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

You only get a couple of days to scan the code for the Boots reward points so I think it’s safer to do it straight away. You can only do one recycle a day on beauty. I assume it’s the same on the blister packs so you might need to split your stash.

I read on Twitter/X there will be a restock this week- I’m hoping it’s all stores but they’re not giving much away.

Great, thank you! I’ll see how I get on with the blister packs.

I hope so - I went into a very big/flagship one this morning and there were none left.

Has everyone seen this Latest in Beauty box? Sorry if it's already been mentioned - I haven't read the whole thread. It looks brilliant but also quite expensive. However it's 20% off and free delivery with the code BVOGUE20.

I keep looking at this box, and that code has made it very tempting

Oops did I forget to add the link? It's https://www.latestinbeauty.com/products/the-beauty-elite

I'm tempted too, @Youreabadbanana I just wish I knew which perfume I'd get as that would tip the balance for me. I have no use for a men's one, for example.

I agree, the perfume is slightly off putting. I do usually pick up an m&s perfume for summer, so it would replace that purchase, I think that's called girl math.
I'm majorly put off by the 2 talc products, I won't use those at all. I could try to sell them on vinted but they may not sell. The discount code possibly covers those 2 products. Then there's the pillow mist, eyeliner and mascara that I also have no use for.
Do I like the remaining products enough, I just don't know.

@Nifty50something I caved with the code- used Quidco too for hopefully 4.5% Cashback. Happy birthday to me 😁

I saw the LiB last Thursday and at the time I had the Pro membership offer of 18% off with free delivery.
Price point still too high for the contents I thought.
The biggest value item and most interesting seems to be the perfume. I actually bought a set with all the minis quite a while ago and didn't like (let alone love) any of them. So that solved my dilemma.
I prefer fresh scents in general and on a lighter side. These were all too sweet or too sharp for me. And I so wanted to like at least one because I am a fan of Argentum (ridiculously expensive as it is, because I couldn't help myself trying a couple of things and their silly marketing did succeed in brain washing me and I also love the packaging and thoroughly enjoy using their skincare).

Thank you @Branster I'm trying not to buy it and you may have successfully deinfluenced me. I too love the packaging and thr concept but if the perfumes don't smell nice then there's no point.

I really want the Swede lipstick, by Terry hyaluronic pressed powder, Kerasilk hair treatment and the kalamata eyeliner. But I own similar products to these already so I'm trying to tell myself to just use what I've got. Some of the other products look nice but there are plenty I definitely wouldn't use. One example is the Shisheido serum. I don't think it would sell that well on Vinted as there's one on for £6.50 at the moment that's not shifting.

LiB have definitely improved with their last couple of boxes. If I wasn't away from home and didn't have a ridiculous stash already I would consider this one. The Margaret Dabbs foot cream is a nice one, if you like foot cream. It's a shame the perfume isn't one more people are familiar with because it's a big part of the box.

As an unrelated aside I brought on hols with me a SDJ balm deodorant (purple one) from my stash. It's really lovely and the scent is gorgeous. They should start putting these in beauty boxes instead of the Bum Bum cream. I think they are refillable too.

Anyone else having an issue with recycle:me? I uploaded lots of things 2 days ago and still not approved. I was hoping to get one last voucher in. They say it’s from day of requesting delivery so I could send unapproved stuff in and hope I guess. The new scheme is effective tomorrow. I wonder if it’s intentional or they’ve been overloaded with requests.

@BakeOffRewatch I'm also waiting for a few things to be approved, which I uploaded Sunday/yesterday, in the hope I could get another package off tomorrow as I thought that was the deadline, but you're right, that's when the new scheme is effective from.

@Roundaboot mine got approved straight after I posted and I’ve already prepared a deposit! I’ve maxed it out for May and June so very happy. Shame I didn’t know about it before but I’m very happy with £40 worth of vouchers. Hope yours get approved today. You just have to prepare the shipping deposit today and can go to the post office later.

Can anyone explain what’s going on with recycle:me? I’ve had a look at my app and there nothing in there to tell me! And I’ve had no emails or anything.

help?!

@TragicMuse they sent an email on 14th of may changing the reward - effectively it's a bit useless as of tomorrow now. The email said -
"Effective from 11th June 2025, we will be changing the reward to £5 off when you spend £25 at either LOOKFANTASTIC or Cult Beauty. You can still choose which retailer you'd like to receive the voucher code for each time you make a qualifying deposit, and the code will be issued to the reward section of your recycle:me account.
The code will be single use and valid for 12 months from the date of issue giving you plenty of time to decide how to spend your reward. The code cannot be used in conjunction with any other code, but can be redeemed against price promotions offered on the sites. Exclusions will apply – please see the retailer websites for full details.
This new reward will be issued for any rewards claimed on or after 11th June 2025. If you have any rewards that have not been selected in your recycle:me account and would prefer to receive loyalty points, please ensure you select your rewards before 11th June 2025."

Thanks @BakeOffRewatch for reminding me to get one more deposit sent off!

I bought the LIB box I have discounted the perfume in my decision making as can’t guarantee I will like it but if I do that is a bonus.
I thought it looked really good value despite this and am keen to try the Hairstory, Sweed Lipstick, the mascara and the by Terry powder . As well as already using the foot cream, love rituals and am a sucker for a sleep spray. Oh and also keen to try the Skin&me stuff as used one of these before and enjoyed it
My main issue with LIB is their boxes are invariably too big I don’t need 20 products and there is stuff I don’t need ( the talc thing in particular)
I have also bought the boots women’s health and beauty box as this has been reduced to £36 and with other advantage savings I effectively got it for just under £30 including points received. This is vitamin heavy so may not appeal to everyone but I already take Collegen and Iron supplements so worth a punt for me . Sorry I can’t link as iPad playing up

Found on beauty detective:

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/c/brands/medik8/edit/

Thanks! That’s a massive change, minimum spend and not being able to stack codes is a pain!

Oh well! I’ll probably still recycle but not for the reward element!

My items got approved! So I just need to do a mad dash to the post office after work.

It really is a massive change to the scheme. To be honest, it was a little bit too good to be true but I do wish they'd changed it to something like 10 items for £5 credit. £5 off a £25 spend is just not enough of an incentive for me to carry on with the scheme unfortunately.

That's a nice one. The retinal is a bit low for me but I might get this edit and use it on my neck. I do love Medik8 products. I read it's being bought by L'Oreal. I hope they don't reformulate stuff and spoil it.

I agree. I only recently signed up. Still it was good whilst it lasted and I also maxed out May/June before the change. As the vouchers last 12 months I may still do a few deposits here and there as well as doing the Boots one.

The good thing about the credit is that it was stackable with discount codes. Got some great bargains that way.

The £5 off code is still slightly more discount on the £30-40 edit boxes CB do than the CBWELCOME15 code that takes 10% off so it's probably still worth having a few to use towards those edits if like me you buy a lot of them.

I'm not that surprised they changed it. When I first joined it was 8 vouchers (£40) per month which was surprisingly generous. I'm assuming it's been worth it to them just for the data on what products people use. I've submitted quite a lot of kbeauty stuff that neither LF or CB stock yet so info like that must be useful to them.

Another holiday review/recommendation.

I brought this away with me
Naturium The Glow Getter Whipped Multi-Oil Body Butter, Firming Cream & Body Moisturiser with Shea Butter

At home I've been using up all the various SDJ body creams I've got in edits but I wanted a large tub to bring on hols and the large SDJ is expensive.

This body butter is so incredibly nice. It applies really easily and soaks in a lot better than Bum Bum cream. It's a brilliant base for sun cream application. I'm very wowed by it and tbh body creams rarely wow me.

I already have the matching Glow Getter shower oil at home, which I'm also impressed with but they are too large for travel. The shower oil was the first product I ever tried from them.

Also brought this with me as I read good things about it and the tube is very travel friendly. Very impressed with this too for dry skin.
Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturiser Plus Ethylated Vitamin C & Panthenol, Hydrating & Smoothing Skin Care

These are (not affiliate) links to their Amazon store but SpaceNK also sell Naturium. Only recently dipped into this brand and I really like it so far. It's quite well priced too.

If you use the subscribe and save option on Amazon it reduces the price. You can cancel the S&S at any point.

They do a Purple Ginsing Cleansing Balm I want to try next. Also interested in their Vit C and Retinol.

I've had one holiday fail so far. I saved up a couple of the Elemis Cherry mini cleansing balms from recent edits to bring away. I've never used the Elemis cleansing balm before and unfortunately I hate it. I should have done a test before I went. Luckily I also brought a mini Elf cleansing balm with me too which might just last if I'm careful with it.

No offence to anyone who loves Elemis cleansing balm, I know it's really popular but I really dislike the texture. My own fault, I should have just brought the one I have open at home which I know I like.