Are you addicted to beauty products? If so, please join - we are "Beauty addicts anonymous" 💜

[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.

@PomRuns

I reckon that eyeliner is probably ok if it's a pencil and you can sharpen it down to get rid of the old bit. Liquid liners are probably more of an issue.

Another newbie/lurker here. This year I’ve decided to keep an audit of what I’ve bought and used up to try and keep myself from buying too many multiples of things I already have. So far this year my empties are:

• Glow recipe banana moisturiser - Quite good for very dry skin, but I don’t like it enough to re-purchase at that price point.
• TBS Vitamin E moisturiser - old tub I didn’t realise I had. Really good product but I find it a bit overly scented for the face.
• Lush pineapple face and body wash - loved this, gorgeous scent and does what it is supposed to well. Sadly it was a limited edition.
• TBS Chai and vanilla hand cream - Worked well but a bit too greasy
• Kiehls lip mask - not a fan of this one
• TBS Candy cane body butter - gorgeous, sad it is used up
• L ‘Occitaine verbena gel - lovely and uplifting citrus gel will probably buy again

I should probably do the same for scented candles as I’ve become a bit of a hoarder of those too. I blame lockdown… I didn’t have this problem before 2020!!

I'm not so much addicted as anxious about missing out.
There's such an overwhelming choice of options but difficult to know how to prioritize them.
There's only so much I can buy.
Or so much my skin can even absorb in one day!

I was so disappointed as I was ready to buy some beauty products in JL but the special offer has finished

Oh well I'll keep using my other stuff up

Did buy some new NO7 make up

Newbie here. Love this thread!

I am trying a couple of new products. When I get home will post again as cannot remember what they are called.

just remembered the name of one new product. This vitamin C serum. Swapped from my old Khiels one as just was not cutting it anymore. This is 15% so quite potent. Only using once a day while I finish the rest of my other serum but wow I love this. Skin so soft and more radiant and half the price!!

4 empties for me this week

Origins Into the Glow Serum - I liked this, it had a pleasant zingy sensation.
REN Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Hand Lotion - pleasant enough, nothing wow.
Duos Addict Lip Maximiser - first time I used this I thought my lips were going to burn off, but tried again and ended up really liking it - not sure I like it enough to splash out £28 for a full size though.
Also used a 111Skin serum sample, but it only had one use in it so no idea if it is any good.

Forgot to attach pic!

Agree @MidnightMeltdown with liquid eyeliners i know when they are old as my eyes start to weep during application. With Kohl eyeliners I know that they are old when during the day, my eyes start to weep. That said and I have a trusty old favourite eyeliner from Max Factor that is ACE and sadly about 12 years old, but it lines my eyes like an Egyptian mummy on point! Can't bin it. Need to get back to the Boots in south Ken where I bought it from whilst a post grad student. I bought so many goodies from that shop on a whim after horrible days in the lab and even more horrible professors being sour.

My first contribution.

I used up a couple of samples. The L'Occitane body milk is lovely. I might drop some hints for my upcoming birthday. It doesn't count if I don't buy it myself, right?

The boots serum is my usual morning one so I just went on to the next one that I had waiting. Same with the L'Occitane hand cream.

Not a massive fan of the REN lotion. It seemed to last forever too. I got it in an advent calendar. The semilac hand cream is quite greasy so a no for that.

Little sample of l'occitane night serum. Couldn't get the last bit out, but it was pretty meh.

@Experiment627 - please don’t waste your money on Chanel products for skincare. I used to work for the company that imports most French skincare and fragrance into Aus (hence my freebies) and I can tell you that they do not invest in any technology or science in that area. Read the Sublimage advertising about the “Ephemeral molecules that come and go…”. They have rehashed the old La Mer “legend” and they’re riding on it’s back. The wanky plant molecule they’re raving about is basically Vanilla essence/hydrosol. There is absolutely nothing active in that range at all. Look at the price!!! Chanel products are also notorious for feeling great initially then causing irritations. (Highly fragranced?) You would honestly get better results from French pharmacy skincare. (Also low in actives and old-fashioned, but less irritating.)

After that rave, I have an empty to report… one Cerave Hyaluronic Serum. I didn’t love it. I bought it last year while I was waiting for my Hada Labo to be delivered. This stuff comes in a pump and is thiiiiick like an eye cream. It doesn’t penetrate like a watery hyaluronic serum. I’d describe it as a cream, and it’s very, very expensive for what you get! $35 for 30ml vs $22 for 180ml in a formula that goes a lot further as well. (Also only one molecular weight or layer of HA vs the HL that has seven.) I always have a backup now.

@MarmiteLover101 welcome! And also a warm welcome to @rambleonplease !

Exactly @Justilou1 - I thought this was the case with Chanel... although they would look pretty so I guess I could always fill witg something that actual works 🤪

I have an empty:

• Caudalie grape water: I really love this facial mist, feels hydrating and is way cheaper than the cult Elixir... which I actually had in my stash. My first spraying was a tale of two cities: first thought "ah love the smell", second thought "fek that stung my eye". I do not recall it stinging before so it may well be past its best despite only just opening (it has been in stash since July 2020).

@Justilou1 I hear ya! I guess I am at stage where I want a few cheaper things that I know really work like the vit c powder, niacinamide, tret etc but then mix it up with some lovely Chanel sensorials. I would never buy sublimage indeed. Anyway back to my 30 gazillion! Well done on all the empties everyone!

@Experiment627 - again, Used to love the Caudalie grape water (even more than the Elixir) and now it’s just got waaaaaay too much alcohol for my comfort zone. (I’m not averse to minuscule amounts of alcohol as a solvent, anti-microbial ingredient or preservative, but not as a carrying agent or filler!) I prefer it much further down the inci list! For mists, I can’t go past the J&K ones, but if you can tolerate the scent, the Glow Recipe watermelon one is actually really good. (Even though I hate the hype.) There are better ones out there, but that one’s available on the high street and you can buy a mini one for your purse. (Also you can refil the bottle later with other things. The mister is bloody awesome!)

Thanks @Justilou1 J&K? Glow Recipe? Will Google and see what I get.
TBH I am not an raving fan of facial sprays especially since the amazeballs Superdrug one got discontinued 😭 I got the Elixir as was on sale and made me nostalgic for a trip I made to the USA a way back.

My skin is not feeling great... Have taken the executive decision to switch out of all the range I was using to Liz Earle haul. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼that helps the situation.

My haul of empties over last fortnight. I missed last weekend as my cat died and was distraught!!

Origins Drink Up Intense Overnight Mask- no more than okay but absorbs nicely.

Prai Beauty Ageless Handcream from M&S Advent Calendar- absorbs well but still doesn't knock Body Shop Hemp off the top spot for me.

UKLash Serum- well yes made a massive difference when I applied it regularly in lock down but now the world is returning to normal and I'm not applying it daily my lashes are back to normal too!

Formula Deeply Nourished- quite nice but not a patch on its big sister Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream which is my HG.

Skin and Me- I know everyone raves but 9 months in I note not a jot of difference to my skin other than occasional peeling! My middle aged skin has never been prone to spots/acne etc so maybe I should drop them a line as the prescription has now not changed for a while.

Olaplex- no 3 Hair Perfector . I think it helps but because it is pricey maybe I'm not liberal enough with it? Garnier Banana hair food though is as cheap as chips so I smother that on and deffo does make a difference.

Had no (!) empties last week, but a few this week:

Origins eye cream Meh. Glad it’s finished
Prismologie balm This is a body balm/oil type thing. I used it as a post bath pre bed body oil, and rather liked it. Would never have paid its supposed RRP but would happily buy again at TK Maxx for £7.99
Vis Viva Honey and Vanilla lip balm this I really did like, including the fairly subtle honey scent. Did last ages.
Monuskin bath oil Quite nice, but not in the same league as Olverum or AA.

Overall total of empties for the year:
11 full size, 15 travel/deluxe size

@helenabonhamfarter, I do think Olaplex 3 works, but I need to use a lot. I get only about 4 uses out of a bottle, so it’s very expensive, and why I don’t use it all the time.

@Justilou1, interesting comments about Chanel.

Waves to @OchonAgusOchonOh, welcome to the thread.

@Justilou1 am always very interested in your views. So helpful.

I’m sorting out some travel sizes for our half term break. Will catch up on the empties reviews later 🙂

[quote AprilLady]@Justilou1, interesting comments about Chanel.

Waves to @OchonAgusOchonOh, welcome to the thread.[/quote]
Hi @AprilLady. Good to see you

@AprilLady

Had no (!) empties last week, but a few this week:

Origins eye cream Meh. Glad it’s finished
Prismologie balm This is a body balm/oil type thing. I used it as a post bath pre bed body oil, and rather liked it. Would never have paid its supposed RRP but would happily buy again at TK Maxx for £7.99
Vis Viva Honey and Vanilla lip balm this I really did like, including the fairly subtle honey scent. Did last ages.
Monuskin bath oil Quite nice, but not in the same league as Olverum or AA.

Overall total of empties for the year:
11 full size, 15 travel/deluxe size

I don't like the origins eye cream either, doesn't absorb well

@Experiment627 - not very knowledgeable re Liz Earle. (She’s not available here.) Facial sprays are fine, but really not necessary. I keep one in the car because it’s so hot here, and one in my purse (menopause) but I don’t really consider it a treatment product. (They definitely make my makeup look nicer though.)
If your skin is feeling bleh, could it be because you’re swapping your products around too much or using too many actives? Might be a good idea to strip your routine right back to gentle basics and see what your skin is really craving.