Tag Archives: GWP

5 ‘Try Before You Buy’ Tips

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I've definitely started becoming more adventurous this year with trying out beauty trends and experimenting with colour, but I have bought something on a whim to try it out, decided it doesn't suit me or is too out there for me, and never worn it again.

Sometimes, I find myself shying away from trying a new trend for this reason alone and lately I've found a way to try new things without the risk of not liking it and wasting money I could be spending on more Revlon Lip Butters! Some things you love straight away and know they are going to work with your current beauty regime and some things you need to put on trial before committing to loving them unconditionally.

I've got a few tips that I've put into action in the past couple of weeks and I wanted to share them with you:

You can skimp on some products – I would never go cheap on a moisturiser or serum but there are plenty of items you can skimp on and not have to worry about.  I recently bit the bullet and spent an entire $2.95 on a teal eye liner. This way I can try it out, see if I like it, and if I don't, I've sacrificed less than a cup of coffee to give it a go plus it's not an item I'm worried about my sensitive skin reacting to and if it doesn't last the whole day, it's not going to be a massive disaster.

Try a sample size or colour first – Being a big fan of pastel colours and the new yellow nail trend seen on Seal from The Voice and on the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week catwalks, I definitely wanted to check this colour out but was wary of how the yellow might look against my pale colouring. Instead of a $20 OPI or Essie nail polish I might normally buy, I decided to save my bucks until I was certain. I grabbed a polish for less than $5 at the chemist the other day and although I don't expect my yellow mani to last too long, it will be long enough for me to decide if I want to invest in a pricier brand.

Take advantage of free gifts or 2-4-1 specials – I have been interested in the ModelCo Fibre Lash product for a while now but just haven't been super keen to throw down $40+ on it without knowing if I like it or not. I picked up the May issue of Cleo magazine for less than $8 and got a free travel size Fibre Lash worth $38 for free!
 

Ask for a sample – Since Mum reviewed Clinique's Even Better, she has been insisting that I try it too. I just bought a brand new foundation and didn't want to buy another but I asked at the counter if I could try some and the gave me a small pot of Even Better in Alabaster for me to try out for a couple of days before i commit to buying. The ladies were so helpful and happy to let me try it out.
 

Share with friends -  Mum and I both wanted to try two perfumes that were exactly the same but we weren't sure how badly we wanted them. Instead of both of us splashing out a couple of hundred bucks each on perfumes we weren't sure we'd wear, we bought one each with the intention to swap after a few months. We ended up keeping our original purchases because we liked them so much, but it's a good tip if you don't have the budget or the overwhelming desire to part wtih the cash.

There are so many ways you can try out a new product or trend without getting too out of pocket before you're sure it's right for you. I'd love to hear if you have other ways of trying before you buy.

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Lust Have It – Lancome Gift

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I am one of the easiest people to buy presents for.  I love clothes, perfume, candles, books, DVDs, and all manner of other girly things.  But this year for my birthday in early April, Katherine emailed me and said she wanted to do something different this time.
 
Inspired, I think, by the 'gift that keeps on giving' idea that her sister had used a couple of years ago in the form of a one year magazine subscription, she wanted to sign me up and pre-pay a monthly subscription for a home-delivered beauty box containing 5-6 sample-sized premium and boutique products.  I got to choose which company I wanted this wonderful gift from, and I chose Lust Have It.  Included with the first months box, there was to also be two Lancome skincare products, which I have always loved, as an additional gift.
 
I was hoping the first box was going to arrive before I went to Sydney, but it was not to be.  Then, whilst I was away, I got an email from them telling me that they were sorry, but I had missed out on the April box, as they had acquired another similar company (ie Glossybox) and were having to meet the demand of subscribers to both companies.  However, they assured me I would have my May box within 2 weeks.  But, I pondered, would the May box bring with it the additional Lancome products?  I got a bit worried and I wished for time to fly so that I would have my delivery.
 
Then, a couple of days after the first email, Lust Have It emailed again to say my pack had been dispatched and then again when it was delivered.  While I was stuck at work all day, I watched the clock tick slowly, wanting to get home to my package and wondering what it was waiting for me.
 
It was a smaller package than I had anticipated but I eagerly ripped it open – and lo and behold – they were right.  The May package was still on its way to me and today's package was the additional Lancome gifts – full-sized Renergie Morpholift Eye Serum and Night Cream worth over $200.
 
Thank you Lust Have It. Thank you Katherine.  I can take this kind of confusion any day – I know Lust Have It and I are going to have a long and happy relationship.
 
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Gift With Visits

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We've mentioned GWPs, but GWV's are almost better – they are gifts that come with family visits! Last week Mum and Grandma came to visit me in Sydney and aside from a memorable Priceline trip involving the three generations (very amusing, lots of money spent), their visit also came with this:

From the top: makeup bag, Lancome brush, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion, Clinique All About Eyes, Clinique Youth Surge, Lancome brochure, Clinique High Impact Mascara, Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad, Clinique True Bronze Pressed Powder, Blushing Powder Blush, Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss (not pictured), Estee Lauder High Gloss, small Clinique brush

We joke all the time about the copious amounts of beauty products Mum somehow manages to stockpile and, ultimately, passes on to anyone willing to take it. I think this photo is proof of that – there is more Clinique than I can afford and all of it gifts that she got purchasing other items. You may have noticed that from her post yesterday or the one last week about her love of the GWP.

I've been using the blush and eyeshadows almost everyday since the came into my possession, they are such good quality! Here are some swatches:

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately my light isn't great but you get the idea, they're shimmery!

The Lancome gloss is amazing. It moisturises and glosserises at the same time! It's definitely a new favourite:

And the Clinique creams are exactly what my skin needs just as the weather has taken a turn for the icy cold.

What does your mum bring you when she visits?

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Estee Lauder and The GWP

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Estee Lauder has long been credited as the business woman who started the 'Gift with Purchase' idea, way back in the early 1930's. As co-creator of the famous Estee Lauder line, she first gave handbag-sized samples to friends, and to the rich and beautiful, to introduce them to her products.  Not only was she a good, strong business leader, but she knew how to get the products into department stores and into the hands of their intended market.

And she understood women, stating "Beauty is an attitude.  There's no secret.  Why are all brides beautiful?  Because on their wedding day they care about how they look.  There are no ugly women – only women who don't care or who don't believe they're attractive."

Today there are a number of cosmetic companies that do the GWP special – Estee Lauder, Lancome, Revlon, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Clarins – and the list goes on.  They also do the rounds of the department stores.  If you miss the GWP at Myer, you can pick up a similar one a month or two later at David Jones (and even Terry Whites is now getting in on the action).

And I've done them all. I do have favourites, but none are exclusively targeted. Amongst my friends, I am known as the GWP queen.  I love the excitement of new products.  A new make-up or toiletries bag (I end up with so many I give them away to a charity that makes up toiletries packages for children taken into care). Tiny products that are great to use when traveling.  New seasons lipstick colours.  Cosmetics brushes. Mascara, eyeshadow, blush, skincare, and so on and so on.

I haven't bought a new blush, mascara or eyeshadow for decades, as I get them all in GWP packs.  Clinique always includes a small High Impact Mascara in Black which I love, and it means that I can hygienically replace it every 6 to 8 weeks.  I have baskets in the bathroom cupboard (called the 'shop' by my daughters) full of small and full-sized products.  I  love them, I use them, sometimes I do a bit of a stocktake, and sometimes I give them away.

I believe life is too short to not enjoy skincare and makeup.  I love it – but most of all I love the thrill of the chase when I hear there's a new GWP that has hit the streets!  If you've never indulged I'd urge you to try it just once.  It's like a special gift for no reason at all, and you never know, you may just find a new product that is just perfect for you.

 

 

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My Best GWP To Date

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I really wanted to leave the first Gift With Purchase post to Mum because she is, undeniably, the Queen of the GWP, but I just couldn't help it, I had to share this deal with you!!

As you are probably already aware, Priceline is dangerous. If you don't believe me, ask Michaela over at Lather Rinse Repeat; she will back me up! The other day, I innocently went in to buy a nail buffer to attempt a Shellac self-removal and I left the store about 40 minutes later with a ridiculous amount of product and a hazy memory of what took place there. It's kind of like what happens to contestants on The Voice if they look directly into Seal's eyes; they don't know what's happening and neither did I!

Firstly, I want to give you a brief idea of what I actually purchased (stay tuned for reviews on these bad boys):

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2 x Revlon Lip Butters, 1 x Revlon Colourburst lipstick, 1 x Revlon Translucide Nail Polish, 1 x Manicare nail buffer, 1 x Rimmel 60 Second Nail Polish, 1 x Rimmel Lasting Finish

Total spent = $62 (there was a crazy 2-4-1 thing happening)

This is what I walked away with (I say that like I stole it or won it on The Price Is Right, but I assure you, that is exaclty how it felt when I got home to see what I'd actually acquired):

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1 x snakeskin print bag, 1 x body pouf, 1 x 1000 Hours Nail Foils with applicator and nail tools, I x Manicare tweezers, 1 x Models Prefer sponge, 1 x Natio Mineral Pressed Powder, 1 x Australis Paparazzi Perfect Blush, 1 x Max Factor Xperience mascara, 1 x DB Savvy pencil, 1 x Models Prefer eye liner, 1 x Revlon Lipgloss, 1 x Innoxa lipstick, 1 x Rimmel Lasting Finish nail polish, 1 x Nude Soft Focus Illuminator, 2 x Press and Go nail kit, 1 x Garnier Exfoliator Wipes.

Total Value = $220

See, I scored big. The items in this GWP might not be what you would normally buy, but if you're in Priceline spending the money anyway (minimum $60 spend on selected brands), then you can't really be too disappointed with this glorious gift. I know I'm not!

I walked past Priceline in the city on Sunday (yes, I refrained from going in) and they were still advertising the insanity that I took part in, it's worth checking out. 

What's the best GWP you've received?

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