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?

Ah. Now I know what make up suits me and tend to stick to eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks etc in very similar colours and only three or four of each thing. I have tried and tested basics that I replace when I run out. I have sensitive skin so I don't ever buy random lotions etc etc.
BUT I have a huge problem with nail varnish. It started a few years ago when I lost a lot of weight. When I was feeling stressed or down about work I wanted to 'treat' myself. Instead of buying my usual doughnut or chocolate bar I started buying nail varnish instead. When I was bored/tired/needed something to do with my hands in the evenings I started painting my nails.
Its a habit thats stuck and I have hundreds of bottles of nail varnish. Its still my go to thing for a cheap pick me up although I have curtailed the habit as i'm running out of space.
Still its better then binge eating!

Skinhead my sympathies, we all have our weaknesses I can see how it is easy to get out of control with nail varnish, such nice colors and textures available these days. I'm in love with a slate blue Essie glitter varnish, need to do my toenails this weekend.

I'm wearing one of my non-preferred lipsticks today and it's a surprisingly beautiful deep red. I cannot remember any more what the problem was - feathering (tackling it with lip liner) or uneven fading - we'll see.

I realized that for me using up stuff feels pleasurable and the pleasure is more lasting than the thrill of a quick purchase. I feel like a failure when I throw out perfectly good lightly used stuff. Using it up is a bit like eating a balanced meal, not always fun but there are long-term benefits to it. And when there are constraints, I feel I'm more creative and experiment more.

For example, I've varied my eye makeup quite a bit and loving the results I achieve with wet eye shadow and an ultra slim brush, and the Inglot highly pigmented eye shadow is really becoming a favorite, it's a light purple shot with gold, ideal for my green eyes and lasts all day. I am also starting to like the eye cream I'm trying to finish, I generally do not like eye creams but Eucerin Q10 is really nice.

Post - I had a look at another website linked to give and makeup and it says they will accept lightly used in good condition - they say if you would be happy to give it to a friend that is good enough condition for them. With exception of mascaras, lip glosses and lipsticks which have to be unused.

Thanks It's that the Give and Make up site ? Will have a sort out

Reading with interest and definitely joining in here! I've got 2 bathrooms full of all sorts of products, drawers, dressing table, multiple washbags and makeup bags and even a big clear box stored (hidden!) on top of a wardrobe. My weakness is payday, when I pop into Boots for make up wipes or similar that I actually need, and come out £60 or so lighter. Case in point, last weekend I went for a Sally Hansen base coat. I came out with a Max Factor primer, & their new mascara, and a new lipstick. And an eye pencil sharpener. I already own multiples of these things!

I think trying to use things up is going to be quite satisfying though, I'm looking forward to throwing the empties away!

I have an empty!
SPF day cream that is too greasy for my face but just right for my neck - keeps me from burning. Finished off last year's tube before UV rays get too strong. Great stuff and my children use it too, will keep repurchasing!

I have an empty too: a Rituals body cream from a Christmas (2013!) gift set. To be fair, I only opened that set in about. September.....but I am crap at using body lotions..... never buy them but somehow have several. I even cut this one open to get every last drop!

Small victory here, but proud nonetheless. I finished my simple make up remover wipes at the end of last week. Instead of buying more with the weekly shop, I am now using my micellar water (bought the giant size on the recommendation of MN when Garnier brought it out this time last year) and I really like it. Not that I will be replacing it when it runs out, as I have numerous Estee Lauder mini cream make up removers to go through first!

Well done WellTidy! Not replacing an item feels fantastic

I'm persisting with the Nars blusher. Just in case someone else is too, the trick is to merely touch the palette very lightly with an angled brush without any dragging or swirling. Then repeat the same lightest possible touch on cheeks, finally blending with fingers or a clean brush. I fear though that at this rate the blusher will outlive me!

I've also found an use for my sample jar of finishing powder. Applied with a eye shadow blending brush, it is ideal for fixing creamy concealer.

Oh and Badgers fantastic! I have a backlog of body products too.
I never remember to apply them. Focusing on a pump bottle from circa 2011 atm

Frugal Thanks for the tip.Though I absolutely must not buy that blusher just to test out your application recommendations !

I have that urge Garnier Micellar Water and it's the only thing I can remove eye makeup with....doesn't sting and VERY gentle. Wouldn't be without it. I still don't regret binning that bloody awful Nars blusher, though!

HUGE. HUGE Garnier Micellar! what's up with this iPad?!

I have another empty. Its my mascara. Itw as only a sample size, but it has either dried up a little or run out as its not giving me good lashes anymore, and I need all the help I can get. I've replaced it with one from my stash of samples which were parts of GWP. So satisfying.

Eliza I know, the garnier micellar water is really good. And it lasts ages. Only about 4.50 for the 400ml, too. I really cannot replace mine when it runs out as I have soooo many "Take It Away" Estee Lauder cream make up removers that were GWP. I don't like cream make up removers, which is why I haven't used them, but I need to get through them.

My neck is also receiving lots of TLC. I have dry skin, but I'm using up a GWP normal/combination anti-ageing cream on it.

Can I jump in? My hoard is ridiculous and I'm on a no buy for at least a few months.
Finished my vitamin e eye makeup remover last night, replaced with another the same from my stash.
I'm saving my empties & when I hit 5 I get a (non beauty) reward? Not sure waft yet though.

What not waft!

Shop welcome and WellTidy fantastic!

Eliza I much prefer Chanel and Bourjois blushers to Nars! Even a no name el cheapo blusher I wore as a teen had nicer texture and was easier to handle!

I have two empties today. LRP Effaclar AI is brilliant for breakouts but my skin has been great lately so really had to finish this up. Will not repurchase if my skin stays clear

The Chanel SPF 50 liquid sunscreen is my daily staple. I did not like it at first but it's really hard to find an acne neutral sunscreen - I've explored quite a few and sticking with it although it costs an arm and a leg. I buy these at airports because they are marginally cheaper there. I already bought a backup last month.

I see a pattern here: I run out of daily staples. They are products that I love and repurchase and use frequently. But hoping to use up a few mistakes too...

Shop I like the idea of a reward!!!

I have just sent some Lancôme skincare off to the charity mentioned above - pleased to get rid of if and hopefully someone else will make good use of it.

Ooh i like the idea of a reward! Though am a bit stumped as to what form it should take as I always rewarded myself with something from Boots!

Have worn no make up this week so no progress here. But I've been trying to keep in the zone by watching videos by Amber F. who is a MASSIVE "use it up" person on YT. She's the one who used up an entire Naked Palette in 2014 and used up a massive amount of other stuff too from her stash. She sets herself challenges i.e. Use up 5 things by a certain date. I find watching them pretty motivating.

I have been working on my sample skincare stash though. I'm repurposing things, like harsh facial scrubs for my body as I hate them.

MsVanRein that sounds fabulous - someone is going to love it!

Annarose I'm using up eughhhh face washes and creams on my body too. Slow going but every day something is getting used up...
Having used up the Naked palette sounds incredible!

I know I sound obsessed and like I don't have a life, but every empty jar and binned bottle is a small victory over entropy.
Loving the idea of a reward as long as it isn't Sephora
I find emptier shelves and drawers a big motivator! Just wish I hadn't so much.

Check out the swap thread too!

yes it's great to use stuff up, particularly annoying sachets.

I am a makeup addict. I have a "makeup room" in our house as I'd have nowhere else to store it all otherwise. I don't collect anything else, I just love makeup. I see it as a hobby and don't tend to splash out on other stuff. I collect high end palettes mainly and have enough of those to fill a large chest of drawers. I did have a makeup blog for a time though had to give it up as work got too demanding.

Violet that sounds like a dream!
Palettes are so pretty too. Do you have any absolute favorites?
I'm the same with perfume but limit it to samples mostly.

We move around and travel quite a lot, so I'm trying to tone down my maximalist tendencies as I am actually very happy living out of one or two suitcases and a travel pouch of miniatures. The problem is, arriving at those favorites required quite a bit of trial and error...

Frugal - I hope so! Had about 8 travel sizes and 2 full sizes so will be enough for a few people. I feel better for making a dent in my collection!

Violet I have a makeup room too! Was one requirement from my DP when we moved that the house had to have a room I could use as dressing room and makeup room as he was so sick of all my makeup

Frugal... Didn't matter what I did with that Nars blush I COULD NOT pick it up on the brush. It was like it was dried out. Won't do THAT again!