Feel the temptation to indulge in beauty treats? Is your collection overflowing with treasures? Come unite with fellow beauty enthusiasts in this lovely group!

[Experiment627]

Are you a beauty product addict? We are your PEOPLE!!!!

Some empties:
Lush Ultrabland - holy grail, love this, only thing that doesn’t sting when removing eye makeup.
Lumene Sleeping Cream - this is really thick and decadent, love the smell and makes skin soft. Would RP full size but not sure how expensive it is, got this mini in an advent calendar.
Imperial Leather Relaxing Bath Soak - fine, does the job.
Lacura Foaming Bath Soak - fine.
Dove Go Fresh Cucumber roll on - like this, works and nice smell.
Nizoral Anti Dandruff Shampoo - great for a scalp flare up, wish bottle was bigger.
Soltan Protect & Moisturise Face sunscreen - had to chuck this half empty as smelt funny and had separated.
Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask - don’t love this, feels sticky even in the morning after applying at bedtime.
Calm Apothecary hand wash - strong fragrance but quite nice.
Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel - vile smell, so glad to be rid of this one.

@MidnightMeltdown I wasn’t that thrilled with the Medik8 retinol either; I like a face oil but as the last step in my routine, after moisturiser, not as the middle step.

Been travelling a bit over the last fortnight so used up some travel size goodies (but sadly no photo as I binned them at the hotel!)

Origins checks and balances scrub: don’t love physical exfoliants on my face so used this as a body scrub. Wouldn’t bother RP

Origins checks and balances face wash: I used to love this but now prefer Cerave. It’s nice though, minty and refreshing

L’occitane almond shower oil: smells lovely! Quite moisturising too.

Laneige Grapefruit Lip Sleeping Mask done and dusted. My favourite. Tbf, this was a little bit of a Frankenbalm as I mixed in the dregs of some Apple Lime, some Berry and some Vanilla. Now that it’s gone, I only have two. (Omg!) I normally have one next to my bed, one in the bathroom, one in my car and one in my bag. The two I have left are the swirly ones - Pink Lemonade and Candy Floss. Neither really taste or smell like their description. Rather pleased in the case of the latter.

It’s winter here and I have just finished the Tir Tir Lavender Lip Oil. Fortunately no taste or smell of lavender. (I was worried about that…) Nice colour, but didn’t last long. I would sooner buy more Laneige.

&Honey Deep Repair Hair Oil. Smells divine, but a little too heavy for my cat-like hair. I used it up pretty quickly as I applied it very generously to my hair before shampooing. I am using the Melty Moist version and it’s much better. Also smells divine.

Curel Foaming Face Wash… My favourite. Been using it for years. I have another half bottle in the shower and then I will have to get out of my comfort zone.

More empties:

Beauty Bay chamomile & oat lipid cleansing balm - 90ml. Not the most luxurious smelling cleansing balm in the world, but does the job and is cheap, particularly if you buy it in a bundle.

Sunday Riley B3 Nice niacinamide serum - 30ml. Found this a bit irritating on my face (it’s 10% niacinamide, which I think is quite full on). Gave up about a third of the way through the bottle and used the rest up on my neck and chest. Not sure it really did much.

Laniege cream skin toner - 15ml. Loved this. No idea how they make something so watery so moisturising. This little sample lasted ages too, so I think a full size would be good value for money.

Shiseido Imperial Lash mascara - too thick for my liking and the wand was quite hard so I kept poking myself in the eye.

Love Body and Earth Ocean hand cream - 30ml. Smelled nice but not moisturising enough.

Burts Bees lip balm in coconut & pear - my favourite stick lip balm, nice flavour.

Klorane oat shampoo and conditioner - 200ml each. Ok, but wouldn’t repurchase. Probably a bit too gentle for my hair.

Garnier Body Repair lotion - 400ml. Really good lotion, though I’m not particularly keen on the smell. Mainly used it on my legs anyway so not a problem.

@CorneliaStreet I think 10% niacinamide would dry me up like an ancient mummy. I just checked and all the products with niacinamide that I can tolerate are 2-5%. Meanwhile, it’s probably brilliant for teenagers. I’m pleased you liked the Laneige Skin Toner. It’s a classic for a reason! I had a big bottle and it lasted me about 18 months.

Two empties… Pantene 3 Minute Miracle (Moisture version - with Biotin.) I bought it half price at the chemist - about £2 for you lot. You know what? I was pleasantly surprised! At the moment the air is cool, dry and windy and I have that awful, toddler fine hair that either sticks out like I’m touching a plasma lamp or it sticks to my face like a tumbleweed. (I can’t touch car doors atm either!) This has helped enormously with the sudden lack of moisture in the air. I might even stretch to full price and buy again. (In other words, it’s no better or worse than other hair masks.)

I used up the Tir Tir Lavender Lip Oil. Looked and felt great, but I don’t think that I love lip oils. I don’t find them “nourishing” as they describe, nor do they last. I went through it in less than a month, and for that price I’d rather spend a bit more on Laneige and have it last for many months. I’m happy with my old fave. It does a better job.

I have swapped over my hydrating skin toner to a thicker ceramide one. The hydrating one is IPSA Time Reset Aqua. Not cheap, but very effective. (And the bottle is very cool… it’s back in my stash and I will
bring it out again when it warms up in about 5 minutes). I swapped to the TONYMOLY Wonder Mochi Ceramide Toner. It comes in a 500ml bottle and because it’s so cheap I have no issues using it all over my body. It’s great under body lotion to soothe the Winter Meno Itchies.

Few more empties to report

Geek and Gorgeous happier barrier moisturiser: love this, I think it might be an HG for me. Really rich, calming, my skin just seems to drink it up. Will RP.

Nuxe huile prodigeuse: nice enough as a body oil, but not noticeably different from just regular almond/jojoba body oils. Will reuse the bottle for travelling though.

Cien shampoo: meant as a knockoff of Aussie, but left my hair dry and stripped.

Origins checks and balances scrub: not for me, too harsh for my face.

Frizz Ease styling cream: I’m still on the hunt for a blow dry cream that works for my frizzy, thirsty hair, this was not it.

Generic fractionated coconut oil: I love a body oil, seems to work better for my skin than creams or lotions. This works as well as any.

Feels like I’m working through the stash that I’ve accumulated of things that don’t quite work for me and I’m getting a better idea of what products I actually need and use. So although there’s more misses than hits here, I’m not mad about it. My goal is a simple, pared-back routine that’s effective and I can be consistent with, so I shop/waste less.

@MotherWol My DD’s gave me the gold Nuxe Oil for my birthday (nearly a year ago….) I have just tried it. I quite like the fragrance but I agree, it’s no miracle. (Although mine is sparkly. Probably better on tanned legs. I imagine that’s the intention.)

The Ordinary moisturiser - not for me. Didn’t seem to do anything. Overall not impressed with this brand.

sol de Janeiro scrub - very nice scrub but has glitter in it, that really sticks to skin.

Glow Recipe blur drops - bought the Glow Recipe edit box from Cult beauty. Difficult to say if it did anything as I’m using it alongside other products. Strange smell though.

Drunk Elephant sukari babyfacial - stings! Not for sensitive skin.

Drunk Elephant jelly cleanser - loved it! Might buy again if on sale.

kate somerville cleanser sample - didn’t like it at all. Heavy and doesn’t rinse well.

Skin IV Korean mask set - nice enough but nothing special. Hand mask was the best.

wow dream coat - had a slight effect, but not what I was looking for.

Moroccan oil conditioner - took me a long time to use this up. Not my favourite at all. Didn’t condition well, felt a bit drying even.

More empties:

Using up some body stuff so

• This works lotion - pretty good, prefer the nighttime one
• Weleda E Prim oil - this was nice for body and face and even hair if very dry
• Olverum body oil - also nice, nice smell

Zelens face mask Wow I loved this! no idea where I got it from but my skin felt great, soft and glowing

Paula's choice AHA - I RP this often tho this was from an AC

Surratt (?) mascara - chuck as 2 months old - not great, starting to flake anyway

B Sturm glow drops - chuck, no idea what these are for and dislike BS stuff

Total so far this year: 59

@ItookYourJob I love that DE jelly cleanser too!

@clary you are doing so well.
@ItookYourJob wow works well for nr and stops a full on Monica when I’m anywhere humid. Have your tried the Aveda version?

2 from me - I normally save up my empties but on a huge declutter mission.

Elemis seems to be in every beauty box. The smell is awful it’s otherwise fine.

Cerave loved this. A good day cream. Would repurchase.

42/80

I wasn’t that thrilled with the Medik8 retinol either; I like a face oil but as the last step in my routine, after moisturiser, not as the middle step.

@MotherWol yes I'm never quite sure what to do with oily serums, as like you, I would normally use an oil last, after moisturiser.

I've got Dr Sebagh Rose de Vie serum on the go atm, and was disappointed to find that this is also pretty oily. I don't like putting it directly onto my skin before a moisturiser, as since it's a serum, it feels weird to use it last.

Travel sized Silk Therapy Bio Bond Shampoo (Rich) and Treatment. The shampoo is quite thick and creamy but lathers beautifully and easily. It feels like you are healing years of damage from the first time you use it. The treatment (conditioner) is a spray-in, watery, lamellar one. My initial thought was “WTF?” but it thickens up while you massage it in and it leaves your hair tangle-free but not weighed down. When I blow dry my hair afterwards, it even seems to hold the style for a while. (That never happens.)

@clary I know DE is a bit controversial, but I like most things from them (that I’ve tried). Shame they are so overpriced..

@PomsRun no, I haven’t tried Aveda one. Long time ago I had a travel sized shampoo&conditioner from the brand that’s about it. To be honest, I think I’m just gonna bite the bullet and get the keratin done again… Although it is a pain to look after. I don’t even know what I want to do with my hair, I need a makeover or something🙄

A little story to share about repurposing packaging…. (I’m all for this, btw. I do it all the time.) Upthread I shared a photo of the &Honey Shampoo that I finished in the fake Mason Jar. I peeled the sticker off and filled it with hand soap. My DH came out of the bathroom yelling “We need to get rid of this soap ASAP! It keeps squirting me in the crotch!” My PSA is to either try and ensure that the viscosity is identical OR get a slightly less ham-fisted DH. 😆

@Fraaahnces poor DH!

@MidnightMeltdown and @MotherWol - I think ‘oily’ serums are not really a facial oil. So although they feel a bit oily it’s a consistency that is easily absorbed and is designed to be used before a moisturiser. They tend to sink in pretty quickly unlike a facial oil.

A few empties from a few days ago.

StriVectic firming serum/cream - used it on my neck and didn’t see any difference sadly.

Laneige skin plumping hydrating overnight mask. Liked this a lot. Nicely hydrating.

Colour Wow treatment mask. Was ok. Nothing special.

Missha Chogongjin Youngan Jin Cream… All gone. It’s described as a “jelly cream” and I am not entirely sure that’s how I would choose to describe it. Maybe a cross between a gel and an ointment or salve. It’s the colour of milky tea. Initially I thought it would be a slugging cream, but it is absorbed relatively quickly. It just feels so nourishing and soothing. Marvellous stuff. It’s a line based on Korean Hanbang (trad Medicine) and is rich in ginseng. It would seem that my skin loves ginseng. It makes it glowy and a bit firmer, I guess. I have another nourishing, but more traditional (creamy white) cream to use up from the same brand but this is the Geumseul range. (Same bottle, but cream with gold lid) I would absolutely buy again if I could find it on sale again.

Rituals sakura foaming shower gel - I like this a lot, absolutely love this scent. If I ever get to a point I need to buy more shower gel I'd happily rp.

Nivea original lip butter - I like this but it does leave a slight cast so prefer the pink version.

The Seated Queen cassiopeia serum concentrate - this felt nice on my skin, but not sure it visibly did anything and there was something about the scent I didn't like.

Murad essential c day moisture broad spectrum spf - I liked this but there are cheaper ones I prefer so wouldn't buy.

avant hyaluronic eye recovery mask - I loved this, smelt great and felt soothing. I wouldn't buy though because it didn't actually appear to do anything and costs a bomb.

Liberty Maze perfume sample not pictured as finished away from home. I did like this but more of a scent I'd want for my house than on myself. Was nice for a change though.

@Peridot1 yes I think you're right that they are intended to be used before moisturiser.

I tried my Dr Sabagh Rose one again today, and the problem I have is that it just doesn't sink in like other serums, it leaves an oily reside on the surface of my skin, which isn't great for putting moisturiser on top of. I might just have to use it without a moisturiser I think. I'm not hugely keen on it, but will use it up as I hate waste!

I have some very mundane empties:

Marvis anise mint toothpaste. Does the job but I can barely taste the anise in it. Quite minty tbf. I won’t RP for the price and quantity and the fact that I was looking for an alternative taste. I still prefer the Kingfisher fennel, but I need to finish up the ones I bought before.

Colgate mild mint changing colour toothpaste. Interesting concept where the toothpaste changes from blue to white so you now that you have worked it. Great for children but too messy as my children leave blue splatters on the sink.

Lemon verbena hand soap from Costco. Very summer lemony scent. Did the job.

Cussons positive vibes hand wash. Smelt fine. Did the job. Plenty others to use up

Again I forgot the picture

I have an empty to report:

• Leighton Denny miracle mist speed drying spray for nail polish: very old but most recent use does not suggest that this does what it says it does. Think this came from a Glossy Box about 10 years ago!

In terms of hair - what I have found to make the most dramatic change to the "quality" or texture of my hair is using a bond repair. I like both the Revlon acidic bonding treatment or the more affordable Loreal Elvive bond repair pre-shampoo. Only in both instances I use after shampooing and leave on for as long as possible before washing out. This then gives me a week or so of nicer hair (still have to wash in between due to oily roots).

More empties:

148) Glow recipe cleansing balm - I really liked this. Smells amazing and lasted for months. Much longer than the Elemis equivalent.

149) Nounou hair mask - quite good but nothing special compared to other hair masks in this price range. I wouldn't buy it a full price

150) Elivive Conditioner - regular purchase

151) Westland bath salts - nice enough

Total 151/200

@MidnightMeltdown I've been using the Dr. Sebergh serum recently and following a tip I saw from another mumsnetter I've been putting it on a few minutes before my moisturiser and found it sinks in really well

I've got a few more empties which I'll list over the weekend.