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!

Hope the move goes smoothly @Francestein - good luck tomorrow!

Good luck @Francestein. Now I'm wondering if I ought to move house so I get my arse in gear and work through my products instead of buying more like a little hoarding goblin.

My skin has calmed down a lot, I really like the b5. That and, I'm reluctant to say, not using my favourite REN AHA tonic. I reached the end of a bottle so I started using a BoJ glow rice milk toner, and then the Zelens omega shisho replenishing serum on top. I think I've got a bit of a Zelens problem at the moment, I've really liked every product I've tried so far.

I have some empties to most, must do that this week. I fear they will absolutely prove why my skin barrier got rather upset.

Thanks everyone. Moving is totally sucky. Have had a lot of impediments and although we were only in this house for 2 years, SO MUCH STUFF! One of my 19 year olds broke his hand and needed surgery and is now coming with us rather than going to work the ski season here. The other 19 year old (who is staying here) has had a massive (benign, thank god) breast lump removed. Sooooo much stress!

I meant to ask about your videos @Experiment627 , are they reviews of products? How would we find them? An unexpected benefit of joining in this thread has been learning more about skincare so I’d be interested in watching them

@DidILeaveTheGasOn I too have damaged my skin barrier and am using The Inkey List ecotoin thing - at least it has not made things worse.

@CorneliaStreet I find the John Frieda Frizz Ease daily something leave-in works really well compared to the iconic Pureology. You might want to give that a try... although if you are looking for a heat protector you may want to double check it is one.

@Francestein blimey! well done with reducing your stash!

@TryingToFindMyStyle I have PMed you - I try very hard not to use this thread for self-promotion! #fail

@Francestein really hope the move is going well. You really have been through it! Hopefully your new abode will provide, JOY, peace and ease xxx

Sorry ladies for posting so inconsistently of late - went away on holiday and was in too much pain to pay much attention to phone (have done something to my shoulder) now I am back work is cray-cray busy and I am still in agony. Fekking hate the perimenopause (which I attribute everything to).

I have an empty to report:

• Simple hydrating UV fluid SPF 50: nice and bouncy to apply but absolutely disgusting if any seeps into mouth. For this reason I will not RP. Have an Ecran one to try next.

@Experiment627 Thanks, I’ll give that one a try.

Hope your shoulder is feeling better soon.

Oh no. Hope it improves for you. I agree peri is awful. 😢
You may already know this but frozen shoulder is common during peri and meno due to reducing hormones.
There are so many symptoms due to oestrogen lowering. Good luck. Hope you get it sorted. ♥️

@Experiment627 Thank you for your lovely message. @Doglover73 is right about shoulder pain & meno/peri. Mine is wrecked because of a car accident and I am due to have an ultrasound this week to see why it’s suddenly so painful. (Probably stress, tbh.) I hope yours is improving!

@Francestein Hope your move goes ok and you get it sorted. I struggle with mine from an old injury but I know its not as bad as many. Stress doesnt help ofcourse.
Pic shows a quick explanation. Its mind blowing how it impacts us.
I didnt link it until I joined meno pages on fb and realised just how many were suffering from it.
Can come overnight 😩

Im not looking too closely 🤣

@Doglover73yep I know about FS... really hope it is not that. Still need to be diagnosed. I have started taking Elavate Collagen supplement- but that can take months to work plus have been on HRT for yonks - am taking the liberty of upping my estrogen dose.

if the pain cause is stress then I am truly up the creek without a paddle as work is really full on at the minute.

thank you for the well wishes xxx

may need to treat myself to some beauty products to get through pain

Beauty buying certainly helps to get through hard days/times 😍

@Experiment627 right there with you on the shoulder pain at the moment. It’s utterly grim. Finally made it to the physiotherapist this evening who couldn’t believe how knotted up and tight everything is all the way down one side. Had a penny drop moment when I got home when I remembered the radiologist warning me that radiotherapy can cause muscle fibres to shorten and become tight, and that it can kick in around a year post treatment. Which is pretty much exactly when it all started really hurting. On the plus side, at least I can stop worrying about what I’ve done to bugger it up, now that I know! And don’t get me started on the peri/menopause. For fucks sake: you’d have thought a lifetime of period pain and 3 pregnancies was hard enough without having to deal with this too. Anyway, a long way of sending symphony and solidarity.

Edited to add: please could you PM me too? Super interested!

This is such a lovely, friendly thread. Good luck with the move @Francestein I hope it's as stress-free as possible, and the ultrasound shows all is well. You've done sterling work reducing the cosmetics down to a single bag too, definitely sounds like a treat is in order to lift the spirits!

@Francestein hope all goes well with the move!

@Fillybuster sorry you are going through it too with the shoulder! I finally managed to get an appointment - only I thought it was for this coming Monday - turns out it is for the one after. FFS.

I take willpowders collagen which is supposed to help with joint pain, etc.
Ofcourse not a miracle cure but I think it helps ♥️

Three empties!

1. Lumene Hydra moisture balm - nice, nothing special but light and absorbs fast
2. Beija Flor elasti cream - loved the smell, but the price of the full size is yikes
3. Cath Kidston hand soak - quite nice to soften my hands, no real scent

A chuck - this has definitely been open longer than six months and is more of a shiny mcshine face than a glow for me 😀

Few more empties

Elemis cleansing balm - finally got to the bottom of the jar, this has been kicking around my bathroom for a while probs won't rp

Rituals Karma Body exfoliating paste - won't rp, like the scent but not the texture

Elizabeth Arden Ceremide night cream 15ml - enjoy using this, I get them from Direct Cosmetics for £1.89.

Elf brow definer - liked this will probably rp

No 7 cleansing wipes - like these for quickness

Spent £63 in Rituals sale this week but that will be a couple of birthday presents plus something for me. I also bought a new shampoo and conditioner to try from Home Bargains - Charles Worthington Mirror Shine - I am loving it so far

@Doglover73 how long did it take before the collagen helped with the pain?

@Experiment627 Id say around 4 weeks.
Willpowders are on Facebook. Loads of comments and reviews. Not cheap but do deals on tiktok now x