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

[OvaHere]

New thread for beauty bargains, edits, boxes and general chat.

Everyone welcome. 😊

Now we are in advent season there are separate threads running for beauty advent calendar discussion so check those out too.

I made a lipstick the other weekend in London at Code8 Beauty, I wanted my lip colour but better. It was £80 for the appointment and lipstick, a bit different for a girly weekend away trip.

That's fun. I had no idea that was a thing you could do. It's a lovely shade.

Very cool @Isabelle70

GWP at Shiseido on spends over £80, with bonus items if spending over £100. Stacks with a/c.

There are other promotions on but the fire is super-glitchy 🙀

I wonder if they could match a very old lip pencil I have…

I’ve tried to match it for DECADES! Seriously, it’s from the 80s!! I must look into this…

Love that @Isabelle70 😍
I’ve a very old Clinique lipstick I’d love to colour match - although maybe I wouldn’t have much opportunity to wear now ad I don’t go out as much anymore - it was red with blue undertone. I’ve purchased many in vain - Dior, mac, Lancôme etc it had a very brightening effect .

It was amazing that out of the 10 pigments, 6 were used to blend the shade for me. I tried about 5 variations until settling on this one, it really made my eyes pop.
My Dd did it as well, she is not flat out into make up but she enjoyed the process and getting her shade as well.
I have mentioned it to friends and one is going to get one for her wedding.

That sounds so fun! How long was the experience?

This sounds like a great idea! I'm curious about the process too.

Also, while we're (sort of) on the topic, has anyone had recent good experiences with any makeup counter makeovers? I had quite a good one at Mac, but it was a while ago. I can never bear the scrum in Sephora, but I feel like I need some updating. I'm intrigued by yet slightly scared of the Hourglass palettes, for example and would like some expert help!

I had a recent one at Lisa Eldridge @TheCryingTheBitchAndTheFloordrobe but it so much depends on the person you get! I initially had someone helping me with lipstick colour and then the manager stepped in and showed me some stuff - which translates to me buying the key bits.

In the absence of a thread where we share what we buy stand alone, I’m sharing here! I’ve used the 25% off on Cult Beauty to but Laneige Moisture Bank, Avene Hyaluron Activ B3 plumping serum, Sunday Riley Auto Correct eye cream, all 3 were in 2024 CB Travel Essentials Edit, Ouai shampoo and conditioner refill bags, and my fav SPF SUQQU protecting day cream. It ended up being the same amount as the AC, so I can understand why people go mad on them! But I’ve got a bit sick of using things I half like or outright don’t and waiting for them to be finished. Dithering on buying Lisa Eldridge cleanser from Liberty with the 10% off - has anyone tried it?

I was shade matched for the tint and concealer at the HN Hourglass counter around Nov last year. They were very nice and my friend bought last years HG palette after some shade advice. Only complaint is we got no freebies with purchase which seemed a bit stingy.

Compared to YSL in Selfridges where they threw in a load of nice minis and even gave my friend some, who had bought nothing from YSL.

I know this doesn't quite answer your question but I've not had a full make over at a counter in years. Last time was at least 10 years ago and was No7. Didn't love the look but did end up buying some stuff, as you do.

@Noshadelamp@TheCryingTheBitchAndTheFloordrobe it was 1 hour for the 2 of us, well a bit over. You explain what you may like, bold, nude, cream, matte etc and from there she will mix and mix until you get the shade you want. I wasn’t watching at the time but my Dd said a tiny dot of black was mixed in and it completely changed the shade.
We also had a glass of prosecco and came away with the samples and your lipstick nicely packaged. The case is also magnetic so you get a nice click when it closes.
Its near to Fortnum and Mason and there was a lovely cafe/restaurant around the corner where we had coffee and cake!

@BakeOffRewatch I think this is a good thread for chatting about standalone products and things we are using. Beauty Chat covers just about everything.

I'd welcome other sorts of chat as I'm aiming to be more restrained on the beauty box/edit front in 2026. I will still post them as I find them obviously but on a personal level distracting chat about things I already own will be a good thing!

I didn't buy anything with the CB 25% off. I filled lots of baskets then talked myself out of it. I did buy one of the new Patrick Ta eye duos with 20% off using a Beauty Detective code. Would like more colours but again trying to show a modicum of restraint.

Things I own that I've really enjoyed recently -

Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Serum - been using this in the AM. It's a really nice texture and seems to play nicely with whatever Vit C and moisturiser I'm using.

Merit Matte Lipstick in shade Maison - these have a really nice creamy texture for a matte and wear quite well. This shade is particularly nice. I've had it for a while but started using it a lot more in recent weeks.

Summer Friday's Blush Butter Balm - I think these are a really underrated blush. They apply beautifully and for a cream they last really well, much better than the Merit ones. I originally bought Soft Strawberry which is a gorgeous light pink then I got a bargain one on Vinted in Toasted Terracotta which is a lovely subtle browny pink - great for this time of year.

I had a very jolly time at Fenwicks in Newcastle being Trinnied up. Recommended.

@BakeOffRewatchI use the Lisa Eldridge cleanser (when 20% off at SNK) , it’s lovely and lasts ages. Like a sticky gel but works in easily and cleans really well. Would recommend.

I do really like Summer Fridays @OvaHere . Their jet lag mask, another one in the 2024 CB Travel Essentials edit, is lovely. I was really hoping they’d hit it out the park in 2025 again!

@Doubleraspberry did you purchase anything after the make over?

@Ponks good to hear! I did get it and two of her flannels. I know I’m a bit taken in by Lisa Eldridge herself have been following her for over a decade and her products aren’t as discussed and criticised as much as others online, so I don’t know if I’m just falling for it. I love her eyeshadow palettes.

That’s me done routine wise for a while, got cleanser, serum, moisturiser, eye cream, SPF, shampoo and conditioner! Then loads of perfumes and acids from the 2024 Liberty AC. I did say I’d get the M&S AC for bath and body.

I’ll have to retire from all the threads 😂

@Isabelle70 thank you for the rundown, it sounds wonderful and something I think I'll arrange to do with my daughter next time we're in London.

I do like Caudalie. I have the vinoperfect serum and it goes on nicely and smells nice. I seem to use products by 1) how they sit on my skin and 2) how they smell, which seems a little childish but it's a big factor in my purchases. I'm just over 40 and as yet my skin is not dry, sensitive or easily irritated so I can be picky based on spurious nonsense like does it smell nice or feel luxurious. Basically a toddler with a debit card.
Does give me an idea of what I'll need to use if my skin goes really dry as I age.

@DidILeaveTheGasOn you put the stuff on your face everyday, right by your nose, I’d say smell is a very important consideration! Not childish at all.

@Isabelle70 - can I ask more about how it works? Did they mix up little bits and give you some to try on your lips one by one until you find a combo you like?

No makeovers for me, unfortunately as the idea of them doesn’t appeal.

Having said that, I went to a JL Bobbi Brown make up demo a while ago, (I think I was hoping for freebies that didn’t materialise). I just watched whilst the demonstrator did other people’s make up and she did a brilliant job.

A few things I have repurchased recently, having got them in GWP or beauty boxes:

Summer Fridays SPF lip gel - wonderful stuff to use under lipstick
Summer Fridays SPF hand cream
Origins Ginzeng SPF tinted moisturiser- it’s a bit like the EL SPF moisturiser, only gives more of a glow

Allbeauty have some huge discounts today at:

https://www.allbeauty.com/c/sale

For example:
Abercrombie and Fitch Fierce cologne 200ml reduced to £58.95 from £119.99
Estee Lauder Daywear Mousturiser 50ml £36.95 down from £55

Code: BEAUTY10 takes another 10% off.

I love hearing about everyone’s good (and bad) products. I’m using some great things at the moment, including the Axis-Y quinoa cleanser, Anua heartleaf toner and Laneige water sleeping mask. I’m also really liking the Lancôme eye cream from the recent beauty box, even though I’m not normally bothered about eye creams.

The only things I’ve got on the go that I’m not really enjoying are the Biossance lactic acid serum (not awful, but nowhere near as good as Good Genes) and the Numbuzin No. 3 glowing essence toner. It’s just far too fragranced. It really reminds me of the Liz Earle toner, which I haven’t used for about 20 years but the smell of it is seemingly still lingering in my mind!

I was tempted to buy the Patrick ta Duo eyeshadow too, I've just started using the blush from the CB ac and really like it, but I would've gone for the burgundy pinky colours which are very similar to 2 in a spenny dior palette that I bought last year and have only used twice 😳 let us know what you think to it @OvaHere

So things I'm using currently and loving... As mentioned, the Patrick ta blush from the CB ac. I have also been using the dior holiday palette from 2024 and creating a sunset eyeshadow look with the subtle gold and red shades and the taupe blending it all together. Skincare, so I've always thought that tatcha was for teens, but I've just started using a small pot of dewy skin and I'm really liking it. I've just finished the decorte serum I was using and now need to decide whether to go onto the clé de peau or the orveda, both from the 2024 harrods ac... Decisions decisions 😊