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!

This is such a good idea. I have sorted my stash into various shoe boxes to help me see what I am looking for , but an inventory is a great idea.

I was sorting through my (over-abundance of) skincare in the bathroom to try and clear some room. Knocked the bloody box I keep my makeup in off the bench. I am now down one (of my favourite) Kaja eyeshadows and a brand new powder that I hadn’t even used! I bought it to replace the Kosas one that exploded in my handbag. Going to buy one of those little bottles with a powder puff at the end or a brush from Ali Express and just shove it in there.

@Fraaahnces that sounds frustrating.
Re my stash. I'm not organised enough to have a spreadsheet, and writing a list of stuff would only help me if it was under headings of Serum, Moisturiser, Night Serum, etc. I put each category in a marked zip lock bag, so when I use something, I go back to the serums etc. I was using my revered BD boxes for this, but after the influx of Advent stuff, and maybe a Jet set deal and a Red box, I blame @MavisMcMinty ) I have now used one of the cardboard suitcases sets from The Works, and it sits quite neatly on top of a chest of drawers. I am slowly working down my stash, as I have perfected my night routine somewhat, but I may simplify the system when I've used it up. For instance, I don't enjoy putting oil on the top of everything I use at night, so unless there was a very convincing 10 yrs knocked off my fizzog by doing it, can't see me re buying.

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants I put oil on top of my serum and underneath my moisturizer

Fairy nuff @IndianSummer78 I think that it's as much 7 layers of gloop that I'm a bit fed up of, as much as the exact order, but I might give that a go to see if I like it any better, thanks.

Oil is supposed to go on top of moisturiser. I rarely bother as I don't feel like I need to add oil in addition to moisturiser. I therefore have a huge stash of unused facial oils!

Great progress @PomRuns

I'm sure that I still have over 100 products in my stash . I should probably do an inventory, but I quite like the fact that I keep 'discovering' things that I'd completely forgotten about! It's like getting a new beauty box every time I sort through the stash!

I tend to store things in the order of when I bought them, rather than by category, so I try to use the oldest first. Advent calendar goodies from 2022 are all together for example.

I find the best deterrent from buying is to go and have a look at the stuff that I already have - particularly the stuff that I've had for a year+ and recognise that if I buy more, existing stuff will go to waste.

I also find it helpful to keep track of how many products I've used - 50 so far this year (which is barely 2 advent calendars worth!). Things tend to last longer than I think they will, and I realise that I don't need as much.

Have now managed 3 consecutive months of no buy 💪

I find it doesn't sink in so easily if you put it on top. I don't think I'd even be able to put my sunscreen on top of the oil I don't think they'd mix well, then I'd just have a sticky mess to put my makeup onto which definitely wouldn't work. I know I'm unconditional but I do serum, oil, gel cream, moisturizer, sunblock, makeup. That seems to keep my skin happy. I feel like we've all got different skin though so it's an experiment and we can't trust the companies because they just want to sell us stuff and don't care if it actually works for us or not

I put oil on first, after cleansing and toning and before any other serums or moisturisers. It stops roll-off, in my experience. Actually, sometimes I just cocktail oil and serum together in my palm and slap it all on together, with again no roll-off.

I think the science is supposed to be that oil forms a protective barrier, so if you put serum or moisturiser over an oil, it will be wasted because it won't penetrate the oil effectively. The 'moisture' from the moisturiser will just evaporate off your face.

This is why I tend not to use oils. When I do, it tends to be instead of moisturiser, as I don't feel like my skin really needs both.

I don't trust the companies though. Theory is fine but practice tells me different. If I use just oil or just moisturizer it wouldn't be enough. It definitely doesn't evaporate off my face. The serum and gel cream would I suppose, but that's why they also go under the thicker moisturizer cream. I kind of envy those who can get by with one or two products. It took me years to find out what my skin needed, it wasn't until I started layering products that I finally found the solution

I’m not keen on a facial oil in the morning usually but will use Zelens Power D as an oil sometimes but I use it before a serum as that is what they recommend. I do like an oil at night. Sometimes alone and sometimes I do my evening routine early and then just add a layer of oil as I go to bed.

My skin definitely likes more light layers of hydration rather than a heavy moisturiser.

I'm not keen on using oils at night as I don't want them to end up on my pillow case! They seem take a long time to sink into my skin.

I'm also not sure about using oil before makeup - doesn't oil dissolve makeup?

Basically, I only tend use oil on days when I'm not wearing makeup, or at night if I do my skin routine early, so that it has a few hours to absorb!

Probably explains why I have so many unused ones!

My favourite oils are Elemis oils, although I've got so many other brands in my stash that I haven’t bought an Elemis one for ages. They’re very light, the rose and pro-collagen ones anyway, and sink in beautifully, but at nearly £70 for 15mls I always wait for a QVC TSV Elemis deal.

I'm also not sure about using oil before makeup - doesn't oil dissolve makeup?

It's fine, the oil sinks in as do all the other things I put on top. The sunblock is last so that's what is going to interact with the makeup, if anything does. If I don't add enough moisture to my dehydrated eczema prone oily skin before makeup, it will throw out its own oil that won't do much to moisturize my face but will melt my makeup anyway.

Before I figured out my skincare I was always an oil slick by lunchtime, but at the same time skin felt tight. I'd have to add more powder to set what was left of the makeup but my skin would feel awful for the rest of the day. I couldn't have removed and reapplied because my face, whilst insisting on being scrupulously clean or else I get problems, can only tolerate being cleaned twice a day. So if I want to wear makeup at any time of the day/night I have to apply it after I clean my face in the morning and keep it on until it's time to do my night time routine before bed.

When I had a physical part time outdoors job I used to wake up and put sunblock on my face without cleaning it first, then clean it when I got home at noon inevitably covered in a layer of dirt and do my skincare/makeup after that, then clean it again at night

Funny you should mention that @MavisMcMinty I've got an Elemis Pro Collagen Marine oil on the go at the moment, as well as couple of other night oils.

I find that they all tend to sit on the surface of my skin and leave it feeling tacky for hours afterwards. Thick moisturisers do the same. Maybe it's just my skin type.

That sounds tricky to manage @IndianSummer78 😕
I'm not sure that my skin actually 'needs' much. It's not super dry, sensitive, or very oily, but it is prone to hormonal breakouts at certain times of the month. Also, I've found that a lot of the cheaper, big brand moisturisers that you buy in places like Boots, tend cause my skin to break out. I've recently discovered the Paula's Choice is excellent for unclogging pores.

Paula’s choice BHA exfoliating toner is wonderful! One of the only new products I’ve been sent in beauty boxes that I actually love and would repurchase.

@MidnightMeltdown I had a tricky couple of decades in my teens and 20s when I didn't really know what to do with it and was forever experimenting, but I've got I sussed now

Re tacky skin, yes! Only slightly. But mine needs to be, possibly due to the eczema. I soon got used to it. The creams etc are the barrier that keeps the moisture locked in. When that tackiness fades that's when the itching starts and my skin decides it's too dry and starts chucking out it's own oil. By then it's usually time to get up and wash my face/take off makeup and start my night time routine

If I get occasional hormonal zits I forgo all my skincare along the jawline where they are and just put Vichy Normaderm serum there, it contains salicylic acid and sorts them out in a couple of days before they have really got going. I find it is not just hormonal though, it'll also coincide with me being unwell and applying less than my usual diligence to cleaning my face

It does sound as though your moisturizer could be too heavy for you if you're getting regular breakouts

Well, we had a huge storm and half the city has no power! I've just got data back on my phone so something nearby has been repaired.

My skin has finally recovered from the break out a week ago and I'm gradually starting to use skin care again. So far just cleanser and serum or moisturizer. I rarely use more than 2 or 3 things as my skin feels tacky very easily.

If I find milia ready to pop out again, I must not pop them! They frustrate me as they sit there ready to go, but won't come out without making a hole. However, I'm determined to keep using Vit C as I want to reduce the age spots.

Yes, Paula's Choice BHA and anything with salicylic acid are great for clearing skin. Will have to try out the Vichy Normaderm

The Dr Dennis Gross Daily Peels work well for me too - they dry out any breakouts and clear clogged pores - but might be too harsh for your skin @IndianSummer78

I'm not sure that it's the heaviness of the moisturiser that's the issue for me. I've used some really thick ones - like Cult 51, Sunday Riley CEO Cream and 3lab ww cream - which haven't caused any issues. Although they're heavy, they sink in well and aren't greasy. I think that there must just be some ingredient in certain moisturisers that my skin doesn't like - I just haven't figured out what it is yet!

I do tend to prefer lighter moisturisers though, especially during summer. Have started using Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Gel Cream recently which is ideal for my skin. The thicker ones I tend to save for winter, or use after a hot bath when my skin is drier.

@Fraaahnces not having seasons that are clearly distinct is hard. And whilst I might moan about the weather in Blighty, I do really appreciate the changing of the seasons.

@Maighnuad welcome! You have found your people!

@SwordBilledHummingbird perhaps I misdirect with the title of the thread...

I for one do not want to be cured! My beauty product addiction brings me JOY! I love hearing from fellow addicts & having a community that gets me.
That said in the years I have been on this thread, my stash is probably in the best place it has been. Some categories (like shower gels, deodorants, day creams, and more have no stash at all). I am super aware of what I have lurking in my cupboards and I give products away more freely when I know they will not suit me. I still spend a huge part of my day thinking about what I will try next - but this brings me joy so do not see the issue with that.

@KickAssAngel hope the itching & rash has gone xxx

@SwordBilledHummingbird I defo think you should chuck the shampoo! Or use as a toiler cleaner!

I have started using a Hada Labo cleanser that cannot be used on the eyes (found out the hard way)... any recommendations for a eye make-up remover?

@Experiment627 - my skincare obsession brings me joy too. I have a nice dressing table and have my in use products on a nice lacquer tray and I really enjoy my morning and evening sit down there doing my routine.

For eye makeup remover I’m currently using The Body Shop Chamomile eye make up remover but have also used Nivea in the past with no issues.

I think I’m going to attempt my stock take today. Or at least start it.

I had two empties this week - a Christophe Robin scalp scrub from the JL advent calendar last year and a small Mecca sun screen.

I’m going to stocktake my skincare tonight. I also looked through my lipgloss drawer (it’s not as bad as it sounds - it’s a weird, Indian-style cabinet with heaps of tiny, virtually useless drawers. Kind of like an apothecary cabinet but not nearly as attractive.) and some are leaking. There have got to be a few antiques in there that are festy.

Bring joy - yes! So we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves but try and balance nice things so not feeling overwhelmed maybe?