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

[OvaHere]

New thread for when the old one is full.

All welcome and thanks to everyone who contributes whether it's offers or just beauty chat.

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5389635-beauty-chat-freebiesgifts-with-purchaseoffers-thread-four?page=1

Just came on to say I was disappointed with the Dior crystal lip balm it was not what I wanted at all. It looks too light pink and frosty I was after a glittery balm that you could top lipsticks with. I much prefer the Dior sequin lip gloss I got last year. Oh well this is why beauty boxes and advent calendars are so good as it doesn’t matter so much if you don’t like them for the price.
Also a bit of a whinge about the fact I have quite a few different cleaners to use up out of beauty boxes and advent calenders and have just ran out of the Elemis cleansing balm that you can use on your eye make up too. I just dug the Emma hardie balm out of the glossy box A/ C and it says clearly can’t use on eyes so I have all these cleansers and I am still having to buy another one ! So I have ordered the John Lewis charity box and hoping the Elemis rose balm will be ok. I love the tiny lipstick that is included as I had one in an advent last year. Caroline Hererer.

@kerstina Thank you for sharing your feedback about the Dior crystal lip balm - I kept going back to look at it after you mentioned it, I really like the look of it. Having seen your update, I don’t think it’s for me.

Rather foolishly I have sold off a few lip glosses/balms/oils from my BACs to recoup some of my money so I could more focus on skincare items, but you’re right that they are a good way to try out something new for less of a financial hit

Yeah I thought it was a clear sparkly balm too. Pink frost is completely different. Thanks for the review @kerstina

Mmm-that’s naughty of GB @kerstina - the GB unboxing presenter made a big point of rubbing the EH balm all over her face and using it to remove her eye make up.

I happened to have a tub of it and started using it after that video for make up removal. I stupidly didn’t look at the back of the tub for instructions. I’m a bit annoyed as I have been using it all over, including eyes.

Isn't the eye thing a disclaimer they all do? I just looked at my Elemis balm and it says if in contact with eyes rinse throughly. I have no issues with it removing eye make up though and it doesn't sting or irritate. I would probably just try the Emma Hardie balm anyway.

I will just avoid my eyes in future, but it’s weird that the presenter was actually saying - use it on eyes!

It’s not very nice, anyway, so I won’t be repurchasing. Or perhaps it’s fine and I just don’t like cleansing balm??? I have lots to use, but this is the first one I have tried - inspired by the GB video.

Ok yes good idea. I will try it . Tonight I just washed my eye make up with hot water then put a little Elemis pro collagen cleansing cream on and that didn’t sting . When I went on holiday i took the Barbara sturm cleanser and that stung my eyes! What does everyone else like to remove eye make up? My favourite is the Cauldalie cleansing oil.

I love eve lom cleansing balm but I know a lot of people don't like it. I love the smell, it reminds me of a spa 😍 It leaves my skin feeling clean, smooth and really glowy. I use a makeup remover first and then this to take off anything left behind, and it always gives me that properly cleansed feeling without being heavy. It is quite pricey, but I never pay full price, I usually grab it from TK Maxx or wait for a good sale, which makes it much more affordable 🤑

I use Bioderma Sensibio H20 Miscellar water for eye make up removal. It's very effective, affordable and works for me.

More often than not, I use Nivea miscellar water first and then either Elemis cleansing balm or Kate Somerville goat milk cleanser for a second cleanse.
I have a stash of Eve Lom and Liz Earle cleansers that I’ve not yet tried, and there’s a ‘then I met you’ cleansing balm in one of my BACs

@JoRaRaRa when you know, you know!
I am a true Eve Lom balm cleanser fan too. I know it is one of those marmite products but it really does leave skin in great condition. I love the clean herbal scent and enjoy the massage steps. It's like a micro facial.
Like you, TK Maxx is the place I try when re-stocking. Last month I bought the biggest size they do for £60 (Also ordered a serum for around £45 supposedly RRP of over £400 out of pure curiosity, so this negates my attempt at saving money, but oh well...)
I remember how shocked I was at the price when I first started using it. I was very young and was convinced I'd never be able to afford to buy the big and biggest jars in my lifetime. There are always offers around, or I sometimes get the small size with beauty boxes or from Vinted as well.

I'm using up an M&S Formula cleansing balm at the moment. It isn't luxurious, but does the job. When this is finished I have a full size clinique take the day of balm and full size elemis balm to use - so I'm good for balms for a while. The Clinique one was a gwp and I also got the Elemis QVC offer.

If I've worn mascara I use Elizabeth Arden All Gone eye and lip makeup remover, which is very good.

Gosh I don't feel very sophisticated reading these. My eye make up remover predates my children. It predates smart phones! I should probably throw it out if I want to keep my eyes...

A lot of the Korean cleansing balms I’ve tried have been great and often cheaper than the well known European and American brands. My favourite is Banila Clean It Zero and Heimish All Clean is also good (very similar to Farmacy Green Clean).

Agree on Banila. I think I've had a one use sample of Heimish but can't remember what I thought. I didn't like Farmacy, I found it a bit lumpy.

Talking of Banila they launched some new tube face cleansers on Yesstyle that look like they might be nice.

I also thought Beauty of Joseon was quite good (frag free) and for a solid performing frag free budget buy Elf Holy Hydration does what it says on the tin.

I recently finished a Naturium one which I did end up liking quite a lot and it's reasonably priced. It does have a bit of a vinegary scent but I got used to it.

My favourite luxe ones are Tatcha - really lovely but small product for the cost. Elemis - wasn't sure about the texture at first but now I do like it a lot and Then I Met You - not my fave scent but everything else about it is good.

Elf have got a £10 reward weekend for members and free shipping over £10.

Not sure what the min spend is but the reward didn't work on just one £11 item so I got my basket up to £20 then got £10 off and the free shipping.

I got the Jelly Pop cleansing balm to try and threw in one of their Melting Lip Balms which was basically free and I'll probably gift.

Just visited the beauty counters in real life. It was hell!

I now really want one of those Dior bag gift sets!

@OvaHere I’m using the Beauty of Joseon cleansing balm at the moment and agree it’s pretty good. I like the Elf Holy Hydration too.

I’ve never tried anything from Naturium or Tatcha but really want to. I feel a big Space NK order coming on 😆

Most cleansing balms seem pretty good to be fair, they all seem to do the job so it’s just little differences in texture and scent as to what I like more. I quite like a bit of scent in cleansers, not too much though (looking at you, Elemis black cherry).

JL have some CD gift sets with the bag reduced. I ordered one yesterday with free delivery

@OvaHere I think minimum spend is £15 for Elf. Their lipliners are good (from memory) but otherwise I wouldn’t know what to get.

@CorneliaStreet I haven't tried anything from Naturium yet I haven't liked. I'm using up at the moment their peptide cream that comes in a silver tube. I bought it to take on holiday because it's a great size and packaging for travel. It's very good and feels like a more expensive cream.

Just watching Hannah martins instagram live video and she has a Dior bag and make up.Looks gorgeous and glittery ! Can’t buy any more stuff though I really can’t . She is putting some Dior products on , looks like she has the crystal lipstick too. Wonder if she rates it more than me.

The Elf grip primer is good. I’ve tried a few and this seems to be the best for me (though I’m using up a Milk one at the moment)

I’ve also tried a couple of their mascaras which have been good

If anyone is one the look out for sparkly eyeshadows, I just got this set of two shimmer palettes from Beauty Bay on the 30% off deal and they are super sparkly. I think Beauty Bay eyeshadows are really good for the price.

https://www.beautybay.com/p/beauty-bay/the-mini-icons-gift-set/

@QueefofSheena I looked at them in JL today. I was tempted, but the woman on the counter treated me like I was some kind of shoplifter, so I left!

Service in Boots was even worse - staff just walked off twice when I was asking for help - so I gave up.

By contrast, the lady I spoke to in M&S when I visited the a/c was lovely and super helpful!