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

[OvaHere]

New thread. Everyone welcome to join to chat about beauty bargains or just beauty in general.

Thanks to everyone who regularly contributes and keeps us whizzing through these threads.

Now we're in June we might be seeing the first Advent reveal before the month is out! Exciting times. 😍

Its just been delivered. He said its scanning now 🤩

I just had a survey from CB. One question was 'describe CB in 3 words'. I wrote 'Terrible customer service'. I hope they don't ban me 😆

😂

That’s generous, I would have gone for “non-existent” 😂

I think I need some guidance, please, from those of you with a good size stash / backlog (actually I think that’s pretty much everyone on this thread!):

How fast do you go through serum / moisturiser etc?

Tracking between the empties thread and purchase updates on here, it feels like some people get through products reasonably fast. And I just….don’t…😵‍💫

For example, I’ve been using the medik8 tetra vit c serum from the cb/fairy gwp every day since early March. About 1-2 pumps every morning is more than enough for a full face worth. I’m about half way (ish) through the first bottle with another to go. And 2 Decree serums, and a Medik8 B5 and a REN Vit C all waiting in the wings.

Is this normal? Or what am I doing wrong?

@Fillybuster who me? What stash. No...😂

Cleansers and serums I can go through fairly quickly but I am quite liberal with them - 2-4 pumps and put on neck, chest and sometimes back of hands too. If I didn't have quite a stash I'd probably be more sparing

Moisturisers seem to take a bit longer because if I over apply they tend to pill.

Just a heads up in case anyone has points. FtF is closing their rewards scheme but you can redeem existing points until 6th July.

@Fillybuster
Ssounds normal to me. 🤣🙄
I struggle to finish things. If I do it means they are keepers.
I do get bored of using the same things as well. Probably why my skin gets upset with me. I pass opened stuff on but also struggle to part with stuff
. Eg, I have a pharmacy green cleansing balm that I love. Has possibly 5/6 more cleanses in it. I have a timy balm as well plus umpteen other cleansers but I just cant hurry up and use and move on. I have a back up of the pharmacy which I wont open immediately. I may use the other as a body cleanser tomorrow just to use it up 🤣
Serums last ages for me especially as I have to go easy and not over do it. That's why I love travel sizes. Get used up quickly so I can then move on. I more than likely go over the pao for the majority of things.
Theres so much choice, bargains,etc makes it hard to resist. 🤩
Sorry no guidance from me. Im hopeless.
I overuse moisturiser to try to use up but then give myself the odd spot 🙄🤣

@Fillybuster I tend to go through a 30ml moisturiser every 4-6 weeks depending on how generous I am.
The medik8 vit c serum seemed to last ages for me too (I used 2 pumps daily), yet other vit c serums were approx 4-5 weeks.
From recollection the medik8 B5 lasts me approx 4-5 weeks, but I am generous. I’ve not used for a few months as I’ve been using other serums, but I’ve just started on a new bottle as I’ve missed using it.

This shows that the cult birthday voucher isn't great.

I also got this offer but I haven’t started to use them yet. I have however been using the Laniege water sleeping mask and I really like it (I also like the regular sleeping mask, the pink one)

I like the Numbuzin No. 9 range.

@Fillybuster I love trying new things and I have combination skin so sometimes my skin needs different serums and moisturisers to others. I often have multiple serums on the go for the above reason but I also open a new one before my old one finishes so I can decide if I like it and if not I go back to my old one. I also put serum on my neck, bingo wings and inner thighs to often use up ones I’m not that impressed by and to try to help saggy skin as I’m loosing weight (I do think it does help tighten and smooth the skin in these areas).
Moisturisers I struggle with more. I divided my stash into pre October 2025 purchases and post and moisturiser is the only one I’m still battling through my pre October stash. I was thinking of combining it with tanning drops to use as a self tan lotion for those that I have massive bottles of that I’m not soo keen on. I also often have multiple moisturisers on the go and often I will open one that is far too heavy for me so I either use it as night cream or if it’s too greasy bin/pass on.

By the way: I watched a video the other day warning about the possibility of damaging the skin barrier with products containing spicules. She convinced me, so I will not be using my reedle shot products.

Here’s the link if anyone is interested:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-wcGPvDlc

Whilst I am being gloomy, I thought I would also share that people who are allergic to dust mites might also react to products containing snail mucin. I ignored the snail stuff whilst I was in South Korea but seem to have acquired some since, so I will be passing on that too.

I'd have gone for 'points robbing bastards' after they refused for weeks to reimburse 1000 points. They did in the end after I threatened to formally complain.

Ooh thank you for the tip, I'm allergic to dust. Haven't bought any snail mucin products but now I know to avoid them.

@Fillybuster I seem to take ages to use things up despite being generous. I had a 15mls u beauty serum from the Harrods AC- it lasted about 2 months, I was so bored of it even though it’s good.

Thanks @IlovePond very interesting, will avoid the snail mucin now! @Fillybuster your usage of the Medk8 sounds about right tbh, I've been using it since then and am still on the same bottle with about 1/4 left but I sometimes use it at night too and use 2-3 pumps as I use it on my neck too (and as I have a lot of serum to get through I'm probably a bit careless with it tbh) Would also agree with 30ml of moisturiser lasting between 4 - 6 weeks.

I was intrigued by them and got one in a bundle but after reading they spike the skin slightly and cause redness I riled it out. Im fighting redness. Id rather look a bit older skinwise but not as red. I was also worried id damage my barrier again. ♥️

Edited to add i wont every use snail mucin. Yuck. 🤣

I went to Jarrolds yesterday to use my birthday code and bought the small size Elevator. It's only my second ever Trinny product. I'm now 49 and have big boobs, so my chest isn't great and my neck is starting to get a bit of crepey texture so I thought I'd give it a try.

I also went into Space NK and tried some of the Phlur scents. Cherry Stem was my favourite. DD liked the matcha.

Speaking of redness, the medik8 vitamin c, and allergies, sone of you might remember I got a rash right around the time we all bought the Fairy GWP and blamed it on the medik8. At the time I was using that, medik8 retinal, and medik8 niacinamide peptides. I cut them all out for several months and I just started using the vitamin c again. Completely fine this time. A few other products have made my cheeks red in the meantime, including the BoJ SPF and various moisturisers and serums. The common ingredient: niacinamide. Someone on here suggested it at the time and I know a few people have talked about being sensitive to it (and what a pain it is, given it's in so many things!).

I have loads of products in my stash containing vitamin c and retinol that I've avoided all this time so I'm really hopeful that I'm going to be able to use them up. Going very slowly this time though and only adding one new active at a time. Once you damage your barrier it takes sooo long to heal!

I used that up recently. Agree that one did take quite a while for some reason.

CB have sent an email today. Thanking me for shopping and confirming the 200 bonus points which will be added on 1/07. Watch this space…

Double points on SNK on tatcha products. I’m not sure if any other brands are included as this is the only brand ive noticed whilst app browsing this morning.

edited to add: Chantecaille also seems to have double points.