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!

I’ve had to unsubscribe from email lists and think I’ll have to unwatch some threads on here too. As much as I really enjoy reading them, it’s so hard to resist a good deal! Recently I’ve gone a bit mental with vinted and edits/sales in the uk as my family member will be able to bring the goodies to me next month as they are travelling to visit us. I’ve stocked up on my favourite cleanser for example which is a staple but then I also bought a lot of ‘fun to try’ stuff, as I was watching loads of advent opening threads so I bought some stuff being resold on vinted, which I guess I didn’t really need. I’ve spent more than I should have so I’m on a strict no buy 2026 🙈 I don’t have a massive stash I guess as I did a very big clear out when we moved but it’s definitely building up more than I’d like. Especially fragrances which take forever to get through.

My first empties of the year:

Aveeno body cream. I liked it, effective, good consistency.
Dior night cream small sample so hard to have much of an opinion. Think it’s good, quite rich which my dry skin needs.
Bath & Body works hand wash, not my favourite fragrance, DD picked it.
Granado Bossa hand cream - I really like the fragrance but it’s not very moisturising.

4/80

Empty to report: Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream - I liked this but I’m biased because I like the smell of Chanel skincare. I don’t think it was anything special. It ran out incredibly quickly though so I won’t be re-buying.

My first 2 empties of 2026 are an Aveeno daily moisturising cream and Floral street vanila perfume. Enjoyed both of these but so many other products in these categories of my stash.

I finished a mini Naturium Glow Getter Shower Oil. I really liked it. I would absolutely buy again but I am finishing up an LRP one. (Also good, but a bit thicker and I think slightly less effective.) I finished a Kundal No Wash Protein Bonding Treatment. Love. I would repurchase without hesitation, but I had a BOGO and have another good to go. I have suddenly developed KP so I am going to buy a salicylic or glycolic wash next time I need shower goop. Today I finished my BOJ sun serum. It used to be my favourite, but I think I only like it under makeup. It’s a great “primer” for want of a better description, but worn alone, it kind of pills off whenever you touch your face. It also stings eyes. Much happier with the Round Lab pink one.

I've been shit with a low buy January, I've used up a few things but far less than purchased, although I'm not sorry as the 40% off Cult Beauty was such a great offer, thank you @JoRaRaRa for posting it. I only bought stuff I actually needed and really wanted as well, Chantecaille tinted moisturiser, body scrub, Benefit eyebrow stuff, hourglass bronzer and brush, Christophe Robin Hair Mask and an expensive perfume I've been meaning to rebuy for ages, which ended up with almost £100 off that alone, hurrah!

My empties are Drunk Elephant LaLa Retro from last years SNK advent, Christophe Robin Hair Mask from this years Harrod's AC and a shampoo from a liberty beauty drop. I loved the Hair Mask and have already repurchased, and also liked the Drunk Elephant stuff but won't repurchase for a while if ever as I have a lot of moisturiser and am currently really enjoying Tatcha Dewy Cream so will stick with that for a while.

Oh wow!! You did well with the cult beauty discount code. I just bought the makeup brushes and I thought I'd regret breaking my no buy Jan for them, but I'm actually seriously regretting not getting some more guerlain foundation, concealer, Benefit bronzer and a few other things I was eyeing up. I wish I'd gone mad!! 🤣🤣

@JoRaRaRa I saw your message at the end of a gruelling work day, on a stressful project so I did go for it somewhat! Felt like compensation for the stress tbh, and I am very happy with my haul and guilt-free as it was all stuff I'm out off or very nearly out off. Looking at my spreadsheet it's the serums, moisturisers and cleansers that I won't need to be buying for about a year! Hope your Elemis BAC arrives soon as that was another great buy 😍

@Francestein If you’ve got any unwanted AHA or BHA facial toners knocking around, they work really well on KP on arms etc.

@CorneliaStreet Good idea! I imagine the Ordinary’s glycolic would last a good while.

Am side eyeing my bottle of The Ordinary's glycolic. That stuff will outlive me. I need to finish it so I can open a new bottle of Ren toner. Might start throwing it over my shoulder to ward off evil spirits.

I use glycolic on my feet and elbows when I am trying to use one up.

I had a £15 voucher expiring with Cult Beauty so I bought the Medik8 Press & Glow Tonic. I’m excited to try it!

You guys have been busy chatting/listing/de-stashing and buying!

Happy New Year.

I have started sorting my stash. Well stashes as I have different categories.

So my “older” stash is not too bad.

1 cleansing balm
1 facial wash
2 serums
1 eye cream
3 resurfacing treatments
2 facial mists
1 retinoid
1 night serum
1 facial oil
1 small SPF
1 tube of Nivea Soft

They are all unopened full sizes.

Also quite a collection of sample/mini/travel sizes which I have sorted into types.

I have quite a lot of everything I use on the go too so my main aim currently is to use up opened stuff. Just got back from 10 days away and I had taken a travel kit of Skin 1004 Centella products plus a small pot of Nivea Soft. Some of the kit I used up but the majority is still half full so I’m concentrating on finishing those up.

I haven’t dare look at my recent purchases! I do need to do a list of those though. I had the Boots Skincare Advent calendar, bought two Caroline Hirons Kits, a Cult Beauty Edit and the Jarrolds edit in the nice Elizabeth Scarlett bag. It’s a big pile!

I don’t think I will need to buy anything this year other than SPF.

I also took a couple of eye masks and sheet masks away and actually used them. Still have tonnes to go though.

I like the idea of giving things to the food bank so I will have a look at what I can pass on.

Oh and I am also on the Read What You Own thread and yes @SheilaFentiman (I think it was you) - I have a large collection of toilet bags! Lots of Caroline Hirons ones as all her kits come in a bag.

It was me @Peridot1 😀

@SheilaFentiman - glad I remembered correctly! Maybe I’m not losing my marbles after all…. (My mum was a Sheila - and she’s responsible for my skin care obsession!)

First two empties! Travel size of L’Occitane cherry blossom hand cream ( doesn’t smell of much) and Aussie moist shampoo (smells of bubble gum, works fine, will RP sometime)

Thank you 😊

Some empties and throwaways

Naturium Vit C Cleanser - this was really nice. I like everything from this brand. Would consider an RP if I didn't have a stash of cleansers

More eye patches - as before they're fine.

Tirtir Ceramic Milk Ampoule - This has been open since last winter so I'm throwing it. Nice product but I can't stand the dropper delivery system, so inefficient and barely works. This winter I've been using the Haruharu probiotic barrier essence which is a virtually identical product but so much easier to use.

Lancome Renergie peptide cream - A surprise new favourite which is giving my much loved AB Rich Cream a run for it's money. This is an expensive cream but not AB price so when all my AB is used up I'll have to really consider whether to bother hunting down Rich Cream discounts again. I have got 2 more 15ml of the Lancome and a full size from a discounted xmas set.

Bioeffect serum - first time using this and I think I really like it even though it looks like nothing in the bottle. I like it as an eye serum - they have a specific eye serum but I don't see why I really need to get a separate one. I've got a couple more from edits last year and one from the Harrods sale. Not something I'd pay RRP for as it appears in so many boxes and on discount I'm dubious about the real value of it despite liking it (see also AB products!).

Glow Recipe Niacinamide Serum - throwing away, it's been half used for ages but I don't have a purpose for it as the ingredient seems to be in so much other stuff anyway.

MZ Skin Stem Cell Serum - from an edit. This is insanely expensive so won't be purchased but it was a pleasure to use and I'm a bit sad it's finished. I will jump on any future beauty boxes that it appears in.

6/100

Aesop reverence aromatique hand balm: gorgeous product. I love the bergamot note. I have three hand creams to use so unlikely to rebuy any time soon.

commodity milk perfume: I didn’t expect to like this but it grew on me and I started to enjoy the soft milky, marshmallow and tonka bean notes. Not a rebuy as I don’t love it.

sensory retreat self heating eye mask: I reserve these for migraines, this isn’t as effective as the spacemasks products. They aren’t something I buy, rather they appear in boxes and calendars.

@wheresmyshoe I have used the self heating eye mask's for migraines in the past and it really helps me. The last few times ive had one though, ive forgot about using them😫

You have my sympathy @Caggie09they’re so awful, anything that helps is a good thing.

Is it ok to join so late? I’m going to have a lot to review.

I’ve noticed that I’ve lost so much vibrancy in my makeup and whatever I do put on is gone by lunch leaving me looking tired and drained. My hair has thinned too thanks to 3 pregnancies (I’m noticing so regrowth at the temples now which is a good sign, youngest DS is 19 months).

I’ve been using ChatGPT and gone on a bit of a shopping spree this weekend. I’ve bought:

Makeup
Hourglass Veil Mineral Veil Primer
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Foundation (spoke to their agent & my shade is 7)
Lisa Eldridge Baume Embrace Melting Lip Colour ÉPANOUI
Hourglass Mood Exposure Blusher (to use over existing Westman Atelier cream blush in petal)
Laura Mercier Cavier Stick Eyeshadow cobblestone (matte), rosegold (shimmer), amethyst (shimmer)
Bobbi Brown long wear cream liner stick in rich chocolate
(I already have Nars eye brightener & concealer)

Skincare
Face:
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum 30ml
CereVe Moisturising Cream

(I double cleanse before bed using Clinique TTDO & Kate Sommerville Goat Milk Cleanser, & I Sarah Chapman Eye Recovery & Age-Repair serum at night. Apparently I have been missing a nighttime moisturiser & a morning serum)

Hands - mine are so dry. They are cracking & bleeding a lot due to weather & needing to wash my hands a lot.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 Multi-Purpose Repairing Balm 40ml
Eucerin UreaRepair Plus 5% Urea Hand Cream 75ml

Lips:
Clinique Moisture Surge Hydro Plump Treatment
(I have super dry lips but I know this helps me when I use it before bed)

Hair:
GHD thin hair thickener spray
Klorane Extra-Gentle Dry shampoo with Oat & Ceramide

Everything has arrived except for the Lisa Eldridge stuff and hair products. I popped my blusher on as soon as it arrived and I really like it. Really pretty colour and much less sheer that my cream blush. I think that’s been my general problem - my current makeup was very sheer and had nothing to grip on to.