What's one product you hold onto even though it doesn't work for you?

I don’t think there are any I hold onto personally; there are plenty that I have in the “archives” for blog-related reasons that I don’t like.

— Christine

19 Comments

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Kitty Avatar

I’ve held onto some older foundation which I find useful for working outdoors in the fall and winter. If I slap the foundation on my cheeks and areas where I can get rosacea flareups, I’ve found that the foundation protects my skin from the wind and cold. Works every time. I don’t even care if it’s not blended in that well. Highly recommend it for this use.

Lesley Avatar

As a general category, highlighter. I own a mini size of the Laura Mercier matte one that came as part of a Sephora 500 point perk and a promo size of Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, which I think is a primer but which I used as a highlighter in the distant past.

Celesta Avatar

For a LONG time, I held on to my Stila Liquid Eyeshadows and recently (as in, last week) decluttered them. I had to get real with myself because, while they look beautiful, I never reached for them. I found that I don’t like liquid eyeshadows that you have to apply with a doe foot. I prefer potted eyeshadows because they’re a little more moussey and I have an easier time blending them (specifically the CT Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadows).

Nancy T Avatar

There are definitely some! The biggest white elephant is UD Naked Smoky. Can I get a nice, deep smokey eye out of it? Yes, but only if I use a black primer or Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Knight will it truly pop. It takes more effort than I feel like expending. Now, if I use the browner, more warm tones in the palette, I don’t have those issues. It’s only with the blue-grays.

Keebuu Avatar

I love this question! For years I hold onto the Christian Dior Lip Glow because the packaging is just breathtaking, but the lip balm itself makes my lips peel. I know this is a highly reviewed product but most lip balms make my lips peel. After an hour I’m biting the dead skin off my lips like crazy. But I love it so much I keep trying to use once a year lol as if one magical year my lips will just accept it.

Stephanie Avatar

I purchased the Guerlain 190th Anniversay pressed powder using a Rouge $100 Gift Card and a $50 gift card so it only cost me $40 Cdn instead of $190 Cdn. It’s too matte for me but the packaging is so beautiful I hold onto it and admire it occasionally.

Deborah S. Avatar

Nothing that I can think of. If it truly doesn’t work then I usually give it away. I have a couple of products that I don’t use but it is because I keep the pristine. I love beautifully embossed products so I have a couple of LE finishing powders that I don’t touch.

Pearl Avatar

Too bright, bold or dark lipsticks and too light lipsticks – I used to buy these thinking that I would wear them if I bought them but in the drawer they sit. I am mixing 2 or 3 and quite like the looks created as well as being able to use up product.

Mary Avatar

The thing that kept me hanging onto a product that didn’t work for:me was expense.
In the past if a product was expensive or high end yet didn’t work for me I would hang on to it ,
I don’t do that anymore if a product doesn’t work for me , It goes.
There for I buy much more carefully now.

Genevieve Avatar

The only product that I hold onto, even though the formula isn’t the greatest, is my EL Sea and Sky eye palette because it was the first eyeshadow palette that I ever bought and it does contain some lovely blues and teals – so very different from what was available at the time.

brendacr1 Avatar

I’m very careful with my purchases now but in the past I have purchased perfumes that I loved but now not so much, I just can’t seem to part with them. My great nieces are getting older so I think they will be happy to take them off my hands. Makeup is easy for me to declutter, if it doesn’t work I have four sisters and one daughter and one of them will take it.

Eileen Avatar

If I don’t like something for whatever reason, I get rid of it. There are simply too many wonderful products on the market to waste my time trying to make something work.

Amber Avatar

The Kevyn aucoin sensual skin enhancer; tried every which way, but I just can’t make it work. It was so expensive and there is so much in there I can’t let it go

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