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Back in December, I set myself a goal to track every beauty product I finish in 2026 as part of my 29 things to do before I turn 29. In part, this was to keep track of the products I use, the brands I gravitate towards and what ends up getting left in the cabinet, and the other part was a desperate bid to shrink my beauty collection before Jake and I move into the new house.
Now we’re at the end of Q1, I’ve got a surprisingly satisfying pile of empties to show for it. Instead of saving my favourite perfumes for best, I’ve been incorporating scent into my daily routine whether I’m leaving the house or not. I’ve hit pan on a number of makeup staples that I will actually repeat purchase, squeezed every last drop out of moisturisers and cleansers, plus haircare heroes, supplements and more.
Here’s everything I’ve used up from January to March, and whether I’d repurchase.
Fragrance
Finishing a perfume is no small feat for me. I have more than 50 full-sized fragrances and dozens of travel sized sprays that I wear on rotation, so to get to the end of one really does say something about it. So far this year, I’ve finished a 50ml bottle of YSL Libre Intense which I bought in summer 2023 and finished just after Christmas.
It’s a gorgeous warm floral gourmand with notes of lavender, orange blossom, orchid accord, vanilla, tonka bean and ambergris. It’s perfect for evenings and date nights, and I always get compliments when I wear it. Now it’s gone, I’ve got my eye on the new Berry Crush version, which launched this year.
As for purse-friendly bottles, I’ve spritzed my way through a 10ml bottle of Commodity Milk, which I’ve already replenished in full size. This is a really comforting, creamy scent that’s perfect for everyday wear. It’s soft, slightly woody, and just feels cosy – like a ‘your skin but better’ fragrance.
Makeup
If I finish a makeup product, it almost immediately gets upgraded to ride-or-die status. Firstly on my list of completed makeup products is the Refy Lip Sculpt in the shade Dusk, which I got when Refy reformulated (truth be told, I wasn’t a fan of the OG two-step liner and setter). This updated formula totally won me over in all aspects, from application to longevity. In terms of shade, the mahogany pink hue made for a refreshing change from my usual MAC Spice. I was genuinely gutted when I got to the end of it so I immediately re-ordered.
Another item I’ve already replaced in my collection was the Merit Clean Lash Mascara. I am so picky with mascara, but I fell in love with this instantly and haven’t really stopped using it since. There’s no smudging, no transfer (my biggest pet peeve), and it gives beautifully separated, natural-looking lashes. It’s a tubing mascara, which definitely helps, but this one just performs better than any I’ve tried before and has fast become a staple for me (as have many of Merit’s products, with there being a total of three on this list).
If I was forced to commit to one setting powder forever, it would be the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder. This is my third tub I’ve completed, and I’m now on my fourth tub, which says everything. It sets makeup flawlessly, controls shine without looking heavy, and never gives flashback. I’ve got dozens of loose powders sat in the drawer but this is the one I consistently go back to.
And finally, this Natural Collection Concealer is my worst kept secret. I tell anyone who will listen about this insanely budget-friendly concealer that I wear daily. It’s £3 – even cheaper if you have a Boots Advantage Card – and is one of the most lightweight, creamy formulas I’ve ever used. It blends like a dream with a phenomenal colour match that actually covers my dark circles – I wear shade 1C and have done so for over a year. I’m now on my third tube.
Skincare Empties
This is where most of my empties sit, which is perhaps unsurprising seeing as I’ll do my skincare every day, twice a day whether I’ve worn makeup or not. I do love a good cleanse, evident in the fact I’ve got three empties in my pile – one mini, one travel and one full sized.
I always gravitate towards oil cleansers, and this ESPA cleanser has a beautiful oil-to-milk texture that melts everything away – makeup, SPF, the lot. The spa-like scent makes it feel really indulgent, and it was just what my skin needed during the colder months at the start of the year.
After taking it to Krakow late last year, I’ve also used up this mini The Inkey List cream-to-milk cleanser with hyaluronic acid and rice milk. At £13 for a full size, this is a fantastic, affordable option that’s gentle and hydrating. This size was ideal for travel and did exactly what I needed it to, and I definitely wouldn’t be against a repurchase.
The last of the cleansers is the Merit Great Skin Double Cleanse, which was one of my favourite launches from 2025. As someone who rotates their skincare quite frequently – by which I mean I grab whatever is closest – this being finished so quickly is testament to how much I love it. It’s a really easy, effective cleanser that removes everything without stripping the skin. It’s gentle enough for everyday use and leaves skin feeling soft and balanced.
This Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner has sat in my cupboard for some time, but its one I find myself reaching for when my skin feels like it needs it. The global bestseller keeps pores clear and skin smooth, but I’ll be honest, I’ve been reaching for exfoliating pads more recently (like these ones from Boots).
I apply moisturiser like it’s going out of fashion and I’ve had a long standing love affair with the Embryolisse Moisturiser, which I’ve used three tubes of since June 2024. Each one, I’ve used a tube key to squeeze every last drop out. It’s gentle, lightweight, and works beautifully under makeup. I recommend this to all my girlies with sensitive skin.
Last in my skincare empties, and of my Merit empties so far, is the Merit Great Skin Serum – an essential for delivering hydration and glow before makeup. It’s so light, doesn’t feel greasy at all, allows concealer and foundation to glide on and just makes your skin look instantly healthier. 10/10.
Haircare Empties
As someone with colour-treated copper hair, I’m quite fussy here. I actually didn’t pay much attention to haircare for some time, but in the last 18 months I’ve been discovering products I really love (and a lot I don’t). I actually find that in a lot of cases, when I buy a shampoo and conditioner duo, I love one and hate the other, for example, the Pureology conditioner is a huge yes, Pureology shampoo? Not a fan. It’s the reverse for Arkive products, I’ve found.
One exception to the rule is the Color Wow Colour Security Shampoo and Conditioner, both of which I’ve adored using. The shampoo is sulphate-free but still gives that clean feeling, and the conditioner leaves hair soft and protected. My colour definitely stayed more vibrant for longer, so for that reason, I’d repurchase.
Another shampoo I loved was the Lush Super Milk Protein shampoo, but it is pricey at £11 for a pot that lasted me around 6 weeks. It smells phenomenal and people always ask what perfume I’m wearing but I know that they’re actually talking about this. It left my hair feeling clean and I enjoyed to almost solid format, but due to the higher price point, I’d likely stick to my Super Milk primer for fragrance, and opt for an alternative shampoo.
The Kérastase Gloss Absolu Conditioner is probably the only conditioner I loved so much I finished it twice in the space of six months. It brings dull locks back to life and leaves it looking glossy, bouncy, and healthy without feeling like it leaves any build up or heaviness in the hair, either.
As a girl with fine hair, a reliable dry shampoo is a non-negotiable and the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo is a serious haircare staple. It actually works, doesn’t leave residue, and is perfect for rushed mornings, maintaining styles and day two and three hair.
Bath Favourite
The Boots x Anya Hindmarch collaboration is a partnership we never knew we needed, but one that has gone down an absolute treat with beauty fans. The Bath Salts in particular were glorious, and I used them in every single bath I had throughout February until they were all gone. I got so excited that the edit hit the retailer’s website earlier this year and I was all up for rebuying them, but they were out of stock – so it seems I’m not the only person obsessed with them.
Supplements
A newer category for me, but one I’m trying to embrace, is supplements – more specifically, collagen. There seem to be countless formats on the market, but after receiving them in the New Year, the Vida Glow Liquid Collagen in the mixed berry flavour marks the first collagen product I’ve actually enjoyed taking. It tastes great with not a hint of fishiness, it’s easy, and it feels like something I can stick to long term.
After running out of Vida Glow, I used up my Nourished Collagen Gummies. Equally easy to take, novelty in design but for me, not quite as good as Vida Glow. I do like that the gummies come in pre-portioned packets that make them easy to throw in your lunch bag for work.
Doing this pan project, I’m definitely using products more intentionally and trying to get through opened products before opening or buying new ones. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned already is that there’s something so satisfying about finishing a product completely. If Q1 is anything to go by, I’m excited to see how much I can get through by the end of the year – could we make it 100 empties?
