Beauty chat - freebies/gifts with purchase/offers THREAD THREE

[OvaHere]

Hope nobody minds me setting up a new one as the old one is nearly full.

Everyone welcome to discuss freebies, edits, boxes and general beauty chat.

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4397150-beauty-chat-freebies-gifts-with-purchase-offers-thread-two?page=1

Ahh, no friends in the mainland that I would want to bother with sending big parcels, but will look into forwarding service. Many thanks 😊

Thank you, I will try that. In the meantime bought the same perfume from Harvey N sans GWP. Its funny because HN posted via DPD too, so I am thinking maybe its was GWP that was causing postage problems with Harrods 🤔 I have previously made a purchase with Niche Beauty and it would not me check out until I have removed free samples from my basket. Its funny that they can post a 100ml perfume but not 2 ml sample 🙈

Thank you for the new thread @OvaHere. I'm pleased to report I am still using the Medik8 Advanced Peptides serum (my bank balance is not pleased I now have to buy it until the end of my days). You have truly helped me with that one random sample recommendation and I shall remain forever grateful.

There are soooo many beauty edits coming out, I'm scared to click on all these links.

TBBC have released another box this weekend. Too expensive again, like the last one. I'm happy to take a chance on £30-£50 tops but £75 is too much of a gamble. And the, supposedly, sneak peak isn't for me and even if they were, there's no guarantee they will really include what they show in the promo video.

Let me confess I gave in and ordered their wedding collaboration box. Loads of posts about the exact contents on social media, all the items are clearly listed on the website and the price at £50 is good. I really wanted to try the eye cream and I actually wanted to use the Trinny London highlighter. The rest were just bonus items to me. This is not a mystery box. You know what you get and I knew exactly why I bought it.
Well I didn't get the highlighter, instead I got a Trinny Lip to Cheeks which I already have. I asked them to swap and they told me the items are random and they don't have the highlighter in stock to swap. Which must be a big fat lie, I guess with their customer service it depends who replies if they take it seriously.

Add to this the information that my last few boxes have arrived damaged (the outer cardboard box seems to break along the top of the sticky seal, although nothing is damaged inside and all items appear to be present. Sometimes the edges or corners are quite badly damaged as well. I made them aware of this issue when it first happened but they're still using the same boxes.
So no more TBBC ever for me after the Trinny job, that camelback has been well and truly broken.
It is a shame because they do select nice good quality products and the prices are OK overall.
I am a very patient individual and don't have a problem with 2nd or more chances. but where I really suspect I am being lied to (even if I might be wrong), then I'm out for good and am not at all interested in anything further with that person, company or situation.

And I'm glad I haven't spent more money with them, the mystery box from last time was too expensive really and I stopped myself from ordering, the current one is again too expensive, I always regretted not attending their festivals and was seriously considering trying it for the first time this year. And so on.
I got all this off my chest now!

Glad you love the MediK8 Peptides @Branster I'll confess to not having opened the full size I got yet. It is next on the list for a full size opening but I'm trying not to have too much open at once and also use up various minis.

Your post reminded me that the free Skinsceuticals sample from the first page hasn't arrived -maybe it never will? I didn't pay anything so oh well I guess.

I spotted that BBC had re released their mystery edit. I was fairly happy with the last one I bought for about £30. I did get the Trinny highlighter in a champagne colour, it is really nice so disappointing you didn't receive that. They really are a bit of a gamble so most of the time I talk myself out of it.

Talking of samples I used a single use sachet this morning of Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Advanced Firming Daily Treatment (basically a moisturiser). I'm impressed with it, very rich for those of us with dry skin. AoS is expensive per ml I feel so one to look out for on a deal.

@Branster Can I ask about the peptides, do you use a retinol as well? My skin doesn’t like retinol so am looking at alternatives.

Onto Briday Beauty, glad I didn’t order that box as would have been for the Trinny and eye cream as well.
I order the Bloom box and Hen night ones with the free Sol de Janeiro last weekend and am happy with both, all contents were as described however I am checking the date of the Kate Somerville item as know it’s a discontinued item.

@MrsBnow12 There's quite a few serums with bakuchiol in them now as it's supposed to mimic retinol but be gentler. Load of K beauty brands do them but I've noticed it becoming more popular with western brands too.

I bought the Eqqualberry one a while ago but it's languishing in cupboard part used because I hate the dropper - it's too thick for a tiny dropper so a pain to use. Look for one with a pump would be my advice! I think I might try and use it to make a DIY face mask just to finish it up.

@OvaHere with the Medik8 serum I think if it works for you, you'd be wanting to keep it as a regular product so a good idea to save it until you get through your other stuff first. I've started my second full size bottle a couple of weeks ago, it doesn't last me as long as the No7 Laboratories however economical I'm trying to be.
Yes I always accepted TBBC was a bit of gamble so I was happy not to be bothered by the slight niggles. But this box is advertised as a description item, it is not a mystery box and I was convinced it would be identical as advertised. Live and learn, eh!

@MrsBnow12 I do use tretinoin regularly and don't hold back on a lot of stuff.
I never use glycolic acid on my face unless it is an ingredient in a product and I'm not aware of it. I'm just scared of it.
A lot of vitamin C serum sting my skin or cause temporary redness so I've never used these long term and won't be trying any in the future again.
I never tried Clinique - I just have a sense their products would be very harsh. No real proof, just an idea in my head.
Whenever I tried Estee Lauder, I got irritation around my eyes, like mottled skin.
So I stay away from the above.
But I use a very strong fruit acid serum weekly with no issues.
My only other reaction is watery eyes and stinging with sunscreen so I only use Ultrasun as it's been fine for me for a few years and I don't want to mess about with this.
Other than that no sensitivity or dryness.
Hopefully this gives you an idea of my skin tolerance.
I have never reacted badly to peptides serums, I think they tend to be quite mild for skin sensitivity.
Try a sample from ebay or Vinted before you commit to a full size bottle, in case it doesn't work for you.
This one works on expression lines in a miraculous way. I don't think it does anything on actual lines.

@OvaHere @Branster Thank you both for your guidance and advice, my skin does not tolerate Vit C and I avoid it as well.
i have managed to get a sample through the Facebook offer so will give that a try and a great way to see if you like a product before committing to a full size. The last 6-9 months have been a journey of discovery with skincare for me and am hoping I will be more selective with advents this year as know what my skin likes and doesn’t. Last year I bought a number with Murad retinol products in to find my skin didn’t get on with it.

No more TBBC for me. After first order fiasco last year, I caved in again for Bank Holiday offer 🙈, free SDJ cream sounded good and really wanted to try Kate Somerville stuff.
I have ordered The luxe Female Founder edit and Beauty in Bloom boxes. The FF edit arrived packed in their bag, so all good, however contents of the BinB edit were jus dumped into this massive box, with a few sheets of a tissue paper. I am surprised nothing got damaged. Anyhow, I could overlook the poor packaging, but the SDJ cream was nowhere to be found and all the stuff that I really wanted to try (Kate Somerville and Eve Loom) where over 3 years old 😬 as well as MZ Skin mask replaced by 2 different masks without any notice.
I have emailed their CS, detailed all of the issues and requested a return with postage label provided. I must say they their reply was really polite (unlike my first encounter with their CS) and they did provide a return label. They said they will pass my feedback to the packing team as the SDJ cream should have been included, however they have totally ignored my concern regarding some items being over 3 years old 🤦🏻‍♀️
Mr Postman is collecting the parcel today so I shall see how quick if at all they are going to issue a refund.

That's terrible @HolaLolla I remember that one and the SDJ made it seem like more of good offer. I think I should probably stop linking them here because the poor experiences seem to outweigh the good ones at this point.

@HolaLolla My Bloom box arrived the same way, the Hen edit was in a bag. I have emailed Kate Somerville with my batch number to check the expiry date but think I am also done with them as don’t want to worried if the products I am receiving are in date or not. I didn’t think to check the Eve Lom but will do now.

On a separate note Ultra Violette have an offer if you purchase a facial sunscreen you get a free Skin Rocks Gentle Acid worth £49.

Its my own fault really, should have know better, as stuff in my first ever box from them was quite old or nearing expiry dates, but I am a sucker for a freebie 🙈🙈😂 I just cannot understand how they think it is ok to sell things that are so old, it could cause all sorts of skin issues. I guess thats how they make their £££

I got these results when checking the batch codes. Anything over 3 years is out of date in my opinion. I could be wrong 🤔 but I remember I found some Ren product stuck at the back if a drawer, checked the date and it was just over 2 years old, but the texture has already change, so definitely would be using anything older than 3 years 😬

@HolaLolla My Kate has the same batch code, I also looked on the website and when saw it was out of date I emailed the KS information to get an answer before I approach BBC, it is really bad as that was the most expensive item from the box and made up the majority of the value.
I am tired of people selling out of date cosmetics and not declaring it, bought some moisturiser from TKMaxx that was over 5 years old recently, like you say it’s a reason it’s cheap x

My Boots summer sun beauty bag came today. Very pleased with it ! Good sized bag, pretty wearable blush , famous body spray , pretty body oil. Only thing I am not keen on is the sunflower’s perfume. Not keen on fruity scents. The sizes are small and cute but I like that. Boots also sent two tiny samples of Dior perfumes.

@HolaLollaIve had a very similar experience with the BBC and out of date products. I didn’t realise it was possible to check batch codes and expiry dates and so listed the items I wasn’t going to use on Vinted, and had a couple of messages to say two of the more expensive items were out of date. I’ve since checked other items and several are either really old or out of date. I’m disappointed in BBC - I was so excited with the first couple of boxes I received in 2023, but they really do seem to have gone downhill.

Not many people think to check batch codes, so this is how TBBC get away with it I think. Otherwise their business model would be bust by now.

Hi, is it ok if I join in? If anyone has seen me on the beauty empties thread, they might have guessed that I’m no stranger to beauty boxes! Recent ones have been one of the the Cult Beauty fragrance edits, the Boots Korean skincare and the recent Cult Beauty one with the Bioeffect EGF serum, plus a couple of Next boxes.

I also get the Lush shower subscription box each month, but my 11 year old daughter nicks half of that.

Re old products, I heard that TK Maxx or somewhere was recently selling an ABH highlighter palette than had been discontinued about five years ago.

Hi @CorneliaStreet welcome to the bad influence thread. 😁

That Boots Korean Box was a really good one. Boots have done some good ones this year. You may have seen upthread there's a very nice one coming out later this month.

@CorneliaStreet As @OvaHere welcome to the bad influence thread 😂

2 x SpaceNK Kits today

Skincare Starter Kit £30
https://www.spacenk.com/uk/gifts/gift-sets/skincare-starter-kit-MUK200055950.html
Sunday Riley Autocorrect Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream 3ml: Refresh, revive and hydrate-tired eyes with this luxurious cream that works to nourish the delicate eye area and impart a noticeably lifted look.
Kate Sommerville, Goat Milk Cleanser 30ml: Gentle enough for both morning and night-time routines, this creamy formula is enriched with goat milk proteins to help soothe, and vitamin rich Manuka honey to nourish.
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream 10ml: The ultimate daily indulgence, this luxurious purple formula sinks seamlessly into skin to instantly plump and hydrate, leaving skin feeling fresh and juicy.
Ultra Violette Future Fluid SPF 50 15ml: This silky zinc sunscreen delivers a natural, skin-perfecting finish with gentle SPF 50 protection to shield and soothe normal, combo, oily and sensitive types.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 30ml: Treat and minimise blackheads, areas of redness and breakouts with Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, a skincare fluid that is gentle on the complexion.

Make Up Starter Kit £25
https://www.spacenk.com/uk/gifts/gift-sets/make-up-starter-kit-MUK200056228.html

Glossier Cloud Paint Gel Cream Blush in Beam, 10ml: Sheer, seamless and ultra-wearable, this game-changing formula is what started the world’s obsession with cream blush.
Beautyblender Beautyblusher Cheeky Mid-Sized Makeup Sponge: Perfectly sized for the apple of your cheek – a foolproof way to apply blush or highlighter in one swift bounce.
Rare Beauty Harmony Flexible Lifting Gel, 4.5g: Designed to suit all brow shades and skin tones, this buildable gel brings uniform, glossy results every time!
Kosas Hotliner Hyaluronic Acid Contouring Lip Liner in Epic, 0.5g: This creamy, blendable formula plumps, defines, and hydrates lips all day.
Space NK Mini Jelly Bag, Pink: The perfect keepsake for storing accessories or trinkets.

ASOS Luxury Travel Essentials £40
https://www.asos.com/beauty-extras/asos-luxury-travel-essentials-beauty-box-worth-135/prd/208063401

• Elemis Pro-Collagen Black Cherry Cleansing Balm: 20g
• LANEIGE Hydro UV Defense EX SPF 50: 20ml
• Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist
• Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour HydraPlay Skin Perfecting Daily Moisturizer: 45ml
• Patchology Skin Remedy Soothing Eye Gels
• Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
• Philip Kingsley Swimcap Water-Resistant Mask: 40ml
• The Ritual of Karma Lotus Flower & White Tea Body Scrub

Thanks @OvaHere !

Has anyone used the Sunday Riley Autocorrect Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream in the space NK edit? Eye bags are my nemesis...

Yes it's my favourite morning eye cream but that's more to do with the texture and how it sits under make up. I don't really have eye bags or much in the way of dark circles so I can't honestly say it is great for that but I do like it.