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!

@Experiment627 Ive just placed an order on tiktok. Have took pic of basket/ checkout

Im in no way connected but it works for me. I usually get off official site as always offers, loyalty vouchers, etc but this is a better price and a freebie x

Had a clear out this morning and filled a bag of half empty things or stuff that has been hanging around and now smells weird. Feel better for doing that.

Have sorted everything into clear boxes in my drawer. I now know I will not need to purchase hand cream for the rest of my life 😅 Biggest thing for me was the sheer amount of perfume samples and bottles, I really cannot purchase another fragrance till I have got this down a bit...I reckon it will take me a couple of years!

I'm annoyed at myself for spending over £60 in Rituals sale but I am aiming to use it all for gifts rather than myself.

You have no idea how good I feel getting that all sorted out and it's made me determined to only buy now when something is needed.

@dogloverthat is good to know- I am nearly 2 weeks in so hopefully I will begin to feel better soon. Joint & muscle pain has plagued me for years- could really just have been a lack of collagen?
I will definitely check out Will Powders once I have finished Elavate.

@Lifeisforliving2025 well done for the sort out. Maybe some of the perfumes can be used as room fresheners? That is what I am doing...

Actually thats a good idea. I used some of the hand cream on my feet today.

I have a small bit of Valentino Donna Aqua left, love love this but its discontinued. The perfume is getting darker so I've decided to just use it up instead of keeping and taking up space in my drawer. I reckon it will be finished within 2 weeks.

36/100

Aveda shampure - love this scent, usually a win for me but left my hair a bit lank this time round

ouai st Barthes body crème - gorgeous, love the scent, absorbs quickly, very effective. Possible repurchase when I’ve got through the stash

I have an empty!

• Argentum Plus Mollu-skin spray: this is a spray that is supposed to sort MC - which has been the bane of my life, my son's life and my mum's life for a very long time! It does soothe the skin but I actually think what has helped most is bathing in some therapeutic waters near Valencia! I have another bottle of this to finish - it contains silver and MSM. Very easy to apply as a spray.

Been MIA for a while but working through my stash, with now enlisted help from DD1.

Head and shoulders 2 in 1 itchy scalp. Wonderful, the menthol in it distracts from an itchy scalp amd smells good. Very refreshing. Would RP.

Garnier almond milk shampoo. Smells identical to their oatmeal and rice range and reminds me slightly of my beloved Timotei Almond. It’s an ok shampoo, gentle.
On another note if someone finds the Timotei almond point me to it.

Jonhsons no more tangles leave in conditioner. On wet hair sort of works. On dry hair doesn’t. Bought for DD2 who liked it but water is cheaper and would have had a better result. Smelt slightly vinegary on application which I disliked. I have another on the go but after this fiasco I won’t rp again.

Zen white tea and lotus flower handwash. Does the job. More expensive range from Lidl. Won’t rp again as I prefer the range they have that imitates L’occitane.

Herbal essences repair conditioner. Too watery to tackle my knots. Won’t rp. The smell is nice though.

Facefacts hyaluronic cream. DD used it, can’t comment on effectiveness but she seem fine with it.

Similarly, face cream by marie stella maris. Can’t say about the sample but it is one less empty.

Sesderma 32 sesgen facial cream. A sample , nothing exciting.

Sanex expert. Utilitarian shower gel, works well.

Aveo zart rose lipbalm. DD’s favourite. A cheapie from german drugstore Müller. She loves it and I am on the hunt for it. Smells sweet and rosey and leaves a lovely subtle sheen on the lips.

Part 2:

DD2 went on a rampage using toothpaste from the stash, and mostly going through the drain anyway. So the toothpastes here are nothing extraordinary but licor del polo comes from Spain and I bought it for me as it reminded me of my childhood but DD obliterated it 🥴.

Sensodyne I don’t like.

Wild cherry blossom deodorant is a pain to use up. The paste spills on the case and to get the last bits out ypu are left using your fingers or getting a qtip. I don’t think I can rp after the experience plus on the smells side it is not great for stinky armpits. However, it reminded me of sakura range from Rituals.

Gilette shaving foam turns from blue to white leaving residue everywhere. I don’t recommend.

Huggies are a staple.

Charcoal nose strip. This time didn’t do much other than making me cry on removal 🤦🏻‍♀️

Oh my!! I wondered which ones are you using as room spray. I have a candidate for that: Mediterranean by Elizabeth arden. Unfortunately it turned and it doesn’t smell the same

@Thereislightattheendofthetunnel I am currently using a perfume I was gifted by a hotel - The Blanc - really lovely smell but too "masculine" for me to wear as a perfume.

@Thereislightattheendofthetunnel is this the Timotei you are hankering after? https://amzn.eu/d/06yE6yxm

Feels like it’s taken ages to get enough empties to be worth posting

• Estee Lauder eye serum sample. Was a GWP years ago. It’s a bit of a faff using a separate serum for around my eyes so not convinced I need one, would like to hear thoughts from others on whether a separate eye serum is worth using and what they like. I use an eye cream on top at night but during the day I use my spf moisturiser on top
• Clinque 7 day scrub, was a GWP years ago. Kept well, not harsh to use but I feel like I’ve aged out of using a scrub wash
• Umberto Giavanni curl jelly. Didn’t feel like it did a lot except I realised my scalp feels more ‘irritated’ and that is the only ‘new’ product I’ve been using so decided not to finish the last bit. Won’t RP
• Sanctuary Spa wet skin moisture miracle. You’re supposed to put it on after your shower before you towel yourself dry. Hated using it like this, felt like I was smearing product over my towels so used up as foot cream were it was nicer than I was expecting but not as nice as the previous foot cream I used. Won’t RP

Lumene Nordic C Glow Moisturiser- quite nice but I prefer the Vit C serum from Lumene so not a RP

Temple Spa drift away bath and massage oil - hotel freebie, nice in the bath but I have masses of bath stuff!

Yes! I believe that it is the one. Gonna check for shampoo 💗

Thanks @Experiment627

I have an empty:
Bambo Nature aqua wet wipes: these are plastic free wipes which I would call baby wipes - they are gentle and fragrance free.

Perfume sample- Kayali eden plush pear.

115. Foreo supercharged serum 2.0 sample. Not used anything from this brand for years, i remember when the cleansing device was all the rage!

116. Living Proof Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo. I prefer the original one; my hair didnt look as fresh as it does compared to when i use the orginal😵‍💫

117. InnisFree Clay mask. A nice clay mask, doesnt make my skin feel tight or dry after using. Have lots of masks to get through so dont see me RP anytime soon.

118. Uriage lip balm. Don't think you can ever go wrong with French pharmacy lip products. Hydrating, no chapped lips here. Would repurchase. But i have a bag full of lip balms!

119. Living Proof dry shampoo. Much prefer this one to the one mentioned above. Doesn't leave powdery residue in my hair; hair looks clean. Will repurchase when on offer, too expensive to have all the time as I go through it quite quickly.

120. Erborian BB cream. I go between this and the CC cream, most days. I do prefer the CC one, but this is good when i want a little more coverage. Will always RP. Have another in stash.

121. Laneige Bouncy & firm sleeping mask. This was OK. Probably wouldnt buy again, i have the blue pot to try too. Dont feel it actually did anything for me.

122. Herbal Essence coconut mask. Did what i wanted it too, smelt nice and made my hair soft. Have lots of masks to work my way through.

123. Biodance Cera-nol Gel toner pads. Nice and refreshing, great for prepping my skin. But, they've lasted me a month, and a bottle of toner last ages. I would RP every now and then though.

124. Ordinary Rosehip oil. I first started using it for stubborn spot marks, and it worked wonders for me. I also find it really hydrating without being heavy or greasy. But, im ready to move on, i have another in stash so will use it at some point.

A few more from me
Chucks
64.Mystery foul perfume - I spritzed this thinking it must have been one of the testers from Ffern - it most definitely wasn't. Nauseatingly powerful, I had to scrub my wrist. No option to use as a room spray, can't afford to move house atm.
Empties
65.CEO afterglow Sunday Riley. Liked the smell but almost nothing else, I didn't like it as a moisturiser so i used it up by applying a thick layer as a mask. From the 2024 Space NK advent.
66.PDM Delina sample - Amazing longevity. I did like this and enjoyed wearing it but it doesn't feel quite unusual or special enough to buy.
67.Aqua di Parma sample - very fresh and too masculine for everyday me, I was trying to use up any cologne/ citrus scents in the heat wave.
68.Oskia Comfort Cream - used this after I damaged my skin barrier - I preferred the Inkey list ceramide one as my skin was very hot and dried out. This wasn't quite rich enough for me, might be better for skin types that are less prone to dehydration. @DidILeaveTheGasOn how's your skin barrier doing now? This might be a good choice for you as I think you said you have combination skin.
69.111 skin rose gold face mask - not in picture - good but I've used better sheet masks. Does hydrate and plump and give a bit of glow though.

Just nipping in to admit to breaking the no-buy today before leaving Brisbane for good. I picked up some of the Tsubaki Shampoo & Conditioner that I love, but this time in the “Cool & Repair” flavour. They’re supposed to be very gently clarifying, which I feel I need when I go to soft water conditions. I also bought some mascara remover and the d’Alba White Truffle Cream. (Doesn’t smell like truffles which is a good thing.) My skin loves this cream and it was 40% off.
I drove a different route than the last few times and I am regretting it. It’s Today I drove about 650km to a seaside town north of Sydney. I am going to Canberra tonight (6.5hrs) and then Melbourne tomorrow. (7.5 hrs) I am spending a few days in Melbourne before getting the boat over to Tasmania with my car.

Hope the journey is going ok @Francestein and good luck with all the unpacking when you finally get there.

Some more empties:

Heimish All Clean Balm - 120ml. One of my favourite cleansing balms, though I prefer the original scent to this mandarin version.

Krave Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser - 30ml. One of the nicest gel cleansers I’ve tried, genuinely did feel hydrating. Will RP when the cleanser stash has gone down a bit.

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Eye Cream - 3ml. Had to go a bit easy with this, no more than every other night or it stung the next morning when I put SPF on. Nice lightweight texture though.

Milani Conceal & Perfect. Way too thick and cakey to work for me as a concealer, but made a good eyeshadow base.

Perfume samples - Kayali Maldives Yang Coco, D&G Devotion and Vyrao Ludeaux.

Ariana Grande Cloud EDP - 30ml. Apparently a Baccarat Rouge dupe. Very sweet and not really my thing.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Vanilla - my HG lip balm.

Lush Softy Body Scrub - 135g. Didn’t like the scent of this, had a strong medicinal note.

Lush Rose Jam Shower Jelly - 90g. This one, however, smelled amazing. Lush scents are very hit or miss.

Tree Hut Coco Colada Body Lotion - 251ml. Took ages to sink in. I prefer the whipped body butters from Tree Hut.

Future Primitive Clotted Peach Cream Body Lotion - 50g. Used as hand cream. Lovely summer scent.

Tresemme Replenish & Cleanse Shampoo - 900ml. This has been in my shower for well over a year, so quite glad to see the back of it. Nothing amazing but did a OK job on my roots and cost £3 something for this big bottle, so can’t really complain.

@CorneliaStreet I always regret buying the mega bottles even if the contents are fine... I just wanna try something else :)

Hair by Sam McKnight Happy Endings - very meh. Not even a nice scent.

ySL Pure Shots - very drying cleanser, identical to Estée Lauder blue one.

Then I met You toner - very pleasant. I don’t think I need a toner though.

Lancome reginerie cream - still in my top 3. Lovely cream.

Alphah serum - could not stand the smell, so used as a face mask before shower.

KMS all smooth hair oil - I used it before washing hair mainly and it was very good. Definitely protects hair.

Lancome make up remover- too oily for contact lense wearers.

Lancome toner - very pleasant! Always happy to receive it as a free gift.

Amika midnight mender - can’t say I have noticed any difference in my hair. Quite heavy too.

Amiga hydration mist - this one is slightly better. But Olaplex is still my favourite.

Santuary Rose and Honey body lotion - another monk made product. Really like the fact that rose oil is from their gardens.

Oh I have have a lancome day and a lancome night cream i need to use. May open when my medik 8 mini moisturiser is finished.

@Francestein my GOD that journey sounds tough! I hope it is going well xx

I have two empties to report:

• Biofreeze gel: just a small tube but years past its expiry - worked though. Although, apparently you should only apply cold to a new injury, not when you are a month in like I am... FFS
• Gruum calming moisture gel: find this very drying so glad this sample is done with

Hugs @Francestein that sounds tough. I trust the move went well.

@Doglover73 – I bought that on TikTok and I got it for £56.24 incl p&p. I am an absolute nightmare on TikTok. I bought a Dr Melaxin set because everyone was going on about it.

Isnt it funny @TryingToFindMyStyle ? The Umberto Gianini Curl Jelly is my Holy Grail

@SheilaFentiman – I love that TempleSpa Drift Away

I’ve been MIA thanks to an extended hospital stay. Was only meant to be in overnight after surgery and it turned into a 5 night stay. Having never been in hospital before (other than to have DD in 1993) this has been a culture shock for me. Got out late on Monday night. I’m still having to attend outpatients every couple of days to get my bulky dressings changed. I’m unable to shower yet (last showered on Tuesday 9 June). You can imagine how I’m feeling. If the bulky dressings aren’t removed tomorrow, I’ll see if DD can try to wash my hair for me.

I came out of hospital with two additional products, bodycare wipes and a lip salve. My lips were torn a bit when the breathing tube was removed, so one of the nurses felt sorry for me and brought me a lip salve. I’m still slathering it on and the damage is repaired.

I do have a few products that I finished in May.

Rituals The Ritual of Karma Mild Body Scrub Paste 70ml RRP £10.90. I do like the Karma smell. This seems to be a favourite of Rituals to pop into their AC, so I have a couple knocking around the stash. No need to RP for now.

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleaner 200ml RRP £46. I love this. HG for an exfoliating cleanser. But I only use it maybe twice a week, so I wont be RP this size.

Skinsense Ceramide24 Sculpting Neck & Decollete Cream 100ml RRP £42. Quite happy to RP this, but I do have a few neck creams in the stash.

That’s my May finished. 11 products at the RRP of £267. June is not looking good. I haven’t used up anything yet, I cant shower or bathe, cant be bothered putting on make up. The only product that I can see getting used up is a nail oil as I’m able to massage into my nails. And maybe a face mask or two.