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!

Include what you like @Feelingsurreal... I sometimes even report toothpaste empties! I do actually have a stash as I bought in bulk to save money.

@Feelingsurreal I included things I just keep buying but I did not include soap as I don't think I will Iive long enough to use it all up.

I was really shocked when I totalled everything up, but I still find myself wondering about AC when I return to UK in October. 😂

So had the dmk enzyme therapy facial.

the blurb says :
DMK Enzyme Therapy not only lifts and tightens sagging skin but it treats a wide variety of skin concerns from acne, rosacea, sensitivity, pigmentation and ageing.

so face is all glory - she finished with some vit c amazing !

At the airport now heading heading to Naples to join a cruise. Any Italian recommendations for skin care ?

@Maighnuad Ooooh…. Boscia stores are fun. Like a cross between old-school Body Shop and Yves Rocher. Honestly, any of the delicious Castile-style soaps are fabulous. I love the citrusy ones and wisteria is to die for also. (Which reminded me that I forgot to buy soap yesterday. Damn!) In Italy, there are fabulous artisan perfumeries dotted about. Highly recommend.

Now some accountability… I muddled around with my skincare and this is the stash, including what I am using atm. (Note- Most of these products are open and in rotation due to skin concerns and weather, etc.) I haven’t included the box of bloody face masks that I haven’t yet excavated from my cupboard, the minis and samples floating around in my car and work bag, hand products (A billion sanitizers and one hand cream), hair goop and body goop. There is a good chance that the boxes o’crap in my room will unearth more bits and pieces. (I am sorting them today. Don’t ask me about stationery…)

Given how many are almost empty, I think that this list looks a lot worse than it is. I know that there are several expired products that need to go also. I also have three teen vultures who will happily take anything off my hands. This list will look smaller tomorrow.

@Feelingsurreal - the Erborian Red Correct is similar to the CC cream but aimed at covering redness. If you don’t have issues with redness you probably don’t need it!

I was going to count hair stuff in my stock count but haven’t as yet. I have moved most of it into one drawer in the bathroom rather than all over the place though. Well other than the stuff in use.

I also have lots of body lotions and scrubs. And soap. So much soap.

I haven’t finished my stock take as yet but am feeling it’s more in control. Still have way too much stuff obviously but at least I know where it all is!

Two empties yesterday - And Then I Met You cleansing balm from a Caroline Hirons kit and a bottle of L’Oreal pink milky cleaning lotion.

@Peridot1 the redness cream sounds like I need it. I usually put a little more foundation or cover up over the redness I have, so this will probably do the trick. I could order it with a 20% off discount I've seen online... or wait and get it when I go through the airport in a few weeks. The plan is waiting until Black Friday to stock up, but the reality is that I buy necessities, or extra things, but no more basics eg cleansers/moisturisers as those are mostly what the stock is!

I don't have any soap at all - do those of you counting or not counting your soap mean actual bars of soap? I think I have one, that was a pretty one covered in butterflies that I saw in Lisbon, but I use a hand wash pump / shower gel instead. Am I missing out??

I'm really trying to notice which products work for me or don't, as previously I've just gone through a tube/half a tube, etc etc and swapped about, and not really paid attention, and now I think that this lovely thread will help me focus a bit more and work out what I do and don't actually love.

The product I seem to try an awful lot of different brands is lip balm. Good old Carmex is a winner. Am disappointed by the laniege, ultra violette is good but a bit sticky, eve lom is good but a bit thin. I have all of these on the go atm!

@KickAssAngel am v impressed your DH did your highlights during covid!!

I'm on the erborian website atm... I want one of everything!

@Maighnuad have a wonderful cruise!!!

@Maighnuad apologies... I also meant to wish you a lovely cruise in my last post and forgot! x

@Feelingsurreal - I switched from shower gel to bars of soap in an effort to reduce my use of plastics. And then ended up buying loads of soaps for some reason! So am working my way through them.

I too have loads and loads of lip balms. They are so easy to accumulate. I quite like the Laniege sleeping mask one. But I think my favourite is Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil. So once I’ve used up the others I think I’ll stick to that.

Enjoy your cruise @Maighnuad!

@Peridot1 I've never looked at the CT lip oil. Ok now I have a motivation to actually finish up the others and invest in that!

Three empties.

Aldi body butter, which I love. I have 3 more on my stash.

Percy & Reed hair sereum. I got it on an M&S beauty box. I'm a bit meh about it. I find it a bit heavy.

Eyeko Black Magic brown mascara. I never buy brown but I'm a total convert to this for daytime use. I've already replaced.

I was also very bold yesterday in Boots. They had 15% off No 7 when you buy 2 products plus a voucher for €15 off when you spend €30. I bought a cleansing balm, despite having at least 5 in my stash and a wrinkle cream that is supposed to camouflage the wrinkles. Surprise, surprise, it does. Surprise, surprise, it only does so for about 5 minutes.

That said, I have been doing very well in not buying so an occasional misstep is OK. I counted my stash and I'm down to 87 items! Having a list is definitely helpful. It's handwritten in a notebook by category and only includes skin and hair care. Make up isn't included as I have so much and will never use it all up. The plan there is to never buy anymore eye shadow or lipstick and replace the others as I run out.

I now have a confession. After reading the thread about SPF and reading @Fraaahnces recommendations of Korean sun screens I have now ordered three to try. Plus a Hada Lobo toner. And a Ginseng toner. And a spot stick. I had a few more things in my basket but deleted them.

I have spent a fortune on laser treatment and micro needling and various lotions to try to treat age spots so sun screens that may actually make a difference are key. I have definitely noticed that even though I think I am pretty good with sun screens I do still get sun spots.

The toners are because I really like doing the seven skins method a couple of times a week as it comes into winter as I find it helps my skin not get too dehydrated. I rarely do seven layers. Usually 3 or 4.

And the spot stick is because I keep getting a spot in one particular place and want to try to deal with it.

Bless me fellow hoarders for I have sinned.

@Peridot1 I'm trying to think of 7 layers but can't come up with 7.

Cleanse, tone, treatment, serum, moisturise, oil. What is the 7th?

I would love to try some Korean stuff. Does anyone have a recommendation for a site that ships to EU duty/taxes paid? I hate the hassle/expense of having to sort that myself.

Eyeko Black Magic brown mascara. I never buy brown but I'm a total convert to this for daytime use. I've already replaced.

I LOVE a brown mascara, @OchonAgusOchonOh ! So much more natural and flattering, but it’s been years since I got a brown one (Benefit Rollerlash) in a beauty box, and I have so many unopened mascaras I really can’t justify purposely buying another.

@OchonAgusOchonOh ooh I had forgotten about eyeko! I used to absolutely LOVE their mascaras and haven't seen them stocked anywhere for ages. How quickly can I get through the 2 lancome, 1 VB, & one CT that I already have so that I can reorder eyeko!

@OchonAgusOchonOh - it’s just seven layers of the toner. It’s thicker than a traditional toner - they call them an essence sometimes. You just layer it on to your skin, pat it in and then add another layer. I’ve never done seven as usually get bored! But even two layers in the morning seems to hydrate my skin. I used to think my skin was really sensitive as lots of things would sting but discovered it was because my skin was so dehydrated. Esp in winter.

@Peridot1 that sounds interesting. What is it called?

If you go with the guidance of dumping within 3 months of opening, you've only got a year's supply. Plus if you go for a different colour, you have nothing in your stock. That's what I did. I have quite a few black in my stockpile

@Peridot1 How exciting!!! Let me know which ones and if you like them! Also, which HL toner did you buy? If you have had laser for redness, the blue (premium) one with tranexamic acid is AMAZING. (With consistent use and commitment to sunscreen as well.) Gentle, not remotely irritating, but it works.

@MavisMcMinty Actually, I think it was the 2021 advent calendar rather than a beauty box. The eye liner was also brown instead of the ubiquitous black

@OchonAgusOchonOh I have just converted too. I have found a very cheap Korean one (because it’s me… of course it’s Korean!) It’s a dark, grayish brown. Definitely not black. I love it! (Plus it’s a damn fine mascara too!)

I've just counted. I have 10 black mascaras!! Two are on the go and a couple are travel size. Since cover, I only go in to the office a maximum of 3 times a week but can go several weeks without going in so rarely wear makeup as i don't bother if I'm working from home or just going to the supermarket or whatever. I obviously need to up my social life to start using them up. Or maybe I'll give a few to dd.

@OchonAgusOchonOh - this has info on the seven skins method.

@Fraaahnces I just bought the normal Hada Lobo I think. Will make a note of the blue one for next time!