Do you get the urge to splurge on beauty products? Are your cupboards full of your stash? Join this group of beauty addicts!

[Experiment627]

Going strong for more than 8 years! Full of great reviews, reports of empties and despair over our ever growing stashes!

I’ve just emptied my Charlotte Tilbury magic cream and wasn’t overly impressed with the range so just splurged £300 on Elemis and gone back to the marine range. Can’t wait for delivery day!

lists that's so sweet of your DS.

Well, I had a milia pop off my face this morning. Usually they're fairly deep so you don't see them unless you're looking, but the new skin care does seem to bring them to the surface. So long as they eventually go I think that's ok.

Awww, @listsandbudgets - that’s so sweet!

@Prinnny - despite my years of trying out other brands, Elemis has yet to be beaten by any of them. Unfortunately I have so much other stuff to get through that I can’t really justify purposefully buying more products, but Elemis is where my heart lies.

I used to envy beauty journalists for all the stuff they get to test/try, but it must mean they’re rarely able to use their favourite brands.

@KickAssAngel I get milia too - especially around the eyes. I find that certain skincare triggers it, when I stop using, they stop appearing. Then to get out the existing milia I usually see a beautician I know who uses a needle and steam to extract.

@listsandbudgets what a lovely DS!!! I hope mine will do something similar when he comes of age and is presented with the opportunity.

I've had the milia for years. It seems that the new skincare is pulling them to the surface.

Used up these this week. Thanks so much to @Experiment627 for starting thread and whoever started the original thread - it's so inspiring to be accountable somewhere. And to read others likes/ dislikes.
I particularly like to hear about the dislikes 😁

I got rid of a half used gloopy nail polish today. IDK why it is that I only ever get halfway through one before it's no good
I have an entire makeup box full of them to use up

Also one makeup box full of foundation/concealer/BB cream, one full of primer/blusher/pressed and loose powders/highlighter,
one and a half full of lipstick/lipgloss/lipbalm,
half full of eyeliner/single eyeshadow,
one full of false lashes bought on special offer
and it's probably best not to talk about the eyeshadow palettes

I had to reorganize the stash looking for my one and only spare mascara. I had to dispose of the rest last year because they'd been sitting around forever and had dried up

@BerfyTigot you are very welcome. I wish I knew who started the original thread... I hijacked it as it is so helpful to me.

I'm going away for two weeks so hopefully going to use up lots of little minis and sachets.

@IndianSummer78 I have a similar problem with nail varnish. I don't buy them often tbh. Some/most were from boxes etc or go back in the mists of time and probs need chucking, but the Mavala ones are quite small, and it's good stuff, so happy to buy those and know I'll get the benefit. Sometimes come in sets of 2 or 3 so a bit better value. My local chemist and I think Boots stock them.

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants - are the Mavala polishes nice? I have used the hardener, and it’s fabulous. I can’t wear polish at work, so it’s only a special occasion thing (and my hideous toes). Do they last well?
I have another empty… My cleansing oil. Pretty sure it was Softymo. It was great. Also cheap. I’d buy it again if it was on sale again. I don’t believe in spending lots on cleansing oils when they get washed off straight away, but there are definitely some better than others. I am going to have to put an order in, so cleansing oil is on the list.

@Fraaahnces yes, I think so. Haven't found anything they do in the manicure range that isn't good tbh. Used to use their stuff when I was a self employed beautician, as they were better than other brands, if a little dearer than the more basic stuff. I don't actually work for them, other brands are available.

Thanks for that @Experiment627! I’m going to try and find a stockist here. (Can order from the site, but want to see it!)

Thanks @Peridot1 for the tip. I will try the new regime when I get home.

I am feeling antsy I might not get in time for the boots summer box. Not that I need anything though…

@listsandbudgets
I always find small gestures from your own children very touching.

My DD bought me some half used body scrub from TBS in the school mother’s day sale… I used it up fully knowing that she bought it for me because I love beauty stuff.

I have another empty, loving this thread and the incentive to clear through the stash! This is a product I've repurchased several times, but I have others now sitting in the stash - ultra violette is the next to be used.

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants thanks, I'll look out for those ones in Boots

As everyone seems to be doing an inventory here's mine, in addition to the makeup and nail polish mentioned yesterday. The drawers are mini about 7" x 4" x 5"

3 drawers moisturizer
2 drawers day cream
1 drawer sunblock
1 drawer perfume
1 drawer body scrubs
1 drawer face scrubs
1 drawer face washes
1 drawer cleanser and toner
1 drawer serums
15 shampoos
5 conditioners
3 foot creams
12 hand creams
6 canisters of hair mousse
2 bottles of curl cream
1 hairgel
9 hairdyes
3 shower gels and a soap
2 beauty boxes

This is in addition to everything that's currently in use

Things I'm down to one (and one spare) of

Deodorant
Mouthwash
Toothpaste
Shave gel
Nail polish remover
Cotton wool pads
Eye makeup remover
Hair removal cream

I have been doing the 7 skins thing at every opportunity... have a spot making itself known by nose. Feel like I may need to reign it in a bit...😵‍💫

Went into a large Space NK earlier. Looked longingly at Tatcha, Tata Harper, Stella McCartney etc and thought "I am prioritising my money elsewhere" 😇

Doing the 7-skin thing now, third time I’ve done it since reading about it on this thread. I like it! I’m using Aveeno’s soothing oat toning lotion, seems to work well.

I don’t think the seven skins is necessary every day. I tend to do around three layers daily and maybe a few more once a week. It’s definitely easy to over do it especially when starting any new routine.

I personally don’t think my skin would enjoy the seven layers thing. I would also resent waiting for everything to sink in. (I’m more of an instant gratification girl.) After cleansing at night, I use my essence, tretinoin, serum (see below), and a heavier moisturising cream atm because it’s Winter, or a lighter one in Summer. I have been using LRP Cicaplast atm because I had an allergic reaction that caused my nemesis of old - a Perioral Dermatitis flare up. This is a classic for a reason, isn’t it? I am going to put it back in my stash tonight and get back to my “actives”.

*Just want to throw in a review here… I have been using the Missha Time Revolution Night Serum. I have been using the essence for quite some time, and I love it. (Better than SKII imo. Nobody needs to spend that much these days!) Anyhow, I purchased a pack with the Serum and Essence, and I have to say that this is magnificent. If you love Estée Lauder Night Repair, then I suspect this is a cheaper dupe will eclipse your experience because it has all the same actives as ELNR plus more. (Niacinamide and Retinol instead of retinyl palmitate. (It’s more effective.) Anyhow, it had been sitting in my stash for a while, and I thought I’d better give it a crack, and I love it. I think it’s helping to strengthen my skin after it’s recent disaster.

I think like everything certain things will suit us and certain things won’t. I like my version of it as I find my skin gets quite dehydrated especially in winter so lighter layers of hydration seems to help. And I quite like the ritual of patting the layers in! But as I said I don’t do seven so it’s a bit of a misnomer for me really to refer to it as the seven skins method I suppose!

The Misha serum sounds interesting. I might have to start a wish list of products to try. Once I’ve run my stash down of course! I’ve never been a fan of the Estée Lauder ANR. It always felt like it was just a layer of silicon on my skin.

One empty, a few more of these in my stash. It's a regular product I use

I’m getting to the end of loads of things, soon I’ll be able to break open my stash and choose the replacements!

Childs farm spf50 is super sticky and difficult to apply. Won’t RP as I hated the tacky texture and the smell too.

piz buin was a tan intensifier not accelerator as I said before. Won’t RP as I don’t have any tan to intensify

cien aqua rich exfoliant. Quite mild and runny and very unremarkable. Was cheap though. Didn’t like the smell. Will try other things and won’t Rp.

the other stuff was mentioned before