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!

Yes how does it all work?

I have tried to get my head around the Boots recycling scheme but failed miserably. I think they have made it really complicated.

@Fraaahnces - I’d keep the voucher for Xmas if I were you. Or maybe even use it to buy gifts for people and then you can use the equivalent money anywhere you like for stuff you do want. Love me a Mecca browse!

Two empties:

59. L'Oréal Elvive Colour Protect shampoo - I liked this. Have repurchased.

60. Soap and Glory Dry Shampoo - Absolutely rubbish

Total for the year: 60/130

@Fraaahnces there is no shame in being discerning! I think I will reward myself for getting through today (if I do... I had such a bad sleep last night, fekking hate the perimenopause!) with a K-beauty haul! I have been noting your recommendations for months - time to actually get me some!

Oooh! Let me know what you get @Experiment627

I chickened out @Fraaahnces... quite a few things I wanted were out of stock...

About Boots:

1. register in https://boots.scan2recycle.com/
2. once you do this at some point you might be able to link your Boots advantage card number. I can’t remember when I was prompted to do so.
3. Every time you have an empty that qualifies you open the link above and press add recyclable.
4. take a picture, add brand, type of container and upload.
5. repeat as many times as you need with the rest of products.
6. They will revise that whatever you uploaded qualifies. It takes a day or less for it to be added on the recyclables list.
7. once you have 5 or more you can take it to a participating store and scan the code in the drop off box.
8. The website will ask you which kind of recyclables you want to deposit. You select them and leave them in the box.
9. they will send you an email with a barcode to use before 3 days.
10. usually there is a 10 pound min spend and they will give you 500 points in your advantage card which equals to 5 pounds.

Shampoo and shower gel don’t qualify because they can be recycled in your household recycling. there is a list in the website which tells you what can be put it but it’s almost anything. great way to increase your points and treat yourself to something nice

I also have some empties:

the perfume is a copy of Nina by Nina Ricci. Won’t RP as it is unnecessarily plain.

lactovit shower gel brings me back to my childhood. I like it and RP from time to time.

ifa manzana hand wash. Not bad, does the job. Better options out there.

Be+ face cream sachet. Too little for comment.

La roche possay 50+ face cream. It’s ok but I find it hard to apply and stingy on the eyes if I sweat. Still looking for my HG.

child’s farm 50spf spray. Not as bad as the cream in the tub but I won’t ever RP this. I still own another bottle.

Huggies wipes. I really like them.

@Experiment627 - oooh I hate that! What a bummer.
I have just finished yet another tub of Heimish All Clean Balm (mandarin version.) Love it. Have another in stock, but opening my last I’m From Fig Cleansing Balm to change things up. It’s a bit more luxe, and I love it too.

@Thereislightattheendofthetunnel I am a fan of Lactovit too! Wish they still sold here!

@Fraaahnces that was the cleanser I chose! But not sure it was mandarin version. I as trying a site called Skinsider but may take a look on Stylevana and see how that compares with stock and pricing.

If you order from Stylevana, make sure that they state that it is in stock (not on order and usually despatched within 30 days. They lie.) Otherwise all good.

Thanks @Fraaahnces!!

One empty. Glam Day Cream. Used it as a night cream because no SPF. It does the job. I have others in my stash so won't RP, but would if I needed to

I finished a perfume today. Really sad about it. It used to be my “signature” fragrance, but it’s too damn expensive these days. It was Guerlain Mandarine Basilica. Also adore Orange Soleia too. Actually maybe love it more. So perfect for summer and can be mixed with the Herba Fresca one to shake it up. Also love HF by itself! This is what I’d be using my gift card for if they sold it at Mecca!

@IndianSummer78 @CorneliaStreet and @Experiment627 thank you for the recommendations. I have had a quick look in my stash and think I’m going to be ok for a while . I have a Neals Yard Calendula Cleanser and reckon I have a sukin cleanser in there too.

Gonna have a proper sort out on next rainy day.

Some empties:

Head and Shoulders 2 in 1 - I use this every other wash to try and keep the itchy scalp at bay. I had four of these at one point and I’ve just put the last one in my shower, so might try something different when that’s done.

Avon coconut body lotion - got this in a bundle from Avon so it was super cheap. It’s pretty runny but absorbs quickly. Wouldn’t repurchase though, as have others I prefer.

Dove pomegranate body scrub - I’ve been through several of these scrubs. I prefer the macadamia nut scent to this one though. I seem to get through a pot really quickly, though at least they are always on half price offer in Superdrug.

Dr Jart Cicarepair sleeping mask - I tried this on my face a few times and it left it feeling weirdly tight and uncomfortable for the first hour or so after applying. So I ended up using it on my arms, where it seems to have had a miracle effect on the bumpy skin on the backs of my arms. So I can’t recommend it as a face moisturiser, but I can as a (pretty expensive) KP treatment!

Biossance cleansing oil - absolutely loved this. I’ve got another mini, then will definitely be getting a full size.

Cowshed Bracing shower gel - I like Cowshed shower gels, but didn’t like this particular scent.

Lab Series all in one face treatment - I got this as a free sample. It says it’s for men but I used it up anyway. It was fine.

Burts Bees lip balm - Burts Bees is my favourite stick lip balm. My favourite flavour is honey, this one (shortbread cookie) was a bit sickly.

One empty. Cover Star lip gloss. Came free with a magazine. Love it. Lasted ages. Can't find anywhere to RP but have plenty of others anyway

I have two empties to report:

• Weleda skin food: I am really not a fan of this cult product. It is is way too thick, takes ages to sink in, don't like the smell... need I go on?
• The Body Shop almond milk with oats instant soothing mask: this has been HG for me for yonks but not sure if this was part of off batch or I had open too long or they have changed the formula but this time it just was not the same - smell different and effect different. My birthday £5 reward voucher expires today & for the first time I am going to let it... I took a look online and it seems that everything has gone up by £5 or more and there are so many other brands I want to try.

Hi, how’s everyone doing? No new empties for me yet, though I’ve got some things that are very close, including a full size cleanser that I’ve been working on for months and is on the last dregs, but will not die!

I’ve also been very bad and over the last week or so have somehow bought some more shampoo, Biore suncreen, Paula’s Choice azelaic acid and the new Murad oat cleanser plus two big bottles of shower gel from TK Maxx. My monthly subscription box will turn up in the next few days too. At least I managed to resist the Cult Beauty hydration skincare box long enough for it to go out of stock.

One empty for me - Beauty Pie Japanfusion moisturiser. Was ok. Won’t repurchase as cancelled my membership. Need to shop my stash for its replacement later.

I too managed to resist the Cult Beauty kits @CorneliaStreet. Was also tempted by the hydration one.

@CorneliaStreet it is easily done. Looking forward to hearing more about your never ending cleanser.

I have a few empties to report:

• Kukident Die blauen tablets: not completely sure these were for cleaning a mouthguard (may have been for dentures - my German ain't great). I bought them in Spain as came out cheaper than my usual Steradent tablets. Did an ok job but not wow.
• Kingfisher fennel toothpaste with fluoride: HG for me
• Garnier Ultimate Blends nourishing banana hair drink: this is fab - just leave on for 10 seconds and then wash off and makes for smoother hair. Banana smell is a bit full on. Feel like I am channelling Carmen Miranda 🤣🤣🤣

I have been eyeing off the new Natasha Denona Nude eye palette. It’s very me. I realised that I was attracted to it because of the sparkly nude shades, and decided to bite the bullet and order Urban Decay’s Space Cowboy instead. I loved it and used it all the time until I dropped it. I also have Solstice which is pretty, but definitely not a nude shade.

I have a few empties too:

61) 3Lab ww cream - quite thick but non greasy. I like to use this in the evening after a bath, but for me it's a bit too thick as a regular day cream.

62) Augustinus Bader Lip Balm - soft and buttery, but it wore down very quickly. Performance wise, there are much cheaper lip balms that do just as well, if not better. You're paying for the packaging, which I think is pointless on a consumable item that gets chucked out after a few weeks

63) Hourglass Concealer - love hourglass concealers. Didn't think that this was quite the right shade for me, but it worked pretty well over the summer months

64) Nivea Deodorant - fine

65) Aurelia Miracle Cleanser - smelt nice but not the best at removing makeup. Probably wouldn't rp

Total for the year 65/130

I've almost finished this so thought I'd post now while I've time

Max Factor miracle touch cream to liquid foundation

Good points:
Portable, the lid screws on so no chance of it accidentally coming open
SPF 30
Comes with its own applicator blender pad thingy in a little compartment attached to the pot
The pot is a shallow bowl with no edges so zero product wasted because you can easily get to every last scrap
Dewy finish without being sparkly
Contains HA
Good coverage
Mattified my oiliness as well as any other decent foundation does
Contains enough for 3 months daily wear, which is great because I need a different colour for each season (I tan ridiculously easily) so no half empty pot hanging around until next year

Bad points:
Contains a couple of cyclo-whatsits in the ingredients
Sits in my eye wrinkles (but then so does almost everything else)
A bit pricey (one of the more expensive ones in the supermarket)

I've got another in my stash which I'm happy to use up, but I prefer the L'Oréal serum foundation because it doesn't sit in my eye wrinkles, so I won't RP

@IndianSummer78 thanks for your in depth review :) It is crazy how many foundations have cyclopentaxsiloxane in them! Milani conceal and perfect, Armani, Estee Lauder, Nars, Bare Minerals, Loreal... the list goes on and on!