I always like setting myself the challenge of looking over my collection seasonally and finding the products which are either reaching the point where they need to be used up because of expiration or I don’t really love them very much and want them out of my collection. This has always worked really well for me in the past and by publicly committing to use up some of the shit, often sees them whizzed through and in my empties in no time at all. I’ve now used used up everything I committed to saying goodbye to in Spring, so it’s time for the summer refresh.
I actually have quite a chunk of stuff for this season’s clearout – I’m trying to declutter as best as I can. I’ve upped the anti on my beauty storage and whilst re-organising it helped me evaluate what I really, really don’t need any more of. It’s quite a makeup heavy one this time – I’m starting afresh with a lot of skincare at the moment and looking over my collection there’s not a lot I’m trying to use up that will take a lot of effort.
The Body Shop Harvest Peach Body Spray
I bought this as I love the Harvest Peach shower gel from The Body Shop, it’s only recently been pulled out of my cupboard into rotation. Whilst I do like this it doesn’t have the best longevity, so I only really use this when I’m out for a short while, or more often layered with something else that does last.
The Body Shop White Musk Libertine Perfume
Another fragrance from Body Shop, and one of the ones I like layered with the harvest peach spray. I love this perfume, so much so I have another 50ml bottle and a 100ml bottle in my cupboard waiting to go, so this is the one I’m using daily at the moment as I definitely don’t need three of the same hanging around.
HD Brows Pressed Powder Palette
I’ve already made good progress on this when I ran out of all other pressed powders, the top row of this palette are all basically the same translucent colour, whilst the bottom are all way too dark. You may think I could use these as a contouring or bronzing shades but they blend so terribly that they don’t work as that either. The top row I’m using as setting powders until they’re gone, but I don’t really love them as they aren’t brilliant at oil control either. All round a bit of a flop of a palette, it’s taking up too much space so I’m going to be happy to bin it as soon as I can.
John Freida Frizz Ease Serum
At the moment I’m more often than not heading upstairs to bed with damp hair, so I’ve put this by my bedside table for the past few weeks to try and use this up and have already been making good progress. I do actually like this but I have so many hair oils in my drawer I’ve picked the easiest to get rid of first. I either choose a serum or an oil, and generally prefer oils so I’ll get rid of the serums.
Tony and Guy Smoothing Serum
Another Serum… yep another serum. I keep this one for when I’ve curled my hair and running my fingers through my hair to keep things smoothed out. Due to the fact that this isn’t clear I can’t tell how much is left in it, but I got it in a beauty box a good two or three years ago and have always used it on and off, so I’m guessing this might be an easy one to get rid of.
MAC Brave
The last little nub of my first MAC lipstick needs to get it’s booty out the door. I will 100% repurchase this (and I plan to do so before I rebuy so I can compare them as my version of Brave looks nothing like what is available now). But after about 7 years, it should definitely go – I’ve been using it sporadically for about 2 years as I know when I rebuy I’m not going to get the same lipstick again, so have been holding onto it for nostalgia’s sake.
Witch 2 in 1 Primer & Serum
I did a base to full face week back in Spring and this was the first item which featured on the list. I don’t hate this, but as summer has rolled around it’s revealed itself as being a terrible performer in the warm. I tend to use this for either really short periods of time if I’m not intending on wearing makeup for a long period, or actually as a skincare item. I’m not sure how well it performs as a clearing product or as a primer to be honest, but it’s nearly gone and I will use this up.
Urban Decay Primer Potion
I’ve had this longer than what I should, and actually found something much cheaper that performs as well as this from MUA. I’ve been working on Primer Potion’s demise since then in a bid to get it gone and leave just one in my collection. I don’t anticipate I’ll be done with this, this season – maybe by the end of year if I’m lucky. I’d estimate I have around 25% left, but that 25% will take ages to use up!
The Balm MaryLou Manizer
Since Christmas I’ve had this in my head to be one to concentrate on using up, and have put a self inflicted ban on myself on buying more highlighters until this has gone. I like this highlighter, but there’s so many out there I want to try (Becca, Hourglass, Too Faced, Cover FX to name but a few). This soft golden highlight I’ve made relatively good progress on, with about a quarter of the pan now peeking through.
So that’s it for summer’s use up project, I think this will be quite a challenging one with some items that are going to be time consuming ones! Let me know if there’s any of these which you have tried and whether you liked or disliked them.
What are you trying to use up at the moment?
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Thank your for sharing what youre trying to use up, I have put a few things on the side that I want to try and use up!! xo
Yes having a little organised pile really helps me!
I have loads of things like this, which sit in the drawer for years, before eventually being binned after only a couple of uses. Such a great idea to set yourself a goal of using them all up to make way for new products 😊 xx
I was exactly the same, I started doing this last year trying to clear out those middle of the road products you might not hate but you don’t love them enough to use them everyday either. That’s what ends up as the clutter in my house! Publicly committing to getting them used up seems to help my motivation! xx
Loved this post! I find that if I set my mind to it and focus on only using a certain product in each category I use them up quicker! I managed to use up an entire Benefit box Blush and an Urban Decay Bronzer that had been sitting in my collection forever for my last empties, just by sticking to those two products for a while! Good Luck with your Summer goals of using these up! xx
Thank you! Well done – powders are the worst to use up, the first time I started this I had a Estee Lauder blush in it (which I’d already hit pan on prior to committing to finishing it), and it basically took me an entire year to finish it up! xx
This is such a good idea for a post! It’s so annoying having bottles etc that are lying about with a small amount of product in.. takes up so much space haha. I’m definitely a hoarder, find it hard to say goodbye to stuff I’ve had for a long time – like that MAC lipstick! x
I find it easy to use up things I love, and things I don’t like – but that middle of the road I don’t love it I don’t hate it stuff is what lingers in my house!
I love Body shop products and pretty ethical as well. Also that witch daily cleanser looks really nice, I’ve been looking for a new cleanser and think I am going to give that a try
Laura x
It feels great to use things up! Good luck!
It does, I’ve done so well so far this year with using stuff up! My cupboard is looking much better for it!
It’ll be interesting comparing Brave 7 years ago to Brave now. I won Brave in Stashy’s giveaway and it seems pretty perfect 🙂 Great post idea btw!
It looks so pink in Stashy’s swatches, mine is so much more of a neutral tone so I can’t wait to see how they compare! I’ll get it at the end of the month once my no buy is over and compare
Did you end up wearing a rave on your wedding day? I know it was a contender x
No I didn’t, I ended up with Secret Salma from Charlotte Tilbury, which is quite new Brave!
I love finishing products and making space for new ones!! 🙂
Me too, I’ve tried to have a bit of a one in one out policy this year and it’s really helped declutter my cupboard!
Some of those products take a while to use up. I’ve had a UD Primer Potion I’ve been trying to finish for ages. I should probably go through my drawers and choose some bits to target and use up, I have so many hair things especially from years ago that have been sat there unloved but I haven’t thrown them away.
Hair things are the worst, they’re the biggest out of everything and take up the most room, luckily I’ve cleared most of the bits in previous ones now and my hair drawer is much less cluttered now – just lots of small bottles to use up!
Primer potion is the worst for using up, it should come in half size tubes!
I have so much that needs using up! I l haven’t tried that UD primer, is it good?
I like it, but I’ve found things I like which are just as much that are cheaper!
Good luck Rach! I have so many middle of the road, okayish products I want to use up too xx
They’re the hardest I think! I use up ones I don’t like cause I want to see them gone, I use up ones I love because you want to use them most – then they’re sat there as not a priority!
Exactly. It always hurts when I use up products I like🙈 But I have some bang average highlighters I cannot use up. Driving me mad! I hate throwing things unless it’s a complete dud x
Yes that’s the case with the Mary Loumanizer, I like it but I like other things more – it barely got used last year despite the fact I don’t hate it! Powders are the worst, blushes also horrible to try and use up!
Same I hate throwing anything away, even shit stuff because I’m like ‘I will get my monies worth out of this’ even if I despise using it!
Oh God yeah. Powder products are so hard to use up x
This is a good idea, I have so much stuff that needs to be used up but I am also constantly purchasing or rotating my ideas out. I need to just use and be done with.
Grab yourself 5 or 10 products and keep them somewhere where you can see them and they’re handy to grab! I’m way more likely to use up the old stuff if it’s the easiest thing to find to hand!
I’m trying to do the same thing! It seems like I keep buying products and forget I have them then I’m left with a crazy amount half used. Great post!
same, i buy something new and everything else gets pushed to the back of the drawer!
You are going in hard on that Mary Luminser! It is a so gorgeous. I love the body sprays from TBS too, I always opt for the Shea one but you’re right – they never last very long!
XX
I hate when using products becomes a chore. It’s hard to hit pan on Mary Lou so you’ve clearly made a solid effort!
I’ve been working on that since Christmas and would say it’s been the one I’ve used about 80% of the time
I need to do this! I have quite a few different kinds of eyeliner weirdly enough, liquid and gel and pencil. I need to get rid of them ASAP.
I can’t even contemplate on adding those to the list! They’re real challenges to finish, who needs 250293 black eyeliners? Me apparently
Yes!!! And the worst thing is when I think I’ve lost an eyeliner, then go and repurchase only to find it a day later, after I’ve opened the packaging. Its so aggravating
Great products. Thanks for sharing.
I have been wanting to try the Urban decay eye primer. I have heard it is really good and I looove body shop white musk it reminds me of school x
I’ve never tried original White Musk – I know it’s such a nostalgic scent for a lot of people! I like the UD primer, but there’s ones I like that are cheaper!
Really enjoyed reading this post. I too started a personal challenge of using up products and posted about it in my Makeup your mind post. You may be interested in reading it.
I’ll take a look tomorrow when I’m having a big reading sesh!
Thanks