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

[OvaHere]

Sorry everyone! I didn't realise how near the end of the old thread we were.

What on earth have you all done with yourselves for the last few hours? 😂

As always everyone welcome to join in and hopefully this is the thread we see the first 'big' BAC reveal. 😍

Hi has anyone experienced damaged parcels from look fantastic. Parcel turned up two days late looking like it’s been thrown around a lot, box damaged and three out of five items boxes are damaged. Wouldn’t be too bad but one I would like to keep, it’s one of the fragrance edits and wouldn’t mind the latest as to be fair they did update me, if it wasn’t for the damage. First time I’ve experienced this and I’ve ordered lots from them. I’ve sent them a picture

Interestingly @Lonely12 my LookFantastic was also late. Contents were less bashed because it was only a couple of things and the paper packing did its job, but it looked very chucked-about…

Is there trouble I wonder?

Makes me wonder. The person that delivers, packaging is normally ok, this is unusual

@Lonely12 the LF boxes are quite flimsy. I've had a couple turn up a little worse for wear. No contents damaged or lost though.

Has anyone ever tried the Kosas DreamBeam SPF30 skin veil?
It’s a spf/foundation hybrid but it only comes in 2 shades and one is always oos.
Thanks 😊

I've got a ticket. Quite looking forward to it, I really want a Dior highlighter palette thing because it's so gorgeous, plus something from one of the partner brands will take me over the required spend.

Well aren’t I clever, I didn’t bother putting anything on my face yet today as it’s so warm and I’m not going out until later, then I decided to mow the lawn and now my face looks like a tomato 🙈

I was looking forward to using my Dior highlighter palette tonight, but I don’t think I’ll be needing any extra glow

Oh nooooo! Is that exertion or burny hot sun?

Cooling hydration sprays must be procured immediately!

I had a Sunnie Side Gua Sha in a recent Debenhams beauty box, thought I would never use it. So wrong!

I love it, in this heat it’s fantastic for taking the red off my gardening face. It’s just cooling and lovely. 😻

@TragicMuse That’s a good shout, and I do have a couple in my stash!

@Sminty2 I wouldn’t have thought to use gua sha on it, I do have a metal one. I thought I’d bought all of the recent Debenhams edits but I must have missed one because I didn’t get one with a gua sha in

@Lonely12 - I have stopped buying from LF.

On my penultimate purchase I received a damaged/opened box, (very flimsy packaging), and when invited to review my product I gave it 5 stars but politely mentioned the damaged packaging. They removed my review for ‘not meeting guidelines’.

I posted recently that like an idiot I did another order from LF. This time the box was half open and shampoo had been opened, (safety sticker off and partly reattached), with what looked like some of the contents removed. The lip SPF had been squeezed/looked.

I didn’t bother complaining- what would be the point? Put the lip SPF in the balm and won’t order from LF again. (I MIGHT make an exception if they do the fragrance a/c again, but I AM weak 😹)

Thanks to the enabling power of these threads, I now have lots of beauty products and not much idea of what to do with most of them, so expect a few questions!

Today's question is about the cheap BoJ face mask (Centella Asiatica Calming Mask) I bought to get free postage of Cult Beauty perfume samples. Is it OK for (slightly) sensitive skin? Can I put it in the fridge for a few minutes before using it? Will it have a cooling effect or will I end up feeling greasy afterwards?

I think it should be fine for sensitive skin. There's no guarantee of course as we're all different but I find it soothing and it takes redness down. I don't see why it can't go in the fridge. I don't find them greasy - the serum soaks in well.

That sounds like a wonderful idea - I still have one of those from the CB points debacle and may try it myself.

Saw in the press today that Harvey Nicks is doing really badly and is in the process of being sold. My first thought wasn't for the staff who may be made redundant, or suppliers go unpaid but ...sheer panic at the thougt that there may not be a fragrance advent calendar. Sorry to have such skewed priorities but..

Thanks. I'll let you know how I get on. I'll pop it in the fridge now and try it after a shower.

It’s this one, The Trending Beauty Edit (now reduced)
https://www.debenhams.com/product/debenhams-the-trending-beauty-edit-worth-118_ydd24028?colour=misc&size=One+Size&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23884496612&gbraid=0AAAAABevdS7OpZWBAFQpCQfglSywXoizX&gclid=CjwKCAjw6f3RBhApEiwAMaCqWS6Zy9iXpU3Hj402jT8fTWil7lbcEdxu024d_5eEFxioS--SfPWXCxoCpBMQAvD_BwE

I wouldn't be surprised. It didn't sell well last year even without that news.

I agree with what @OvaHere, that’s been my experience too.

I thought it was one of the better ones. I bought about 10 for reselling but even I cannot reverse HNs fortunes it seems.

HN customer service is abysmal so I won't miss that if it goes.

Maybe they'll sell the name off a la Debenhams

I’m not surprised about HN. Not at all helped by their poor CS and lengthy order processing times. Make sure to spend any gift vouchers you might have hanging around and don’t buy any new ones. I will definitely miss their advent contributions though.

Last year, Liberty revealed their advent contents on 23rd June. I’m so impatient!

Oh I have a hn voucher for 60 but can only use instore.
Looks like ill be going into Manchester sooner rather than later 😳

Oh no - I really like the Birmingham HN, though admittedly I haven't been in ages 😬 Always great instore customer service there, though no idea about online.

They used to do excellent in-store events as well, but did scale them back over the last 18months.

I know we’re all awaiting Advent Calendar updates but Rituals still have a few of last year’s at. £72 for Classic and £96 for Luxury

https://www.rituals.com/en-gb/wreath-advent-calendar-ecom-2025-1120224.html

https://www.rituals.com/en-gb/diorama-advent-calendar-ecom-2025-1120229.html?source=cop&showbacklink=false#start=1

It will be very sad if Harvey Nicks closes. Having said that, I don’t like the ‘new’ layout of the Knightsbridge branch. (I say ‘new’ but it’s probably been like it for years and I just haven’t been in!)

I popped in during the post Xmas sales and virtually half the ground floor was taken up by some ghastly sculpture and most of the concessions had been removed. Me and DH had the place to ourselves, which says it all really, I suppose.

Their sales used to be excellent but I came away with nothing.

Awful for the staff and suppliers, though. Hopefully they can be rescued.