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Can’t stop buying & hoarding beauty treats? You’re in good company here!

1000 replies

Experiment627 · 09/11/2025 05:40

Welcome to our little corner of beauty bliss! If you can’t resist trying the latest beauty launches or your shelves are bursting with favourites, you’ve found your tribe. This is the place to chat, share reviews, swap tips, and celebrate all things beauty — from budget gems to luxury treats.
This thread has been around for ages, and many of us have even tamed our beauty-buying habits thanks to the wisdom and support shared here. We post our empties and chucks, helping each other make smarter, more satisfying choices next time we shop.
All beauty product addicts welcome!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
214
Tarragon123 · 31/12/2025 15:19

Doglover73 · 30/12/2025 22:00

Thank you. 😍
I struggle reading most labels now. Even with my glasses on 🤷😲🤣

I miss the laughing reaction emoji! 😂

I managed to get in another three, which was a surprise to me. I was thinking that I'd get two in, but fabulously got three.

Temple Spa Double Cream Hydrating Moisturiser 5ml. I do like this, but I have so many other moisturisers, I wont be buying anymore.

L'Occitane Ultra Riche Body Cream 50ml. Love it and it absorbs so well into my skin. But, again, I need to use up what I have before I buy any more.

Whind Marrakech Light Illuminating Magic Oil 30ml. Lovely stuff but the RRP is £69 (I did not pay £69). I actually did need to buy something to treat my skin, so I bought Haruharu Black Rice Hyaluronic Anti-wrinkle Serum.

Finishing 2025 with 127 used up and 38 gifted. Happy New Year when it comes you lovely lot.

AndeanFlamingo · 31/12/2025 15:30

I thought I'd manage a couple more but it's not looking good... my make-up remover might only last one more use but I think realistically it'll be another day or two.

OvaHere · 31/12/2025 16:36

AndeanFlamingo · 31/12/2025 15:30

I thought I'd manage a couple more but it's not looking good... my make-up remover might only last one more use but I think realistically it'll be another day or two.

I've got about 5 products that are on the cusp of being finished but the more impatient I get the longer they keep going.

I'm going to summon all my willpower this year to avoid gwp's and not accumulate skincare/bodycare minis.

I've learned over the last year I don't enjoy having loads of minis and samples or using them. They become a bit of a chore once you have maybe 10+. There's the odd exception to that - travelling or trying out a very expensive product that would be a gamble to blind buy.

A lot of the time I've just ended up with a box full of samples I know are fine but I'm just meh about and for some reason I often feel compelled to use them before starting on full size products. Which I don't think actually makes much sense but is driven by the satisfaction of using something up quicker. Life lesson - own less then using stuff up is less of a big deal.

RoseTeaLady · 31/12/2025 16:48

Last empties of the year.

Weleda Shower gel - picked this up in Germany. Lovely, fresh citrus scent. Would buy again.
The Inkey List Bio Active Ceramide Moisturiser - I like this and have another for next year, but need something a little more heavy duty for Winter.
L’Occitane Cherry Blossom shower gel mini. Love this!
Dr Hauschka Cleansing Cream - this came in a kit from Naturisimo (miss them!) Messy to use, smells awful and leaves my skin like velvet. I wouldn’t buy, but I do have another travel size tube.
Oribe Gold Lust shampoo & conditioner - tiny travel sizes which lasted ages. Nice.
Charles Worthington leave in conditioner - brilliant for blow drying my fine hair. Bought a full size in Boots (despite all the hair products I already have..)
Hotel body lotion - fine.
Megababe deodorant- dreadful name, excellent product. I have another.
Avene SPF - travel mini. Did the job.
Perfume samples - CH Good Girl Supreme. Gorgeous. And discontinued 😢
Commodity Gold. Very nice, but I have other vanilla perfumes.
Who Is Elijah Cherry Fiesta. Chucked. Smells like cheap body spray.
Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka. Heavy incense. Not for me.

Thank you for this thread and a happy new year to all!

Can’t stop buying & hoarding beauty treats? You’re in good company here!
Caggie09 · 31/12/2025 18:37

Last empties of 2025!

Lush SF body lotion & shower gel - Usually pick SF stuff up in the boxing day sale, didnt bother this year. Bit sick of this scent now, so quite happy to go without.

Sisley mask- prefer the rose one.

Lush yog nog shower gel- i love this scent, very cosy christmas smell.

YSL opium samples. Classic scent. Really nice.

A Bader Body wash and lotion mini. Love the scent, very refreshing and gentle on the skin. Wish the lotion had the same scent, bit also nice. Would never RP, as the price is probably absurd.

Feel positive about 2026 and getting through more products. I am still awaiting a sale parcel though🙈😂

Can’t stop buying & hoarding beauty treats? You’re in good company here!
AndeanFlamingo · 31/12/2025 18:58

OvaHere · 31/12/2025 16:36

I've got about 5 products that are on the cusp of being finished but the more impatient I get the longer they keep going.

I'm going to summon all my willpower this year to avoid gwp's and not accumulate skincare/bodycare minis.

I've learned over the last year I don't enjoy having loads of minis and samples or using them. They become a bit of a chore once you have maybe 10+. There's the odd exception to that - travelling or trying out a very expensive product that would be a gamble to blind buy.

A lot of the time I've just ended up with a box full of samples I know are fine but I'm just meh about and for some reason I often feel compelled to use them before starting on full size products. Which I don't think actually makes much sense but is driven by the satisfaction of using something up quicker. Life lesson - own less then using stuff up is less of a big deal.

I swear mine are doing this too... I'm also going to try not to be sucked into GWPs and beauty boxes that are 'bargains' but that I don't actually need. I also tend to use up small things first as they're quick wins but it means I don't end up using the big things that I really like. Silly really.

Doglover73 · 31/12/2025 19:45

Tarragon123 · 31/12/2025 15:19

I miss the laughing reaction emoji! 😂

I managed to get in another three, which was a surprise to me. I was thinking that I'd get two in, but fabulously got three.

Temple Spa Double Cream Hydrating Moisturiser 5ml. I do like this, but I have so many other moisturisers, I wont be buying anymore.

L'Occitane Ultra Riche Body Cream 50ml. Love it and it absorbs so well into my skin. But, again, I need to use up what I have before I buy any more.

Whind Marrakech Light Illuminating Magic Oil 30ml. Lovely stuff but the RRP is £69 (I did not pay £69). I actually did need to buy something to treat my skin, so I bought Haruharu Black Rice Hyaluronic Anti-wrinkle Serum.

Finishing 2025 with 127 used up and 38 gifted. Happy New Year when it comes you lovely lot.

Ive only been on here since the summer but it frustrates me that there's no laughing emoji.
Why remove it? 🤷🤔

DidILeaveTheGasOn · 31/12/2025 19:48

Final empties for 2025. 19.

L'occitane milky bath - I treated myself to this on my birthday and whilst it is very lovely indeed, it doesn't last long. I can't justify the price for RP.

Ameliorate bath oil - I love this stuff and I'm trying to wean myself off fancy bath stuff in this economy. Did you know Ameliorate is THG which is Lookfantastic and Cult Beauty? I thought it was a niche little brand. Also why do Cult Beauty have some brands and LF have the others? And some things are more expensive on one versus the other? It's so transparent and lazy! Do they think we're daft?

THG also own James Wellbeloved, which is cat and dog food that we buy regularly.
Weird. I'm kinda getting the ick, honestly.

Beauty Pie Stronger Shinier Hair Shampoo - Oh I love this. Dammit.
Beauty Pie Stronger Shinier Hair Conditioner - See above. I need to be cultivating budget tastes, not bougie ones.

Pantene - Repair and protect conditioner - fair enough, did its thing, but I don't like the 'experience' <gesturing vaguely in a wanky sort of way> compared to the Beauty Pie products. I am the problem, I see that.
Ameliorate nourishing body wash - just biding my time until I can buy this again, I loved it, although I must admit my 41-year old gnarled hands struggled with the plunger and it did piss me off.
Glaze caramel lights - Have to use lots of this on my fine, thirsty hair. Hair is desperately in need of a) more highlights or b) committing to growing it all out. This helps.

Dove deodorant - coconut, nice, effective.

Perricone MD Vitamin C brightening cleanser - No thank you. This was designed by someone that loathes skincare and everything it stands for. A slightly inhospitable, irritable scent. Would lather if it felt like it. Sneered at being used as: a face cleanser, a body cleanser, a bath product. Eventually achieved mild success as a carpet shampoo, and even then it was with the most reluctant ennui.

REN AHA toner: Already repurchased twice via Vinted. Like exfoliating with a small car. Makes my skin drink actives and moisturisers and wake up in the morning with an A* in glowiness and clarity. I will buy this from Vinted until supplies run dry.

Skin & Me Vitamin c: I mean I just chucked this at my face and moved on. Who knows?

Some sort of tube thing from Clarins that I can't read the print of in real life: What the hell is this. I need an optician.

Lancome face cream: Oh so nice. Oh no.

Fresh Sugar Lemon - A blind fragrance buy! So unlike me! A ha ha. Okay. This SUCKED. I used it as carpet shampoo in our office and it smells divine. Did I learn anything about blind buying fragrances? No.

Another Who Is Elijah - Cherry Fiesta here. Unlike @RoseTeaLady I loved this, it had zero longevity so I looked for an alternative and found Phur - Cherry Stem, which is gorgeous. I've worn coconutty scents for a decade so this is a serious change for me. Kinda weird that when I looked for reviews on Cherry Fiesta, they were all from Cult Beauty staff. Are they even allowed to do that?

Clarins: Much of a muchness with Clarins. It does the job and it all smells the same, which honestly I loved for the first few products but it gets old and it's putting me off further purchases.

The remaining three are candles which I enjoyed. I only found out recently that you're allowed to burn candles if you want to! Huh.

Can’t stop buying & hoarding beauty treats? You’re in good company here!
RoseTeaLady · 31/12/2025 20:35

@DidILeaveTheGasOn I love that Ren AHA toner! Have found nothing anywhere near as good. I have 1 full bottle and 2 minis left. Help!
It’s so interesting how a perfume smells gorgeous to one person and yuck to another. My older daughter can’t stand one of my favourites (Angel Dust) 😬

OvaHere · 31/12/2025 23:45

One last empty of 2025. Snuck in just under the line.

Wild Source Cleansing Melt from the last Liberty Beauty Drop box. I liked this but wouldn't pay £55 for 100ml. It's similar to the Elemis cleansing balm but it's much easier to pick up Elemis on offer or use one of nice lower priced cleansing balms that do the job.

Can’t stop buying & hoarding beauty treats? You’re in good company here!
Thereislightattheendofthetunnel · 31/12/2025 23:54

To all of you, Happy New Year 🥳 I hope to continue seeing you working on reducing your stash and with that, the stress of managing it all.

I am still using up things that are almost finished but refuse to go 🤣

modernminimalist · 01/01/2026 01:42

I was going to join in and realised I have no empties photos recently and only….purchase photos
oops

CorneliaStreet · 01/01/2026 01:46

Happy New Year everyone.

If I’m not too hungover tomorrow, I might do an inventory of my beauty product stash so I actually face up to how much I have and stop buying more.

paristotokyo · 01/01/2026 03:41

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

paristotokyo · 01/01/2026 04:01

Posted on the wrong thread, oops!

SheilaFentiman · 01/01/2026 08:30

Joining to reduce my stash over 2026.

Apparently I am a person who hoards perfume sampler gifts. Have recently finished Jo Malone Wild Bluebell (lovely floral, on my wish list). Working on the Peony Blush next (nice but won’t RP) and a couple of Molton Brown ones.

Recently binned a Temple Spa squeezy lipbalm that I got free in a hotel stay - it wasn’t scented/flavoured and the amount dispensed was variable. I generally prefer sticks or pots for lipbalm.

Francestein · 01/01/2026 08:38

I had to put an order in as almost out of sunscreen and moisturising cream. I ordered two bottles of the same sunscreen and a gel cream PDRN capsule moisturiser. Both of these things are new. I threw in a hair oil as almost out and two lip balms for work. All of this was done NYE so I think I can start 2026 effectively.

dayslikethese1 · 01/01/2026 09:52

I've been tracking empties and doing low-buy for the last year. Not entirely successfully but I've so far resisted all sales etc. I'm allowing myself the occasional purchase if I've really thought about it and it's not in a category I have loads of. Does anyone have a recommendation for a really hydrating serum? That's something I'm currently missing but there's so many different ones out there.

dayslikethese1 · 01/01/2026 09:54

Useful lessons of the last year have been that I should never buy makeup. Bar lipgloss it takes so long to use up that I never get through it and those free gifts are always useless to me because they always contain eye/lip pencils, which I don't use.

lookonthebrightside0 · 01/01/2026 10:11

Happy new year. Looking to join in as I have so much from advents and beauty edits to get through this year. I’m determined to not buy and use up my stash. I’m going to go through everything and see what I can regift or donate.

Ilikeyoursleeves · 01/01/2026 10:36

Hello and Happy New Year! I’m just joining as I also have so many products both in general but after advent calendars over the last few years. I’m determined to not buy anything new this year as I have so many perfumes, shower gels, make up, body cremes, hair products etc etc. Making a point of using things daily now instead of ‘saving’ them. I had a bath yest with a face mask on and I think I’ve had it so long it’s gone off 🙈 Lesson learned!

outofideas2 · 01/01/2026 10:46

Finished the year with 80 empties, happy with that, and I’m starting 2026 with fewer items than the start of 2025 …. Though I do have my John Lewis beauty advent calendar which I’m opening in January. Still feel like I’m getting on top of my stash 😀

BlueLimes · 01/01/2026 10:48

Happy new year !

I’ve a lot of products after going crazy at the end of the year. I’m going to try to do no but for a few months.

Doglover73 · 01/01/2026 10:55

I'm definitely not doing an inventory. The shame! 😅
If rather not until I've used or sold some stuff.
likeyoursleeves I'm the same with new stuff. Don't like using. Just look at it or pack away and forget about it then sometimes buy a set that it's in as everyone's raving about it. 🤔😂
Got knows why. I'm 52 i need the stuff now. 😂
I opened a Zelens oil last night that's recently been in a cult beauty edit instead of saving. I rarely finish anything and usually give to a friend if somethings not working for me but do have emptied as I'm going to count everything, except toothpaste, as I have loads of stuff and it will hopefully keep me in track.
Happy New Year 😍

BlueLimes · 01/01/2026 11:00

So agree - light the candles !!!

I’m not good on giving up on things that don’t work. Last week I opened a Trinny face cream ( was in an edit) and it’s not moisturising at all.

Plus I hate the packaging - too much waste and hard to get out !

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