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[Experiment627]

This is "Beauty addicts anonymous", a wonderful community of beauty product addicts & we have been going a hot minute... some may say we are enablers... many would say that they are much more intentional about their stashing and usage since joining this sisterhood.

@Mackemlass79 - i am specifically referring to the ones in the pots, not the squeeze ones. They’re not at all the same, and not that great, tbh.

@Fraaahnces oh definitely do not ditch your current DH!!!! But maybe start playing the lottery?

We are flying from Blighty to the USA - a 9 hour flight. I have a stash of sheet masks at the ready but am mildly concerned (aka in full on panic mode) about how I will keep my toddler entertained for such a long period of time! I have bought him Paw Patrol headphones - after an initial rejection/meltdown he seems quite excited about those but I do expect a full on mutiny when he realises YouTube Kids will not work when we are in the air. I have tried to download his favourites (Blippi, Ryan) but it seems that kids videos cannot be downloaded!!! I have bought a range of little toys which I plan to wrap and then pull out when he is having meltdowns. I also have a load of "activity" things ... BUT YES PLEASE if you have any other tips!!!! He has only flown once before and he was very little still and slept most of the time. Plus is was a short flight in comparison.

@Experiment627 I think the days of sheet masks on planes are gone, kiddo. You have to wear a regular mask for the whole trip anyway. Highly recommend that you get yourself a ceramide mist (Ample:N and Blanc Doux have ones that are under 100ml.) and something like Dr Jart Ceramide Cream or Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream. (Can decant both of them into travel pots). Even something like Cicaplast from La Roche Posay, but it’s really greasy and it has no actives. The mist will both hydrate and moisturize your skin and the cream will stop it from dehydrating further.

@Experiment627 You’d be surprised at how good kids tend to be on planes apart from obvious takeoff and landing. (It does hurt their ears…) There is usually mindless drivel on the back of the seat in front for them to watch and the movement and noise zonks them a bit. Just forget entirely about their sleep pattern and let them just “be”.They’re going to be messed up at the other end anyway. Obviously don’t recommend sugaring kids up and letting them run. No one appreciates those people. Besides, I have hit the ceiling during sudden turbulence, and seen a food cart lifted off the floor. (They weigh close to 200kgs to try and avoid flying around during turbulence). Make sure you have all allergy/cold/asthma/paracetamol meds with you on board. They are not provided. If your toddler gets bored, ask the flight attendant for a couple of empty, disposable cups. You’d be amazed at how much fun they can have with those. They can put their little things in them, (your keys) tip them upside down, etc. They like to play “pretend” with them.

Thanks so much @Fraaahnces
I think the mask restriction has now been lifted for flights to the USA - but if not I think I can out a sheet mask on and then a face mask on top! Thanks for the recommendations!

Good shout about meds - I have stocked up but as they are liquid not sure I can take through security - will need to check that out. My little boy is nearly 4... toddler is probably not the right word anymore!

@Experiment627 recent trip to USA, no need for masks. Some people were wearing at passport control.

So nearly 4 year old, definitely a bag of toys (wrap if get chance in any leftover paper), picking a magazine at the airport. Bag of snacks. Can you buy one of the cheap amazon tablets to download his programmes on? sticker book, by the times he's had a nap, 2x meals, you'll be great.

After a good start to the year, there's been an empties drought here. I've only had these 3 measly empties in almost a month:

46) Chantecaille mascara - ok, nothing special. It smudges easily. Wouldn't buy.

47) Ren body Wash - from the M&S ac. Quite liked this but probably wouldn't bother to buy.

48) Bubble t Earl grey bath tea - this came in a beauty box years ago. It smells quite nice, but I like bubbles in my bath, so I had to put bubble bath in with it, which drowned out the scent.

Empties this year: 48/125

@Experiment627 It’s super-easy to over-pack for kids. Just take their teddy, some drawing & colouring gear (if they like that) or some little cars/Polly pocket sized bits and a device with games if you have one. They will love unlimited access to device and movies in seat. Some child-sized headphones and a headphone Jack are also a good idea. I have travelled from the Netherlands to Australia & back repeatedly with my kids and found that they rarely play with anything. The first time we travelled, they were 4 & DT’s were 2. I did the trip with them many times solo as well.
I didn’t know they’d killed the mask mandate on planes. Not sure you’ll end up wearing your sheet masks, tbh. (Nobody does…) I’d still advise same skincare. Just avoid Hyaluronic Serum unless you have a water spray. And something REALLY emollient to lock it in or you’ll dessicate.

Sorry saw you'd already said you'd wrap some small toys. I always took too much and found they didn't play with half of it as @Fraaahnces says.
DC still love picking a magazine, they think it's a massive treat !

A few empties:

Couple of cleanser samples - Aurelia Miracle cleanser and Malin & Goetz oil cleanser. Didn't like either, the Aurelia is a cream and smells strongly of eucalyptus , the M&G was functional but a stale smelling oil. I'm one for nice smells like rose or citrus.

M&S Pure cooling mist, quite nice but not a very fine spray . Realised I'm not really one for a mist as I kept forgetting to use it.

Medik8 Ultimate Recovery Intense cream, love this as a thick soothing cream if skin feels a bit sore or inflamed. More creamy than LRP cicaplast.

Ren overnight recovery balm, the nicest thing I've ever had from Ren. Great overnight especially mixed with a little moisturiser. Would repurchase.

Google "download videos from youtube". You pick your videos on youtube and the copy the link and paste it on thet other websites. I used to go to Ymate but I don't think it's working anymore, so you're better off picking a small video and trying the same video on different websites to pick the fastest one and one that actually works (sometimes you have to add .mp4 at the end of the video after downloading it). You can then download those to a tablet and keep your child entertained. I did that with Masha and the Bear and I would look for colouring games you can download or a bunch of them really and test them beforehand. Enjoy your trip!

This week's:

Youth to the people moisturiser. It was fine. A bit light for night time but a nice day time one. No spf though.

Two samples of lush lime bounty body cream. Smells divine. It had lumps of coconutty stuff in it that were impossible to spread. I assume they are meant to be coconut oil but they don't melt when warmed up so you're basically mushing them up trying to soften them enough to spread. I mainly ended up picking them up off the floor and throwing them in the bin.

3INA cream eyeshadow. I absolutely love this. It has brillant staying power. I use it as an eyeliner rather than an eyeshadow. Unfortunately it has dried out rather than finished. I'm blaming covid and not wearing make-up for the guts of 2 years.

Doucce Mascara. I'm just dumping this as it's just really clumpy. I have a number (10!!!) of mascaras to use up so no point in persisting with it.

Korres and cetaphil cleansers. Will re buy.
Wow shampoo & conditioner. Meh. In a beauty box from Asos I think. Got more to get through in my stash.

I've finished the PURE day cream from the M&S beauty calendar, I really rate this and often go back to it but would like something a bit lighter for summer, still with the SPF. I've a niveia day cream to use while I do some research.

I've also finished a PURE hydration boosting serum, I liked this too but I don't think its very different to cheaper serums like the Simple one. I am out of serums now and need to have a think about if/what I replace it with.

Thinking about a little Superdrug splurge for my birthday, recommendations and suggestions warmly welcomed :)

Just out of interest, does ANYONE chuck mascara out at the three month mark? Does anyone finish them before that? Honestly beginning to think that most cosmetics are too large for their expiry dates.
Anyone ever finished a blush before it expired? I have blushers that would last longer than my lifetime if I applied twice daily. (I rarely wear it too…)
Perhaps companies would make more money if they made much smaller products that fit the expiry dates. Pretty sure they’d sell more.

I use until they are finished and have never had a problem. The whole idea of expiry dates and using within a certain period from opening is, as far as I am concerned, a total con.

Mascara is the only thing I throw out before its used up, but I'm sight impaired so a bit precious about eye products. Eyeliner is fine because when you sharpen it takes the top layer where bacteria sit off.

I also throw out mascara after 3-4 months as I have had an eye infection in the past and it hurt a lot (it was caused by swimming in contact lenses probably but not something I want a repeat of). This is why I like the small versions you often get in a GWP - feels as if I am throwing out less.

I throw out any moisturiser that is starting to look at all icky or just if it has been open a while - but by a while I mean two years or more! Ditto foundation probably after a year in that case, tho I have started using BB cream as it doesn't look too grim on my old skin. I have lipsticks that are more than two years old for sure and they seem to be OK.

Eye palettes, powder, bath products, lip liners I keep for ages. I have a Chanel lip liner that is a lovely dark reddish colour that I have had for years and years (I do use it but it's only right for certain lip shades). I keep sharpening it and it seems to be OK.

Empties.
Clarins foaming cleanser. The cotton seed one. I really liked this and it smelt and felt lovely but is now discontinued.
Clarins moisturiser, re boost. DP bought this for me has part of set. Not mad on it. It's ok but could probably get a similar product cheaper. Prefer the clarins multi active.
Had a cheap face mask evening with dd, tonight we had primary ones. We had a charcoal cleansing peel off mask. Not sure that it does anything but fun to peel off and less than a euro.

I have had an eye infection in the past and it hurt a lot (it was caused by swimming in contact lenses

@clary This is my worst nightmare. People have lost their sight from swimming in contact lenses, although I have to admit that I do this too. Were you swimming in a pool or in the sea?

Mascaras I tend to keep until they start to dry up. It could be 3 months or a year. I find that they start to look clumpy after a while

I wear mascara so rarely, I'm now realising that the couple I have open should probably go straight in the bin! Like PP I have enough sample-sized ones to keep me going for a long time.

New empties:

QMS deep gentle cleanser nice enough cream cleanser, did the job.

Bloom & blossom lip balm I did NOT like this at first, it's very gloopy and not useable for me during the daytime. But I started slathering it on before bed and it really works overnight. Have already RP.

Neals Yard wild rose beauty balm Very nice. Is it as good as Elemis, queen of balms? No. But good effort.

Josie Maran light argan oil could not get on with this at all on my face. Used on neck and chest instead, which was nice and smoothing but wouldn't RP (bet I have another one in the freebie stash though).

Kate Somerville exfolikate cleanser another from the JL beauty advent, which so many of us seem to rate highly. Liked this a lot but will wait till I've worked through more of the cleansers I already have before RP. The power of this thread in helping my self-discipline!

Just typed this all out my page refreshed!!! Argh.

117/250

Caudalie grape water. Love it, will RP

Snail essence. Understand not everyone will like this. But its HG for me, my second bottle. I find it perfect for skincare prep. A little slimey, but you get used to it.

Antonia burrell cleansing oil. Love this too, my first hg is Votary, this up there with it. Its not as thick, but takes off my mascara, spf and leaves my skin soft and no residue. Smells like oranges too.

Indeed moisture jelly. Meh, wasnt too bothered about this. Prefer a cream to a gel.

Dizziak conditioner. Done the job, but i think the herbally scent won me over more. Would like to try the shampoo.

Bum Bum cream. Perfect summer scent. Have the huge tub along with 4 other mini pots.

Clean Radiant Nectar. Got this in a SpaceNK gwp years ago, and ive never seen it available to buy since. Gutted as id of liked to buy it!

I was in a pool; I used to wear monthly disposables. Woke in the night with agonising pain in my eye. They thought it might be really serious tho thank goodness it wasn't. Eye doc told me never to wear lenses in pool again and to switch to dailies which are ACE tbh

@clary I currently wear monthly disposables. I'm thinking about getting a pack daily's to wear swimming. I can't go without because my eyesight is really bad. I probably wouldn't find the pool! 😂

I suppose the other option is prescription goggles, but then I'd be stuck wearing them the whole time.

I've been pretty lucky up until now as I've never had an eye infection (despite some less than hygienic practices, including soaking my lenses in tap water overnight when I was a teenager and forgot to take solution away with me 🤦‍♀️).

I don't want to push my luck though. Especially not after hearing your story!