Guest Author - Jill Florio

Many of us have lots of extra bathroom toiletries kicking around. It's common to keep multiples of lotions, scrubs, shampoos, deodorants, soaps, facial masks and other spreadable potions under your bathroom sink. Well, it's time to use them up or pass them along! Let's clear some shelf space and make sure that everything you see in the powder room are things you LOVE to use.

Let's use body lotion as an example. Go through your lotions, pull them all out, and decide which ones you actually love and use. Put the rest in a pile and decide how much is left in each bottle.

Is this a brand-new bottle you will never use?
If so, this might be a nice present for someone else. People love care package baskets - make up a basket of nice things for a housewarming, birthday or hostess gift. Use as a stocking stuffer. Or try selling the product on eBay. Believe it or not, lots of people buy and sell their toiletries there.

Is there 3/4 to 1/2 of a bottle of lotion left?
In this case, pass them along. Donate the lotions to Goodwill, or ask if your friends or children would like them. Goodwill is a very good source for nice things to pamper yourself at a fraction of the new price - someone will be very happy to buy your slightly used luxury products.

Is there 1/2 to 1/4 of a bottle left?
For smaller amounts thrift shops just toss them, I think. But this is the perfect amount for you to hold onto for travel uses, to pack in your camping kit, or even to take backpacking. A mostly used product will weigh less in your bags and you might even get to use it up on your trip (less to carry back home).

Is there only 1/4 or less left over?
Make an effort to use these products up, right in your home. Make it a goal. With our lotion example, you can place nearly empty bottles in the kitchen, in the laundry room, in the spare bathroom, on your vanity, in your car, and in your purse (for those mini-bottles). I have a lotion on my dryer that I use before handling dry clothes - it keeps me from getting a shock in the winter, and reminds me to use more hand lotion in general.

If you really don't think you can use up all your leftovers, then take a deep breath and just chuck them. It's really better than having tons of products just kicking around forever, taking up space and nagging at the back of your mind.

Resolve not to buy more bathroom products until you use up the ones you have. This can be tougher than you'd think. Sometimes you are just attracted to a new lotion in the store ("Mmm, almond scented!"), or you get a facial at a spa...and end up buying the nice scrub they used. Try to remind yourself you will only end up with excess that you will have to deal with later.

Maybe you're out of lotion? It can happen. I prefer Paula's Choice products - never any animal testing and full of antioxidants, locally made here in Seattle: