Beauty chat - freebies/gifts with purchase/offers THREAD TWENTY ONE

[OvaHere]

Welcome back everyone to the new thread and hello to any newbies - join us now in time for the autumnal fun. 🍂💄🌂

As always when the Advent threads are running hot this thread is a little quieter but holiday releases, sets and edits are just around the corner. I'm super excited to be going to Sephoria London in October - I still can't believe I lucked out getting a ticket.

Some exciting homegrown news -after a few technical hiccups the FB group is now searchable (but private) MN Beauty Chat Swap/Trade/Sell.* *For those interested in the group we have a few joining rules you will be asked to abide by. Thank you @MrsBnow12 @CinderellaParker for your help.

Sephora have up to 20% off with the code APPSECRET.

I got 15% off one of the new Hourglass palettes, which I am happy about as I was determined not to buy them without a discount from somewhere. I had some credit too so got it for £55. This means I can spend all my CB & SNK credit that I was saving on other lovely things! 😍

No question too basic! It’s a minefield out there. I don’t use powder foundation because I’m lazy and don’t want to wash sponges and brushes but if you’re open to a liquid format, the Hourglass liquid to powder foundation is fantastic and lasts 12hours. I used to use it pre Roaccutane when I had a much oilier face.

Just tried to find a link and it’s been discontinued! Like I said it’s a minefield out there 😂 some dupe recommendations here www.reddit.com/r/AustralianMakeup/comments/11bd3ad/anyone_know_of_a_good_duplicate_for_hourglass/

If it helps (maybe helps is the wrong word) I also have 2 clarins eye makeup removers in my drawers plus a Lancome one and I now have 3 more on their way, plus a show stopper. I had loads of points so used some to save an extra £15 and added a free body oil. So I’m quite pleased.
if you are a gold member it may be worth checking your emails because in the email I received yesterday advertising the 20% off almost hidden further through right at the bottom of the email was a code for an extra free gift onTop of the day/night cream. The gift contains a mixing bowl, hand cream and some oil.

Clarins are giving a mixing bowl as a free gift?

I got the Natasha denona I need a cool eyeshadow palette from Sephora earlier in the week. It's £67 in most places but Sephora had it for £56 and I got an extra 20% off (they've had offers all week, one day was 20% off for 2 hours, today is 20% off all day). Definitely a few bargains if there's anything specific you have your eye on.

Cult Beauty also have 25% off if you spend over £100 for the next few days

Well I’m assuming that’s what this is……. I’m not sure it’s suitable for cakes though 😂

I bought the new westman foundation in SNK yesterday. I’m hoping it will be the foundation of dreams, the reviews are good. Really hoping I’ve got the colour right it’s M5, it seemed to match really well and the M3 left a pale cast on my skin. Only realised when I got home there is an M4 but it wasn’t instore. The stock picture for M5 suggests a darker tone than mine though! It had the 20% off and I had vouchers too to use up. I’m fed up with my skin at the moment, have a delightful acne outbreak on my chin.
SNK Meadowhall had VB beauty in store too, glad they did as the navy noir pave I’d been eyeing up was very poor IRL - no shimmer and sparkle like the online pic suggested. So that’s money saved!
I was interested in the Lisa E skin tint foundation too but the SA said the westman would be much better for my skin type. She said it’s having rave reviews.

Latest in beauty Grooming Kit is £69 this weekend instead of £99 with code AKITSTEAL. Looks good value .
https://www.latestinbeauty.com/collections/boxes/products/the-grooming-kit-2026

Boots

I buckled and bought the BT advent last night so am swerving Clarins for now. It’s a good offer (although I’m not gold as only started ordering direct fairly recently) but I’m fairly sure they wont discontinue the remover any time soon and everything else is non essential. There’ll probably be another good offer on BF and I have plenty to keep me going until then!

Questions re pressed powder & loose powder: it’s been years since I last bought pressed (was always Mac) but I can see it would be useful during the day. What applicators do you all use?

On loose powder: also CT or something else? I’ve been using a Laura Mercier mini that I got with an edit recently - it’s flipping annoying as too small to get to the powder but I can see the benefit when I use it. Suggestions?? CT? LM? Something else?

Thanks!

@Fillybuster I still haven’t found the perfect loose powder. I always apply with a fluffy brush. I know some people say it is ageing and dated using loose powder but my t zone needs it! I bought a trinny foundation in the summer and had my base done at their counter. I asked for a bit of powder and the reaction was very funny. In hushed, reverential tones the SA said “Trinny does NOT do powder, it dates the look” 😆, and that was me told! Trinny clearly has never had the joys of oily skin!
I quite like LM blur powder. Hourglass is fine too as is Rodial. I have a small pot of by Terry loose powder to try but I’ve not been overly impressed with the the pressed powder. I’ve seen that CT have brought a new blurring loose powder out. Clearly she hasn’t got the memo from Trinny 😁

I really like this brush for my pressed powder - https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/p/saie-beauty-the-fluffy-pinpoint-and-setting-brush/13510615/ It’s small enough to pinpoint the t-zone if that’s what you want to do but also big enough to do the whole face if needed. I also really like flat bottomed brushes as I can stand them up on my dresser!

This looks good.

https://www.qvcuk.com/gatineau-age-benefit-advanced-skin-renewal-4-piece-collection.product.256788.html

Has anyone tried this serum from Rodial? The RRP is a joke, surely?

www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/women/beauty/all-skincare/skincare/24-carat-gold-super-essence-30ml/p/42099369

I like the Laura Geller Baked as well. It’s light but buildable…

And there are always offers and deals with her site so you should get a bargain!

Loose powder - I've not used a proper loose finishing powder, but used to use Revolution banana powder as a loose powder under foundation when my skin was oilier (and a bit redder). I'd let it settle for a few minutes before foundation. It balanced my colour a little, and helped control oiliness for a bit longer into the day. Beautiful fine texture too, lovely to use.

For brushes, I like a fluffy one for pressed powder - currently an old and slightly smaller version of this i think: https://ecotools.com/products/blurring-powder-makeup-brush
I also have and really like this fpr powder, even though it's apparently meant to be for liquids 😅: https://realtechniques.com/products/skin-tint-base-brush

And for the Laura Gellar baked foundation, i like a denser but soft one, to help really buff it into my skin - favourite is a now very battered (but still brilliant) one from Real Techniques. Not sure exactly which, as it's old - it has the shape of this one, and the softness, but I'd describe it as dense rather than fluffy: https://realtechniques.com/products/expert-face-makeup-brush

Don’t suppose you know how long for.? I’m going to a physical shop tomorrow but could sample stuff and then buy online if still 20% off tomorrow.

Sadly only for today, according to the email

IF you liked the UFO mini in JL advent without the rest - It's £20 at TKmaxx. Will say though mine sits in a drawer unloved. App is a faff and honestly couldn't see the benefit that said I would never use the heat element. www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/women/beauty/beauty+spa-accessories/hair+beauty-electricals/skincare-tools+beauty-electricals/pink-ufo-mini-full-facial-led-mask-treatment/p/28125329

They've been selling this for ages. It's discontinued as far as I know. I bought one from TKmaxx at least a year ago and it's been sat in my stash ever since.

I didn't realise it was bee venom when I bought it and I'm a bit reluctant to use it for that reason and also because I've recently realised there's a good chance it's around 5 years old by this point.

For those that love Dior, it looks like some of their holidays sets are available for members.
I only wanted the bag so ordered the set with the lip glow and lip Maximizer in.

@MrsBnow12 that is what I've ordered too, just for the bag. The US have a nice makeup set but I'm not sure if we're getting it here. I was hoping the little lip medallion would also be available today. What do you think to the eyeshadow palettes? I think I might ask my husband for the face palette, I still have the one from 2024, but it's great for taking on holiday.

What are you both using the bag for @JoRaRaRa @MrsBnow12 ? I'm always scared of how filthy these white Dior bags will get. 😂

I don't actually use the Dior bags. I collect them and then leave them in their boxes in a bigger box in my spare room, but I sleep better knowing I have them 🤣🤣

😂😂😂