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. 😍

Re: Unopened A/Cs and wishlist 2026

I got the 2025 cheap and cheerful Soap and Glory calendar half price in the sale and put it away for this Xmas. I have never actually tried S&G but am willing to give it a go.

My refilled Liberty DIY is more or less finished. I might swap out a few things before Xmas as some drawers are not very exciting!

Unless Liberty’s calendar offering is really terrible, I will be buying that as my proper calendar for 2026. I have been saving up via BD since last summer so paying the balance won’t be too painful.

Also put away for Xmas 26:

The HG Swan palette that I picked up in the SNK sale.

The CD gold bag and skincare set that I bought just before Xmas 25 but just didn’t feel like opening on Xmas Day because I was feeling grumpy! (I am wondering if I should open it to check the dates of the products before saving them for another few months, but would be disappointed if CD had put really old stuff in their Xmas gifts.)

I have all my unopened advent products plus all my new "exciting" purchases in the huge Liberty bag from last years advent. I do have a spare room/dressing room but for some reason this bag lives in my bedroom and I periodically tip everything on my bed to admire like a magpie! I recently revamped my bathroom cabinet by shopping from the bag plus loads of new Korean goodies I bought recently.

For 2026, the Harrods fragrance is a must buy. I'm doubtful yet still hopeful it will be less stressful this year as I nearly missed it.

I have £160 Liberty credit/vouchers so I'll get that one too. I'll rejoin BD for a month or so for the discount (cancelled after last awful box with PK & MD).

Those two I'd get regardless of contents but otherwise it will be whatever fragrance advents tempt me and have a full size that justifies the purchase.

SNK and HN fragrance I must wait for the discounts, both went down last year and I'd already bought SNK. A poster here kindly shared their 25% HN discount code and I also picked up the LF fragrance.

I am not too bothered about the regular BACs, mainly because I've usually tried most of the products! I spent a lot on Vinted picking up items from different calendars to make my first ever frankenstein though which I enjoyed and might do again.
Oh, I impulse bought the CB advent when it was discounted but I regret that, it wasn't even the one with fragrances...will be easier to resist this year now I'm banned 😅

Long post of waffle but my advent fever has been bubbling for a while now. Love that these threads let me know I'm not alone!

I too am very much looking forward to advent season. Last year I picked up, Glossybox, ASOS, Space NK, Sephora (my favourite), LF fragrance and the Perfume shop. I received the H&B advent for my birthday and opened it on the day. I haven't bought any skincare so far this year and makeup wise I've just topped up my foundation.

In 2024 I picked up Lookfantastic, ASOS and John Lewis.

I do enjoy watching unboxings but I did spend a lot of time going through content lists last year. I'm not sure if I should take a different approach and just pick a few calendars I haven't tried before. I won't say I will restrict myself to x number of calendars because frankly that's setting myself up for failure.

My favourite last year was SNK. Although I liked Harrods there was a lot of small sizes. I’ve a lot of Liberty credit too - so maybe Liberty and SNK. I don’t want lots of fragrances though, I’m already hoarding a too big number despite being spritz heavy to reduce.

I’d forgotten about the LF fragrance calendar. I do regret letting that one escape, so could be tempted this year if it’s a good one.

@TreesinthePark - it’s ridiculous that CB have maintained their ban of your account - how petty of them!

I haven’t ordered from them since the face mask/points debacle. As far as I know, my account is ok, but I haven’t felt like putting it to the test.

I could be tempted back - probably - if they have more of their lovely Xmas stockings this year.

Cult beauty edit is available . I tried the usual codes with no luck but it is double status points.

Also looking forward to advent season, I love the the build up, the chat and the reveals. Probably more than actually opening the advents.

I'm most looking forward to Harrods perfume (though slightly dreading the scramble to get one and the FOMO) and SNK.

I'm hoping again that this is the year I really like Liberty - I would like to get it at least once.

I'm on the fence with LF Fragrance, if they do it again and it wasn't an anniversary year one off. It was great value but I did sell on a lot of it just because there were so many dabber bottles which I'm not a fan of. That said it was still a bargain considering there was a full size, gift boxed Jo Malone for the final day.

I'm full of good intentions right now about having a more low key approach this year but we shall see! 😂

@OvaHere same! I'm hoping I don't go too wild this year and end up with one for every month again 🙈🤣

I'm thinking that I'll probably just get the Harrods beauty and fragrance (if I'm lucky). I have enough stuff to last me the next few years so I can't even use the excuse that I'm stocking up 😭

6% TCB at CB. I am tempted to order another.

I've ordered the CB edit - I had £15 of points so it cost £30 and there's a couple of things I like and use, plus another couple I'm happy to try.

I’m very tempted by the cb edit. I have a £10 voucher and £5 credit. So it would only be £30. I really like that style of bag for traveling.

I'm going to struggle to find an advent calendar where I don't own half the contents given how much I've bought this year 😆

Very different to all previous years, when I didn't really buy beauty products so most of my acquisitions were via calendars - this thread has a lot to answer for!

I do love the opening threads and all the discussions about the products, so hopefully there will be a popular one I'm excited about - probably Harrods, Liberty or SNK. I'm tempted to get a single brand one (as well?) this year, although the cost starts to get prohibitive. PDM or Diptyque would be top of my list but I'm sure they'll be out of my league

I’m going to store my sun products in it.
I think it’s a good buy.

Came on here to see if any discount codes work! @JoRaRaRa have you had any luck? I I’ll definitely be buying the edit. When I know I know. Except when I wait cos I’m busy …

I must be in the minority but I loooove COSRX Snail Mucin essence, my skin loves it as well. It's one of the longest standing products in my routine, been using it for years. I've actually ran out and was going to add it to my next SK order with the box that's out now but I'm very reluctant now seeing they've changed the VAT/duty collection process on their site.

CB have really clamped down on codes and what they can be used for. I think discounts off new edits are now largely history unless you have a gift voucher or credit...and I don't think the gift vouchers always work.

Thankfully there's nothing I want in this one other than the bag. I like those bags but it's far from a need.

I was keen to get as think possibly will sell out quickly due to the mefik8 which is Rrp £59.
it’s pretty much £5 status points and almost £3 top cashback.

ok order placed! Thanks @SummerLimes and @OvaHere

Well I managed to get Cult beauty to accept my return for the father's day edit purchase which was advertised as a cologne gift set worth £50 but was in fact two tiny samples!

When I went in to generate the return at first it was 'computer says no' so I had to blag it that I'd ordered the wrong thing. More and more now retailers are not accepting beauty stuff (unopened) without a fight, which is in breach of distance selling. Selfridges are the latest one to not let you return beauty stuff, even bought online. I think they have to offer this option legally but they certainly don't make it easy.

I got the summer edit last year and my favourite thing was the bag. Came in cream last year, prefer the orange.

I love the advent chat. 🤩🤩
I had the harrods fragrance in my basket 2 years running but didn't buy. Didnt sound for me but ofcourse thats out the window now as i can sell on and what I think i like and dont like has been turned on its head re fragrance 🤣
Ill probably miss out this year 🤔🤩
Ill struggle, I think, to find an advent that doesnt have a lot in I havent already tried or have. I'm trying to shift stuff now and not open new edits, unless to sell bits on, do I have newer things left. Clearing out the older stuff, last 12 months, as time passes so quickly and I dont want it going off and just being binned.
I have a new hn and spnk fragrance advent still unboxed. Bought 2 of each. I feel better reading this thread as ive truly found my tribe.
Loved last year and got me through a difficult time of year. 🤩

I haven't tried to buy this edit. I've so much that I've not touched, I really don't need to buy anything else 🤣🤣 I do have a load of credit with CB, but I don't want to part with it.

I tried several codes but none worked. I didn't think to get cashback, but still, the points are a nice bonus!

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/highlights/bundles/?utm_source=Meta&utm_medium=Paid_Social&utm_campaign=uk_retargeting_do_retargeting_120248249901690028%20&utm_id=120248249901690028%20&utm_term=ManualRetargeting&utm_content=BundlesInfluencerJulieReel&fbclid=IwdGRjcAScpKBleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQBqzXi5NEZ3HNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkyG7IZFmtXRW_-w7dLjAYgQsk8j5AmZOa57coFi0V8liVB2mQtVOn1pbfIh_aem_QR6CTaM5vrm2HAvaEEF6eA

I wish Liberty would announce their advent contents soon I am contemplating buying the Holiday Haul bag as I really like it and possibly switching some of the contents over to the advent if there are a few days of doom but if the advent is amazing I probably would prefer to just save my credit for this and skip the holiday haul
I am pretty much at saturation point when it comes to beauty products so I think I need to be really mindful on my purchases now as there is definitely not much (no) room at the inn for much more and I really haven’t got the energy to be selling lots on Vinted/Ebay
I am due to have an operation at the end of July so I plan to spend my convalescence refreshing the Harrods website for the Fragrance advent (it was released the first week of August in 2024 and 2025)