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

[OvaHere]

Beauty addicts assemble.

A new thread as we are powering through them at quite a rate now.

Thanks to everyone who contributes to the beauty chat and we are always happy to see new posters.

Join at your peril. It can get spendy. 😬

😂I hope he enjoyed reading it.

Well done to all of those who guessed correctly!
I loved Worzel Gummidge…I think I was a bit odd 😅
@BlueLimes I agree, planet of the apes was scary!!

I’m really struggling not to cave with the CB fragrance samples. I’m still boycotting them 🙈

Oh my goodness! I knew I should have claimed my money back from the bank last week rather than being soft and giving CB the benefit of the doubt.
I’ve just checked my account and they have said I am welcome to apply for a return of the replacement that they sent me IN ERROR and they will then process the refund! I think my head is going to explode!

Safe to say I definitely won’t be buying from them ever again, even if they do another 40% off glitch!

And that person at the post office is selling it on Vinted 🫤

To cheer myself up I’ve bought the JL charity box and the YSL loveshine & candyglow set 🥰

Just used the Votary Clarifying Cleansing Oil which I bought back at the end of 2024 (with 50% off by the looks of it) to get a full size GWP item I also haven’t used. It’s really nice! Looks like it’s discontinued though. Might have to try the new one when this (and the other one I bought 😅) runs out. It came with its own face towel though which seems a bit unnecessary.

Sorry I’ve been a bit quiet since pointing you all at the JL boxes two nights ago….I then got FOMO at midnight and got one for myself along with the YSL lip duo which I had in my basket for ages. And two more of the neals yard mini crackers (with balm and hand cream) now they are down to £6. Thank goodness the post party recovery crackers are finally out of stock!!

Thanks for the feedback re FtF bundles. Not going to do the birthday edit, as I suspect the MZ serum really isn’t going to be one for me, but am still mulling the Decree retinol serum in the mystery box. Seems worth a punt for the price.

The only thing standing between me and the fragrance samples, and BoJ serum, is that I can’t get any of the CB codes to give me free shipping. The CBDB gave me 15% off the serum but apart from that nothings stacks and I really don’t want to pay 3.95. Maybe that’s not a bad thing?! Hard pass on the Boots box, but thanks to whoever flagged it.

@pinkchampagne1 glad your dad is on the mend 💐

@JoRaRaRa I’d prefer the toy to the Dior edit. Not sure what that says about me…..😂

@Thelifeofawife absolutely fuming for you!

@Fillybuster Did you try ANNIIECB?

I think it’s ANNIIECB that gives free shipping on CB.

@Fillybuster Probably not as tempting but the after party cracker is available, but only as ‘express checkout’ meaning you have to buy it alone, and then pay £4.50 for delivery, so less of a bargain. It’s still a good price for the contents.
Or maybe you should buy a few more then you might get free delivery 😏

I’m fuming with CB, I’ll try to sort out the return but honestly I am so angry about it all that I’m best stepping away from it for a couple of days.
I’m really disappointed as I’ve bought a few things from them the past few months and they were becoming a firm favourite, along with Look Fantastic who are part of the same group.
I always used Space NK before, and will continue to do so. I’ve been really happy with everything I’ve got from Debenhams as well (though heard they can be nightmare-ish for returns too)

@pinkchampagne1 I just realised I didn’t mention about your dad. I’m glad he’s on the mend 💐

Not sure if this has been mentioned before and I missed it, but the Liberty beauty kits have 10% off currently.

Oh, going back to the opened boxes, I noticed that the box that the perfume edit arrived in the other day had been opened. I was expecting it to be missing and was glad that the delivery guy photo'd it already open. Thankfully it was in there. Someone must've just seen a yellow box and decided it wasn't worth it 🤣

@Fillybuster nooo seriously?! I think the dior collection is gorgeous 😍🥰 I'm going to be soooo skint! 🤣

I haven’t seen any other replies, but I bought the skincare mystery box and the contents were definitely different to the unboxing video

What was in it @wohmum - anything exciting?

@Thelifeofawife that is just terrible re CB.

Re: Cult Beauty

I never understand why these companies are willing to risk their reputations for the sake of a few quid, especially with the reach that social media has nowadays 🤷‍♀️

It’s just really poor behaviour from them. I hope you can get a resolution @Thelifeofawife Can you still do a chargeback?

@Thelifeofawife thats shocking customer service. I've not had an issue with them up to now but it makes me wary of doing a big order with them.

Re parcels being opened, I hadn't considered it until it was mentioned here, but Ive had three turn up opened recently. One I put down to JL only using a padded envelope for a shampoo, 🤦‍♀️ one was from America so could have been customs (although more likely no one wanted the terrible fake Pikachu my DC is currently obsessed with) but my recent M&S box was opened fully. The delivery driver made me check the contents before he'd mark it as delivered.

I sent a vinted parcel which the buyer reported had been opened. The mini blush was still there so so assume they thought wasn’t worth taking.

my perfume samples are with evri - I presume never to be seen again (like my Black Friday multiple orders).

Re CB shocking. Agree- you’d think they’d want a good reputation.

Ohhhh…🤦‍♀️ I had missed out a letter in the code. Applied correctly and order placed. Even though I have been trying to reduce, not grow, my perfume sample stash.

You can always pass some on to others when you've tried them. Just note down what you've tried and if you love, like or dislike them. This is what I do. Although, I seem to only part with the ones from the dislike category 🤣

@Thelifeofawife I don't get why we've had completely different responses to the same issue 🤯 Sorry that you've had such a crappy time with them 😔

When I was struggling to get my money back from selfridges and then spacenk, I swore I wouldn't shop again from either, but I can't resist a good bargain 🙈🤣 Actually, I've had perfume edits from both selfridges and SNK this week 🙄

I also swore last year that I wouldn't purchase my holiday through jet2 again, after the disappointing hotel we stayed at last year, but I've been looking again this year. No, i must not cave on that one! 💪

I second the idea of keeping notes on perfume. I keep a notebook where I'll write my first impressions and whether they last on me. The only problem is, the only one so far I really dont like is the DS & Durga I Don't Know What. I dont know why but it makes me feel physically sick when I smell it 🤢

I had an awful experience with Space Nk / Royal Mail with an Hourglass palette I returned they claimed the box was empty. I ended up doing a charge back via my credit card to get my money back after weeks of back and forth.

Ironically, Cult Beauty were pretty good about a missing advent calendar and replaced it within a few days.
Although I assume that was claimed back from Evri as the proof of delivery was a picture of nothing.