Tempted by beauty treats? Addicted to buying beauty products? Is your collection bursting with favourites? Join fellow beauty lovers in this supportive group!

[Experiment627]

Welcome to this beauty product lover's haven! If you're constantly tempted by the latest beauty treats or find your collection overflowing with cherished products, you're in the right place. Whether you're looking to share your latest finds, swap tips, or simply indulge in some beauty chat, this is the perfect spot for you. Let’s unite, inspire, and celebrate our love for all things beauty!

This thread has been going for YONKS! Many have been "cured" of their beauty product addiction from the support this group gives... We share reviews and our empties/chucks - so when we do decide to buy something again, we can do so armed with collective wisdom.

I’m starting well because my DD1 is coming to visit. I have a big box of “outs” for her. I have been pretty ruthless with makeup, etc. Am going to do another pass through and think she will do VERY well for herself. I have worked out that despite all my stuff, I really only love one of my blushes. The rest can go. Eyeshadow I am keeping my Natasha Denona I Need a Nude palette and my I Need a Warm Palette. (Could probably just keep the Nude, but I do use both…) and a couple of Kaja Palettes for travel & colour. One grey, one brown, one black eyeliner & mascara. I don’t have much in the way of foundation, so will keep what I have. Will revisit when I’m done. Lips, I have enough to last a nuclear winter AFTER hard cull but I do cycle through this lot.

I'm definitely not going to buy any advent calendars this year .

I already have a stash of lots of products from watching QVC beauty channel and falling for every claim of products especially if enticed by multipay .

I am also telling myself to finish a product , be it eyeshadow , foundation , or even handwash & shower gel before starting another one , I'm a shocker for doing that.

I’m so cross with myself! I’m currently in Lanzarote for 11 nights. I choose products to bring that I would finish up. Except I forgot to top up my cleanser decanted into a small pot 🤬🤬🤬 So I’ve had to buy yet another cleanser that I don’t need.

i will use up a body SPF, however, I am annoyed with Murad Environmental Shield City Skin Age Defence. The packaging is rubbish and I had to cut the container. It’s at least half full. So I’ll probably slather that on my body in order to use it up. So annoying. I did forget to bring decant pots so if there were any products left over I could scoop them. I really don’t want to buy any more, bah!

Hey Tarragon, are there any bazaar shops where you are so you could purchase the tiny containers? Try looking in a shop called Tedi, or any store that sells cosmetics

Oh yes! Thank you 🙏 There are. I’ll have a wee mooch tomorrow. I’m not sure how much of my (expensive) tinted moisturiser will need decanting, so it’s probably worth it for that.

It’s just annoying as I have quite a few at home.

Sebastian Penetrait mask - was highly recommended on Reddit. Yes, it’s good but for the price you can get similar.

Ritual of Sakura shower foam - I prefer normal gel.

CK N2Y - very, very light citrus scent. Really enjoyed using it.

Lady Million perfume - another great one.

Natura Siberica face serum - it did moisture my skin very well. Felt a bit sticky though.

Cowshed shower gel - too much lavender for me.

Claudalie spot treatment - yuck. Didn’t like it at all - reminded me of clean and clear type of stuff.

Rituals body scrub - way too oily.

Grown Alchemist face scrub -terrible scent. Quite sharp as well.

Hello Sunday hand cream - lovely. Wold consider buying again.

Glow Recipe serum - great for using under foundation.

Noughty shampoo - quite nice, although stripped my hair colour a bit.

Tony guy hair mask - bit meh, but smells nice.

Liz Earle tonic - the only thing so far from this rand that I like. Refreshing and not sticky at all.

Clinique 7 day scrub - ahhh, to be young again. Used it in my 20ies. Still good!

Bb bond building Creme - has glitter in it, so an instant no from me.

Glow recipe tonic - super slimy. Not sure in this one.

Lacoste pink perfume- really nice, I always have a bottle around.

Cien nail Polish remover - fine, did the job. I like the push top bottle and have repurchased.

Dermalogica special cleansing gel - OK but I prefer others so wouldn't buy.

Sisley black rose skin infusion cream - another fine but not one I'd buy.

Nivea raspberry rose lip butter - this was old, but I actually really liked it! Smelled lush. It doesn't look like it's sold anymore, but would consider other nivea products if I ever get to the point of needing to buy new lip balm.

Head & Hair heal shampoo and conditioner - I loved this, worked nicely with my hair. I have another set (I got 2 of the liberty drop box this was in as my first was missing a couple of other items), if I love it again when I come back to it I'll definitely consider buying.

Dermatica adaplene - this worked wonders on my skin, but I'm switching onto tret now. I was slowly chasing this out, but took longer than planned as I struggled with dry skin once winter hit. Looking forward to the tret journey.

Beauty Pie triple hyaluronic acid cream - this was a repeat buy as I thought I loved it the first time, but I didn't really get on with it this time round and actually found it slightly irritating at times. Wondering if I used it am rather than pm last time, or else my skin needs have changed. I won't be buying again anyway as have cancelled my membership.

Hello, here are my first empties of 2025 - 16/52.
The Cetaphil and beard oil are not mine (DC&DH) but if we're talking general usage and sustainability they still count.
Can't be bothered to report on much of it but the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara is one of my all time favourites and gives a good thickening/volumising effect with no flakes/clumps. The YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils on the other hand is far too claggy for me, I think I'm past that stage in my make-up life. The Venn vitamin B activated all-in-one concentrate is amazing! It came with a beauty AC and can't really justify the cost of a repurchase at the moment but would definitely buy again. Le Labo The Matcha is also gorgeous and would love to wear it every day but again ££ - might treat myself with some vouchers once I've used another fragrance up though.

I'm enjoying using up all the little odds and ends and my skin is looking pretty good for it.

Forgot to post photo...

First empties of the new year, mostly samples and little things:

Some By Mi Propolis B5 oil to foam cleanser - 30ml. Stung my eyes when I tried to use it to take off make up, but lovely as a morning cleanser in the shower, really rich and creamy.

Round Lab 1025 Dokdo toner - 100ml. Another lovely Korean toner - almost every one I try seems to be my new favourite! This was lightweight and absorbed quickly, but still left my skin feeling really hydrated.

Dr Barbara Sturm hyaluronic serum - 3ml. Didn’t do anything a much cheaper hyaluronic serum doesn’t.

Espa Overnight Glow Enzyme Peel - 15ml. Nice to use - smelled lovely and just felt like a lightweight moisturiser. Don’t think it did very much though.

Various moisturiser sample sachets - Laneige Water Bank (fine), Lagom Deep Moisture (lovely) and Nacific Fresh Herb Origin (even lovelier, have bought a full size).

Round Lab birch juice sunscreen - 50ml. Really good, up there with Skin 1004 and Beauty of Joseon as my favourite of the Korean sunscreens I’ve tried.

Burts Bees lip balm in strawberry. Every time I think I’m getting near the end of my Burts Bees lip balm stash, Christmas or my birthday rolls around and DP buys me about six more 😆

Perfume samples from Miller Harris - Myrica Muse and Peau Santal. Both very good but probably not full bottle worthy. I really liked the Myrica Muse (rose, rum and strawberry) but it didn’t last very long, despite being pretty strong when first sprayed.

Lush Lord of Misrule shower gel - 120g. Scent notes of this are black pepper, vanilla and patchouli, which sounds a bit odd but smells amazing. Very strong on the black pepper, so you have to like that.

Pink honey body lotion - 355ml. Second one of these I’ve been through. I like the formula of the Pink lotions and I love pretty much anything honey scented. Will repurchase at some point.

I have a couple of empties…
Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miraculous Hair Oil. Nope. Smells gross and is gummy. Used as body lotion in shower. Wasn’t fabulous there either. Swapped out for a Japanese one.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Mist. Lovely and refreshing. Doesn’t do anything remotely positive for my complexion. Wish I could refill the bottle though. It does smell fab. I have other bits.
4711 Remix 2018 Cologne Edition - Neroli, Bergamot, Lemon, Bitter Orange, Tea & Woods… Very fresh and lovely for work, or to add zest to heavier fragrances. Not for everyone, but fabulous for our climate. Longevity surprisingly good for such an inexpensive fragrance. I am almost done with it’s even better sister, 4711 Remix Cologne Exotic Paradise, which is very Grapefruit, Yuzu and Blood Orange forward, and not remotely “tropical-fruity” as the name suggests. It has my favourite Spring flowers to add a green note and this is light and airy.
I finished a bottle of Trussardi Donna EDP. Very sad about this as it is discontinued. This is a sexy, woody, rich, citrus syrup fragrance. I loooove it. Devastated.
Finished a couple of lip balms. 1) Romand Glasting Melting Balm in Scotch Nude. Gorgeous warm beige nude. Super hydrating.
2) Nature Republic Honey Melting Lip in Pink Glitter. Neither pink nor glittery. It’s transparent with an almost undetectable lavender sheer wash and no glitter at all. It’s a clicky pen-style one, but has a firmer texture than the Mac ones and it’s much less messy. Hydrates nicely.

4711 is a total blast from the past @Fraaahnces . I didn't realise it was still around.

Oh yes@OchonAgusOchonOh it is but that it’s just the original. They adapted to the times and launched the remixes so that it reaches a bigger audience.

https://www.fragrantica.com/designers/4711.html

Plenty to choose from, and usually quite affordable. The intense versions here are more expensive.

I must keep an eye out for them @Thereislightattheendofthetunnel

Happy new year all. Sorry, bit late with posting my final empties of 2024:

M&S Fragrance Society hand cream - not bad, but not an RP

Tower 28 SOS Facial Spray - nice and refreshing. Not sure whether or not it actually did anything

Prai Night Cream - didn't like this. It was thick and greasy. Maybe suitable for very dry skin.

This brings my 2 year total to 201 empties, so I seem to be using around 100 products a year. I've been quite good in terms of not buying much this year (except for during advent calendar season when I overindulged as usual!). Not one single GWP though! Given that I'm only using 100 products a year, I clearly don't need more than 2 calendars, max. Will try to stick to that this year!

Don't think that I've purchased any beauty items since October, and I'm going to try to not buy anything for at least the first 6 months of this year (only possible exception is shampoo/conditioner).

Think I'm going to aim for 110 empties for 2025 as I still have loads of stuff to use up!

I've got that prai to use up @MidnightMeltdown I think I'll repurpose into a neck cream. Thank you for the helpful note on it.

@OchonAgusOchonOh I am currently working on 4711 Remix Green Oasis which I carry in my work bag and despite being dubious of the watermelon notes, it’s delicious. Not sickly sweet, but light, green and fresh. I really enjoy these when I feel all icky and claustrophobic at work because I have been inside for too many hours in a uniform that doesn’t breathe very well. I find these perfect when purchased for about £10 in your money. (I keep my good stuff for my days off.)

@CorneliaStreet I am currently using the Some By Mi oil to foam cleanser. I was given a big pump bottle. I still prefer to double cleanse with a balm or oil, as I think I like the ritual and don’t feel properly clean without it. I was given the D’Alba oil to foam cleanser to try next as well. It’s very rose-scented, which maybe isn’t my thing, but it’s a very popular product. Shall keep you in the loop.

You're welcome @wheresmyshoe

If you've got dry skin then you may like it, but it was too thick for me. Will be interested to hear your thoughts on it.

@Fraaahnces I had a look at some of the list linked to by @Thereislightattheendofthetunnel and some of them sound really interesting. The blood orange and basil and the green tea and bergamot sound lovely.

I've done a bit of mooching and perfume-click.ie, which I've never heard of, do 5x8ml sets for €14-€16, which I'm trying to resist as I have a lot of perfume from the HN perfume advent. The individual bottles are a lot more than €12 (£10) though so you're obviously getting a better deal in your neck of the woods.

I like the Prai cream - dry skin though.

First empties of 2025 for me.

Oskia retinol capsules. Never really remembered to use them regularly enough to notice a difference but they didn’t cause any irritation- probably as I didn’t use them often enough!

Percy & Reed volumising hair spray. Was ok. Don’t think I’d rush to rebut.

Moon Carnival perfume from a Liberty BD box. Quite liked it but I’d never spend that on perfume so won’t repurchase. And I have a ton of perfumes to use up.

Beauty Pie Japanfusion cleanser. I love this. Will probably re buy at some stage but I’m not a member any more and I have a good stock of cleansers to use up so don’t need at the moment.

First empties of 2025 for me too:

Liked:

• Floral street fragrance – I have another one of this (wild vanilla orchid) and I like it
• Aurelia night oil – HG, have another in stash
• Anastasia mascara - I like a small mascara as it's less wasteful when I chuck it after 2 months
• Deeper love by Sam Mcknight - quite nice
• 111 Skin eye mask – I like these as it means I have to sit in the bath for 15 mins

Meh:

• L'occiatne handcream - was OK
• Phillip Kingsley elasticiser - not feeling the love
• Ethique solid shampoo - not a fan tho I used it up swimming but it never felt like my hair was clean

Ugh (these two are chucks not empties)

• Evolve gold fasce mask - yuk
• Ole Henrikkson banana bright eye cream - made my eyes red and inflamed (or something did, and it stopped when I stopped using this!)

@clary I did not like Ole Henrikksen eye cream either - I think there is some sort of peeling element in it.

The Ole Henrikksen eye cream stung my eyes too. If gets in your actual eye it’s agony!