Beauty addicts anonymous! A wonderful community of hoarders!

[Experiment627]

New thread!!!!

Sorry I did not see the other thread getting full!!! Really hope you guys will find this new thread!!!

@Justilou1 🤣🤣🤣 you have such a turn of phrase!!! Fortunately the Creme de la seaweed goop was all given to me - all travel size but enough product for me to breakout and decide I did not want tonspend my lufe savings on buying. I was quite relieved TBH.

@Minnie123456 welcome!!!! Many this thread (or the previous gazillion before it!) have found starting with smaller sized products the way to go - that way you get some "quick wins" which spur you on!
In terms of establishing a skincare routine - it can be a bit overwhelming: so much choice and so many potential steps. I would start off with just 3 steps and build from there: cleanser, serum, moisturiser (and make sure you use an SPF).

Empties:

60ml body shop Balkan something or other shower gel

60ml body shop honey and almond shower gel (used both of them as bath foam, we are in a hard water area so bubbles are hard to come by unless you put the entire bottle in, which I did)

50ml Estée Lauder pleasure eau de toilette

Wouldn’t RP either of the body shop shower gels, as I think radix or similar does just as good a job as they do

Pleasures is one of my favourite perfumes and I have another in the stag. Moved on to Occitane orchid and neroli 75ml which will take a while to get through! I only ever have two perfumes on the go at one time, so I will probably finish my Vera Wang original (another one that I always RP) first.

Decluttering this Fig and Rose blurring primer. Came in a glossybox. I've tried to like it but it's too liquidy and doesn't seem to do anything other than feel a bit tacky. Makeup sits on top of it. I prefer velvety primers.

This Revolution lipstick was bought ages ago and the staying power as a lipstick was awful and the colour was wrong. It worked really well repurposed as a blusher though so I managed to use it up. There are probably a few days left in it but I thought I'd log it while I was here!

I'm currently stash sorting and it isn't as bad as I expected, which is concerning because that probably means I've forgotten an enormous extra stash somewhere...

LOL @daisyjgrey let us know when you find it!

Welcome Minnie! This is a really friendly thread and I've learned loads about what people find useful or not in the relatively short time I've been here.
Boots No7 do nice skincare aimed at different age brackets. If you have a voucher it might be worth going and having a chat with someone on the No7 counter for advice.

Happy new year all!

@CherryMargo I'm seriously impressed by your detailed inventory. I'm too scared to count my products at the moment (and it would probably take me all day). This is inspiring me to get organised though. I might do it in a couple of months once I've used up a few more things...

@Caggie09 I'm going to try not to buy anything until a least April too. Really, I could do with not acquiring anymore products until 2023, but I know I'd find that impossible to stick too. April feels like an achievable target to start with. I will probably, legitimately, need to invest in some spf before the summer too.

Welcome @Minnie123456!

Finished off a few products today so will post some empties soon.

Hi everyone,
empties are. Mini NARS Orgasm blush - my favourite have a new full size one ready to start
Herbal Essences shampoo - the detox one with mint, really refreshing will repurchase

14/100 so far!

• Briogeo Banana & coconut body cream. Oh i really liked this, smells like foam bananas. Every now and then id get a whiff of it through the day, so really long lasting scent, and it soaked in my skin nicely, without any tacky feeling. I think i love everything ive tried from them. I got this is in the sale, but id RP again. Will also see if they have a shampoo in the same scent!

• Volition body/face scrub. 10ml. From a Cult beauty GWP. Too harsh for the face, and not scrubby enough for the body. I didnt rate it.

• Jo Love pink vetiver tester.

• Elemis AHA cleansing butter sample. I prefer a balm. I was hoping it would have a nice fruity scent, but no. Took my makeup off fine, abit more work to take mascara off. Dont think i want to rush out and try more.

Hopefully more empties by the end of the week🤞

Well done! The new year has got off to a good start for all of us.

I've thrown out 1x full size EA double wear mascara. It was great as it never smudged and might RP once I've used up all the other BN change alike that I have. Also threw out Laura Gellar and a benefit mini mascaras that were old and meh.

A bourjois cream blusher which I loved which I might RP if I can find it. I'm still to find the HG cream blusher so can't wait to hit the make up counters.

Bonsoir mes amies.

Today’s empty:
Clarins gentle foaming cleanser - I may have fallen out of love with Clarins after many years of fidelity, but I’ll give it its due - the stuff lasts, and lasts, and lasts.

I had some of the Clarins face wash, really liked it but it wasn't in my budget range at the time, may be worth a revisit now!

My first empties of 2022:

1. Urban Veda Reviving Renewal Night Cream: think this came in the 2020 H&B calendar. It's vegan and cruelty free so I wanted to love it, but unfortunately I didn't. It's too thick and sticky for my skin, but at the same time, not especially moisturising. Wouldn't RP.

2. Rodial Dragons Blood Cleansing water: I really liked this. I like the scent and the fact that it contains vitamins and hyaluronic acid. I probably wouldn't buy it though, as I don't think it's worth spending a lot on a Micellar water. My standard Garnier one is just as good at removing makeup, and I use a serum, so don't really need the added ingredients.

3) Noble Isle Fireside shower gel: nice scent, but not long lasting. Not what I'd except from a high end shower gel. Wouldn't RP

4)* Noble Isle Fireside* Body Lotion: Again, nice scent, but not very long lasting. Nothing special as a moisturiser. Wouldn't RP

Omg, is this about finishing off beauty products? I may have found my people...

I've been feeling anxious about all the products I have, and I want to use them up yet enjoy using them...

Welcome @thetinsoldier - we are indeed your people 💜

@MidnightMeltdown I tried the Urban Veda cream too - same results as you.

@Experiment627 reassuring to know that it's not just me being picky!

This weeks empties,

Oops, posted too soon, here they are.
Dr Jart Mask - ok, wouldnt but, but happily use if I got one.
Prai Hand cream - only a small sample, but seemed all right.
Ollo CBD Hand Cream - texture was ok, but I didn't like the smell.
Davines Shampoo for curly hair - didn't suit my wavy hair, but my 11yo DS has curls and his hair looked great.
Wow hair lifter - not bad, helped add some body.
Mac Bone Eyeshadow- my HG base for my eyelids, already on to the replacement
Laura Mercier pure Canvas Primer - I can't decide if I prefer a more Matt primer like this or a glossier one. Got a full sized one in my stash so will persevere.
Mario Badescu Toner - I'm still working my way through a years supply of REN ready steady glow (which I like ) so didn't use this. However my 11 yo DS started getting blackheads and this has cleared them up brilliantly.

Thank you, @Experiment627 and @MidnightMeltdown, for praising my efforts to keep my hoard under control! 🥰

The way I manage my stash is probably an overkill and a manifestation of an undiagnosed OCD but it has become something I cannot live without. It's made it so much easier for me to plan my purchases, to kerb my spending, and to know what items I should focus on next.

P. S. Hello and welcome, @thetinsoldier!

Hi all. First empties of 2022:

Olaplex 8 mask. This is basically a deep conditioner, and is now my favourite Olaplex product. Makes my hair both softer and less frizzy when I use it. It’s the same price as No. 3 but lasts much, much longer too, so better value. Have bought another.

Decleor shower gel and body milk. First time I’ve tried this brand. Very pleasant, but not wow products.

Oskia renaissance mask. I really like using this, though can’t say I see any dramatic difference to my skin.

Sisley Black Rose mask. The product that caused some upset on the Space NK advent thread! But I do like it, and got quite a few uses out of it. Too expensive to RP full size though.

Moroccan truffle shampoo. Nothing special.

Full size empties: 2
Travel size empties: 4

@Justilou1, I also have loads of sachets; never feel like using them though, a single use trial seems pointless other than to assess whether you react to the product.

@WellTidy I’ve actually just purchased Pleasures for the first time since the 90s, when I wore it a lot. Had forgotten just how nice it is.

@MidnightMeltdown, I also find the Noble Isle gels and creams to be perfectly fine, but probably wouldn’t buy full size either.

@CherryMargo, very impressed with your inventory. Too scared to do one myself at the moment, but trying hard to focus on using rather than acquiring anything for the next few months.

Welcome to all the new joiners to the thread.

@AprilLady - I am going to say no to sachets wherever possible from now on for this exact reason. Have ordered some more sunscreen and moisturiser from Sth Korea. Bound to be some in the box. 🙄 Meanwhile, I’m going to make up a new “kit” for my car to use up the few I have left, and it’s my friend’s bday tomorrow and she might like a few with her gift. (And some bloody sheet masks.)
Speaking of which… I used a Neutrogena Hydromask this evening. Flipping heck! Burn baby, Burn! My eyes are still itchy. Shall need antihistamine to sleep.
Two more empties to report:- Full-Size Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. All except the newbies will know I’m frightfully addicted to these and used to have them stashed in every handbag, all around the house and in the car. This one was a grapefruit one and I think they’re the nicest. I have now whittled down to three full-size ones (one being a Frankenbalm that I made from all the almost empty ones mixed together) and three minis.
I also finished a tube of Haruharu Wonder Cream Honey Green Aqua Bomb. Loved it, although also far too highly fragranced, really. (Didn’t react to it though…) It was more of a green-tea/fresh scent perfect for our summer and it was a light, gel Creme which was cooling and enjoyable to use. I was overly-generous as my skin has been tight and dry, plus it’s soooo hot atm… This was a GWP and while it was nice, I probably wouldn’t repurchase as I need… more.

@Justilou1 that sounds awful! Hope you sleep ok!

Anyone tried Liz Earle haircare? Thinking I might give it a whirl - for my oily roots, dry ends, frizz situation.

I used Liz Earle shampoo and conditioner a few years back when it was on offer with QVC. It made my hair a bit heavy and oily for the 1st few uses until my hair got used to it. The rep on QVC ( I think she was called Caroline or Carolyn) had warned about this during her presentation. She said something about our hair being so used to additives in shampoo that it takes a while for hair to rebalance when they aren't there.
It was nice and didn't irritate my itchy scalp. It also lasted for ages so was reasonable value for money. I didn't fall out with it, just moved onto other products that appeared in the M and S beauty boxes.

Welcome, Thetinsoldier.

Liking the description of a mixture as a frankenbalm, Justilou. 😁

Thanks @latedecember1963 that is very helpful!