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!

A few more from me! I seem to be racing through things…

117: Urban Decay Quick Fix hydra-charged complexion prep priming spray. One of my new favourite things is a spray before toner and this one was sooo good! Nice slight coconutty smell, non-sticky, non-itchy, lasted really well. Would rp - but I must have had it in stash for ages as it’s been disconned.

118: Nair hair remover cream. Fairly standard product and will rp even though I also have an electric razor!

119: Dr Dennis Gross fill and repair serum. 7ml. Only lasted about 10 days. I didn’t notice it doing anything particularly filling or repairing and it was a bit sticky. Probably not a rp.

120: L’occitane hand cream 10ml in Amande Sublime. Didn’t have my glasses on and used as a body cream! Nice, pleasant smell, effective on dry parts. Would rp but no need to, either for hand or body, as I have masses in my stash!

Couple more empties

Violette FR Boum Boum Milk -from a recent Liberty edit. I'm on the fence on this one. I liked it and the spray is very fine but a full size is expensive. I used this travel size up fairly quickly so I don't think I'd want to pay the rrp on a regular basis.

Cosrx 6 peptide serum - It's taken ages to use this up as I kept dipping in and out of it. Good product though, I prefer it to more expensive hyaluronic serums I've used. Could be a future RP but I don't use hyaluronic serum everyday.

Oh I have that serum @OvaHere and think I might try it next. Did you find it pilled at all?

No. Never found a problem with it. I rate it for a low cost product.

Has anyone used the Geek & Gorgeous Peptide Serum? I want one that actually DOES things.

I've just started using The Ordinary Hair Density Peptide Serum. That seems to be one of the most highly rated. I guess I won't know for a while if it works.

K18 have just released one people seem excited about but it's very expensive so I'm going to stick with TO for now.

Lumene Glow Boost Nordic C serum.

I believe this is the mildest formulation of Vit C, it doesn’t sting my skin and I was impressed that there was none left to tip out - the dropper got it all. Have already RP and started the new one this morning!

@OvaHere Are you using it alone or in conjunction with dermaneedling?

Just on it's own. I do have a derma roller but haven't quite built up the courage to have a go.

@OvaHere I couldn’t manage the roller in my hair as it kept tangling up. I have just started using a dermastamp which is MUCH better for hair (also more surface area.) So tempted to get a dermapen. I am wondering if I want to use a peptide serum or go straight for Minoxidil.

First post in a while, sorry

Lots and lots of empties tho :)

Of these I loved:

• The Sunday Riley night oil
• Three of the fragrances – Sparkling Jo, really fresh and fruity; Zepherine, much heavier than I usually like but lovely; and Bibbi Santal which was nice too
• Liz Earle C&P is a staple
• Jones Road Miracle Balm I know some are not keen but I loke this – Pinched Cheeks, a great blush
• The Beauty of Joseon tinted moisturiser is good and great value

The Ordinary peel I chucked as on last use it really stung. Maybe just too old. The peel or maybe me haha.

I do love my perfumes don’t I, six in there!

@SheilaFentiman I love that Lumene vit C it really makes a difference I think. Must stop using random stuff and stick to what is good.

@clary glad you like it too. There often seems to be offers on Lumene in £10 Tuesday etc so not too pricey to stock up!

Things have been very crazy recently what with less childcare as summer hols, a part-time job that deminds full time attention and deciding to "expand" my side hustle at this crazy busy time. Anyhoo we are away for the weekend, forcing me to get in some r&r which is great & I have had the opportunity to get caught up. I do have some empties to report but they are back home and perimenopausal brain fog means I cannot recall what they are.

I can confess that I have many shampoo & conditioner sets on the go... OGX ProGrowth & Peptide, Monday, Pantene Grow Abundant as well as Redken Amino Mint & OGX Rosemary Mint.

Some more empties which takes me to 94 so far this year

• Clinque CC Cream, I know I said the company isn’t aligned with my values but there’s still the odd product of theirs I struggle to give up and their fair CC cream is one of those. Tube lasts for ages I’d already RP at airport in January when tube was running low but there was more left than I realised
• Ted Baker body scrub. This was a gift and I was surprised by how nice it was. Lovely texture & nice to use. If used body scrubs regularly I’d possibly RP but I find them a bit of a faff so only use them when gifts
• Molton Brown shampoo travel size, whilst a convenient size I realised this has been hanging around for ages won’t RP
• Molton Brown conditioner as above
• Virgin Vie spray body bronzer, not an empty I’m binning this. It’s very old and not something I ever thought of using I think I was also concerned about getting it on my clothes

I have 2 minis of this so contemplating trying. I sold a fullsize on vinted not that long ago so that probably guarantees ill love it. 🤣

Yes I like this

I am moving hopefully soon and it’s have recycled loads of products at Boots this year including make up

also took all my perfume bottles to perfume shop (at least 6) and bought one perfume

@Experiment627 I am pleased some forced R&R is happening for you. Hope it was stress free and you spoiled yourself. You sound super busy. I am just popping in to say that I saw the OGX Rosemary & mint shampoo and all I could think of was “Mmmmmm….. Roast Lamb.” (Definitely a Labrador in a past life.)

I’ve got the eye cream in my stash, I assume from an edit. Generally love Lumene, so looking forward to trying it eventually

LOL @Francestein it is definitely not my favourite shampoo scent however it does work reasonably well & is a lot cheaper than the Redken Amino Mint.

My son and I had a lovely weekend on the English coast - just back in the door. Lots of fresh air which I think has done me the world of good as well as a lie in until 7.30 this morning which was bliss.

The empties I could not remember were:

• Vagisil medicated creame: did not really get any numbing effect but handles vulva itching very well - which is what I needed. I thought it might numb the Lady Garden a tad as it containns Lidocaine.
• Cameleo Men hair color cream 3.0 dark brown: really loved both Just for men products I have tried but this was very runny, not enough to really cover my greys and it actually did not cover the ones I applied it to that well.

Throwing away a couple of bits. AB Lash serum. Rubbish, used for months and noticed no difference. Brush felt awkward too. Garnier banana hair drink. Its a good product, it just sat in my shower for half a year half used, and i didnt have the motivation to use it up🤷🏼‍♀️

155. Elemis Pro-Collagen Toning Mist. I did like using it, but apart from being instantly refreshing, I can't say I noticed much difference to my overall skin. Probably wouldnt RP.

156. Summer Fridays CC Me Serum. My all-time favourite vitamin C serum. It's expensive, so I buy it when I can. But I must find a cheaper alternative, possibly a K-beauty Vitamin C.

157. CH Cream cleanser sample. Nice, only got one use from it. Not sure would beat KS goat milk.

158. Dermalogica serum sample. This pilled so bad. Shame, as i usually love Dermalogica products.

159. SDJ Body Badalada body lotion. Prefer this over the cream, more moisturising. Would RP this.

160/161 Aldi Tropical essence. I like an Aldi dupe, these are really nice. I again, prefer this cream to the orginal SDJ. So would RP. Shower gel was also nice.

162. Garnier watermelon body cream. I found i got sick of the scent half way through. No RP.

163. DDG daily peels x3. Was a Facebook freebie. I've bought these a few times over the years. Pricey, but worth every penny. I always see results; skin looks fresh and glowy. I would repurchase all the time if they weren't so pricey.

164. Rhode Eye patches. Bought into the hype, they're okay. I don't know why I buy these sachet ones when I prefer tubs of eye patches.

165. Lush Mango Kulfi body conditioner. Another I wasn't keen on the smell of. They are good if you don't use lotion after a shower. I would never buy them, though, unless they are on sale.

A few perfumes to add - clearing the decks for my recent influx 😬
Bibbi Fruit Captain 10ml- I'm not a huge fan of fruity scents and this was too sweet for me with a boozy/rotting aftermath, although it wasn't actively unpleasant at all, just not something that had that fragrance x factor when you want to sniff again, and again. Nice but not distinctive or very me. Yawn. No RP
Memo Odeon 5ml, I felt like I should like this but was underwhelmed - With fragrance I want something that really feels like a YES, this was an 'ok then' with very poor sillage and longevity.
Goldfield Banks Pacific rock flower - smelt this in store and it didn't feel special as it started quite bog-standard floral, then I tried it at home and got all the saltiness and fell in love. Hello addictive new love! Really gives the vibe of a long day at the beach - a bit sun lotion coconutty then very salty skin-after-the-ocean smell. It's a lightish scent but really lasts. You could recreate this easily with ambre solaire and 4 hours somewhere sticky and tropical. I could totally do a bottle of this in summer easily and am very glad I have a 10ml to use after this 2ml sample. This and Bibbi Swimming Pool are hitting my summer scent needs perfectly - a defined freshness with some sweetness but nothing cloying. Bibbi is herbal fresh, this is salty fresh. Looking forward to trying the GB Sunst Hour sample I have too as I preferred that in-store so I'm curious to see how I rate it now with some proper use, having fallen for PRF.
Total 99 out, whoop! Need to have a recount to see how that stacks with the ins though, I don't honestly feel like there's been much reduction over all tbh. I've just got a job in another country for 7 weeks though, having been funemployed for a while (I usually had short-term back to back contracts but my industry is on it's arse atm) so I loved shopping the stash for travel stuff - it has been delightful and no further purchases were needed 😂

That was quite a bombastic review of PRF because I just re-sprayed myself with it to confirm I loved it 😂I do think fragrance is incredibly seasonal as well as personal though, i just sniffed the perfume I really liked from the Harrods advent last year ( by Etat Libre d'Orange - Uruk Chronicles) and it seems horrible now in the sticky heat. Side note, I had to go on fragrantica to look that perfume up because I couldn't remember the name and discovered ELDO have a perfume called Philippine Houseboy and am both perplexed and horrified.

July empties, I'm ploughing through them and trying not to buy too much more 😇

113. Shay & Blue Black Tulip - ended up using it as a room spray, it stunk a bit funny on me.
114. Joop Home - I love this, I need to buy more.
115. Velvet Amber, M&S - really lovely.
116. Tigi Bedhead - ended up giving it to my child, it made my head itch unfortunately.
117. Neat Foaming Hand wash - lovely smell, non irritating too. 118.Faces of Francis - I loved the weird smell of this. I have another small size off Vinted. I already have a full size Poets of Berlin so won't be splashing out on any more of this.
118. Mango Lassi Lush shower gel - this was horrible and actually had annoying bits in which clogged up the dispenser!
119. Dear Polly - used as room spray, nuff said. 121.Omorovizca fash wash - really nice.
120. Discover White Coconut shower gel - love the smell of this, I have the perfume too.
121. KBS Calming Gel cleanser - a little bit stingy in my precious skin.
122. Malin & Goetz Grapefruit cleanser - s'alright.
123. LBTY Tana Meadow - not that great.
124. Saltworks South Peach - pleasant enough
125. Salt Works Copa Cabana - smelt okay.

@Caggie09 I also felt the same about the AB lash serum and the applicator and chucked mine half used. I had better results from the Beauty Pie one I was using before it. I really like the Summer Fridays CC Me serum too, it's lovely.

I've got a few more empties and one chuck.

AB Retinol Serum - sad I'm binning this as I love the AB Retinol but I bought it on Vinted and although unused it was clearly quite old because the serum is a milky white colour rather than the yellow it should be. Lesson learned there - only hunt these down on Vinted straight after they appear in an advent calendar and attempt to get some proof that's where they're from.

Reome facemask - I bought a box of these on my birthday trip. I like the serum a lot but not sure if I would RP due to price. Maybe occasionally.

Cosrx Propolis and Honey Overnight Mask - was really impressed with this. I thought it was really good at calming skin and taking down redness overnight. It's fairly inexpensive so I will RP at some point.

Moncho Moreno Leave in Conditioner Mist - From last year's Harrods advent. Liked it and the smell is lovely, a bit like playdough or those swiss roll erasers from the 80s (if that's your thing). I may go on to purchase in the future.

Stuff that I binned:

126. La Mer lip balm - this made my lips sore. Apparently it's £65 a pop so I'm glad I only got it in the last Liberty AC.
127. Benetint lip tint - I really like this and have already repurchased it. It makes a great blusher too.
128. Percy and Reed No Oil volume oil - this smells a bit odd so I've ditched it.
129. Vaseline - bought 2 more for work and my bag, just smells a bit off.
130. Aloe Vera Vaseline - this made my lips sore unfortunately.
131. Wild Balm Cleansing Melt - this clings to my skin and I can't be bothered spending ages scraping it off.
132. Paw Paw Balm - again just smells odd, I don't like the texture either but I got it in a set.

Onwards and upwards!