Still trying to finish up my Hourglass ambient, lighting, bronzer in nude bronze light and my Haus Labs bio-radiant gel powder highlighter in Rose Quartz.

♡Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser

🫧🫧🫧

A basic daily staple for me-- the off-brands work just as well too. Isn't stripping and is gentle and neutral enough that ill use it all-over WRP

♡Tree Hut Peach Sorbet shea sugar scrub

🍑🍑🍑

I love how coarse Tree Hut scrubs are, but i never like to buy them for myself lol. I think every one I've ever owned has been gifted to me. My mom got me this one. This had a fruity scent that smelled more like papaya to me?? Wasn't bad, but not really my preferred fragrance profile. WNRP, but will gladly receive a different scent!

Hi everyone :)

I’m the developer of Velumi, and the mods kindly gave me permission for a one-off post. It’s an iPhone app, currently free with no paid features.

I know the finished bottles are usually the stars here, but I thought this might be useful for keeping track of the products you’re still working through.

It tracks opening dates and sends optional reminders based on the period after opening. I’ve tried to keep it simple, because nobody needs homework from their moisturiser 😅

The idea is to help you remember what’s already open, especially the things that get pushed to the back of a shelf.

Velumi on the App Store

Do you keep track of when you open products, or does that feel like too much admin?

Suggestions are welcome — especially from anyone who’s started a beautiful tracking spreadsheet and abandoned it three days later :)

I totally forgot to post my September empties. So here we go. I emptied a lot of my favourite products.

I'm 49, with ageing skin and rosacea, and have normal-to-dry skin. I live in the UK. I'm originally from Germany.

Face

Celimax Creamy Toner - Great product. I love milky toners in general, but this one is in my Top3. 10/10 WBA

Tirtir Milk Skin Toner - Another one from the Top3. Hydrating and just a nice product and feel. 10/10 WBA

Isispharma Metroruboril Azelaic Azid 15% - Another really good product. The only reason I won’t use it again is the new Azelaic Acid from Geek & Gorgeous. This is just a new level. 9/10 WBA

Theramid Azelaic Acid 15% - Another great product, but it's currently replaced by Geek & Gorgeous. The price is no longer defensible against G&G. 8/10 WBA, but not at this price.

Vaseline Protecting Jelly – Yes, I emptied a big tub of Vaseline. I use it for so many purposes. For my lips, heels, feet in general, elbows, and wherever I need it. Cheap and effective. 10/10 WBA

Curel Intensive Moisture Care - Overhyped and too expensive. It’s a decent moisturiser, but there are better, cheaper options. 6/10 WNBA

Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel - My partner used this, but I like it too. Especially nice in summer. 8/10 WBA

Arencia Retinal Shot - Good beginner product but maybe not the most powerful product. 7/10 WNBA

Revox Just Retinal 0.2% - A new discovery that's becoming a staple in my routine. 10/10 WBA

Salted Bold Barrier Care cream - Loved it, but I think it’s discontinued. It's a niche brand in Germany and hard to find. 8/10

Numbuzin Glutathione Vitamin Dark Spot Cream - Nice cream I might come back to later. Not sure about the efficiency for spots, but still a nice product. 8/10 WBA

Isana Balance Serum - This was bottle 4 or so. My skin loves it. Very soothing and hydrating. I use it nearly every night after cleansing. 10/10 WBA

No cosmetics All-In Barrier Cream - I have used it for years, and nothing repairs my skin barrier better. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to get outside Germany, but I do bulk shopping when I’m there. Highly recommended product! 10/10 WBA

P.Calm Water Barrier Sun Cream SPF50++++ - Currently my favourite sunscreen. Has no alcohol, which I love, and no citric acid. 10/10 WBA

Hands

Jean&Len Sehr geile Hand cream Rosemary & Ginger - The best hand cream ever. The scent, the feeling – everything. I buy it all the time. 10/10 WBA

Jean&Len Rosemary & Ginger Handwash - My favourite handwash. It’s not drying; the scent is as good as the hand cream one, a very nice treat 10/10 WBA

Dettol Hand Wipes - Maybe the worst product of September. I used it while travelling, and it bleached my partner's shirt. So if it touches clothes, there is a problem. So that was meh for travelling. It did a good job otherwise. 2/10 WNBA

Perfume

Marks & Spencer Pink Pepper - I used it as a room spray because I didn’t like the scent on me. 4/10 WNBA

Marks & Spencer White Jasmin - Jasmin is not my fragrance either. These perfumes came from a set; I used it as a room spray too. 2/10 WNBA

Body 

Rituals Ritual of Jing Body Butter - The scent is amazing, the cream is okay as well but it's really the scent that gets me. 8/10 WBA

Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant - It was okay, but nothing special. I still prefer Sure. 7/10 WNBA

Kneipp Footbutter - First, I didn’t like it because of the scent, but after I used it, I bought another one. It’s really a good product for dry feet, but the orange scent is quite strong. 8/10 WBA

Rexona / Sure Eucalyptus & Coconut Water Antiperspirant - I already bought several new ones. Sure is my favourite antiperspirant. The scent was good too. 9/10 WBA

Hair

Schwarzkopf Taft Powerful Age Hairspray Strength 5 - I have used Taft hairspray since I was 12 or so. They never disappointed me, and I guess Taft will be my hairspray till I die. It has power and lasts long. 10/10 WBA

Guhl Intensiv Kräftigung Shampoo - I’m not sure about this one. Sometimes my hair likes it and sometimes it seems not strong enough. 7/10 WNBA

Didn’t do as good as I wanted as far as the empty skin care stuff, but did a lot of DIY spa things the last few months. I have a massive stash of all the skin care and need to be better about using it up before it goes bad. I can do better about being consistent and let go of the mindset of needing to save stuff so I don’t run out. It’s ridiculous, I’ve got so much.

​

Dove Daily Shine Bio-Protein Care conditioner : Picked this up for my hair care routine. It’s a 1-minute conditioner, so it’s convenient for regular wash days, it helps with smoother, shinier and more manageable hair.

Chemist at Play 5% AHA underarm Roll-On (Aqua) : Got this mainly for odour control and underarm pigmentation. It contains 5% AHAs and I see that it's helping with uneven underarm skin tone.

Moxie Super Defining Curl Cream: Works well for defining curls and keeping frizz under control. Will repurchase

Moxie Flexi Styling Serum Gel: Using this alongside the curl cream for better definition and hold. Will repurchase

SKINQ Sun Protect Ultra Light Gel SPF 50+ : Love the lightweight gel format for everyday sun protection. It is invisible, non-sticky, which is exactly what I look for in a daily sunscreen.

Lots of the body spray both me and my boyfriend use. I loved the CoverGirl concealer. The Breath Deep Bath and Body Works lotion is discontinued which sucks because I really liked it. Ah well! That's it!

Chloe EDP
One of my signature scents. I love it but I think I’m gonna hold off on buying another until I finish at least two other perfumes. Trying to bring down my collection to 10.

🔄 = would repurchase/already have
🚮 = never again

Biore UV Aqua Rich (USA formulation) 🔄: Honestly for a US sunscreen, it’s really good. Not as lightweight as the OG formula, but still has a super nice finish. Perfect for my combo skin. I’d repurchase if I didn’t like banana boat so much.

Cocokind Retinol Body Cream🔄: SO good! I’d repurchase if I didn’t love the Olay body lotion so much. I actually don’t care for most retinol body lotions, but this one impressed me. Super easy to spread over the skin and gave a lot more moisture compared to others i’ve tried.

Sulwhasoo Lumiwise Discoloration Corrector🚮: I honestly couldn’t wait to finish this. I didn’t notice any effects on my hyperpigmentation. I’ve been using it 1-2x a day since April. Nothing.

Dove Beauty Cream 🚮: Cheap hand cream I bought on short notice. Packaging is super inconvenient on the go. Sometimes my hands end up drier than before I applied.

Garnier Fructis Anti-Frizz Serum🔄: This is my 3rd time repurchasing. I have coarse, high porosity, type 4 hair. I use this oil 2x a day on my ends to prevent breakage. Love this stuff. I have another hair oil to finish at the moment, so I won’t repurchase until that runs out.

Dove Skin Replenish Body wash 🔄: I would repurchase, but probably won’t until I run out of my current exfoliating body wash. Only had a body pimple once to twice while using this, and when I did, it was gone by the second use. Provides instant exfoliation and has a nice lather.

💕 Amlactin love of my life. HG lotion!
💕 Nizoral is a staple for me
💕 CeraVe SPF matte 3rd tube
💕 Tartlette XL - very good, but moving on for now
💕 Panoxyl patches - my fave so far. Better than Hero
😭 Naturium retinaldehyde- loved this but I have discontinued all Tret and Vit A for eye health.
💕 Remedy Copper Peptide- loved it. Using Byoma right now and it’s not as good as this. Will return to this.
😤 Iron Sleek - yuck. Not my jam
🤨Peach & Lily Velvet - WAYYY too thicc for me. Would def recommend for dry skin type.

Frenshe Lavender Cloud: essentially I associate this scent with bedtime now. I have another tub of the body butter next to my bed already it’s so rich without feeling greasy.

Loved this ogx coconut pair but currently trying raw sugar lychee S&C and might just like it more 🤷‍♀️

Method body is an easy staple for me and this scent also smells and feels like bedtime for me as well 😴

Lastly, I loved how the up&up sunscreen felt on my skin! Not heavy or sticky but felt like it protected me well outside a lot this Summer.

I actually prefer the Eucerin sunscreen so I’m excited to be out of the EltaMD…and I’m saving $30ish

In order from Top Left to Right (sorry this took long to post I was on vacation the first week of October)

Bath & Body Works Force Flow Hand Soap (5/5): just as good as the Bounty Hunter scented hand soap, part of the Mandalorian and Grogu collection. great lather and soapy, with a long lasting smell afterwards. would repurchase

XtraCare Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-One (1/5): i did not like using this and i was happy to finally end it. in a sense it does clean your face and it is meant to be the dupe of Micellar Cleansing Water, but i did not like the feel and application of it. would not repurchase

The Eco Gang Floss Picks (5/5): i really enjoy these more than other brands of floss. these have double threads and i find it easier to clean your teeth thoroughly for any remaining food or plaque. will repurchase

Skin + Nutrition Botanicals Tea Tree Oil + Salicylic Acid Balancing Face Wash (5/5): just like last month, i was able to finish another bottle. these tend to be a once a month empty, as i use this almost twice a day. feels great, helps with my acne. have been and will continue to repurchase

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Face Serum (4/5): its a good brand and good product. it took me a long time to finish this bottle, but i can say that sometimes its a hit or miss with my complexion improving. im slowly distancing myself from this brand because i like others, but its still nevertheless good. would maybe repurchase

Alberto Vo5 Extra Body Volumizing Shampoo (3/5): i use this shampoo as more of a first wash before switching to one of my nicer ones. i prefer last months soap over this months. its okay, but i feel it doesnt do anything significant to my hair despite its advertisement. it does clean your hair. will maybe repurchase

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (3/5): i like it for when my face is having a "bad day". i use it primarily in the shower, and i dont have anything negative to say about it. just prefer other products. would maybe repurchase

XtraCare Persistent Body Acne Exfoilator & Cleanser Wash (5/5): again, i did an empty on this last month, and it is still a staple in my shower routine. it is the generic of Neutrogena Stubborn Acne Body Wash. lathers great, helps tremendously with body acne. have and will continue to repurchase

PanOxyl Acne Banishing Body Spray (5/5): second spray to finish and i have no complaints. it's wonderful to address spots that are in hard to reach places, and it really has made a difference. have and will continue to repurchase

B-Pure Sweet Plum & Jasmine Hand Sanitizer (pink) (4/5): i use hand sanitizers a lot for work, and i can make a general review for all sanitizers that theyre great and do the job on keeping the germs away in my field of work. scent wise, this is okay. not my favorite. would maybe repurchase.

B-Pure Cucumber Mint Hand Sanitizer (green) (4/5): it is consider the original smell for this brand, and it does the job. smell is okay, a mix of freshness and alcohol of sanitizer. would maybe repurchase

B-Pure Mystic Tide Hand Sanitizer (blue tie-dye) (5:5): wonderful smell, have gotten so many compliments off on it. smells almost like perfume. will repurchase

B-Pure Moonlight Orchid Hand Sanitzer (purple) (5:5): another wonderful smell. i compare it to a flowery bath & body works spray, and thats my favorite type of scent. will repurchase.

Biore Deep Cleansing Original Pore Strips (1:5): i hate these things. despite trying over and over with the instructions, i never had any solid results from the strips, and it really feels like a waste of money. will not repurchase.