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!

@clary – I could have sent you some! I have 10 in the stash (including a 250ml one!) plus 7 scattered around the house, car and handbags. One was in my Rituals AC. I would be up for a mass sharing event. I am happy to give away all the Phillip Kingsley stuff and I don’t even want anything in return lol.

@Francestein – are you moving from Brisbane to Melbourne??

I’m heading off to Lanzarote tomorrow morning. I bought a 75ml sunscreen, a mouthwash and Aveeno body oil, all travel sizes and on a 3 for 2 deal. The body oil was not needed, but I needed to get something for the 3 for 2 deal. I will probably use it up in a week anyway.

@Tarragon123 - I wish!(I’m from Melbourne). We’re going to Hobart! Don’t know anyone there but that has never stopped me!

Have a brilliant time in Lanzarote @Tarragon123

You will know this if it’s not your first visit, but Fund Grube shops are fun for beauty browsing 😀

My great-grandmother was from Hobart, I’ve always wanted to visit! How thrilling!

@Tarragon123 Have an amazing time in Lanzarote! Sounds heavenly!
@TragicMuse I’m very excited about living in Hobart. My memories (I haven’t been in over 20 years) are that it’s relaxed, very small and has a similar vibe to Oslo. It’s all built around a harbor and when it’s cold, it’s cold. (Luckily I love that!)

Ordered the Style Korean Pharmacy box🫣 It seems such a great deal. Also going shopping next week, my local town has no good shops, so looking foward to browsing HBeauty and Sephora. Giving myself a £100 budget! Anyway empties!

Kayali plush pear sample. I really liked this.

69. Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C Cream. I found this such a faff to open with the snap lid, then I lost it, so I couldn't stick it back in again. I didn't notice much difference using this alongside my usual Vitamin C serum. I prefer my Vit C and SPF separate anyway. Good if you want an all-in-one, I suppose.

70. Emma Hardie Moringa Hydro-Gel Mask.
    I liked this. I used it in the evening, and the next morning my skin felt hydrated and makeup went on nice and smooth. I prefer hydro-gel masks, as I find you get better results. If on offer, I'd possibly RP or if I had a special occasion.

71. Kerastase Gloss Absolu shampoo. I was undecided about this and thought, nah, I'll go back to a drugstore shampoo. But the last few uses, I did notice how glossy and healthy my hair looked. Even my partner noticed, so that's saying something! Have ordered a fullsize.

72. The Ordinary Caffeine Eye Serum. I got this in a SNK AC years ago, possibly 2019, and have repurchased it ever since. I use it every morning, as the coolness of the serum really wakes me up. I don't have issues with dark circles, but I do have odd puffy eyes in the morning and find this helps. I've RP.

73. Amika The Kure shampoo & conditioner sample. I always like a sample of shampoo, as it comes in handy. A thick shampoo, I could have gotten two uses from it. It was nice.

74. Lumene Oat Milk Oil Cleanser. I have eczema-prone skin, and this would be perfect for a flare-up. Very soothing and calming. But, I find it's not enough for day-to-day use. I prefer a cleansing balm or oil. My skin just didn't feel clean after using it; I feel like my second cleanse had to work extra hard.

We’ve been pottering along here for 11 years! What an amazing tribe. I feel so lucky to be allowed to hang out with you all!

Tonight I finished a bottle of my favourite yellow Tsubaki shampoo. I have been powering through it because DD2 has been decanting it (with permission) and she has waist-length, mermaid hair. (Both girls have amazing hair, but DD1 lives in Melbourne now.) I suspect that others are onto this miraculous product as it has increased in price at my local store. I am going to order the 1000ml refills from Japan for less than the 360ml bottles currently cost here. DD2 can keep helping herself until I move. (She is staying here.)
I’d say that I have about a week’s worth of sunscreen left so I shall order some JBeauty ones to play with when I order my shampoo. The hole in the ozone layer is centered over Antarctica, and Hobart is one of the closest major cities to that neck of the woods. I shall be even more vigilant about reapplying. I am also eyeing up some pressed and loose powder, but will have to see how I go.

So glad you like it. I was trying to remember the other day who it was that had bought some. I've nearly panned my first one, I find it really easy to wear day to day - just the right amount of coverage and doesn't feel heavy.

@FrancesteinI feel lucky to hang out with you all too 🫶🏼
I want mermaid hair!!!
Definitely sounds like you need a tonne of SPF and maybe a hat too!

Superdrug haul arrived with hair color product leaked all over rest of haul... am in discussions with Superdrug for a refund 🙄

Not posted my empties this year yet and now there's a formidable amount!

19 hair products
10 bath/body items
2 perfumes (one mini)
17 face products - washes, creams
2 cosmetics

So with my empties from November and December, that brings me up to a total of 92. My target was to hit 100 by my birthday in November this year. Yikes.

My would RP from the past three months:

1. BeautyPie: 7-oil super healthy hair elixir at £17. Absolutely gorgeous and smells heavenly.
2. BeautyPie: Super healthy hair leave-in conditioner, £12. These two combined saved my hair from significant fall out, ratty ends and general hedgebackwards crimes. £29 for both though? Currently experimenting with alternating products and fear it's a waste of time and money.
3. Tatcha: The rice wash. Oh this is lovely. I have normal/oily skin and this was a joy. I'm a tomboy that works in IT and this brand doesn't seem like it's for me. I'd still buy it again.
4. Caudalie: Vinoperfect serum, £52. I like the smell, it plays well under make up and with other creams at nighttime, it lasts for ages. Does it do anything? Maybe? I am going to miss it now it's empty. I used my Liberty credit to replace it with Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic acid treatment, not entirely comparable but in the same wheelhouse. Excited to try it.
5. Estee Lauder: Advanced Night Repair. I love this. I'm trying not to because ethics. And price. Not even going to look it up.
6. Nip & fab: Peptide fix finishing oil, £29.95. I'm a simple creature, it smells great, it's blue, and it makes my skin feel lovely the next morning. I have repurchased and the new oil seems a little thin in comparison, hoping I'm wrong.

Absolutely would not RP and am personally offended by their existence:

1. Nip & fab: Vitamin C 15%: Resulted in painful breakouts on my chin that I could only clear with tret.
2. Elemis: Superfood midnight facial: This absorbs really well and the packaging is sweet but the smell, dear god the smell. Elemis, you are doing too much. Take a day off.
3. BeautyPie: Blow dry spray: THE HOT DOGS ARE STRONG WITH THIS ONE. It's not even vitamin c. What the fuck.
4. Pantene XL active something or other: I got two of these and they pissed me off right off the bat. XL my arse. The packaging is large but half-empty.
5. The Ordinary: Glycolic Acid toner: this self-propagates when you aren't looking and sits quietly, ominously, smugly watching you whilst you're doing something ordinary like climbing into bed. It knows it will outlive us all. It is a thoughtful, spiteful sociopath a la Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator. Are you not entertained?! I shall replace this with REN's Ready Steady Glow AHA tonic for as long as I can find it on Vinted.

1. The Ordinary: Glycolic Acid toner: this self-propagates when you aren't looking and sits quietly, ominously, smugly watching you whilst you're doing something ordinary like climbing into bed. It knows it will outlive us all. It is a thoughtful, spiteful sociopath a la Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator. Are you not entertained?! I shall replace this with REN's Ready Steady Glow AHA tonic for as long as I can find it on Vinted.

Best review ever @DidILeaveTheGasOn 😀

@DidILeaveTheGasOn I think I have one of the REN tonics I’ll check…

@DidILeaveTheGasOn I have one which the code dates to December 2023 so it should still be good.

It’s yours if you want it!

@Experiment627 I want mermaid hair too. Alas those days are well and truly over. Mine’s more like cat hair. Meanwhile, I wish I looked cool in hats. Unfortunately I look like a mushroom.

@DidILeaveTheGasOn that's exactly how I feel about the Elemis Superfood cream. I threw out a half finished jar in my last empties. The scent is a lot and I like a nice scent. It's a shame as the cream is nice otherwise.

@DidILeaveTheGasOn wowzers that is a lot of empties! Love your reviews too :)

@Francestein okay maybe not a hat... how about a parasol?

I have two empties to report:

• Mum & You 100% biodegradable sensitive baby wipes: these were ok. Not my fave. Will defo RP some baby wipes though - just not these.
• Mitchum pure fresh anti perspirant & deodorant (stick): WTAF! I am SO fekked off with myself - only now, as I am nearly done with it, do I think to look at the ingredients... and I only looked because I was wondering if it had aluminium in it - and that was where the "um" comes from in the name. Oh yes it sure does have aluminium in it but also the FIRST ingredient listed is cyclopentasiloxane!!!!!!!! FFS! First off I though this had been banned... it definitely was by the EU - but maybe that restriction has been lifted since we are not in the EU anymore... Anyhoo I used to bang on about this cyclical silicone all the time - it is an endocrine disrupter - and it is volatile meaning you and those near to you breath it in. Was a great deodorant but I have learned a very important lesson - always read the ingredients list!

@Experiment627 there’s a great app that scans the bar code of products and looks and analyses the ingredients. It’s shocking sometimes the stuff they put in stuff. I had a sample of evidens night mask (I think) and that had a chemical in that had been banned. It’s called Yuka. The free version is great.

I’ve been using it for a while. It’s very useful. It gives recommendations for alternatives too. It’s actually shocking what is in some products.

That said, it’s a bit purist so you do need to read the report rather than just looking at the number. It marks things down for having potential allergens so if they don’t bother you, you can ignore that aspect of the report.

@TragicMuse Yes please!

Pop me a private message with your address and I’ll get it posted to you!

And you can be sure I’m adding it to my stash-busting list! 😂

@Beautyfox I have Yuka :) but I rarely use it as not much good when buying online with no barcode - totally my bad as I think you can manually search too.

@Caggie09 The Style Korean box is great value! I was soooooo tempted!

@DidILeaveTheGasOn i have both the ordinary glycolic toner and the REN AHA on the go at the moment. To be honest, I think they both fit your description perfectly 😂 What is it about the REN that you prefer?

@Fillybuster The REN one seems to do something, it feels refreshing too, whilst the Ordinary one is quite insipid. I only really developed fear and loathing when I'd had the same bottle for almost a year.
It's probably psychological at this point!

Some more empties, mainly minis:

No 7 Cloud Bounce foam cleanser - 30ml. One of the Boots K beauty dupes, maybe for the Round Lab Dokdo cleanser as they feel pretty similar. I preferred this to the Dokdo though, it feels a bit gentler.

No 7 Skin Sip Moisture Milk - 50ml. Not sure what this is duping, maybe the Laneige cream skin. It was ok but if I was after one of these creamy, moisturising toner/essence type products, I’d go for the Haruharu Barrier Essence.

Elemis Pro-Collagen night cream - 15ml. Definitely my favourite Elemis product. Absorbs really well and makes my skin feel lovely.

Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream - 50ml. Up there with the Skin 1004 centella as my favourite sunscreen . It’s the perfect weight for my normal/slightly combo skin and doesn’t pill or sting my eyes. Have already RP.

Perfume samples - Carolina Herrera La Bomba, Who is Elijah Poetic Dance and Lalique Amethyst.

Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara - nothing particularly bad about it but I thought it was pretty average.

Lush Merry Christmas Everyone shower gel - 115g. A warm orange scent, liked it.

Lush Grass body scrub - 135g. Does smell exactly like freshly cut grass. A nice smell but not necessarily something I want to wash myself with!

Lush The Rush body lotion - 100g. The nicest floral scent I’ve had from Lush. It really reminded me of a Cowshed product but annoyingly I can’t remember which one. Something with geranium in.

Farmona Cherry Vanilla body lotion - 200ml. A cheapie from Notino. It was fine, nothing amazing.