Shop Your Stash Challenge: Winter 2026 ❄️

[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.

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:

• Why Shop Your Stash Challenge - Benefits to Shopping Your Stash; and
• How To Shop Your Stash. 

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. 

[itsfi]

Got my winter 2026 shop my stash plan in place. Or, at least I think I do. 🤞 These items are separate from what I will be doing for the pan it! challenge, but I took those products in mind as I was deciding on what to "shop" from my stash. My objective here is to work through what I have while still allowing me to incorporate new products, both new items that already in my collection as well as one that I may purchase throughout the year. I also kept in mind how these things would play out in my day-to-day use during the winter as well as with challenges I participate in on BIC or that I'm thinking about taking part in this year.

For the most part, I've broken it down into quarterly goals and monthly goals; well, just for January for now. We'll deal with February and March when we get there. I'll have a better idea by then how monthly goals are working out for me. 

Quarterly: January 1 - March 30: 

SYS Winter 2026: Body Care

I don't have a set goal for any of these products other than to just use them and to keep myself exfoliated and moisturized this winter, two things that are really helpful and two things that sadly slip through the cracks. Fingers crossed 🤞 I do better with that this year.

• Skinfix Eczema+ Ceramide Hand + Foot Relief Cream 3 fl oz / 90 ml is nice and thick, perfect for this time of year. If it's too thick, I'll mix in a drop of oil to give it some slip and help it along.
• INNBeauty Project Bright & Smooth Body Serum (discontinued) - it's probably telling that this is no longer available 😬 - hoping to use this 1-2x per week this winter
• AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Moisturizing Body Lotion with Ceramides for Dry & Sensitive Skin 13.50 fl.oz/4... 
• MARA Sea Sculpt Body Oil for Firmness & Cellulite with Algae + Moringa 4.06 oz / 120 ml will be primarily used as part of a self-care treatment in conjuction with the body gua sha tool below ⤵️ 
• I use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating and Brightening Daily Toner 8 oz/ 240 mL more as a spot treatment, for ashy elbows, extra dry heels, etc. I've gotten out of practice with reaching for it and need to get back on track with it.
• haruharu wonder Black Bamboo Daily Smoothing Body Oil - I'll rotate between this and the Aestura this winter or maybe mix them together on particular cold, windy nights.

SYS Winter 2026: Skincare

• I'm including these sunscreens in my Shop Your Stash because their expiration dates fall in the first quarter, 2026. I shouldn't have an issue with using up the INNBEAUTY PROJECT Mineral Sun Glow Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 43 PA +++ with Peptides and Vitamin ... and LIGHTSAVER Shade 0 - Activated Non-Tinted Mineral Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum - SPF 33 1.69 oz / 5... as they're already in my rotation. The Eminence Daily Defense Tinted SPF hasn't been open (yet) but it expires at the end of March so I have time. I've been (roughly) tracking my sunscreen usage and if I primarily stick with one day in and day out, it takes me roughly 2.5 to 4 weeks to work through a 50mL bottle of sunscreen. 
• I need to get back into the habit of incorporating Nécessaire The Neck Serum - Firming Serum With 7.5% Peptide 1.7 oz / 50 mL into my routine, at least a few times a week if not every night. I'm not getting any younger.
• rhode Pineapple Refresh PGA Daily Cleanser 5oz/150ml 
• Caudalie Grape Water Moisturizing Face Mist 6.7 oz/ 200 mL 
• Not gonna lie, I was super impressed and motivated by seeing the rhode Glazing Milk Ceramide Facial Essence 4.2oz/124ml in @ather's empties. I can't use this every day but my kin is more tolerant of it in the wintertime and I can pair it with the Dior foundation stick a la Hailey Bieber in a makeup capsule a few times this winter. I can also probably use this on other parts of my body too (making a note to self now before I forget about that!)
• Pyunkang Yul Black Tea Time Reverse Eye Patch

SYS Winter 2026: Makeup + Nail Care

• DIOR Nail Glow Polish 0.3oz / 10 mL 
• Both Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Mist 1.18 fl oz / 35 mL and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Hydrating & Waterproof Setting Spray 3.3 oz / 100 ml are nice but they're not my favorite setting sprays. My plan is to just work through these as often as I can. I'll still reach for the setting sprays in my collection that are my favorite or top shelf setting sprays but having these two in my Shop Your Stash will get me to keep them in use. 
• I pulled these Rhode lip treatments from my stash because they are the older formulation and these are the oldest of her lip treatments in my collection. With the exception of the peppermint glaze one, they're fine, I haven't experienced any unusual grittiness to them - I say unusual because that passionfruit one is supposed to have a slight grainy texture due to the passionfruit and the natural exfoliating properties of the ingredients in it. The peppermint glaze I'll try to use up first.
• These Fenty Icon lipsticks have been (or are being) discontinued. I have full sizes of a couple of the shades in this sample packet but this packet is one that's already open and in use so I'm planning on finishing it, or, at least 2 of the 3 shades. Hoping to see those 2 shades in the Foil Challenge thread by or before the end of March 2026.

SYS Winter 2026: Hair Care

• amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo is a great dry shampoo and for a time it was my favorite, but since K18 released its dry shampoo, that has been a Top Shelf product for me. @haleyvvvv summed it up perfectly in her empties post (Re: Empties - V2 - Beauty Insider Community) - it's magic! I'm just going to finish up this can; the other unused full size cans I have of this will be either donated or rehomed.
• Moroccanoil Mini Moroccanoil Treatment Purple Hair Oil for Blonde Hair 0.85 oz/ 25ml 
• amika Rising Star Volumizing Finishing Spray 5.3 oz / 165 mL (gratis) 
• Act + Acre Cold Processed Stem Cell Scalp Serum
• Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo 7.1 oz/ 200 mL 
• JVN Mini Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream 2 oz 

SYS Winter 2026: Tools

• #NuFACE MINI+ Smart Petite Microcurrent Facial Toning Device Starter Kit 1.69/47 (gratis)
• CHEL Body Gua Sha

Shop Your Stash: January

Some things are very conducive to a month long use period.

• Augustinus Bader The Skin Infusion is a 30-day treatment. I did one late spring/early summer last year and it seems like it's a good time to do another treatment ... or so recommended the Bader aesthetician / rep - in full disclosure, I received a complimentary facial from AB in fall 2025; I purchased The Skin Infusion set myself. 
• These 3 Diptyque candles - Mimosa, Etoile and Baies - are the last of the candles from the 2024 advent calendar. Once I've gone through these candles, I *think* I'll be as "current" as I can be as far as candles in my collection go; meaning, the candles in my collection and the ones I have burning / partially used will all be from purchases made in 2025. Can that actually be true?!!! 😲
• Nailtiques Nail Protein Formula 2 - while in line in a Sephora store in December, I saw that the woman in front of me had the loveliest nails - pretty color, shape and length. So I let her know and we got to talking and she shared with me that they were the result of this treatment. Not Formula 2 Plus, but Formula 2, she stressed. And that she used it for 28 (consecutive) days. So that's what we're going to (try to) do, folks. Nailtiques Nail Protein Formula 2. 28 consecutive days. Wish me luck. 
• Lake & Skye Discovery Set is a carryover from last season's shop your stash - Shop Your Stash / Use Your Stash Challenge: Fall 2025 🍂🍁 
• Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH - Sensitive Peptide Lash Enhancing Serum 0.14 oz/4 mL - this is the sensitive version and claims visible results in 6 weeks with twice daily usage. This is technically longer than a month, but I'll stick it in the monthly carve-out of the seasonal shop your stash. I don't know if I can keep up with a twice a day cadence but I'll try. It'll be the closest I come to having a use goal that some folks on BIC, like @Samtian do. I will try to keep track like Samtian does but no promises there - just trying to remember to use this twice a day is going to be a feat! I think I'm going to make myself a January calendar on a post-it note to help me keep track of this. 💡

[caitbird]

@itsfi  you chose a great variety of products to work on, and I love that you're including body care items - I feel like I sometimes forget about keeping up a body care routine, but it's so important, especially in colder weather. Also, thanks for the reminder that I need to check the expiration dates on my sunscreens 😅

Looking forward to hearing about your progress with this and other BIC challenges! 💜

[ather]

@itsfi  Great job!! I can’t wait to see what you get through!!!! Great reminder I need to pull my Rhode Passionfruit lip treatment!!! 

[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 😘

[caitbird]

@blackkitty2014  awesome job! It's always so fun to rediscover new/old loves that you've forgotten about for a while. I know what you mean about using LE products - I have the same struggle between saving it (since I can't replace it) and not letting it go to waste 😅

[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 🌹