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 am LOVING the Hourglass mascara! It’s not blobby or smudged! The dark brown is so lovely and dark but softer than black. I chose the tubing because I liked the being able to remove it easily.

Thank you for the recommendation @Doubleraspberry and @JoRaRaRa and all my enablers!!

Here to help, and enable 😉🤣

@JoRaRaRa i really disliked them magic cream. It’s like nivea imo

Current skincare is mainly Korean stuff, with some other things mixed in:

A Korean cleansing balm I can’t remember the brand of, APLB or something like that. It’s fine but I prefer the Banila Clean It Zero.

Axis Y quinoa gel cleanser as second cleanse in the evening. Love this. In the morning in the shower is the Dr Ceracle cleansing foam. Not keen on this as it gives a squeaky clean feel, though my skin doesn’t actually feel dry afterwards to be fair.

Anua heartleaf toner. Absolutely love this, so lightweight but hydrating and heartleaf seems to be really good at skin calming/reducing redness.

Eye cream is either the Lancôme one that came in the recent beauty box or the Haruharu bakuchiol one. Both good but I prefer the Lancôme.

Serums - skipping around between the Bioeffect EGF, the Iunik propolis one and the Glow Recipe Watermelon Dew Drops. Like all of them.

Evening moisturiser is the Laneige water sleeping masks. Love this, really lightweight but I wake up with super soft skin.

Sunscreen - switching between the Skin 1004 centella (my all time favourite sunscreen) and a Rovectin one, which would be great except it stings my eyes.

My routine is fairly solid now.

Cleanser is Trinny Be Your Best with a muslin cloth. Occasional use of either the Paula’s Choice liquid exfoliator acid or the Dermalogica stuff.

Serum is currently Medik8 Liquid Peptides.
A couple of nights a week I have a Skin Rocks retinol.

Eyes - the Liberty Eye Patch. I totally forgot about it for ages. I like it but it pills with a creamy eyeshadow.

Sometimes I add in Trinny Take Back Time Elixir but it’s running low so I’m eking it out a bit.

Nighttime moisturiser is Trinny Bounce Back. I love it! I have a bottle of the other one which was a GWP so it’ll be that one next.

Daytime moisturiser I currently use a Korean SPF which our lovely @OvaHere gave me, and which I really like. Underneath that I add a Medik8 vitamin C. And sometimes the Paula’s Choice reduce redness cream. That’s nearly gone and I won’t replace. I have another SPF in the wings.

Neck treatment is Trinny Elevator.

I also have a Kiehl’s night oil but I don’t like the oiliness of it so much.

There’s a lot to get through and I do sometimes get pilling but I think that’s because I rush. I should let them soak in better!

I am
medik8 lipid oil cleanser
medik8 soothing calming second cleanse
( I don’t deviate from these as cleansers are so reactive on my skin and these work I’ve tried so many but these are best for me)

allies of skin probiotic mist (don’t know if I’ll repurchase)

medki8 liquid peptides and every other night crystal retinal 6

ALWAYS Tatcha water cream it is hands down best moisturiser my skin has loved I hope it never discontinues it’s the green one. I used to use the medik8 night cream that’s in JL cal down my face hated it and it took me ages to work that out because I lived so much of the other medik8 I thought my skin should love it too but it dried my skin out and never gave me that nice soft fully absorbed deep feeling that the green tatcha does.

edited to say that’s nighttime

daytime I probably am not doing enough but I use Poco beauty universal glow which is SpF30 as my moisture and SPF before make up or on it’s on on make up free days and my skin glows but isn’t greasy/shiney x

I also use Sunday reily good genes on a Sunday and Wednesday too instead of the medik8 retinal

I’d like to try a k beauty starter set. Is there any brand or website anyone would recommend?

I have a lot open at the moment but I am getting through them and quite a few are close to done.

AM
Cleanser -
Beauty Pie Happy Face/Mini Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser. I like a lightweight gel cleanser in the morning and both these are great.

Toners/Essence - SK-II, his is a staple I've been using for over a year. It's expensive and a pain to get here in decent quantities. I wish like the US I could buy the mega bottles in Costco. I tend to buy multiples of travel sizes from K beauty sites. My skin loves the fermented formula, I've tried Estee Lauder, Tatcha and others but they are not as good.

Medik8 Press and Glow, this is nearly empty. I use it a few times a week as an exfolliating toner. Not massively loyal to this one. I also like Glow Recipe AHA toner.

Suqqu Aquafons - Has become a staple after getting it in a Liberty box. Use it if I feel I need extra hydration, which mostly yes I do. Also use it on a night as well.

Vit C - Got loads of these to try and eventually I plan to settle on a couple of faves. Currently using Glow Recipe, it's okay but won't make the final cut.

Serum - No loyalty with serums but currently using Caudalie Resveratrol. I do really like this one.

Also have open Shiseido Future Solutions Brightening Serum. Really like this too.

Moisturiser - No strong loyalty with AM moisturisers as I like space to try different ones. Currently have open-
Tatcha Dewy Cream - nearly empty, I like this but not under make up so use it on wfh days.

111Skin Cryo moisturiser - I hate this, it manages to be both greasy and not mosisturising. I need to use it up because it was expensive but I keep avoiding it.

Victoria Beckham x Augustinus Bader Priming Moisturiser - this is a discontinued product I got cheap at Home Bargains. Wish I'd bought more. I use under make up and will be sad when it's gone.

Naturium Multi Peptide Moisturiser - Took this on holiday and used a bit during the summer. Easy to travel with and very nice, also inexpensive. Will use it up when the Tatcha is finished.

Eyes

Niod FECC - Oil/Serum goes on under eye cream. Another staple. Hate dropper bottles though. Managed to knock it over and spill some recently. Planning to stock up in November when they usually have a good sale.

Summer Fridays Vit C and Peptide cream, from the CB Edit. Like this but I'm not massively loyal to eye cream so will use whatever comes my way.

I'm From Ginseng eye cream, opened this but only used a few times so don't have a solid opinion on it yet. Will finish off when SF is done.

SPF
Not very loyal but I have favourites. Currently open-

REN spf 50 mini, it's fine, just using it up.

Skin1004 Centella spf50, again it's fine. My DD loves this one but I prefer Numbuzin No1.

I'll do PM in another post because this is getting embarrasingly long.

I LOVE NIOD FECC. Where do you buy it from? It used to be in Selfridges.

@BlueLimes I think this kit from iHerb looks quite good:

https://uk.iherb.com/pr/iherb-exclusive-korean-glow-up-beauty-bag-8-piece-set/150403

I’ve had a really good starter kit from Skincupid before. It looks like it’s out of stock at the moment, but they have lots of other minis. Probably not the best value option, but good if you want to try things before getting a full size.

https://www.skincupid.co.uk/collections/minis-travel-size

The cheapest sites are Stylevana and Yesstyle but I just use UK based retailers, mainly because I’m impatient! I use Skinsider, Skincupid and Amazon (need to watch out for fakes though), plus the usual beauty retailers. Boots has done some good K beauty boxes recently.

I’m not that loyal - quite a lot of mixing up. Using beauty kits /advents.

After swimming - I’m using glow recipe essence, serum, moisturiser minis - not that impressed - wouldn’t purchase. Was in a set - was interested to try.

Double cleanse at night - Elemis balm, CeraVe oil to foam - this is a good regime for me - ill continue, may alternate with use of a cleansing oil.

morning moisturiser- Zelens. It’s fine, nothing special.
Evening - CeraVe - like this a lot.

Current serums in use- night cult 51, interested to see if notice a difference once it’s used up. It’s very rich which mi skin seems to like.
Day - Caudelie - nothing special.

Face oil - SR (not as good as votary).

I love the Tatcha Dewey cream and Sunday Riley Vit C cream. I might stick with these mainly in future.
Also like a Tatcha rice cleanser and looking forward to trying the serum soon.

Thanks so much, I’ll take a look. Super helpful 😊

PM

Currently open

Cleanser
Not at all loyal here despite having favourites. I do plan to settle somewhat eventually.
Skin1004 Centella Cleansing Oil. Nice, prefer Tatcha but this is cheaper.
Naturium Purple Cleansing Balm, just opened this one. It's okay but don't love it so far.
Glow Recipe Avocado Cleanser, long term fave. Love this one.
Omorovizca Cleanser. Like this but it's the old style packaging which is hard to squeeze out so find myself avoiding it a lot.
Innisfree Blueberry Cleanser. Wasn't quite what I expected. Thought it would be a light cleanser but it's a rich cream similar to Skin Rocks. Nice, don't dislike it.

Toners/Essences
Tend to use some of the AM ones with the addition of
D'Alba White Truffle Mist
CosRX 6 Peptide, use this instead of SK-II as it's cheaper and means I don't use up the SK-II too fast.
HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Probiotics essence
Tir Tir Milk Toner, both this and the HaruHaru are thicker so I've not used them during the summer. Just starting to use them again.

Retinol/Retinal
MediK8 CR 6, not loyal here either but I think MediK8 is a favourite.

Serum
Kate Somerville Supercell Serum, don't like the applicator on this so I keep avoiding it. Don't think it's anything amazing but need to make an effort to finish.
Numbuzin NAD, Like this one, not expensive and feels nice.
Estee Lauder ANR, another favourite. Alway happy to use this.

Moisturiser
AB The Rich Cream, one of my few staple products. Been using this for a year and don't want to swap this out as my night cream.

Neck
I tend to put my face stuff on my neck but I do have 2 products I've been recently using just on my neck.

Irene Forte cream from recent Liberty edit. Tried it on my face but missed the AB cream and it's too rich for AM. Has made an incredible neck cream but is nearly empty.

Beauty Pie Uber Youth Neck spray, It's fine, a bit slippy. Won't RP.

Eye

Use the NIOD FECC in the PM too
Allies of Skin Peptide & Omegas cream. It's okay, nice and creamy but does occasionally make my eyes sting. Don't think I'll RP for the price.
Estee Lauder ANR eye. A favourite. I like trying others but can always rely on this.

Overnight Masks

This is an shameful category. I have a lot open. I rotate depending on what I feel like using. They have their own bag next to the bed where I horde them like precious things.
No 7 Hydrating Mask. Nice, not a fave but is hydrating.
Evidens Anti fatigue. Just a mini but like this a lot. Gel type mask, makes skin soft in morning.
Laneige Cica. Long time fave. Reach for this when skin is red or irritated.
Sisley Velvet Flowers, probably my HG mask. Expensive so use sparingly when I want to look very plumped and good the next day.
Sulwhasoo Overnight mask. Really like this too. Soothing. I probably don't need both this and the Laneige but oh well.
Laniege Bouncy and Firm travel size. Nearly empty. Don't like it as much as the Cica but it is nice.
Shiseido Waso sleeping mask. Mini from the advent. Used once so far. Seems okay. Haven't formed a solid opinion

Lip mask
Use these during the day too
Glow Recipe Plum Plump, like this one. It works.
Etude Ginger Sugar. Not keen. Smells nice but very sticky and drags.
Hera Lip Oil mini gwp. This is really nice. Plastic applicator is rubbish though.

Last one was either LF or CB. Other than that just on the NIOD website. They usually do about 30% off in November.

I'm quite bad despite my presence on these threads every year.

Cleanser: Rodial Bee Venom or Aldi Elemis dupe

Serum: Trinny or Barbara Sturm

Moisturiser: Trinny or Aldi DE dupe or Elemis Marine Cream

Primer: Hourglass or Trinny BB

Night cream: Bare Minerals from the bargain advent years ago

Clever things with clever ingredients: random things in small tubes!

Face mask: Elemis Marine

Conditioner: Only Curls/Cantu

Just realised I missed something. Also have a nearly empty Glow Recipe Plum Plump serum which is basically just a hyaluronic acid. I like it though. Find it better than Medik8 but the Cosrx 6 Peptide one is a lot cheaper for more product.

I realise my lists are very long but the majority do serve a purpose and make sense to me, honestly...😂

@OvaHere i think we have some similar tastes 😁 I wish I'd seen the victoria beckham x augustinus bader moisturising primer, sounds like that could've been a great bargain! I like both brands. Agree with the rich cream, I think it's amazing! I've bought some from vinted from the HN calendar to put into my Frankenstein 😍

Medik8 is fast becoming my fave skincare brand, I can afford to repurchase it and the small amount of products I've used, I actually feel like they work.

Hits for me:
Most of the sunscreens seem good that I've tried. Standout ones Numbuzin No1 and BoJ
Cosrx 6 Peptide booster serum - more like a hyaluronic essence than serum. It's good and you get a decent amount.
Numbuzin NAD Bio essence - this is a serum not essence, it's quite thick. Feels nice. Supposed to do amazing things. I've not been very consistent with it but I like it.
Haruharu wonder Centella & 5 peptide cream - very lightweight with a nice consistency. Very cheap and refillable. Probably a bit too lightweight for my dry skin but I did like it.
Haruharu wonder black rice probiotic essence - very creamy, fab for dry winter skin.
Tirtir milk toner - similar to the above but lighter consistency. Nice and hydrating.
Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence/ Mary & May Blackberry Essence - these are about on a par for me. Both really nice and hydrating. Lighter weight than both the Haruharu and Tirtir.
Biodance Collagen Gel Toner pads - these are great for quick morning masking. When I remember or have time I put a few on my face and leave them for 10 mins whilst getting ready.
Aestura Atobarrier Cream - very good, fragrance free cream if you need barrier repair.
Beauty of Joseon (BoJ) Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask. A leave on then wipe off mask. Leaves skin looking very nice
Too many sheet masks to mention. I love korean sheets masks and have liked most of them. If you read through my posts in the empties thread you'll see what I've liked. Off the top of my head, Numbuzin NAD, Bioheal Probioderm, Anua Heartleaf Cream (probably my fave), Beauty of Joseon Centella Asiatica Calming Mask.

It was my friend that spotted it. She rang me up and said do you want some. They were about £15 each and not knowing if I would like it I said to just get one. Really wish I'd got a lot more.

I really rate medik8 too but I’ve never purchased an item on its own. It is a fine balance I think for the brands between making it feel it’s not worth buying something and getting us to try it.

@OvaHere Hoard like precious things made me laugh. I think I'm like that with all my skincare. Always looking for a reason to top up my products, as though I don't have several of each category already.

Read a few comments where folks are forcing themselves to work through a particular product before opening a new and shiny one, and I wondered how many of us are using products for other purposes to finish them and move on?
For me, I use my skin&me tret on my decolletage. It takes four days worth of pumps to cover Inc my shoulders and upper arms and is great ahead of events.
Medik8 eye serum goes all over my face.
Glow recipe watermelon glow tonic goes on my face, arms and legs if I can be bothered.
The Ordinary glycolic acid goes on my legs (again, if not knackered).
Am considering using my brightening serums on the backs of my hands going forward, as well as retinal, if I can remember.

@DidILeaveTheGasOn All glycolic acid toners go on the backs of my upper arms. My skin on my face has reacted a bit to glycolic before so I don’t risk it now and the toners work on KP on my arms much better than physical body scrubs do.

I also use skincare all over my neck, upper chest and shoulders every morning. It’s a good way to get through toners and moisturisers that are ok but I don’t love. Products I really like I just use on my face, so often end up using two different products.

I’ve used up cleansers as body wash a couple of times but most cleansers I’ve tried have been pretty good so that’s rare. I also have an insane amount of shower gel so am in no need any extra body wash!

Thanks @OvaHere and everyone else who has mentioned their favourite Korean skincare.