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.

Second the clarins ones. I really like the honey version (I think it’s called that or maybe I call it that because it looks like honey).

Just a heads up re: the Votary Retinol Alternative Renewal in the little green bottle, (it was in Liberty 25 and is in SNK 2026).

I opened mine a few weeks ago and started using it maybe once/twice a week.

Then last week I noticed it was smelling awful.

By coincidence, DSis yesterday happened to mention that the same thing had happened with hers after only a few uses.

It seem to have ‘gone off’ so I have binned it!

Of course, there is no way of knowing how old it is, because Liberty removed its original packaging and the manufacturer’s code is not on the bottle. However, it was ok for the first few uses.

What I am trying to say is: If you have some - check it and then use it quickly!

The new Allies of Skin lip treatment is great. Expensive, and I don't think the tube is going to last very long, but I'm really enjoying using it. It's makes my lips look plump and un-lined and no irritation - other lip plumpers have given me a reaction in the past. It has a lovely cooling metal applicator. Very moisturising and feels like it's doing good things long term which I rarely feel is the case with lip balms.

I got it in the last CB 20% off but it looks like it's excluded now.

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/p/allies-of-skin-peptint-tripeptide-goji-cells-plumping-lip-treatment-various-shades-15ml/17954376/

Thanks. I have quite a bit in AoS reward points so was thinking about getting one. There is a min spend to use rewards though so can't just buy a lip treatment unfortunately.

Looks like the CB Overnight Renewal Edit is coming tomorrow. I probably shouldn't get this one. Code or no code is maybe what decides it.

i might get it, I’ve no credit at the moment though, can’t remember what I spent it on though !

Oh I have been keeping an eye out for this one as the Murad item was one of the things drawing me to the Elle calendar. Would definitely buy if there is a working code

That was my reasoning but I don't think I should be buying this or the Elle calendar. 😂I've got a few overnight creams to work through. I just like the sound of this one.

I am exactly the same - have quite a stash of night serums to get through but I would like to add this one to my collection. 😁 I have been looking on Vinted but they are all listed around £50 plus so it would be better for me to get it in this edit. But do I actually need it at all? Probably not! 😂

I’m still really enjoying using the Decree morning and night serums from the edits a while back, and have backups, so have no business buying any more 🙈 I’ve been layering them with the Medik8 Clarifying Peptides which are still heavily discounted on Amazon. I’m about to finish my Laniege Water Bank Hyaluronic Cream though and debating using the refill I have or switching to the MZ Skin Rich Cream (for day use, does anyone know if it’s too heavy for this?). I’m still finishing up the Zelens Melatonin B12 Overnight Mask at night.

@user593 personally I'd find MZ rich cream waaay too thick for day time. Love it as a night cream though

Funnily enough, I got the MZ Light cream in an edit or something, tried it recently and it was also really thick, I didn't like it at all.

For a simple lip oil (or any lip treatment) the best I have found is Aldi (Lacura) lip oil which is a dupe of Charlotte Tilbury. It costs approximately £3 and it lasts ages! I put it on every night at bed time and every morning while I’m getting ready, I also apply it before using lipstick. It’s been a game changer for me.
Obviously Aldi stock is hit and miss, so I buy a few at a time. You can usually pick them up on Vinted as well for a pound or two more.

For tinted lip balm, just started using Ole Henriksen peptide lip treatment (in Crème Brûlée) and I’m enjoying that, it smells nice and has a nice shimmer to it - they do lots of shades

I've got a bunch of moisturisers open at the moment due to this awkward summer- autumn transition period. I think the Medik8 cream (same as one in CB advent) has finally hit the spot for PM. For AM I've been working through some minis I know I like such as Elemis/Tatcha. I do need to use the others up one way or another.

These are the open ones and why they don't feel right -

Sunday Riley Afterglow (AM) I like this but it doesn't work for me under sunscreen or make up. So have to remember to use it when I'm being a house dweller for the day.

Innisfree Cherry Blossom Jelly Cream (AM) - I should have taken more notice of the word Jelly because this has never seen cream in it's life - it's fully a gel. I've used it once and don't like it at all.

Perricone Neuropeptide Cream (PM) Unfortunately this is a huge tub - at least a 100ml I think. I bought it on a QVC TSV with the neck cream which I did really like and used up a while back. Don't like this face cream though, it's quite thick and doesn't soak in to the skin easily. Keep trying to remember to use it on my neck (don't love it for that either).

Sisley Velvet Nourishing Cream with Saffron Flowers (PM) - I bought this because I love the overnight mask in the range and it's one of my HG products. This, however, I'm not loving right now. I don't think I've ever used such a rich cream and I say that as someone with dry skin who gravitates to those. After using for a week I felt it was breaking my skin out - it's just very greasy feeling. I've put it to one side for the coldest months in the hope it will be fine then because it was so expensive.

I had a look on Face the Future but they don't stock this yet. If we're really lucky it might turn up in a FtF edit at some point 🤞

@OvaHere I'm also using the medik8 cream from the CB advent (I was supposed to save the best bits for my Frankenstein but...) anyway, can I ask, do you find it very matte in feel? I'm just wondering if I should be using a better serum underneath or if maybe my skin needs an even richer cream. I do like it, I should add, especially at advent prices!! In fact I like CB so much I might even repurchase though I suspect that's the G&T talking 😂

Do you layer the medik 8 before or after the decree? X

Just seen this.
Tempted for green tea

I was layering the Medik8 over the Decree for no particular reason but when I ran my routine through AI last week it said I should layer the Medik8 before the Decree, so I’ve switched and I think it does work better this way so I’m going to stick with it.

I know what you mean, it is a bit matte as it soaks in so well. It's sort of what I want at this time of year - not too light but not too rich. I use an overnight mask most nights an hour or two after applying so that doesn't bother me.

An overnight mask is a good idea -I'll try adding that as an extra layer! Thank you

Next beauty boxes don't get a lot of love on some threads, but I quite like them. They have a £19.50 lip edit which includes a lip oil:

• Dr. PAWPAW, Cloud Balm in the shade Dark Rose, 5g (Full size)
• ICONIC London, Lip Lustre Oil in the shade Watermelon Sugar Mama, 6ml (Full size)
• Pixi, Hydra Lip Tint in the shade Nectar, 4.8g (Full size)
• Natasha Denona, Berry Pop Lip Crayon, 1.2g (Full size)
• MUA, Nourishing Shimmer Lipgloss in the shade Ethereal, 6.5g (Full size)

ETA link - https://www.next.co.uk/style/sv238238/m22026

Emma Lewisham GWP at Space NK.

Free refill when you purchase the Emma Lewisham illuminating face and body oil. Only a few reviews but all seem good. Ive not tried the body range yet, but have really enjoyed the face prods I’ve tried - was introduced to the reset serum via liberty BAC last year. Nice to see a full size product as a GWP.

After a very busy few days, I've just caught up on this and the Advent threads! Quite a nice Sunday evening distraction 😁

@IlovePond sorry to hear about your bad Vinted experience. I had my first vinted issue on Friday too (clothes, not beauty) - a top I'd bought turned up with loads of damage. One pull was listed/shown in photos, but it arrived with a couple dozen pulls and snags! And stains 😑I still felt bad reporting it, as I've never done that before, and I know life happens etc - but the seller immediately got really aggressive. Looking now, it's a really new account, with very little feedback. I should have checked that before...

Anyway, it's nice to come back here to a happy little corner of the internet and read about pretty things that make us feel good.

But now I need to resist that new Cult Beauty edit (when it launches) - it looks great, and I do NOT need it! 😂

Thanks @Mejera - I hope you can get a refund.

I don’t understand why sellers do this - do they rely on people being too scared to complain?

I think part of the reason Vinted is worse for this sort of seller behaviour- imo - is because you only have a couple of days after delivery to report an issue. If I hadn’t opened my parcel immediately and then opened the packaging to put just the bottle into my DIY FAC, (because the box didn’t fit), the seller would have got away with it.

I only noticed it was half empty because I took it out of its box - you couldn’t tell when it was on its side.

I should have smelled a rat when none of the pictures showed it upright!

@Doglover73 where is the EA on offer? Couldn’t tell from the photo (am probably being dumb!) Love a bit of green tea!!