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!

23/100

Pillow spray - pleasant enough, I like pillow sprays but usually just wait for one to turn up in a box or advent calendar

J’adore intense - I like J’adore and this is lovely, not a purchase as I have a half full bottle of J’adore to use

L’occitane shampoo - a hotel mini I was happy to see and would be happy to encounter again

I’ve managed to get some empties in before the month end. Only 9 products for March and 3 of them were single use masks. RRP for March was £143. Hopefully April will be better.

Beauty Pro Squalene Nourishing Face Mask RRP £6. I liked this. Very moisturising. I would RP, but I have loads of face masks in the stash.

Ecodenta Black Cinnamon Toothpaste RRP £5.45. I wouldn’t normally put toothpaste in my list, but this was in my H&B AC from 2024. It was awful. It says a lot for my persistence that I actually finished this. I’ve never come across a black toothpaste before and I think that’s for a very good reason! Absolutely would not RP!

Listerine Mild & Minty Mouthwash RRP £2.50, will RP, just not this particular one. I prefer a strong flavour.

La Roche Posay Nutritic Intense Riche RRP £24. I love this. Very much my Holy Grail for winter skin. I do have another one in the stash as my French friends know my love for this product and usually gift me one.

Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Soothing Cleansing Balm RRP £40. This was fine, but I think that I prefer Aromatherapy Associates bath products to skincare. Its very pricy for a cleanser and I think I’ve found a new one that I prefer.

Boring empties this week. All of my sachets are gone. Also a couple of sheet masks which I am using just to use them up. I have finished a bottle each of Tsubaki shampoo & conditioner and re-filled them. I am going to try and make do with this until I move. I am still alternating with the Treecell stuff. I have finished the last of my Fino hair treatment. I’m pleased with that as the scent has become overwhelming for me and I have others I like better, ie Treecell, Elizavecca & Tsubaki (which I finished recently.) I gave an almost full Unove treatment mask to my daughter because it was way too heavy for my hair but she loves it. I finished a travel-sized bottle of peach-scented Hair+ protein bonding mist. I have refilled it from the big bottle so I can use it for travel. Ovidio body wash in vetiver and patchouli. Was deeply suspicious of this one but loved the scent. The formula was fine but I think I find everything very drying.
Makeup cull - Fenty foundation stick binned. Charlotte Tillbury highlighter stick thingy binned. Any lipstick I haven’t worn or don’t enjoy wearing is gone. I now have only two blushes, one mini bronzer which I dropped this morning and was too afraid to check. Mascaras I’m not mad about - all gone. I am about to bin two old Natasha Denona eyeshadow palettes and just keep my favourite shades in magnetic palettes.

@Tarragon123 black cinnamon toothpaste does sound an extremely niche product, putting it kindly. Shows real determination on your part to use it up.

My empty for the day is an extremely old tube of Avene Cicalfate Barrier Cream. So old it's reformulated and renamed now. I loved it when I bought it for redness associated with tret use. Recently went back on the tret and the cream is rubbish this time around. Won't RP because I can't!

A few more empties

Garner moisturising sheet mask. It’s been in the cupboard a while will RP when I’ve used up the last of the odd masks in the cupboard

Sea Magik shampoo won’t RP

Bed Head Salty not Sorry hair styling. I liked the effect when I didn’t intend to d o anything with my hair but the spray stopped working almost immediately which made it a real pain to use so I won’t RP

Travel size VO5 hair putty, last bit has been hanging around long enough it solidified. Didn’t like this won’t RP

ESPA conditioner, quite nice but won’t RP

Sample size La Roche Posay cream, nice enough but there are other creams I prefer. I’ve more of these sample sizes as pharmacist was getting customers to take lots a few months back

@Francestein – well done on using up all your sachets. That’s quite an achievement! I can only dream lol.

@AnnaMagnani – imagine putting it in an Advent Calendar! Who on earth thought that would be a good idea?

I'm guessing it went in the Advent Calendar as a last attempt to get shot of the stuff!

We really need the laughing emoji as a reaction!! 😂

I'm coming up to having an empty of my Tropic Morning Mist face mist. Which I love. However it's very expensive. BUT I NEEEEEED a face mist. Has anyone had one that has been a definite RP? I liked the Boots Rosewater and Glycerin which I put in a spray bottle but felt it left me looking a bit shiny. But would have RP other than that.

@Appleby11I used to use a Superdrug face mist - hyaluronic acid one but I fear they no longer stock it but have not checked in a while.

A finished product this morning - soap bar from All Natural Soap Company.

This is the only soap I buy, lovely natural soap from a UK company and I have 3 left in the box still.

Recent empties:

39 Bobbi Brown intensive serum foundation. Years old, destined for the bin, I just don’t wear this kind of foundation now. It’s not bad, it’s just not me.

40 W7 concealer. Was always the wrong colour and it settles into lines - I don’t have lines, it makes them appear!

41 Dr Jart+ Dermask soothing hydra solution. Single use. It didn’t itch or sting and left my face feeling nice and soft. I’d use one again.

42 Avant blue volcanic stone cleansing gel (small tube from a box of gwp). Despite its reputation for being an omnipresent brand in edits, I really liked this. It doesn’t sting, it feels really cleansing and leaves my face lovely and soft. Not drying either. I would rp if it wasn’t so ridiculously expensive.

I’m still wading through the dregs of my Zelens Melatonin B12. I cut the tube open over a week ago! Fingers crossed for it being done by the end of the weekend…it’s just feeling laborious now!

I’ve not heard of this company but thanks for this – my DD has very allergic skin and we struggle to find suitable soap. This firm does a soap that is free from everything so might work. I have ordered some for her anyway :)

ETA wow some of you are really doing well with the numbers! My issue is that the things I finish are the ones I don't want to haha – just finished a Sunday Riley vit C serum which I really love grrr

I like the idea of adding the value as well.

Thanks @clary - I really like them as the soap doesn't set off my ezcema and the gentle ones really are gentle.

I have empties. The Archery brow pen is a staple repurchase, I’ve been buying it since 2015. The Tarte Tartelette tubing mascara was a recommendation from MN and I’m happy to say it is THE best brown mascara I ever bought. I can finally wear daily mascara. I work abroad so now I have to wait until I’m back in the UK to get more as they don’t do either item here. Luckily I have a travel sized black one to try next.

That Tarte brown mascara is really good. I had to throw one out a while back as I'd pushed it past expiry date. It has great staying power.

@Appleby11 this is what I have when I'm on my travels.

Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray for Sensitive Skin 50ml - Boots

My regular one was bought in a French supermarket for 3 euros, but thats not particularly helpful for you.

@Experiment627 @Tarragon123 thank you! I've had three of the same and could RP a fourth. But I have no real loyalty to products, and could easily switch if one winks at me from the shop shelf. I do like Avene. I may look at that one. Having one for hot flushes is a good send!

Decided to ditch these two - the Cath Kidston Eggnog (!) lip balm was sticky and the peppermint in the Burt’s Bees was too tingly for me.

Only 17 million other lip balms in the stash so I think I’ll be ok!

Two empties - ran out of bath foam/oil so used the L’Occitaine almond for that, very nice.

The White Company lotion smelt nice but was a travel freebie that was enough for about half a leg!

Ahhh I’ve found my people! I’m a bit of a beauty hoarder too.

Heres my March empties:

Ponds Cold Cream Cleanser always my go to makeup remover. Have purchased for over a decade and will continue to RP.

La Mer foaming cleanser was a sample. Struggled to get through it as I don’t love it. Like any foaming cleanser it’s fun but I don’t like that squeaky clean/drying feeling.

Cocobo dermaplaning tool the best one I’ve found. Have used for the past couple of years. I buy multipacks and use fresh each time. The only ones I find that don’t scratch my face.

Batiste dry shampoo floral blush again Batiste is my go to dry shampoo. It’s cheap and cheerful and works best for me.

k18 Damage Shield shampoo I liked it. I have had a lot of new hair growth but I have changed a lot of things so not sure it’s exclusively down to this. Leaves my hair feeling very clean but I’m still having to wash it as often as any other shampoo that I use. Greasy girl hair problems I suppose.

Lacura foaming bath soak bath season is nearly over for me. It foams up nicely but the bubbles disappear quickly.

Bacarrat Rouge 540 perfume this was gifted a year or so ago. It’s a nice perfume but every girl and their mother has the Zara dupe (myself included) and it’s given me the ick. Glad to have finished it 😂

Edit to add:

Ole Henriksen Dewtopia 20% Acid Night Treatment I did like this. The smell was a little odd but not unpleasant. It did leave my skin looking nice the following morning. I would RP but not for a while as I have a lot of actives that need using up.

Welcome @1AnotherOne I love this thread!

ooh Sheila F I love that Burt's Bees lip balm. I nick it from DD when she is not looking (she has many many).

What I want to know is, why do we run out of/use up some things and have no more – I am on my last cleanser and absolutely my last day cream, and I keep having to buy bath stuff as there is never enough in ACs/beauty boxes – and yet I have many many eye treatments and serums. And fragrances but I am happy with that tbh :)

Got some more empties used up in March, and some to chuck cos I just don't like them:
49. Ineos hand wash - decent hand wash, smells nice, no rashy hands which I am susceptible to.
50. Yes Cleanse Rose wash - I use this twice a day, it's expensive but I love it.
51. Soolantra, Ivermectin - on prescription, really good for Rosacea.
52. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - Ooh I think this might have been from a beauty box or calendar 🤣. I actually quite like this when I can be bothered to use it. Only 20 more to use up in the stash!
53. Aveda Hair Serum - alright, but won't RP as it's dead expensive.
54. Discover Midnight Blossom shower gel - smelt alright, prefer the matching perfume.
55. Estée Lauder foundation sample - hd it ages, don't really like the texture.
56. Lush Frog Prince - smells nice but I don't like the jelly texture. I'm going off Lush products a bit in my old age, they cost a bomb too.