Beauty addicts anonymous - come join us if you are a beauty product lover and hoarder!!!

[Experiment627]

Not sure what thread number we are up to here but ALL ABOARD if you get JOY from buying and trying beauty products!!!

We sometimes enable but we also share out thoughts, support one another and generally share our love of beauty consumerism!

Thanks @SwordBilledHummingbird - that’s a lot cheaper than some I’ve bought over the years!

Two items:
Zo sunscreen- makes my eyes water, and face sweat! It expired 4 yrs ago, it pains me to “waste” money but I hate this one!
Marcelle moisturizer- lovely texture, budget friendly (Canada) but as far as I can tell no actives. I’ve amalgamated this with their night cream…because i’m going shopping for a combined product, moisturizer, sunscreen, Vit C. Hoping to pick up Strivectin.

@CinnamonCoffee I’m the guilty party. I’ve been using the Heimish cleansing balm for ages. (My fave is the mandarin one, but they’re pretty much all the same. I do find the mandarin one emulsifies slightly better I think.)

@CinnamonCoffee - I just checked the blurb re the Heimish cleansing balm and the Mandarin one is a different formulation. It absolutely does emulsify more easily. It breaks down to a thinner, more milky consistency. There are so many different varieties of this cleanser that I know some are definitely much nicer to use than others. (One or two felt waxy. This does not.) Hope that helps… Clear as mud???

@greenspaces4peace (love your name btw!) Was thinking about your sunscreen. Not only is 4 years out of date the likely reason it was causing such awful reactions (who knows what happens to the ingredients in that time?), but soooooo much has happened in the evolution of sunscreens during the last four years I am certain you are going to find something that makes you wonder where it’s been all your life in comparison. I don’t think you’re going to feel like you’ve wasted your money if you’re getting rid of something that stings - especially if it’s a product that you’re supposed to wear every day. Those products should be the MOST enjoyable.

I thought I’d introduce you to a new find. I was whingeing about menopausal itchy skin, and a gorgeous Japanese colleague of mine who knows I love K&at Beauty gave this one. She and mum have been using it forever and they both look like porcelain Christmas fairies. Due to the high content of sake ferment (much higher than SKII) it has an “unusual” smell, but it doesn’t linger. It has a watery texture, so I have found it best to put it in a mist bottle and shake it well then spray it. Because it’s cheap, a little goes a long way and the bottle is ENORMOUS (500ml!) I have been using it on my face and body. (Under usual lotion which removes the sticky feel of using it alone)
A) Itch is gone
B) Almost immediate improvement in skin clarity and tone. Everyone’s noticing - even DH, who I call Mr Magoo
C) Serums and Creams seem to absorb more easily, so less required and their actives seem to be more effective (hence the results.)

The one I am using is the pink one - “High Moist”. It’s formula that’s been around forever in Japan. I’m really, really impressed!

Kikumasume High Moist Toner - again, you can get this from heaps of other different sources!

*K&J Beauty, Obvs…
**Also, as it’s such a huge bottle and contains sake ferment, I have chosen to put it in an insulated bottle to protect it from heat and light. (Metal drink bottle). It gets very hot here. Over there it’s probably okay to just keep it in a cupboard away from light.

Thank you @Fraaahnces, I erroneously slathered my new Strivectin (moisturizer/Vit c/spf all in one) and it too had my face sweating and eyes watering. I’m hoping tomorrow I’ll control the application better.

These are my empties from 2 weeks ago, forgot to post last week, I managed to get through 6.
Dr Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Cream - I like this, absorbs in quickly but not sure I'd buy it at full price - currently working my way through another one from a GWP.
Dr Barbara Sturm Face Cream - Just like the body cream, I really like it but wouldn't spend £135 on a full size.
The Absolute Rejuvenation Night Balm - first time using this brand, the balm comes in individual sachets and I was expecting it to be greasy, but it was a lovely thick night cream that absorbed into the skin. I used it whilst away and the sachets are ideal for this. A good find.
Cultured Biomecare Cleansing Balm - first time using this brand, it was ok, not as good as Elemis or Clinique balms.
Juliette Has A Gun Ego Stratis Eau de Parfum - nice light, fresh fragrance, I liked.
Nars Dragon Girl Lip crayon - quite a full on colour, but I liked a little smudged on my lips, already using another one.

That takes me to 46 for the year, I think I've got more going out than coming in!

@Fraaahnces thank you. I got the standard one but will try the mandarin too! For the price it's amazing! I mean £47 for the Elemis balm is just awful! It's lovely but Jesus it's only a cleanser and I don't want to pay that.

@greenspaces4peace - Is your product an SPF with moisturizing ingredients and vitamin c or is it a moisturiser that contains SPF and vitamin C? If it is the latter, you’re probably not getting even close to enough SPF protection.
Also, if your skin is sensitized (from previous manky sunscreen) you probably need to give it a rest before you put anything new on, or anything active at all.

I use Ultrasun tinted face cream all summer, it’s great. It’s my moisturiser and foundation, only needs applying once a day, I can put it all over my eyes without irritation (although sweating SPF into my eyes is painful of course, I wear sunglasses when walking fast enough for my eyes to stream), with a 2-year shelf life once opened. You’re supposed to apply it to a bare clean face, no serums underneath, so once I’m done with the sun for the day I remove it and apply all my lovely serums at night instead.

@CinnamonCoffee - I couldn’t possibly justify it - ever. Plus, I can’t stand the “mentholly” feel near my eyes. (Also hate rose scents, but that is entirely subjective.) Yes, the mandarin one is my favourite. The scent is barely perceptible which is almost disappointing, I’ll admit. I love the texture of this more than the other Heimish ones I’ve tried. Also a huge fan of the Curel Intensive Moistur Care Makeup Cleansing Gel. This one is great for travel. It comes in a handy dandy plastic squeezy tube and it emulsifies to a milky, wash off texture, never stripping the skin. You can buy that at Boots, I think. (Or Superdrug.) Curel is a beautiful range, especially if you have sensitive or dry skin.

I do have both sensitive and dry skin so that's handy to know thank you!
Does anyone know the best place to buy k beauty in the uk?

On the subject of k beauty I got this eye cream at an amazing price and it comes with a metal attachment to de puff. Similar products are so much more expensive. Also got reusable cotton pads which come in a bag and I'm going to get some more as a gift for Mother's Day. Eye cream £13 and cotton pads £12.

Thanks for the cleansing balm recommendation @Fraaahnces

I also can’t bare to pay for Elemis either.

I buy all my Elemis through QVC, and don’t think I’ve ever paid full-price for any of their products, couldn’t afford it.

Here are my empties.

Josh Wood blending wand for roots. Was ok, but prefer Superdrug one in spray.
Quinoa hair mask from Nutricare. Meh, didn't seem any different.
Grum lavender pillow spray. Not much lavender scent, was ok
Sanctuary wet skin moisturiser. Meh
Max Factor 2000 calorie curl addict mascara. My fall back mascara. Will RP
No 7 Stay Perfect Ultra mascara. Ok, not special.
Make up gallery never ending mascara. Meh.
Dermalogica retinol serum. Not enough of sample size to see a difference.
Dermalogica day cream with spf. Always like Dermalogica. Not high enough spf
Zelens moisture cream. Meh.
No 7 biodegradable make up wipes (missed off ) Don't routinely use wipes. Came in a freebie kit. Ok for travel.

11 used since I started counting. Lots to go!

Where did you buy it from? Google brings up so many results

@Babysharkdoodoodood from Amazon

Thank you. I splurged on the Look Good Feel Better box from ASOS last week. I didn't 'need' any of it but it's a charity close to my heart. Sold out now.

Next are doing a really good beauty box at the mo for £35 that comes with a full size elemis cleansing balm.

I think the balm on its own costs more than that if bought separately

Oh no. Don’t tell me Next are doing beauty boxes too? I’m going to have to come out of retirement to afford my habit.

They are really quite good value! Take a look!

RosetteNebula here! I've blown my cover haha.

Got two more empties -

Body Shop Shea Conditioner - Got this in the advent calendar half price on BrandAlley. Not special and wouldn't buy on its own.

Soap and Glory Brightening Eye Cream - Another one from a set, Did absolutely nothing just like all the other eye creams. Ended up using it on my face just to get rid of it. It was quite runny too. I am currently using an Avon duo eye cream/gel and after that I'm never buying another eye cream unless it comes with a set.

FML I'm looking at Next beaity boxes now!!