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!

@DidILeaveTheGasOn The REN AHA tonic is the best acid toner I’ve ever used. I’ve run out now 😕 REN have definitely gone, but there’s still a lot of their stuff around. Much of it is old stock though.

@Caggie09 I really like Sunday Riley A+. I'm using Paula's Choice 1% Retinol at the moment which I find to be very similar. I think I got it in an edit. It's slightly cheaper to buy full price than Sunday Riley.

I have two empties to report:

• Dove refill anti-perspirant: I decided to try this without buying the whole system - it worked well although still too much single use plastic going on for my liking.
• Morrisons denture cleaning tablets: fine. I am going to try and stop using these now (once I get through a stash of 4 tubes) as I have an ultrasonic cleaner now and that should do the job just fine.

Hi from my new home in Tasmania. Loving it here so far, but very early days re exploring.

i have used up quite a few bits and bobs including a small pot each of Heimish All Clean (unscented) and Banila Co Clean it Zero cleansing balms. I love them both but I find the Banila Co definitely has the edge. This time I used the green one which is supposed to be pore cleansing, and most suitable for oily skin - which I definitely do not have. It was gentle, effective, almost entirely unscented and it rinses just that little bit better than competitors.

i have used up a couple of sunscreens (always)… My favourite around Lab Camellia SPF. (I have spares), A House of Hur Glowy (pink tube) one. Also excellent and fabulous packaging. A new to me cheapie by APLB which I suspect is KBeauty version of the Ordinary. This was excellent. I had the glutathione and niacinamide one. All of these play nicely under makeup, are super effective and don’t sting my eyes.

I have finished a d’Alba white truffle serum and cream. It’s one of those stupid pots molded into a yin-yang symbol with one half the serum gel and the other the cream. I am very pleased to advise that it doesn’t smell like truffle. Normally this is very expensive, but it was on sale before I left Brisbane and I had a BYGOF voucher. I hate to say this, but it’s delicious. Unfortunately I used the serum first so will need to be more sparing with the next one.

I have finished an Elizavecca Cer-100 Collagen Ceramide Coating Protein Bonding Treatment. Awesome. This stuff is the bomb. I have ordered another and their hair oil. This stuff doesn’t weigh my hair down or make it greasy. It’s very cheap and super effective.

@Francestein I’ve liked everything I’ve tried from APLB so far. The cleansing balm is good and the glutathione Niacinamide serum is really effective, particularly in the sheet mask version. I’ve got the toner too, but haven’t tried it yet.

@RoseTeaLady REN AHA toner is currently on sale on the Home Bargains website FYI.
A few more empties from me -
Rahua conditioner (mini) Seemed ok, not really enough to tell
Rahua Shampoo (mini)
4 x tatcha dewy milk sachets - think I
Bibbi swimming pool perfume sample - I really like this, tempted to get a 30ml. It's very fresh, with a minty note that I would not have imagined I'd like.
Colour wow blow dry spray - took me forever to get through this as I rarely blow dry my hair, I have another from an advent waiting in the wings.
Total 68, although sachets don't really count!

Oh sachets definitely count @LightandBreezy! It’s an empty and you’ve used it up!

Oh, good to know. I'll add it to my never-ending list 😁

@LightandBreezy
Ive tried Bibbi Swimming Pool for the first time today and love it. Didnt think I eould. Glad I had a mini to try x

Congrats on the new home @Francestein

I have that d'Alba cream in the stash due to last year's over purchasing from kbeauty sites. I really rate them as a brand although I did try a tone up sunscreen recently I'm not keen on.

I have a couple of those hair masks too that I really need to get round to trying.

@LightandBreezy Thank you for the heads up. Will check it out.

@Francestein yay to being in your new home!

I have an empty:
The Inkey List Salicylic Acid cleanser: got this for MC on feet and legs and has helped keep at bay, if not cure. Great gentle exfoliant for face too. Am going to try a Creighton's version next - never tried any of their products.

44/100

Ouai st Barths body cleaner - absolutely gorgeous pina colada scent, not drying, gorgeous product.

Aveda botanical repair - not actually sure it does any repairing

Bibbi - swimming pool - I’m in the minority because I love it, such a fresh scent

Burberry - goddess - very commercial and I can see why it sells, warm and lovely

@OvaHerei am impressed by your use up pics!

@Francestein new 🏠 is exciting.

It’s getting harder to use up excess toiletries, Probably because I’ve now used up a lot of the part used containers and samples so have to use up the whole thing. I’m now able to move containers at the front of my cupboard to see what’s behind them now! Although I do have a couple of boxes on top of the cupboard and some items overflowing into bathroom towel cupboard. (And the shame I was seduced by a Rocca box so will be refilling the space I cleared).

MooGoo scalp cream - won’t RP, slightly soothing on scalp, very messy

Nair hair remover - won’t RP as with menopause I get very little leg hair but great product & used to use it regularly, this was an old tube at the back of the cupboard but still fine

Cath Kidson Red Berry hand cream - throwing away not a RP obviously, tried it last night and went to wash my hands after a bit scent is vile and gets worse as it develops. Maybe too old

Roche Posay sample size face cream - pleasant possible RP

Empties/destashing 103-110…

Skin Rocks Retinoid I. AWFUL smell! All chemically and bleachy. Had hints of itchiness/irritation. It was a slog to get through this. Definitely not a rp. Just no.

Wild Source cleansing balm. I loved this! Soft, gentle, no stinging eyes. And I liked the smell. Would rp.

Dr Barbara Sturm glow drops. Insanely expensive. And I don’t really know what it does - couldn’t see any effect. also the dropper dispenser never really worked, I had to wipe it off the dropper stem to get a drop to use. Not a rp for those reasons.

Trinny The Elevator. HG product already refilled from stash. Definite rp.

Laneige bouncy eye mask mini. Given to my mum.

Sunday Riley Autocorrect Brightening And Depuffing Eye Contour Cream mini. Given to my mum.

Trinny Take Back Time Elixir. I like it but it’s very expensive! Would rp if I’m feeling flush but can’t really afford it as a regular addition to my daily routine.

The Altruist SPF spray. This is our usual family spf. It’s effective, sensibly priced and created by British dermatologists. I buy a few at a time and it’s on rotation throughout the summer! Definite rp.

Make that 45/100

Fugazzi purple has leaked into its box (and my bag), oh well I wasn’t a fan of the Parma violet scent anyway.

I have two empties to report:

• K18 leave-in molecular repair hair mask 15ml: this nice to use as in it leaves my hair feeling very soft and silky. I have the Aldi Lacura dupe to use up now.
• Biore 2x deep cleansing ultra strength pore strips: I cannot believe at a few days away from 52 I actually still have blackheads! Have been using strips on and off for years. They do give an immediate sense of cleanliness however the blighters come straight back! I got a very good yield this last use - I put it down to exfoliating before hand.

A few empties to report;
Rituals shower foam, like the smell and the texture. Have a few more in my stash.
Color wow shampoo, love this shampoo.
Charlotte Mensah conditioner, I wasn't a fan of the shampoo but I really like the conditioner, leaves my hair nourished, silky and soft.
Tatcha indigo night serum, I had such high hopes after reading other people's reviews but it brought me out in spots. I still used it all but it's just not for me.
Decree peptide veil, love this moisturiser, already have a back up.
Eve Lom moisturiser (gold lid), I really enjoyed using this mini, it goes on nicely and hydrates the skin. Sits well under makeup, would rp.
Eve lom eye cream, I've had this for a while and used it last year, put it away for a while whilst I used eye creams from acs and unfortunately it's gone funny. I do have another in my stash which I will start soon.
Innersense leave in conditioner, one of my favourites, it leaves hair soft, reduces frizz and smells nice.
Laura Mercier setting powder, this was my go to until I discovered the hourglass setting powder.
Jvn pre-wash scale oil, didn't really notice anything with this, but it's such a small sample. It doesn't make me want to rush out and buy.
Wild science shampoo, smelt nice, hair felt clean, nothing special.
Rodial face mask, really like this one. I feel my face looks hydrated and tightened afterwards.
Mz skin calming cream cleanser, I really like this but it's too pricey to buy at full price. Hopefully it shows up in an edit or AC.
Sisley eye and lip contour - OMG!! This is my favourite eye cream ever! I love it 😍 I've bought a mini on vinted, unfortunately I can't buy full size. If this shows up in an AC, I'll be buying it, I don't care what else is in it 🤣

I also have a few - takes me up to 27 for the year, which is not as good as I thought it would be! Never mind, I'm enjoying using it all!

21. Dr Sebagh serum repair, hyaluronic acid - lasted forever and didn’t seem to do anything

22. This works - perfect legs skin miracle - think this was too old, it didn’t absorb well - prefer my Sally Hansen airbrush legs, but glad I tried as I had been wanting to and now I know

23. Color Wow color security shampoo - hair was nice after this but not enough to RP (usually use a 99p one!)

24. Color Wow color security conditioner - gave to DD as I use a light leave in conditioner or the Aveda leave in treatment as I have very fine hair

25. Lalique Soleil - sample size, this was nice, would be very happy to have another, enjoyed it but have loads of perfume so only strong loves get RP

26. Bamford shower gel - nice but don’t need more shower gel and tend to buy cheapies. Happy to have it but wouldn’t buy for myself.

27. Banila clean it zero cleansing balm - this is the yellow one - I really liked it and have already bought a large one because it was reduced to a bargainous £12.99 in the asos sale

Empties

1. Byoma Creamy Jelly Face Wash - this was good, lasted ages and the tube was empty when I cut it open so no waste! Wasn’t creamy despite the name! Will probably RP.
2. Elemis Pro-collagen face fluid SPF50 - this was from the boots Here Comes the Sun edit, felt nice, handy size, too expensive to RP
3. Neutrogena Norwegian formula foot cream - really thick which I didn’t love. I wear it overnight with socks. I have another one in stash but won’t RP after that.

A few more empties, I need to increase my rate of usage as I suspect I’ve had more products in than out this year

The white company flowers body lotion small bottle from a hotel, nice not my favourite white company scent so wouldn’t RP

Aussie bouncy curls conditioner would RP, already replaced from my stash. This is my HG for when I want my hair to look particularly good but not my day to day conditioner

Noughtly body yogurt was from a Roccabox. Nice texture not wild about the scent not a RP although I’ve another tube of this in the cupboard to use

Neutrogena Radiance boost hydrogel face mask didn’t like this as much as other one off moisturising mask not a RP

I have an empty to report:

• Lush Sleepy body lotion: I adore this - the scent, the texture. I will RP at some point but want to reduce done on some other creams first.

Thanks for the lovely messages my friends in my phone. I am sharing a couple of photos of the view from my window. Yesterday’s rainbow (this place does amazing rainbows) and this morning’s snow on the mountain. If you’ve been here a while you will know that I have been whinging about living in a hot and humid climate and now I live in Australia’s most southern capital city, which is beautiful. The pace of life here is slower (which is wonderful) and close-ish to Antarctica and we can see the Aurora Australis. I have been walking every day by the river and have seen seals (not Neil), dolphins and whales. If I complain about this place then I have become too entitled to be on this thread.

Oh @fraaances – your new view is stunning!!

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil 150ml RRP £15. Its taken me this long to decide that I don’t actually like cleansing oils. So while it’s a fine product, its just not for me. I will stick to balms and creams.

Grown Alchemist Age Repair Regeneration Night Cream 12ml RRP £29. Do not like. Hated the smell. Will not RP.

Soltan Protect & Moisturise Suncare Spray SPF30 75ml RRP £5. I really like this product. I’ve got a few sunscreens in the stash and so will use them up before I RP.

ESPA Bergamot and Jasmine Body Lotion 250ml RRP £21. Too thin for me and difficult to absorb. The worst of both worlds. Definitely would not RP.

TempleSpa Double Cream Moisturiser 5ml RRP £4. I love TempleSpa. Would happily RP but I have loads of moisturisers.

Skinsense Reinforcing Vitamin Complex Serum 15ml £28. Not a fan. I don’t mind perfumed products, but this was too much for me. Would not RP.

Gallinee Face Vinegar 200ml RP £26. I originally got this in a Holland & Barratt AC. Liked it so RP’d. I haven’t changed my mind. I have a travel size one in the stash that I’m about to finish and a second one that I can use. I think I’ll RP when I’m in France in September.

Votary Natural Glow Day Cream 50ml RRP £70. I don’t get the love for Votary. I just don’t think its anything special. This particular moisturiser was starting to make my face feel tight, so I slathered it over my body to use up and move on. Obvs will not RP.

Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid 10ml RRP £10. I’ve had this knocking about for years, so was pleased to get it used up. Always difficult to see a difference in such a small amount. Probably wont RP.

Weleda Skin Food Cleansing Balm 75ml RRP £12.95. Another Holland & Barratt AC. I love Weleda products. Never had a product I didn’t like. This is no different. Very well priced cleanser, which has a lovely smell. I have a lot of cleansers still in the stash, including a supersize 200ml Gatineau which will be opened tomorrow. So I don’t need to RP anything just yet. Would be happy to RP this.

Thalgo Peeling Marin Intensive Resurfacing Night Serum 10ml RRP £25. No idea when or how I got this. I hadn’t appreciated how expensive it was. I liked it, it felt good on my skin. So I might RP, but have plenty in the stash for the time being.

The strangest thing happened when I was sorting through my empties for recycling. A Gatineau night cream that I was not happy about, because it only lasted for 6 weeks (50ml pot), turns out it had loads of product still in it! So I decanted it, because I just couldn’t possibly put the pot together again.

Hi have a gallinee face vinegar. My skins quite sensitive atm and the name puts me off 🤣