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!

@Beautyfox I would use them if they look and smell ok.

Few more empties.
Ren ready steady glow aha tonic- I didn't like this, it stung my face abit. Wouldn't rp if I could.
Replay stone perfume- I think this had expired, the scent was very weak.
Ted Baker Vanilla lip balm- smelt nice but not very moisturising.
Clarins instant smooth perfecting touch- this was a primer, it was like a putty. It was ok but I didn't like the feel of it.
The ordinary multi peptide serum for hair density- didn't really notice a difference although I wasn't very consistant with it, might try it again.
Eye therapy eye mask- was ok
Vegamour gro scalp detoxifying serum- didn't use this enough to see a difference. It was quite runny so not sure if it had expired?
SDJ 39 perfume mist- didn't like this at all, was so disappointed as I thought I would going by the notes.
M&S white coconut perfume- liked this at the start but then it started smelling more masculine the more I used it, not sure if I would rp.
Sanctuary comforting night butter- loved this, it smelt amazing and left my skin so soft. Unfortunately I don't think I can rp as it was so old and its been discontinued.

22/100
March is going to be a low month as I've only used 1 product so far

@Beautyfox I use them if they look and smell fine. I’ve only had to throw out one or two that had obviously ‘gone off’

Temple Spa Palm Balm 15ml - hotel freebie, quite a strong smell, wouldn’t RP

magnolia bliss 1.5ml from Juliette has a gun perfume sample set. Liked this, it’s on my maybe list to buy a bigger one when I work through my many, many samples!!

I’m going to throw this out because the smell is giving me a headache!

( Sweet Plum - not that actual plums smell much IMO!)

@Beautyfox – I think as long as things haven’t been opened, they are fine. I’m really bad for opening things, trying and then not touching again. But I am getting better!

@SheilaFentiman – was it just the smell that put you off the Palm Balm? I’ve never come across a Temple Spa product that I haven’t liked, so I’m intrigued!

Almost half way through the month and all I have to report is a single use face mask!

Rodial Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Jelly Face Mask RRP £12. After I popped it on, I did notice an expiry date of 09.03.26. Its been knocking around in my stash since November 2023. I didn’t feel any difference really, there wasn’t really any product that I could feel under the mask. There was also a ridiculous amount of plastic. So it’s a no to a RP and its ridiculously expensive!

I’ve been quite cross about not using anything else up, so after my shower the other night, I slathered my body in my facial night cream. I’m currently using Gatineau Hydra Aura Sleeping Face Mask. I much prefer the Age Benefit products. This has been hiding in my stash since 2021, so I felt I needed to use it. Its also annoyingly 75ml, so will take me ages to use up. Well, not now that I’m also using it on my body. I’ll be adding this to my March products.
I really am quite grumpy and I don’t know why. Too products that I cant tell how close I am to using them up. The primer that I am using is one that I found, cant remember how old it is, I used it and then put it to one side. No idea how much product is left in it. Got a bit excited yesterday when the pump was a bit slow to discharge, but it was just having a moment. Sigh.

@Tarragon123 yes! It was kinda eucalyptus-y I think and I’m more of a floral person. Also I have soooo many hand creams I’m quite picky now 😀

I have a decent amount of outs this week but I've gone a bit mad on Vinted and have had far more come in than was at all necessary 😐

Toiletries:

50. DS & Durga I Don’t Know What Body Lotion 3ml.

Got this free with my last Space NK order. I wouldn't buy it but I actually liked it more than I like the perfume.

51. The White Company Flowers votive.

I quite like white floral scents at this time of year but I wouldn't rebuy this.

52. No 7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Serum 5ml.

Got this free. It was nice to use but not big enough to say if it actually did anything.

53. Mirror Water Smooth Body Oil 50ml.

This is one of my staple items. This was my last bottle and I wasn't going to buy another just yet but I got another as a bargain on Vinted...

54. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Smoothing Serum 4ml.

This was another freebie. It's very nice but I feel like it's best under make-up than as skincare.

55. Chase & Wonder The Butterfly Lady Candle.

This was lovely. Won't be rebuying though as it's orangey and I have several orangey candles in the stash.

56. The White Company Spa Retreat Bath & Shower Gel.

Very nice but I have enough shower gel to last the year (at least) and I think this is discontinued now anyway.

57. The White Company Noir soap 50g.

Got this in a hotel last year and still have another in the stash. Like shower gel, I have more soap than I know what to do with so no rebuy.

58. MZ Skin Anti-Pollution Hydrating Face Mask.

I've been buying these on Vinted when I see them going cheap and using one every Saturday morning. My skin was nice and moisturised after use but I'm not sure it did anything special. It seemed to be an odd shape too and was quite hard to get into position, despite coming in two parts.

Cosmetics:

17. Cosmic Beauty Blush Butter Merry.

This really wasn't my colour so I sold it without even testing.

So that's interesting. I love such a wide variety of smells, i couldnt say, oh I prefer florals, fruity or fresh for example. Maybe I should be more discerning 😂

Finally some empties!

Habi Hydraboost Hydrating Moisturiser - really liked this but not quite rich enough for me. If you were a teen or twenty something on a budget, this would be amazing as it's so cheap. Not a RP but a great product.

The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm - absolutely love everything about it. Will almost certainly RP but am going to try the blatant dupe in Boots first

Laura Ashley Poppy Hand cream - was a secret santa present of mini hand creams. It did the job and converted me to having a mini hand cream in all my bags. Not sure it's still on the market so no RP but will definitely look for another mini.

I have used up some products:

Aveeno cream is a staple for us.

Kueshi naturals lemon body milk. Quite liked this. Thick cream, absorbs well and the smell is ok, like a lemon tart but not too sweet. Bought in Spain, won’t rp though.

schwarzkop total repair leave in conditioner. I hated the smell of this so DD used it instead. She liked it. It didn’t do anything for me.

Sanctuary spa hand wash. I love the smell of this and it went quickly. Would rp.

cien spa moments dreamy flower sensation hand wash . Part of a set. Pleasant floral smell. Would rp if I could find it.

And a pears soap in lemongrass? Its glicerine soap but in a green colour. I really liked it

Tried Juliette Has a Gun in Ex Vetiver and Pear Inc on the husband today. He didn’t like either of them so that saves me considering them for full size purchases 😀

Frankenwash has been binned. It would seem that crap things concentrate when mixed and create a nuclear reaction causing rashes, dry skin and ummm thrush. Buhbye.

I have finished a JBeauty cleanser by a brand called Cleansing Research. It was a vitamin A & C cleanser that was rather like using toothpaste. Glad I persevered, but equally glad it’s gone. Currently onto Roundlab Dokdo cleanser. It’s… fine. Suspect I prefer the gel cleansers to the white foaming ones.

A bottle each of Tsubaki shampoo & conditioner have been used with the help of my lovely DD (who had hair like a mermaid). Am about to reorder from Japan. Can buy 1L refills.

Canmake Marshmallow Powder done. Rather proud of that one. My feelings were ambivalent from the get go. I know that I can do better. Going to buy a loose one when I order my shampoo. (Different brand. High end JBeauty much better price than high end euro stuff!)

Lador Bonding Treatment. Love the product, not the scent. If I am honest, it is probably too thick for my cat hair. Going to try something else.

My favourite Fenty lip gloss has been scraped out of the tube and it’s all done. (Hot Chocolit - Heat.) Love the colour, but not the heat part. Was referred to Amber Rose in the regular format. OMG… it’s gorgeous.. cooler toned, mauvey brown. Love.

Bottle of Guerlain Herba Fresca. I love this so much but I have outgrown it, I think. I have been wearing it to bed and to work when I want something refreshing during this sweaty season. The EA green tea fragrances are just as effective and 1/10th the price.

I left my favourite Laneige Egg Nog lip mask in a hotel recently. (Boooooo!) I couldn’t bear the idea of sleeping without a lip mask so I purchased two new ones. Tocobo vitamin c one and CNP Laboratories Propolis Lipcerin. They’re both fabulous. *And I have very high standards! CNP is now my handbag one as the product twists from the bottom.

Posted too soon as already have another empty:

Wella NutriRich Hair Mask. Really effective hair mask which I got as part of a box set. Won't be RP as lovely as it is, I don't actually need a hair mask.

It’s been a slow week for me, just 2 empties!

Molton Brown pink pepper shower gel 50ml. Nothing to get excited about because I have a LOT in my stash. My life-long favourites are Badedas and Aqua Manda (from the old days). Anything else is nice but eh, it’s shower gel!

Sisley Floral Toning Lotion. From the Liberty AC. I liked this. Not entirely sure what it did but I’ve added toning lotion to my routine! I would repurchase were it not for the insane price! And that I have a few toners in my stash.

36 done so far.

I forgot that I also finished a travel-sized Garnier Vitamin C Micellar water. I don’t often use Micellar water, so it took a while. It was great for travelling and it does what it is supposed to do. It doesn’t budge my mascara though. I need to keep the bottle for travelling next month and will fill from a larger one from a different brand.

Also tonight I finished an LRP atoderm shower oil. Great if you want your shower to double as a skating rink. I’m not convinced it has a positive effect on my skin either. It’s as arid as a tundra. The matching atoderm body lotion was donated to my daughter. This product is fine but it’s very boring. I think I prefer a less viscous texture also. I have gone even less high brow and am using Vaseline Hyaderm and love it.

I am trying to use up a stash of stuff and this thread is recommended. What do you do? Just use up a few products and then post a photo to keep you on track? I am disgusted by the amount I have. Money wasting clutter. The more stuff I have the less I want to use any of it. So I can’t say I reap the benefit of all the unguents and potions. I am going to use up the best stuff, give away or chuck the really bad stuff and then plough through the rest. And then just keep using tried and tested from now on.

Welcome @ExBert80

Sometimes I take pictures and sometimes I just list empties. Personally I also have a spreadsheet so I can record yes/no/maybe to whether I liked something enough to buy it again or buy a full size if it was a sample or freebie!

Hi @ExBert80 you list what you’ve used up and whether you’d repurchase (RP) some of us do photos, most say a bit more about what we liked/didnt like. It’s good for reflecting on how many of the toiletries we’d enthusiastically bought then realised we wouldn’t buy again. It’s made me use creams that were sitting in the cupboard and actually my face, hands and feet look better for it. I also realised I’m in no danger of running out of toiletries.

I love my spreadsheets and reading everyone's opinions and reviews of products 😍

I think I am overwhelmed by the amount and end up using little of them. I am determined to do it though. I am so over clutter. In the last few years I have decluttered everything and have stopped wasting so much money, but seems vanity is my Achilles heel, and I see this conditioner is holy grail, that body lotion is the best…I am ready to live in a simpler way. So, I will choose the ones I like best and work through them on the basis they may go off, and if I have to chuck any I would rather it was the ones I want the least.

@Francesteinsorry your mixing of ends resulted in irritated skin.

@ExBert80welcome! How lovely you were recommended this thread 💜 use it as you wish - I report my empties but rarely post photos. Others are more thorough.

I have two chucks to report:
Colorsport 30 day mascara lash tint: a real faff to use and I decided to use up to tint my brows but the product had gone off, so chucking.

The Natural Deodorant palmarosa & mandarin clean deodorant balm: this was ok - as my bathroom
is so cold 🥶 I had to put tin in hot water to melt balm a bit. Anyhoo have not used in a while put on this and pits went on fire 🔥 so this is now a chuck. Wild still remains by far and away the beast "clean" deodorant I have used.

@Francesteinthanks for your Atoderm comments - was considering shower oil. I have used the SOS Spray- is great but very pricey and TBH I think the Vaseline spray is just as good and way cheaper.

More empties for mid-March, I'm on a roll!

38. Shampoo - yes it smells funny, but I couldn't smell it once my hair had been rinsed. It was actually quite a good shampoo, but I understand it's spenny so back to the Treseme.
39. The Body Shop Vitamin C Toner - now this also smelt funny. I'm not sure if it had actually gone off a bit. I'm still in the "what is the point of toner? " camp, will not RP
40. Neutrogena TGel - classic itchy head shampoo. Not sure if it still works I only use it occasionally and unfortunately when my itchy head is bad steroid cream is the only thing that works. Will RP when it's on offer.
41. Aveda Cherry Almond conditioner. Smells absolutely divine. Unfortunately Aveda shampoo makes my head itch so I can't use it, so I bought the conditioner to use as a consolation. Will RP at some point.
42. Paula's Choice - I used this on the nights I didn't use retinol as it has AHA in and I didn't want to strip off the top layer of my face. It didn't really do anything much, it was okay, won't RP.
43. Lush Fairy Dust - talc powder. I've gone right off Lush recently, will probably never use this again. I do have another big talc bottle to use up though.
44. Moroccan Oil perfume - tiny sample. I love this smell but only on my hair.
45. Estée Lauder lipstick - a bin, I just don't like the colour on me.
46. Eye Pencil - navy blue, I've had this for ever, it doesn't go on properly. BIN.
47. Autograph lipstick - its a weird frosted orange colour, I want to like it on me but it makes me look like I have no sense of style 🤣. Strange, but one of my friends has this and she looked amazing wearing it but she had very blonde hair.
48. Age R Glutathione Glow - this was amazing, it has little capsules in it that you pop onto your skin, gave me a really lovely texture and sank in nicely.