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

[Experiment627]

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!

Popped 4 soaps from a Cath Kidston calendar plus some other gifted bits into the food bank bag!

So glad I found this thread, it was mentioned on the Liberty beauty calendar. I’m totally addicted to buying cosmetics and have a huge backlog (and now another load from my calendar 🤦‍♀️)
In Nov and Dec I finished up loads of half used travel sizes. I crack open a new set each time I go away so made an effort with all the remaining bits.
I cleared this in Nov.

Which one was it @BlueLimes ?

Would you consider a swap?

I’ve finished my Emma Lewisham serum from the Liberty AC. It only lasted a month which doesn’t feel very long. Next up will be something from my stash, I’ll go for a browse!

Yes!!! I thought this was only me! I also do this for clothes labels washing instructions! Though that’s probably not as exciting!

Well hey everyone, happy 2026.

Having totally dropped off the thread I am absolutely CHEATING by starting my use-up calculation today – and most of these were last year ooops.

Oh well. Two were finished today.

12 items here yay. Of which the highlights are:

• Weleda lavender bath milk I love this fragrance
• L'Occitane almond bath oil this is gorgeous
• Aurelia cell repair a frequent RP when there is an offer
• Lumene Vit C – this is cheap (think it was a £10 Boots one) and I really think it improved dark spots on my face so will RP (have had it before tbf)
• oooooo the Murad eye mask WOW this was amazing. I used it in the bath and when I got out the bags were GONE. Sadly all I was doing that evening was picking DS up from work but I looked wayyyy too young to have a 26yo son hahaha. Will deffo RP.

Other items are either OK or not much cop. Funnily enough that includes the Murad eye cream. But I have a £160 AB one from the Liberty AC to go at next :)

Have had a bit of a sort out today. Checked expiry dates and tried to put similar items together. Now have a large wash bag of cleansers (one of my weaknesses along with perfume.)
Found a bag of shampoo/conditioner sachets, so will start with those.
Aim to use up at least 100 items this year because the sachets count towards my total, right??

@clary Am using the Lumene Vit C at the moment. It’s very good! Have you tried this one? uk.lumene.com/products/83759?_pos=5&_psq=Anti+wrinkle&_ss=e&_v=1.0

ooh no that's a new one to me. Must buy (as if I need to buy any kind of serum haha) :)

@clary Same here! 😳

OK, beginning of year inventory done, starting with skincare. I made some good inroads into the stash in 2025, but I am definitely not allowed to buy any cleanser, toner and especially lip balm for a very long time!

Cleansing balm/oil. Unopened: 6 full size. In use: 2
Cleanser. Unopened: 4 full size, 2 minis. In use: 4
Toner/essence. Unopened: 8 full size, 3 minis. In use: 4
Exfoliator. Unopened: 0. In use: 2
Serum. Unopened: 7 full size. In use: 3
Eye cream. Unopened: 2 minis. In use: 2
Moisturiser. Unopened: 5 full size, 4 minis. In use: 2
Sunscreen. Unopened: 3 full size. In use: 2
Mask (jar/tube). Unopened: 2 full size, 1 minis. In use: 1
Mask (sheet). 4
Lip balm. Unopened: 17 (!). In use: 5

Body care and perfume (the worst of all) to follow.

Body care inventory

Shower gel. Unopened: 4 full size, 1 minis. In use: 9 (!)
Soap. unopened: 7. In use: 1
Shave butter. Unopened: 2 full size
Body scrub. Unopened: 5 full size. In use: 2
Body lotion. Unopened: 10 full size, 2 minis. In use: 4
Hand cream. Unopened: 3 full size. In use: 3

An unnecessary amount of shower gel and body lotion, but otherwise not too bad.

I’ve decided haircare is ok, as everything is in use, with just a couple of back ups for things that have nearly run out.

Ditto make up (if we ignore the 22 eyeshadow palettes 😂)

Perfume. This is ridiculous.

100ml bottles: 9
50ml bottles: 7
30ml bottles: 9
Minis (5 to 10ml): 44 😄
Samples: 59
Body mists: 7 plus 1 mini

I now need a drink 🤣

@CorneliaStreet that’s some amount of stuff! And I thought I had a lot of perfumes!! 🤣

I’ve only just joined this thread, what do folk do?? Do you say on this thread when you finish a product? Do folk aim to use and finish a certain amount of things each year / month?

I haven't counted but mine is definitely very similar. Perfume is the one thing I'm going to try a total zero buy on until the Harrods advent late this year. I hope to get through some of the 10mls.

This thread is making me feel a whole lot better about my stash.

Hello :)ive just found this thread and absolutely need to join. I’ve still got full sized things from goodness knows when and I love a gift with purchase or a bargain or just any reason anytime to buy anything!

I’m hoping to start just using my stash and this should mean I save a LOT of money!

Spreadsheet of shame AKA SOS.

My make up count includes 30 lip products. 30! For reference, I didn't start wearing any lip make up more than once a year until 2025. I have a slight gap in my two front teeth and always felt too self-conscious of it to wear lipstick. My 40s brought confidence and an understanding that nobody cares.
Now I wear lipstick, gloss or a tinted balm much more routinely and feel odd if I've got a full face on and no lip product on. But how have I accrued so many in such a short time? And I'm tempted by some more that are on offer.

Also, 8 mascaras? Really?

Hello, I would but I’ve used it 4 times (to check wasn’t suitable!). It’s the 50ml energise me moisturiser.

I have more than 70 lipsticks if that makes you feel any better.

It does! Thank you 😆

@DidILeaveTheGasOn I have a small Liberty wash bag stuffed with back up mascaras. Between those and the ones I have open I bet it's close to 20. There's a mascara full or mini size in everything, BACs, GWPs and edits. I've sold or passed on quite a few as well otherwise I'd probably be looking at nearer 30.

I supposed at least with mascaras you are supposed to chuck them at 3 months open and I don't feel bad about chucking a mascara after one or two uses if I hate it and it smudges.

This is really reassuring. Thank you @OvaHere.

I have had a good look and know I need moisturiser. At the moment I’m using serums and oils instead. They’ve really reduced over the last year.

Any recommendations? I like natural products! I want the neals yard frankincense one. Should I just do I?!