I Just Got Rid of 90% of My Beauty Stash—These 15 Products Made the Cut

Ask any beauty editor what the best thing about their job is, and I guarantee they will all say the same thing. You see, while other people’s work benefits might include end-of-year bonuses or even lunch vouchers, we beauty journalists get our perks elsewhere. No matter what anyone says, the best thing about this job is without a doubt the number of free beauty products that come our way. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve had to buy shampoo since 2017. And even then, I had to buy a bottle because I was on a camping trip for eight days and realised I’d forgotten to pack one.

Sure, many of my peers will argue that it’s not necessarily a perk, seeing as we sort of have to try these things to actually do our jobs, but despite being in this game for many years, trust me when I say the novelty never wears off. Having cupboards full of skincare, haircare and makeup certainly has its perks, but there is one major downside, and that’s storage.

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(Image credit: @EMMAHOAREAU)

After well over a year of working exclusively from home, I realised every corner of my one-bedroom flat is piled high with products that I need to test. In fact, at the start of this month, I was so stressed out by the state of my surroundings that I decided I really needed to cull my stash. I pulled out two bin bags and filled one with out-of-date products and the other with products to rehome—and I was ruthless. By the end of the day, I had filled four bin bags.

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(Image credit: @SHANNONLAWLOR)

Shannon's beauty stash pre-clear-out.

And while I have still kept hold of backups and overspill (for work purposes, of course), I vowed to keep only a tight edit of products in my bathroom cabinets and dressing table. So without further ado, these are the 15 products that have made it into my core summer beauty stash (and some of the ones I really struggled to say goodbye to).

Cleanser

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Skin Treatment

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Serum

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Mist

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SPF

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Foundation

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Powder

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Mascara

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Blush

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Brows

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Lips

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Shampoo

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Body Cream

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Body Scrub

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Perfume

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Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.