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

[OvaHere]

New thread as the old one is almost full.

All welcome to chat about beauty purchases, upcoming beauty boxes/GWP and to share your bargain finds.

I know! Why don't we do that in the UK? It really wouldn't be difficult and might stop a lot of waste. I often don't use products if I've had them 'a while' - which could mean anything really as I'm time blind and a bit weird about dates (ND). So if I think I've had something for a long time and there's no BB or use by date on it I'll generally get rid of it as it's 'old'. Thankfully the charity I donate to are okay with taking old, slightly used beauty products.

@JoRaRaRa Sounds like a lovely birthday x

Panning with Crystal. Youtube. Boots korean bag and Biodance masks. 🥰

@JoRaRaRa
Was it you that said you lovd Decree.
Caroline Hirons kit released just no has a Decre product in worth the price of the kit. 🥰

Pat Mcgrath has filed for bankruptcy. I'm not sure what that means for the brand, maybe they'll be bought out, I just saw it online (fact checked and it is true).

I have been using the PM brown eyeliner that I received as a gift from hbeauty, and I find it a bit strange. Even from the first use it felt like it was drying out already and quite blotchy. It's a pen eyeliner, and it makes one eye look darker then the other so I have to go over them a few times which feels like a waste. I'm used to doing it once and being done.

@JoRaRaRaBelated birthday wishes for yesterday, sorry crazy day and want online to wish you.

Yes! And it's the product I love, the treat tincture 😍 I also really like medik8 as a brand, I've yet to dislike something from them. It's great value, but I'm not sure I can justify another £130 on skincare 🙈

This is a great kit £130 value £380. Has Medik8 collagen and peptide as well as the Decree
https://www.carolinehirons.com/products/the-hydrate-and-brighten-kit

This kit includes:

• Jane Scrivner Nourishing Cleanser 100ml
• Dr Idriss Major Fade Flash Mask 50ml
• By Sarah Reviver Hydrating Mist 100ml
• Decree Treat Tincture 30ml
• Medik8 Advanced Pro Collagen + Peptide Cream 50ml
• Caroline Hirons Limited Edition Kit Bag 24L x 16D x 14H cm

Thank you 🥳🩷

I have spotted some cheap Decree serums on both EBay and Vinted so if we don’t get one in the mystery box, we can still grab a bottle for a fraction of the price. 😃

I was looking at the PM eye shadow palettes last night - not that I need one but I fell in love with one of them that I saw in Selfridges last year. They are very spendy.

I still have the little PM set that came in a Look Fantastic edit last year, unused but I bought the edit specifically for it! 😅 I think I just like the idea of being a glammed up, pampered princess but in reality, day to day I only really make the time to try to banish my wrinkles and anything else is a bonus 😅
Though I am trying to be good and use up my HG evil eye palette now

My view - from my sofa and not in the fashion world at all - was that Pat McGrath was put on a pedestal and everywhere by Edward Enninful Vogue Editor. Never heard of PM as a consumer until Edward Enninful became editor. They were name called on every shoot and model/celeb style. Probably mentioned less now he’s not editor and have to downscale back to being specialist brand.

This is what wiki says at the mo. Edward became editor in 2017. Sounds like a new job too at LV starting earlier last year.

“Dame Patricia Ann McGrath DBE[1][2] (born 11 June 1971) is a British make-up artist. She has been called the most influential make-up artist in the world by Vogue magazine and other commentators.[3][4][5] In 2019 she was included in Time's 100 most influential people list.[6] She is the first make-up artist to be made a Dame Commander of the British Empire.[7] In 2025 she was announced as creative director of cosmetics for La Beauté Louis Vuitton.[8]

In December 2025, Pat McGrath Labs put itself and its assets up for sale via an auction bid in an effort to reset its operations after losing a majority of its revenue caused by limited consumer demand and heightened competition.[30] The auction bid was tossed in January 2026 after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.[31]“

Thanks for the info @BakeOffRewatch It’s always sad when a company goes bust.

It's quite hard to scale up in a small business that suddenly becomes very popular. The investment and infrastructure needed is massive.

I also think that large palettes aren't as popular as they were and a lot of people are preferring quads/quints or six pans.

I don't own any PMG and I know the formulas and special shades were sought after but the brand didn't seem to keep up with the evolving market and others brands like Danessa Myricks have filled a gap.

I’m regretting not getting the New Year SK box posted above, but given the piles of stuff I have already, it’s probably just as well.

I wobbled on the Boots Korean box, which was in my basket for a while, but it’s sold out now - again, probably a good thing!

I’m currently focusing on using up all the mini products I have on the go - it makes me feel better when I actually clear a bit of space in my stash.

Thanks for the details @BakeOffRewatch I have bought the kit and will sell the bits I don’t want on the FB freaks pages where anything in the CH kits sells well.

IMO hugely overpriced LiB box has 30% off plus if you're VIP you then get 15%. So now £47.60. code - WHDEAL30 https://www.latestinbeauty.com/collections/boxes/products/stylist-whats-hot-for-2026?om_campaign=omme_878101d7-167_86316_435272&om_profile=271e-b52fbb-00446bb8&om_send=85cc4c9e63bc41c1976b68f5339cec5f&utm_campaign=omme_878101d7-167_27_01_2026_tuesday_stylist_payday&utm_content=variation_a&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ometria

The kit is very tempting. I don't usually like enough of the CH kits for the price but this is 4/5 in terms of things that interest me. Only meh item for me is the Dr Idriss mask.

However I don't need any of it and it's £130. Good value for what's in it but still on the expensive side for someone who doesn't need anything.

Just remembered I think I have the Decree product from the FtF xmas box. I'll have to check it was the same one.

I have been a big Pat McGrath fan - mostly for the eyeshadow palettes. I have a few of the big mothership palettes and some quads.

The brand has definitely lost direction which I think is one of the reasons for the struggles. And agree that more recently Danessa Myricks is doing the innovative stuff with glitzy looks.

I do though think the mothership palettes are unique and will be sad to see it all go. You can order directly from the US Pat McGrath website, and pricing includes postage and taxes. Currently the motherships are 35% off (so £77 or so) which is not expensive for what they are - they are big palettes with a lot of product. So if you have ever fancied getting one, now might be the time.

Im always worried about fakes even though I sell on there. X

If it's the sparkle edit, then yes, it's the same one 🥰 I kept looking at it because I like ab rich cream and the decree tt, but I ended up buying too much other stuff to then justify buying it.

I went to have a nosy. I'm not seeing 35% off. Most are still £119.

Excellent. I shall walk away from all thoughts of CH. I shouldn't have bought the FtF kit but it was really good. I did sell on quite a bit of the stuff so in the end maybe cost me £150 or less for the stuff I kept.

I loved the MZ serum which was the main draw. I finished it a couple of weeks ago but couldn't justify a RP at full price. The AB cream is a staple fave and you convinced me I needed to give Decree a whirl. 😂

One of those listed on Vinted was also selling a NEOM candle so wonder if she got the mystery box. 🤔 She wasn’t selling many other beauty bits