Ashamed of my beauty product hoard!

[IPokeBadgers]

I have spent some time this morning trying to sort and tidy my beauty and toiletries cupboard and I am actually feeling very and at the sheer volume of stuff that I have, much of it lovely and expensive and unopened!

I reckon it could take me a couple of years to get through it all!

Buying make up as well as lovely bath and shower stuff seems to have become my go to/default pick me up when I want to impulse buy...... but seeing the hoard has brought me down.

anyone else like this and are there any threads that would encourage me to stop buying stuff and use all the lovely products that I have?

please tell me I am not the only person like this?

Enjoying everyone's reports and mini reviews! Currently working on full-size products = will take for ever.

Have been wearing my new red lipstick today, very impressed with how longwearing Nars lippy is and how beautifully it fades, at this rate I will finish it next

Knowing that some of you have tried absolutely everything, does anyone have Hourglass marbled blushes?

I've finished my loreal micellar water. Finally. It's lasted ages and was a bargain at £4.99. I will definitely re-purchase, but only after I have finished the seven, yes seven, cleansers in the cupboard. They are six Estée Lauder take it away, and one Clinique take the day off, or something along those lines.

is the take the day off one the make up remover?

still puzzled what is the purpose of elasticiser by Phillip Kingsley - anyone?

I'm getting through my mask stash, today when ds was at nursery I used elemis papaya enzyme mask followed by skin doctor Manuka honey mask. I used to use masks loads when my skin wasn't so good but rarely feel the need now..may make it a weekly thing just to finish them up

Using one of my footner knock offs tonight, (bought a pack of 5 pairs from eBay!), looking forward to baby feet

Hi everyone!

Honeypot1 I'm younger than you at 22 but also have combination skin and pores.
I've been using sample sachets of 2 of Estée Lauder's serums - a day one and a night one.
The lady have them to me when I asked for a sample of the Double Wear foundation, and claimed if I start using the serums now, I will have fresh looking skin as the years go by. Anyway, I went on the Boots website to look at the reviews (which I normally always do) and noticed the price! £40 odd for 30ml and £60 odd for 50ml . So I definitely haven't got the funds to even find out whether it would be any good for my skin in the long run, anyway!
I haven't noticed a difference to my skin at all, and still have the slight dry patch I had on my cheek before using the serums, (I've actually been using the day moisturiser too!). So I'm not impressed by serums so far, maybe it's a combination skin thing?!

I've cheated a bit this morning - two Soap and Glory body butters gone in the bin as something had leaked all over them and had seeped inside.

I've found a Soap and Glory mini face wash that I will use for travel - and then use up others at home

woodhill it improves elasticity, moisture, suppleness and bounce. Really fantastic helps overall look and feel of my hair. Love it.

thanks Van

how often should it be used?

Once a week is more than enough woodhill.

Joining in. Have loads.
Today have finished
a mini deodorant
binned foundation that had separated (years old)
Binned stretch mark cream that was almost done but air had got to & it went funny
Eyelash curlers, past their best

I've got through more eye creams, think I might be on my last one now, and a Gatineau age benefit moisturiser (no repurchase required as I already have at least one spare

Finished today a travel size conditioner and a small bottle of Listerine.
Binned a tinted Anthelios sunscreen (too orange - thought I'd use it up by mixing it with untinted but life is too short...) and two scratchy mineral finishing powder samples. Because my aim is to reduce clutter in the bathroom, every item counts. Several other products are almost gone - it's a game of patience

I've reassessed almost all of my non-preferred lipsticks. Quite a few are actually fine worn with lipgloss on top. I have this weird thing that warmer pinks look good on me as dress colors and scarves but they make my teeth look a bit yellow. Wearing a pink lipgloss that is slightly blue-toned on top seems to fix this. In any case, my best lipsticks are blue-toned and my best eye shadows very light - will try to remember this in the future. Brow eyeshadow is disastrous on me - makes my eyes look puffy and tired.

I also found use for my Meteorites by reading Sephora user reviewers. I love Dr Jart BB cream but my nose is a bit too shiny. Shaking the box of Meteorites coats the pearls with powder and a stiff kabuki is a good tool for picking it up - I powder my T zone with it and the result is nice, natural and not chalky. Determined to finish it, and after that a small jar of MUFE HD powder. I'm not in love with either - much prefer Lily Lolo - so just want to sue them up.

Binned a self tan that smelled so awful I just couldn't bring myself to use it. It was No7.... Lesson learned.

Sprayed my car upholstery with freebie perfume tester that doesn't develope well on me. Like the smell but don't like it when on my body. Car smells lovely!

Coming to the end of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser. THAT was a big tube of product (had it ages).

What do people think is the general shelf life of fake tan? I've had one before that went off (literally went green?!) but I could well have had it for two years (i.e. had used it once ages beforehand so it was technically 'opened'). i've got one sitting in my cupboard that I bought/used last spring/summer - do you think it'll be okay now?

Empties for this week:

Eucerin Aquaporin Riche: really nice moisturiser for dehydrated skin. Decently priced for the quality of the product. Only negative for me is that I get through this stuff pretty quickly (I used it at least every other night, but normally not during the day) each tube is lasting me only a couple of months or so.

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser - I used to love this when my skin was oilier and less sensitive. Now that I'm using retinoids my skin is dehydrated and sensitive and this is way too irritating and stripping. It is really luxurious and if you have genuinely oily skin this could be a great option, but for everyone else I would say this is too drying and has too many essential oils for sensitive skins.

Chantecaille Faux Cils mascara - didn't rate this when I first got it, but six months later when the formula itself had dried up a bit I ended up loving the brush as it gave a very natural look. Probably won't repurchase though as it wasn't great when it was new.

Sorry - forgot two more things - both sample sizes:

Kate Somerville Nourish moisturiser - nice, only qualm would be that it's quite heavily scented. Overall it's nowhere near as good as the Kate Somerville Goats Milk cream so won't repurchase.

Kate Somerville Oil-free moisturiser - really nice, sinks in quickly, looks good and non-greasy/shiny on my skin so would work as a day cream. That said, I won't be rushing to buy a full-size as Kate Somerville is so hard to get hold of in the UK and their online service is horrendous (it took a month between making an order and me getting it - and they were unhelpful/unapologetic when I contacted them about it!)

jjwhite* Where did you get your KS samples, if you don't mind me asking? I am DYING to try some of the products but like you say, so hard to get hold of in the UK and I really don't want to fork out those prices for something I might not like.

I finished a nail polish remover today. Already have a second bottle, so have managed to reduce clutter.

JJWhite I love Eucerin products. Will probably always have a tube of 5% and Aquaphorin - well at least as long as they are manufactured The former is excellent for flaking skin. Switching back to regular powders (Guerlain Meteorites and MUFE HD) is causing some minor flakiness along the bridge of my nose. Might be talc, I don't get this from mineral foundation, so have been slathering on Eucerin at night.

Had to buy a tube of Effaclar AI today, I have a breakout on my chin. I've been experimenting with BB cream and full coverage foundation, I tend to get breakouts from sunscreen and anything that is oily.

Wow, everyone is doing so well!

I bought a fake tan recently (Utan) and it is green! I believe it's supposed to be, so you know where you've put it? Now, whenever I use it I warn DH I'm "hulking up"!

No empties, but interesting change in philosophy today (my god, I thought I'd have loads by now! It's taking FOREVER to finish things off! I am reminded that when pigs fly & I need to buy cleanser, moisturiser, shower gel & body lotion, they really last ages so will buy dear & indulge!)...
Anyway, bought some lovely new matching undie sets today. AND got rid of twice as many undies & comfy old bras! I am NOT saving lovely new undies for best. They are my new undies to wear daily. Because I am fabulous!!!

It's almost like I've been given permission to treat myself well, morning noon and night.

Ipokebadgers, this started with you. Thank you

Honey loving what you wrote, and your underwear clearout!
This thread has definitely had a huge positive impact for me too, reduced clutter and the empties are replaced with HGs or exciting new products

I feel like I have spring-cleaned my makeup stash

Nabootique I got three or four samples with a Kate Somerville order i made (from what I remember they allow you to choose what samples you want as well which is great...) They don't yet have a stockist in the UK but they do ship to the UK from their US website. However, I had such a bad experience with them (shipping fees expensive/ they took over a month to deliver the stuff I ordered/ customer service unhelpful and unapologetic ) I really wouldn't recommend ordering from them any time soon... Best thing is if a friend goes to America and you can ask them to pop into a Sephora (which are everywhere apparently), otherwise I'm just waiting for them to hurry up and start selling in the UK!

FrugalFashionista Eucerin moisturisers are the best aren't they! (And also really underrated...) The 5% and the Aquaporin Riche are my two favourites. I also have an eye cream from them waiting in my stash (currently using a different one up, but when that's finished I'll move onto the Eucerin one and will report back).

Honeypot1 love the change in philosophy! I've been trying to do that too - life is too short to have your luxury items stored away for some hypothetical treat day in the future... Currently burning a swanky Diptyque candle in the middle of the day on my own while i work for no reason whatsoever other than that there's no time like the present!

As for empties, I'm really noticing how having a list of all my products and slowly striking them off as I use them up is making me much more likely to actually use products rather than having them sitting there slowly going off. Likewise, this whole project is quickly creating less and less clutter and making me feel less guilty about all the past purchases! So, win-win basically :-)

I'm definitely using up and chucking, it is great and also encouraging dcs to use the odd thing.

Simple replenishing 12h moisturising cream done! Purchased when pregnant and suffering acne & advised by pharmacy to switch to all Simple brands. Would repurchase if on a budget. Lasted forever and was a good texture for my combination skin. But not WOW, and as lotions & potions are now officially a hobby, I think I might prefer more singing & dancing (& scented!) brands?!

Now onto my next moisturising target... I'm going to be using samples so will get through loads quickly, I think! Where to start?!

Ooh, and have decided that as I have a squillion body lotions I'm going to moisturise all over twice daily. Just in time for summer!

My mascara hoard! All but one opened. I know you are only meant to keep 6 months but I've never had any problems. When to chuck out. Hate waste. Think I'm waiting til there's zero mark made. Have even warmed tubes before in hot water to get the last wee bit. Think I'm beyond help.

GingerLemonTea could you do a little run through of the ones you liked the most and ones you didn't like? I'm always on the hunt for a new mascara...

I'm currently using a Guerlain one which for some reason half the time I put it on I like it and half the time it looks so bad I literally have to remove it and start again (it clumps my eye lashes together so it looks like I've got about five large eyelashes iyswim!)