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

[OvaHere]

New thread for when the old one is finished. We rattled through the last thread being a chatty bunch.

Everyone welcome to chat about beauty and/or share bargain finds.

@IlovePond oh wow I didn’t even think about counterfeits in genuine packaging. Will definitely be sticking to sealed or cellophane wrap purchases or buying from people I know.

I did a small Clinique order today as I remembered I would get a birthday freebie!

For some reason my Rituals reward isn’t showing up - ditto on EL. Both used to work fine. I think both companies have upgraded their systems so that all rewards are suspended during December- at least that’s what EL told me when I contacted them. I pointed out that this wasn’t exactly fair on those of us who had December birthdays but they didn’t seem to care.

@IlovePond Belated birthday wishes! 💐

I have seen empties on Vinted before. I initially thought ‘oh, good idea to make a few quid’ then realised that people most likely buy to fill with fake products and sell them off, so I didn’t do it. I’d hate to think I was a part of someone being duped.

I now have a bag full of empties, I really need to set up the Boots recycling scheme.

Thanks @Thelifeofawife I must also get round to figuring out how the Boots scheme works!

@IlovePond @Thelifeofawife it sounds so confusing but honestly so easy once you do it once. You have to scan the QR code on the box and wait for gps to verify your location. Then it puts a voucher in your wallet in the Boots Recycle app which expires at midnight. When at the till, activate the voucher when they ask you to pay and a 5minute counter runs down on it.

Just start with downloading the app and taking photos of empties. Then can wait to drop off until you’re ready. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/recycle-at-boots/id6473898575 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.metrisk.scan2recycle.boots&pli=1

I go to boots quite regularly but was really put off by the whole voucher countdown thing.

I simply don’t use Boots so I end up recycling at Space NK, there’s no reward or voucher, which is a bit of a sadness, but it’s that or the bin. I suppose I get the moral glow of recycling!!

Who knows, if the glow shows in your face you won't need a highlighter!

Thanks @BakeOffRewatch - I must give it a go!

@BakeOffRewatch Thank you! I’ve just downloaded the app, I’m a step closer 😁

Does MN not like links to or the words Be-auty Ba-y now? No idea why the post was hidden.

Anyway - 2 x new beauty boxes on the above. Make up and nice mirrored cases £45. Two colourways.

I went to Bicester Village today.

The Cosmetics Store were doing 3 make up items for £45 or 10 for £100. I stuck with three which wasn’t very good value from a Maths standpoint but I didn’t NEED ten make up items 😹

For £45 I got:

EL DWear foundation
Bobbi Brown eyeshadow pencil
Bobbi Brown double-ended eyeshadow pencil

I have put the two pencils into my 2026 DIY calendar, (yes, I have started filling it already!)

Bamford Shop;

I got a tiny bath and hand wash duo for £5 reduced from £19, a bath oil and body moisturiser gel for £34 down from £70 and a couple of sleep mists for £3.75 each.

The tiny gift duo and one of the sleep mists have also gone in my 2026 calendar.

Rituals:

They had the 2024 deluxe calendar reduced to £80, but I thought this was too expensive for a calendar that old. I’d have paid £50-60 for it.

I got a small Jing shower gel and matching body cream for £8 and put the cream away in next year’s calendar.

L’Occitane had a few things reduced. I bought a huge le Cerisier shimmering body cream for £20 and a free mini body lotion, (the latter has gone in the calendar too!)

Penhaligon’s: Some small reductions, but nothing worth getting excited about - the a/c was there but was £457. When I went to the York Penhaligon’s outlet a while ago they had some spectacular reductions, but no joy at Bicester today.

There was a nice rocking horse Xmas decoration reduced to £10 but it would have been far too heavy for my tree!

Clarins: Xmas Gift sets reduced by 20% but no a/cs in evidence.

The International Beauty store was doing 15% off and 25% on spends of £100+ but nothing in there appealed to me.

I saw the Missoma jewellery a/c but it was still £275 and I would have needed to like everything in it to even consider it.

Some good deals @IlovePond I love that you are already filling next year's BAC. 😄

Home Bargains online has loads of bareMinerals in both the make up and skincare categories. There's a sleep mask for 7.99 that still sells in Boots/JL for nearly £50 and some equally expensive serums.

There's a standard £3.95 delivery for HB, like TKmaxx you don't get free delivery until £100 spent.

Thanks @OvaHere - I had no idea HB did online sales! Off to look now…

I was on there with the intention of looking for a floor mop...now I'm the proud owner of a mop plus 2 sleep masks and a setting powder. 😏

I'm hopeless. 😆

Got Aldi's flawless swipe eyeshadow pen in pearl. It's a really nice creamy cool champagne like I was hoping for from that Nudestix set from CB. I might have to got back for the other colour tomorrow. They also have some lip sticks which I think are supposed to be VB dupes. www.aldi.co.uk/products/specialbuys/health-and-beauty/k/1588161416584102

Also tried the eyeshadow stick from Rare beauty SNK advent - love it. Light copper champagne hard to describe but good neutral every day colour. Warm. Plenty on Vinted and ebay for less than £10.

I wish I had bought the pearl Aldi shadow @Hicupping . I got the bronze, which is fine but they have now all gone from my local.

On a related note: I tried one of Elf’s eyeshadow pencils and it’s pretty good.

For those that bought the CEW edit it is worth checking the expiry date on the Tatcha sunscreen as appears it is March 2026 so needs to be used sooner rather than put in the cupboard for later in the year.

After my adventures with squalane in November (my face did not like it, my shins drank it) I'm bizarrely drawn to the wonders of the Biossance Squalane & Copper peptide plumping serum. It's on offer at Lookfantastic at £37, down from £54, which is a good bargain I think, if my face likes it, but is rather expensive if it ends up on my shins again.

Has anyone tried this and got benefit from it? Did it ever absorb or is it still sitting on your skin like a belligerent pond?

I've only tried the face cream in a mini size and I didn't like it to the point I didn't finish it. IIRC I feel like it didn't absorb well and pilled quite badly.

Ah okay, thanks @OvaHere !

@DidILeaveTheGasOn I really like the Biossance Squalane and vitamin C rose oil. Really like it. It's great in winter when your skin is a bit dry, and it left me looking so glowy. I didn't have an issue with absorption, but I guess it depends on your skin type and what you want from it.

Ooh @owlpassport I have been tempted by that many a time purely due to the bottle. It's very pretty. Do I have two face oils I don't use already? Yes. Would I purchase another because it looks nice? ... Noooo?

@owlpassport Is this the oil in a Cult Beauty edit?
If so, I have this and want to start incorporating oil into my routine but have no idea how!
Do you use this in the morning due to the vit c benefits?

@MrsBnow12 I got it in the LiB 2021 calendar and have repurchased several times since. I'm not using at the moment, but yes I tend to use it in the morning. Layered with the SF Jet Lag Mask it leaves my skin so soft.