Beauty chat - freebies/gifts with purchase/offers

[Giftwithpurchase]

I just wondered if anyone would be interested in discussing the beauty gifts with purchase/offers which come about on Cult Beauty, Space NK and the like every few months. I loved the advent calendar threads and thought this might be similar. If there's already a threat on this apologies & I'd appreciate the link! As you can tell I'm a little addicted and find them hard to resist and would love to compare with like minded pp. We could even do swaps if pp want.
I just cracked and bought the recent Cult Beauty 'Self Care' goodie bag - couldn't resist the name as I'm in desperate need of some self care after a rough few months (isn't everyone?!). I haven't opened it yet as haven't had the time with a 6 month old - but can't wait to have a peak. I also forgot what I bought for the £170 required purchase. But think I snuck in a few bit of makeup which isn't like me as I stick to my favourite makeup and usually just buy skincare and body stuff. Anyone else purchase it? What did you think? Be great to get notifications when other sites/retailers have good offers to!

AprilLady
That sounds great. It took me a lot of messing around with the site to get the free samples. If you do the fragrance profiling you can add two, but you can have three altogether. So I added two, deleted one, then did the fragrance profiling again and added two more. The Portraits bottles look lovely.

I know @Housewife2010 .. just more generally you reminded me of the brand

I got the heartless Helen perfume on the portrait game...is it nice
I guess I can clear cookies and re do if not!

Horehound
I haven't tried any of the Portrait scents before. There are three female and three male scents in the game. I went to the terms& conditions under the game to see the scents available. I read about the female ones on the site and on Fragrantica, then I went for the colour bottle I wanted.

Have to confess that I’ve succumbed to the Penhaligon’s Portrait game and have placed three orders to get the three ‘female’ fragrances 😊. Not really tried any Penhaligon’s before (except for some Halfeti stuff that was in a F&M advent calendar) so this seemed an offer too good to miss (aren’t they all? 😂). @Horehound - my order containing Helen arrived yesterday. Tried a small spray and on first impressions really like it. A soft, clean tuberose floral. I’ll have a good spray and give it a good tryout today. Hope a perfume is not too heavy in the (much welcomed) heat. I usually pump for an EDC in the Summer. Anyway, I’ve got Flora arriving today, and am still awaiting despatch of my order containing Dorothea. 2 x samples with each as well, so I’m well stocked with fragrance for a while 😊

@Luvacuppatea I did the game again and got the cousin flora one I think. I had read reviews and although Helen sounded lovely it seemed like it doesn't last long? So yeh would be great if you do a test and report back!!

I bought Artemisia to get the flora perfume free. Quite excited now :)

I haven't tried any Penhaligons before. I'd been checking reviews for the last few days and was really cross last week when I came home from shopping in town then realised that night that there was a branch of Penhaligon's there! I chose Flora because it was described as fresh and citrussy. The others were tuberose or gourmand which I'm not keen on. I bought Castile because it sounded so perfect for summer. If you do the fragrance profiling twice you can get the maximum three free samples. Do it, add the two samples, delete one sample, do it again and add two more. I went through topcashback too.

Just realised I've repeated myself from earlier!

I saw your tip to get the three but I couldn't see a delete button. I got two samples in the end. I'm excited.
I have spent so much money because of MN recently!!!

@Horehound
There's a cross I think by the items in your basket. What did you buy? I dithered so much over Racquets and The Favourite (both £76 so they fit beautifully with the offer), but in the end I splashed out on Castile because it sounded so beautiful.

I got free samples of empressa and The dutch rose.
I bought Artemisia for £76
I did look at castile and it sounded lovely as did a few others but since I have spent Alot of money recently i went for one to just meet the criteria that I think I will like the smell of :)

Feelunique have a summer offer of GWP with a £100 spend.

I had a quick look then deleted the email so I wasn't tempted.

I did the Penhaligon's offer. Thanks for the tips upthread. It meant I knew what perfume I was searching for. A men's scent which is more my thing. I'm getting closer to my goal of having a scent bar in my bathroom.

The feelunique is ok for the spend

Ok, @Horehound - my experience of Helen has been what you have read in reviews. Smells lovely on spraying but it just didn’t last on my skin ☹️. I had a liberal spray, went straight out for coffee with friends and, though we obviously distancing, they couldn’t smell a thing, and neither could I! A bit disappointed considering the rrp is £204! my second order containing Flora has arrived - I sprayed a bit into the crook of my arm and it’s gorgeous. Love it. Not keen on the initial fragrance but the dry-down is beautiful 😊. Seems to be lasting as well, so win win. I got some hand and body stuff and a candle with Flora today to give as gifts. Yesterday I had The Favourite as my purchase to qualify for Helen. Still awaiting despatch advice regarding Dorothea. I’ve got Artemisia coming with that order - I love a powdery fragrance so holding out high hopes for that one ...........

Sadly I missed your tip for three samples per order @Housewife2010, so I’ve only got six in total. I’ve received Empress, Artemisia, Elizabethan Rose and Dutchess Rose and have Bluebell and Halfeti still to come. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this fragrance promotion 😊

@Luvacuppatea I didn't manage to get a Bluebell sample. I tried lots of choices in the profiling game but it never came up. - It would have been nice to smell like Princess Diana, Margaret Thatcher and Kate Moss!

Wow @Housewife2010 - I had no idea that Penhaligon’s Bluebell had/has such esteemed devotees haha. I want to try it as I love Jo Malone Wild Bluebell, but it just doesn’t last long on me. Still waiting for my order with the Bluebell sample though, despite ordering last Tuesday . The profiling game was a bit odd. I kept redoing it, totally changing my answers, but often just got offered the same samples over and over. Bluebell was a one off!

@Luvacuppatea wowed youve got a haul of perfume now lol
That's such a shame about Helen, I would be so sad If i spent that ok a perfume and no one could smell it!
I'm so glad you're happy with flora. Mine is being delivered tonight...cannot wait!

Oh also M and S replied to me yesterday about my broken fragrance scent from the beauty bag. They asked if I want to return the whole thing or just get the replacement fragrance. I said replacement fragrance would be great. Then today another of their colleagues said they can't send one single item and so they're sending me a whole new bag!! Can't believe that but it's so kind of them :)

ASOS beauty box is currently on their website. I’ve ordered one, dd2 wants the hair bobbles and dd1 the lipstick! I’ll use the rest…

Just spurted on some diptyque bits to get the mini baies candle. Still haven't succumbed to the M&S bag as I've still got the last one unopened.

Every time I see an offer now, I fill up my basket then realise I don't need it. Unless it's a nice candle

Boots is doing a GWP when you spend £20

Not high end brands obviously but looks quite good value

And this Mac set

www.boots.com/mac-summer-vibes-set-10296486

@ElderMillennial I saw that mac set too and thought it looked great - Whirl is lovely and a brown liner instead of black! I would have snapped it up pre baby but just not wearing lipstick atm
@Babysharkdoodoodood oof I love candles - cannot resist the smell of Baise!

Ps Boots is a bit on fire atm with its offers and points. I'm always amazed how many brands they carry too. It doesn't take long at all to build up some decent points. I have £20 just from my last couple of essentials shops. Want to spend it on something frivolous but need a new electric toothbrush 🥱