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

[OvaHere]

New thread. Welcome oldies and newbies.

I'm expecting this thread to be busy as we head towards both advents and autumn releases.

There's a dedicated advent thread for advent calendars here to keep up to date with reveals, waitlists etc.
www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5549187-beauty-fragrance-advent-calendars-infochat-2026-spoilers?page=32&reply=153745800

I actually need some basics (shampoo and body wash etc) and have been waiting for something like the Space NK GWP but that's a lot of cleansers! I have 4 or 5 in my stash anyway.

I think I might just note down my favourite couple of items from the GWP and keep an eye on Vinted.

I worry a bit if I just do GWP all the time I will never actually buy my favourite products that I have discovered in previous years!

@JoRaRaRa Did you buy the new Dior cushion covers today? I woke around 12:30 and they were available picked the white and pink ones. Still need to work out my shade for the refill but glad I have the covers.

Yes, I picked up all 3. I was still awake at 11:40, but then fell asleep. Woke up again at 2am and bought them then 🤣 I'm usually a 2N in Dior foundation, I'm not sure if I can just buy that or if I need to go test. It's currently out of stock everywhere anyway.

I'm hoping to get the green lucky charm eyeshadow palette tonight.

@JoRaRaRa Did you get your Vinted issue sorted? Sorry, you might have said and I've missed it!

@MrsBnow12 @JoRaRaRa I really wanted the blue one but on closer inspection it appears that one isn’t vinyl. I do also like the pink so will likely go for that.
I think the white one is so cute but I just think white & foundation don’t mix - knowing me I’d get some on the outer cover 🙈😅

I went to Selfridges over the weekend and I was told I was 0N, which I was really surprised about as I didn’t think I was THAT pale. I notice they also have 0.5N, which wasn’t tested on me, just the 0N & 1N.
I didn’t take too much notice as the sales assistant thought the cases came out mid-month, so I thought I had time to go back and do a proper test on my full face.

No, I chased it yesterday but nothing yet. I also had an order that arrived smashed yesterday but I've not had a reply. Not sure how she managed to get a response so quickly and they've just left me waiting. I'm just expecting them to say that there's nothing they can do.

I have the white tulip lip case so I wanted a matching set. But I do agree, foundation and white isn't a great mix 🤣
You don't need to order the refill at the same time, so you could get the cover now then spend a bit more time finding the foundation match.

I wonder if that's when they're getting the cases. They do normally launch new products on the Dior website first.

They also have some Memo Paris, but not ones I'm familiar with, and I don't want to spend £100+ on something I might not like.

A bit tempted by the Paloma Picasso, though. No, I can resist.

Tbh ive started taking what they say with a pinch of salt. They test it on jaw then I buy and look completely washed out when applied. I need coverage all over so cant do here and there. I know you can put blush, bronzer,etc on but it still doesnt look quite right. Ive tended to go a touch warmer recently but its very hit and miss. Im still on the search for the perfect base. 🤣😍
I went irl shopping last night go the Trafford centre. So busy. I never usually go at night. Had a good test of products in sephora. Had a quick look in space nk. The price off stuff made me go a little light headed. 🤣 i felt quite proud id managed to buy so many bargains this year. 🤣
I was going to get my brows dyed but too busy and ran out of time.
I bought a room spray and body wash from the white company. New store. Id never been in one of there stores before and ive seen comments on here about how nice it smells. 30% off in sale as well.
I may get the advent as that feels like a home purchase not beauty. 🤣
Im safe from the space nk gwp. I think its a high spend and need nothng.

@ClutteredPalace and @user593 I am sorry I didn’t get to do the pictures yesterday
First is the Indian version bought in India widely available at chemists and very cheap £3-£5. They might sell different brands as well over there.

This is a Greek version bought by SIL but I actually don’t want gel, not sure if they stopped selling the cream in Greece? Again very cheap around £5

I used to use Airol cream from Grece, this is how it looked like but not sure if still exists

And yes, tretinoin is the strongest vut A formulation, but can be too harsh and cause sensitivity.
Retinoid are very effective and you just need to start slow on the weakest strength.
Retinol doesn’t really do much by comparison but it is a very good for younger skin or those who don’t want to risk any sensitivity.

@JoRaRaRa Oh no, fingers crossed Vinted come good for you. I've had it a couple of times where Vinted said I've not packaged the item properly and I've lost out. So annoying, but there's no arguing with them!

Could I get the details to join the group please? Thank you :)

This is nice for £19.50

https://beauty-detective.com/next-ultimate-lip-kit-2026/

Thanks, I'll compare it with the one I got later, it does look very similar though. I've checked the amazon reviews and they are saying its Tret without actually saying it so I think it's probably correct. I found a few people on the reddit skincare group saying the same thing.

@Branster thanks for the pictures, I'm going to India early next year so will try and get some. I haven't tried buying it there before because I thought tret wasn't available otc in India so that's quite exciting.

I'm banned from Vinted after uploading my first ever item to sell. It was the Dyson brush that was in the JL goody bag from the event. The bot decided I was a counterfeit goods seller. I'm not that sad, I like eBay generally and haven't had any problems as a seller, it's just incredibly slow moving on there now, and definitely no more expensive than vinted ( there's the odd delusional seller but you get them on both platforms ) I saw someone selling the tote from the Harrods scent tote on there priced at £108. Just the tote. No contents 😂Did wonder if their finger slipped and it was supposed to be £10.80 though.

@LightandBreezy I would expect you can buy pretty much everything in a chemist over there. They are one of the biggest pharmaceutical providers in the world and quite knowledgeable on everything to do with health in general as a nation as far as I can gather from documentaries and people I’ve met in person.
Ask and you shall receive! 😁

How annoying to get the ban from Vinted like that. Absolutely ridiculous.
Ebay is indeed very slow and I found nothing happens unless I promote my listings on there.

That's crap of Vinted @LightandBreezy . I've only had a couple of problems with Vinted so far 🤞 - I tried to sell a perfume set from the infamous Perfume Society deluxe box and was told I couldn't, even though another seller had the exact same set for sale. I also had a pdrn cream disallowed as I'd posted 1 stock photo to show the bead capsule formula. I'm still struggling to get that one unhidden even though I've removed the offending photo. I agree that Ebay is really slow at the moment, hopefully things will pick up as people start thinking about Christmas.

Not sure if this has been discussed yet - https://www.latestinbeauty.com/products/lib-loves-the-discovery-edit. You choose 8 products for £35. Not an amazing selection but I got it for the Ultra Violette Queen Screen which I love.

Does anyone know a discount code for Escentual? I'm about to make my first purchase from there - it's a very boring one for Marvis toothpaste and mouthwash, a brush and JHaG soap on offer in their summer sale.

https://escentual.com/collections/sale-event

I've had emails about this but I don't know enough about the products and am feeling too lazy to research them - it does appear to be a good offer though.

Yes they’re mostly brands I don’t know but I was happy to go for it to get the Ultra Violette. I’m trying one of the shampoos, the Votary blemish oil, another face oil and I can’t remember what else 😂 Might be a nice surprise when it comes.