Beauty addicts thread: share empties, chucks and mindful buying tips

[Experiment627]

Welcome back (or welcome in!) to our little corner of beauty bliss, where shelves are full, wish lists are longer than ever, and there’s always something new to try.
This thread has been around for ages (since at least 2015), 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 please tell me more about using the Clarins flash balm as a mask….I’ve never quite got the hang of the stuff and have several tubes hanging about my bathroom looking for meaning and purpose!

Another empty I forgot earlier - Byoma Bio-Collagen Radiance Facial Mask. I really like it although the benefits are short-term. I have a backup but going to try one of the (many) other masks I have tucked away before returning to it.

I read about using it as a face mask on the clarins website. I just put a thick layer on and leave it for about 20mins, or when I remember to take it it off, and rinse. It’s actually quite nice as a face mask, refreshing and brightening. I can’t stand it used in the other ways so I’m glad clarins mentioned using it as a face mask otherwise it would have been donated.

Another couple of empties. I thought they would take longer, tbh… I have made a concerted effort to use up some mists. d’Alba mist was amazing. The scent is fabulous and reminds me of the Caudalie toning water that everybody and their cat was using in the noughties but so much better. Elixir Glow mist. Was fine. Another biphase one. Like not love. Also a mini bottle of TirTir milky toner. Love love love. Dove passionfruit roll on deodorant. Not as good as Rexona (Sure in the UK, I believe.) I go through this stuff quickly.

@Francestein I really like the d'Alba mist too. I'm using up a NIOD one at the moment which I don't really like at all.

Ive bought a d'alba mist off tiktok. Awaiting delivery. 🥰

RESTORE handcream from M&S apothecary - perfectly nice hand cream from a set of 4, though not my fave smell as it contains eucalyptus (plus lavender geranium and cedarwood)

Re the d’Alba mist. Just thinking about buying a new one before I move. (I have a two day drive, an 11hr ferry trip and then three more hours driving. That’s a lot of air conditioning/heating.) In thinking about it, while I stand by loving this product, I’m not sure I would recommend this at all for those with sensitive skin as very strongly fragranced. Also unsure about oily skin, as mine is as dry as the Siberian tundra.

I got the one for sensitive skin. So hopefully will be ok x

A couple of things used up during a hotel stay:

63. Fresh Elements Hydrate - I really liked this, used it at night over my tret.
64. PK Elasticiser - very much maligned and misunderstood 🤣. It's actually quite good for my head when I can be bothered to use it. Still got LOADS in the stash. Also used a couple of Lush bath bombs so 66 products used this year so far.

More things used up in April:

67. Living Proof Full Conditioner - smells lovely, good for my long thickish hair.
68. Yog Nog shower gel - yearly Christmas treat from Lush. RP.
69. Magic shower gel - contains CBD, from Lush. Would like to RP but it is HIDEOUSLY expensive.
70. Aveda Botanical Repair - finally used up this leave-in hair conditioner. It's quite good I suppose when I could be bothered to use it.
71. Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask - this was okay, can't say it did much.
72. Percy & Reed Smoothing Styling Cream. It was okay.
73. Percy & Reed Wonder Cleanse and Nourish - I found this in my old swimming bag and decided to bin.
74. Philip Kingsley Swim Cap - found in the same bag, can't remember if it did much.
75. Douxo S3 Calm - ashamed to say this is for cats/dogs and I used it on my scalp in desperation when it was itching like crazy. I got some MooGoo instead and that seems to be working.

Empties

Face masks - both are really nice, but apart from hydration, I didn't really notice anything different with these. I have quite a few masks in my stash but neither of these are my favourites.

Grace&Stella eye masks - these work well and are refreshing but I won't repurchase as I find them too thick to layer with a face mask.

K18 hair mask - I have fs bottle of this which I received in an ac, I was hoping that I'd love this so I could open the fs knowing what to expect. The sample size though is so tiny that it wasn't really enough to help me decide if to keep or sell the fs. My hair overall looks nice at the moment but I am using quite a few products on it.

Sana Jardin Sandalwood Temple perfume, love this perfume and already bought a few more from vinted.

Eve lom cleansing balm, anyone who I speak to regularly will know that this is my go to cleansing balm and won't be shocked that I've got a load more in my stash 🙂

Valmont moisturiser - this is the really expensive cream from the Harrods ac. I was expecting to love this, but I have a love / hate relationship with it. It's really nice, makes my face glowy, but if I put even a little bit too much on, it causes pilling when I put anything on top of it. I had no plans to rebuy but the pilling means that I'm quite happy it's now used up.

Colorwow dreaming mask - I really like this mask, made my hair smell nice, look smooth and would happily repurchase if I ever get to the end of my hair mask stash.

Allies of skin molecular silk amino hydrating cleanser - I really like this, it's hydrating, leaves the skin feeling clean and doesn't really smell of anything. A little goes a long way and I've already purchased a full size tube.

Ubeauty resurfacing compound - again, anyone I speak to regularly will know that I love this! I received it in the Harrods calendar and it's just gorgeous. Makes my face feel tighter in a good way, makes my skin glowy, I've noticed that the texture on my face is better. I've bought quite a few of these for my stash 😁

OK ladies I have a bit of a mare.

My stash of some things is enough to open a shop...but I have actually run out of day cream. What do I do? Use a night cream? Use a facial spf I have? Buy one? If so which one?

I loved the Cult 51 day cream in an AC years ago – is it still the same? Any other recs?

I like this one

https://olay.co.uk/skin-care-products/face-cream-spf/regenerist-active-firming-moisturiser-spf-30

But maybe overkill if you already have a facial spf.

Use a night cream until you burn through your stash. Remind yourself that they all have best before dates once opened. Often the only difference between night and day cream is the addition of spf. It’s never enough that you should think you can get away without a separate spf anyway, so why bother buying two types of creams?
As for spf, I have heaps of J&K beauty recs if you want them. Would need to know more about your skin type and what textures you like. I tried going back to regular drugstore spf at Christmas (in Aus, was very hot) and couldn’t stand them.

Btw, this is a PSA to not do as I do. I just put in an order for shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, pressed and loose powder from Japan. I have a list of other bits I am going to order from Korea shortly.

Latest empties:

Ren Daily AHA Tonic - 250ml. Did a good job on the KP on the backs of my arms, but left my skin a bit sticky so not a favourite. Discontinued now anyway.

Organic Shop Vanilla body cream - 450ml. The lotion itself was pretty good but I didn’t like the scent much. Took ages to get through.

Perfume samples - Kayali Eden Sweet Peaches, Margiela Replica Up at Dawn, Ferragamo Signorina.

Lush Sakura and Yog Nog shower gels - 115g/120g. Lush shower gels are my favourite, they feel so nice on the skin.

Lush Rainforest body scrub - 100g. Not scrubby enough but the scent was lovely.

Garnier Honey Treasures conditioner - 400ml. A repeat purchase, will get another when on offer.

Color Wow One-Minute Transformation styling cream - 50ml. Really good. Does a brilliant job smoothing down flyaways and baby hairs. I only need a tiny bit so the tube lasts me a long time too.

A few more for me, all minis really.
50.Le Labo Rose 31 perfume oil roller ball - I bought a couple of these from ebay after they were featured in the Liberty BAC one year. I've worn the spray perfume of this for years so it was a cheap way to enjoy it without committing to another big bottle. I did then impulse buy a bottle in the CB 40% thing back in January, so I will be smelling of this for some time. I like it because it's not a very feminine rose with some spicy notes, although I then read some people think the cumin note smells of BO so that's put me off a tad 😳😂😂
51.Oskia Comfort Cream, 10ml - Started using this from the FTF easter edit immediately as I'd damaged my skin, it's nice enough, think I prefer the Inkey List Barrier repair moisturiser.
52.Votary Barrier Repair Cream - well blow me down, I actually liked this! I got this via the liberty beauty drop and sighed woefully as I tend to not enjoy Votary products. Will take this as a reminder to be open minded and check out the rrp as this could be a repurchase, although I think the Inkey List one will probably beat it to the till due to £
53.Malin and Goetz Vit E moisturiser 10 ml - Another brand whose products I've never been wowed by, but this was nice and felt very moisturising. This was part of the cult freebie many of us scooped up from vinted I think.
54.Malin and Goetz Vit E moisturiser 10 ml - I bought 2 of the gwp's hence another one, and did a fair bit of travel in April/ may so it's all the mini's that have been being used up because I couldn't be bothered to drag big bottles around with me.
55.Tatcha the Brightening eye cream 7ml (orange pot) - got a sample of this a while back and loved how moisturising it felt, so was delighted to get this 7ml size in the Space NK GWP from January. I still like it a lot but don't think it lasts well as it's quite light so I end up using a lot.

Just noticed @Fillybuster's post from mid-April with the limited edition REN AHA tonic! Ordered, thank you! I should have a nice stockpile of it to keep me going now.

April empties: I'm really tired and no matter how many times I count these, I get a different number so I'm going to compromise with myself and agree that I finished 19 products in April. No arguing at the back <pointing at self sternly>.

Would RP:

Glow Recipe Watermelon AHA tonic. It's so refreshing and I love the scent. Not entirely convinced it does something for my skin but cheers me up.
Dove dragonfruit deodorant. It smells so good, I love it.
Beauty Pie super healthy hair mask. I really love their hair products.

Would not RP:

Le Tush Clarifying butt mask. I think I must have been influenced. Directions are to apply to one's derrière and wait for five minutes, or in practice, apply and then waddle around in the shower like a constipated duck trying to wash the rest of my body whilst keeping my rear area dry. It applies like a grainy yoghurt and has a slight cooling sensation, which just adds to the experience in a rather unpleasant way.
How many constipated ducks does it take to finish this tub? About ten month's worth, give or take, which is a strange way of measuring ducks but there we are. God I need a holiday.

Picture or it didn't happen

I finished a very annoying Leighton Denny nail treatment thing which involved squirting a blob of cream on each nail. Obviously either loads or none came out after the first few squirts and I'm never using it again. I have a London Grace paint on 7-oils thing now, and that's much more user friendly!

Yes I used that and it was as you described

We have an escapee! I can't tell if this was in the original count or not, so let's just say I finished 21 products in April. Who knows how numbers work. But, even with my (hopefully temporary) inability to count to 20, that means my overall total is now way higher than that.
I've hit my target for the year 6 months early.
Oh and I love these but I can't work out what salary I'd need to be on to afford a regular supply.

Gosh that sounds infuriating. Reminds me I've got some cuticle oil somewhere. I must dig that out.

8 items in my latest empties batch (and 3 were samples). I feel like an under achiever compared to many of you.

• Estee Lauder New Dimension serum, I loved this. It’s been in my cupboard for ages. However Estée Lauder aren’t aligned with my values so wouldn’t RP which is a shame as I’d have RP this. I do have other Estée Lauder serums in my cupboard to use
• Estee Lauder Revitalising supreme mask, liked this but won’t RP
• Cuticura medicated talc, does the job, not glamorous in any way have RP
• Espa conditioner, 2nd of two tubes in my cupboard, did the job but won’t RP
• Murad moisturiser, I really liked the feel this, unscented but not my favourite moisturiser so won’t RP.
• La Roche Posay moisturiser sample, pleasant enough probably wouldn’t RP I have a few more samples of this as pharmacist were urging customers to take several
• La Roche Posay sun cream, this has grown on me and I have RP
• Boots expert dry skin hand cream, this is really really old and very little left but still smelt fine and worked won’t RP though as I’ve lots of hand cream

Appreciate the tip re using Clarie’s beauty balm as a mask as I’m pretty sure I have some in the cupboard and wasn’t sure how I’d use it as I didn’t like it under makeup.

My toiletries cupboard no longer has products falling out when I open it but I need to use a lot more up before I can open my cupboard and find what I want.