of the older flavors more often. So these 3 and I found one of the very first tubes of the watermelon one. I'll be happy if I can get through the peppermint and cinnamon bun ones, then the watermelon and passionfruit flavors.

ather

@itsfi The watermelon and passion fruit ones might be easier to get through in the spring when it is nice out! I guess it’s more nice where you are more. It’s only -2 f here it’s actually warming up a bit! 😂

blackkitty2014

This is a great idea breaking down by month @itsfi … I can rotate my stuffs without feeling overwhelmed. 🌹❤️

itsfi

Yeah, I found myself getting overwhelmed in the fall with trying to go through the fragrance discovery sets and my other full/travel size bottles. Some products I can / will reach for more easily throughout a season and others I think I'll do better if I just break it down by month and rotate something else in at the end of that month, to keep from getting bored. Still learning (always) about the best ways to help me work through the things I have, so we'll see how this system works out. 🤞🤞 I figure, there's clothes we wear (and pull out of the closet/drawers just for) certain seasons so let's try that approach with beauty products @blackkitty2014.

curlychiquita

That’s so neat that you’ve used the Augustinus Bader The Skin Infusion before, @itsfi, and liked it enough to repurchase it! I’m really interested in this. Maybe I’ll get it one month when I can get it on sale. I know I saw it on sale at Lovely Skin for a great deal on Black Friday, but I had two other serums I needed to finish up (one, I did. I finished my Alastin A-Luminate. I thought this worked really well but I also found it very drying and I’m not going to purchase it again.)

itsfi

A sale is definitely the way to go with this set @curlychiquita. The first time I picked it up I used rewards dollars at a department store during a sale event to help offset the price, and did something similar this time. Even though I find the product performs well I feel more justified this way. I'll have to remember that this qualifies for Lovely Skin's Black Friday sales - they really had some good deals.

That's good to know about Alastin-A Luminate; I looked into that one - it has some great ingredients. That's too bad it was so drying.

haleyvvvv

Wow, @itsfi, I'm so impressed by the range and documentation of your collection usage and your progress through the different challenges. I'm excited to see your progress.

The amika dry shampoo was such a good product and unfortunately (for me) the K18 just really knocked everything else out of the water.

itsfi

@haleyvvvv, I've really been so impressed with the K18 line. It's definitely one of my go-to brandds.

There's been many years of trial and error of trying to wrap my head around what works for me in terms of how to navigate the use and flow of products in my collection - I need structure of some sort but not too much structure. And, once I figured out how to go about connecting the challenges or at least a couple of them in a way that works for me, it makes it easier to manage and make adjustments as things come up. I'm using this winter shop your stash to test the limits of a couple of things.

haleyvvvv

It's definitely the brand I look to for hair care now. @itsfi . I definitely want to try their texturizing spray but I'm being good about shopping my stash until my current stuff is done lol.

I definitely feel you on the needs structure but not too much, lol. But you're incorporation of all of the different challenged together is truly an inspiration.

haleyvvvv

This is really great idea/thread, @itsfi!! I've been thinking of some stuff I want to use a bit/slash be a better about documenting it. I will try to be posting about it, but know I'm following along in spirit even if not.

I did make a little BYOP for the winter and I want to dip into at least 8-10 from my palettes of shame. As well as make some uses in my face masks (both tube and sheet).

itsfi

Yes, yes, use those beauties you already have @haleyvvvv ! I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good shopping trip and haul, but it's nice to have a balanced (or semi-balanced) bit of both - working through what we have and picking up a few things here and there. Completely understand; life gets busy. Post if or when you can or remember. Main thing is making the most of what you have. I've re-discovered some things I'd forgotten about and found some favorites I wouldn't have otherwise if I just continued to let them sit in my drawer. It's also helped me round out my collection more in terms of what I purchase.

haleyvvvv

Yes!! Very into the know your collection mentality this is giving, @itsfi!! For years I had my collection outside of my actively used items in hard to get at storage and now that I've gone through my stuff a bit more, I'm more in touch with what I have but also am getting a better idea about what I'm gravitating to.

I will for sure try to at least post at the beginning and end what I'm focusing on this season!! Thank you for putting together this challenge!!

blackkitty2014

In case I haven’t said enough this thread is the bomb @itsfi 🌹❤️ You created one earlier and even though I was too lazy to post but I did go and excavated my stash… omg so many forgotten favorite (even brand new). I’m on my way to pan 2 since… Will try to post later. I definitely join this challenge 🥰

blackkitty2014

Okie as promised and to hype everyone up 😘 when I first found @itsfi similar thread earlier this year, I found these 2 among with my other LE burying in the drawers spanking new untouched …. and these are today. I was debating whether I should use up the Chanel rosy drop because it’s LE … I can’t replenish it but let it sit and go bad is just crazy though. Hopefully I finish these 2 by end of March 2026. I re-discovered lots of LE stuffs that either used once or never touched by joining this thread. So yay can’t wait to see everyone else stashes 😘

itsfi

Ahhhh Chanel! Those drops are a beautiful product @blackkitty2014. What am I saying, Chanel has released so many lovely LE products (and ones that are permanent to their collection). Love, love, loooove that you are reaching for your LE items! So impressed your panning ms blackkitty!!! Powder products too! I'm excited to see how much progress you make on both of these this winter - I feel like it's not about whether you'll use them up but if you'll get to one or both before end of March.

haleyvvvv

That pan, @blackkitty2014 !! And also kudos to you for using LE pretty things.

blackkitty2014

Thx you @haleyvvvv 🌹

Samtian

@blackkitty2014 That dreaded LE struggle!

blackkitty2014

😂🤣 Right? @Samtian 😘

itsfi

Awww, that's really kind of you to say, @blackkitty2014; thank you. YOU though are the bomb!! 😘 You've definitely been the major influence (and inspiration) for me to use my luxe makeup products and a good model for how to splurge and treat yourself while being mindful about what you'll use and realistic about what new release is worth buying based on what you already have and what you're more likely to actually use beyond a few times. Thank you!!!