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. 😍

They do a rubbish job of direct marketing. I always hear about their offers second/third hand.

I wouldn't have known about it without this thread and I'm really pleased I've managed to get one (fingers crossed it turns up). When those of you who went to the events posted pics I had looked at buying just the bag on Vinted but the ones that went on there were really overpriced. Most of the contents don't look that exciting but they'll get used, and I managed to spend the £100 on things I needed anyway.

I was very happy with the Harrods GWP.

I was particularly interested in trying the PDM Delpina as I know so many people on here like it. I am not a huge fan of perfume rose scents, (which is weird as I love the smell of actual roses), but found it ok.

I also like SDJ and will pass on a couple of the things I definitely won’t use.

Sidebar, but you are the people who know and technically as these are always on offer, it counts...

I want to try Tretinoin. I'm not fussed about looking a bit older but my skin looks a bit tired in the winter. Does anyone have experience of Renew and Me and similar sites? Any to steer clear of, anything to bear in mind, any recommendations?

Thanks x

Why am I tempted by the Harrods GWP? I don't need another bag or any of the contents.

Am I allowed to tempt you and say the bag is really cute 😆😆

The Harrods GWP was a surprise. I thinks it’s the first time they’ve done something outside of their normal May annual GWP. I’ve been eyeing the VBB foundation drops for ages, and they actually had the shade I wanted in stock. As it is (just!) enough alone to qualify for the GWP I have gone for it.

Oh is it a mini one? Cute

It's that time of year again - Hourglass holiday palettes leak.

Looks like there will be six.

https://beauty-detective.com/holiday-2026-ambient-lighting-edit-unlocked-collection/

I DO NOT NEED ANOTHER ONE
but will probably cave and buy one. 😬

I can’t comment. I absolutely don’t need any of it but it’s on its way. I ve just told my DH about it and he commented what a low spend it was 😂😂😂. He knows me well. However, my DS said I have a problem. I sort of think they are both right 😂😂😂😂.

Trying not to get distracted by the Harrods GWP (which is fab for the spend), esp as I’m still working my way through the last one. Although that was standout for me so far this year, so maybe I should reconsider…

Another vote for the Boots sun edit, although I paid full price in the end - even so, it’s exceptionally good value, and full of things I really want to use, in fact, it’s left me with a bit of a problem because there’s no way I can get through that volume of different spf products, plus the ones I bought from SNK, plus the ones in the CB edit..and I don’t want to part with any of them except the Rituals and Supergoop because they are spf30!

Ive handed my new RP Anthelios gel cream to DD18, and given dd16 one of my two Roundlab Birch creams (the boots cosmo box also contained one of these), but even with generous daily use it’s going to take me forever!! I’ve banned myself from opening more for the time being : currently I have Bioderm tinted (which is actually great for non makeup days), Roundlabs and Skin10001 poremizing (amazing under makeup, lovely finish). Although I’m regretting not bringing either the AB or Allies of Skin minis with me to Ibiza now I’m sitting by the pool and remembering that this is exactly when I want to use them for top ups!!

edited to add: thanks for the help re JL minis. I found the offer and managed to place an order for collection when I get home next week

I'm also sort of regretting not getting the perfume edit now. Bargain.

I would have liked the perfume edit but it was sold out by the time I saw it. I have gone for the gwp though. I needed some perfume sets as gifts so thought I would get it for myself a treat.

Have you already tried retinol/retinal?

I haven’t tried any of the Vit A derivatives yet but I’m slowly accumulating starter retinol type things for when I take the plunge!

I have the same issue with SPF @Fillybuster having bought several of the sun/SPF edits, but it's been valuable because almost all of the SPFs I've tried have irritated my eyes or skin. It's been good to discover that with lots of travel sizes/cheap versions in edits, so now I know I need to stick to what works for me and not buy anything new!

I've had the CB spin to win email come through but it seems quite glitchy. I finally managed to spin it but the email telling me what I won hasn't come through yet. Can you spin it as many times as you want? Has anyone got anything better than 15% off?

Must not get drawn in, it's never worth the hassle...

PDM Delina is interesting @IlovePond- I hate Delina exclusif, like but don't love Delina, and adore Delina la Rosee. So don't count out the other variants!

I'm also tempted by the Harrods gwp, it was the reason I was going to travel to the hbeauty event. But sensible head is currently winning, there's nothing in it that I'm bothered about and nothing that I'm wanting for the £100 spend. I'm hoping that someone lists both the ex nihilo perfumes on vinted from the scent bag, starting to regret not buying that now 🙈🤣 I think we need another AC announcement to take our minds off Harrods tote bags 🤣

Same. Spun it about 20 min ago, still no email. Have you received on yet?

Beauty detective has published full spoilers for the Charlotte tilbury mystery boxes - I'm sure someone on here was considering one but I can't remember who, sorry

No, no email yet

Beauty Detective has also listed a beauty box which she says is from Oh My Cream - who I trust and have bought from - but is actually from Oh My Glam, which I have never heard of. The box itself seems suspiciously good value for £30, although all very tiny sizes. I just looked up Trustpilot reviews and they are terrible. Please don't let anyone on here get sucked in!

@OvaHere I think it was you who was weighing up the blushing beauty box

I gave my mum a Zelens 3T complex mini and she loves it. If Harrods sold it I’d be there for the GWP!

Now I have to find a good equivalent or hold her off with some vinted sample sizes!!

I went to the Merit pop up in London this afternoon. I very much recommend it if they do it again and you’re in the area/ local. It was a really beautiful venue and well executed event. Not busy at all, lots of lovely (and not pushy) assistants on hand with cookies and iced coffee. The freebies were:

• A branded aluminium compact mirror which was engraved on site with my initials
• Clean Volume Mascara (sample size)
• Good Skin Serum 15ml
• Retrospect EDP 3ml

I was expecting the Good Skin Serum to be the 8ml size so it was a nice surprise it was the 15ml size which retails for £16.

They also had a free baseball cap with a £60 spend and a free tote bag with a £120 spend. I wanted the baseball cap but miscalculated my order (which came to £59) however they gave me the baseball cap anyway. I bought The Minimalist in a darker shade for summer and also picked up the Lip Blush in Bespoke. They didn’t have any stock on site so they placed the order online for me with free delivery and I was given the baseball cap and goodie bag once the order was placed.

It has affirmed my good feelings about the brand which I guess is the point of this kind of event!