Optimum Points Redemption Haul Again

~ stashy

It’s been a while since I last redeemed my Optimum Points. It’s funny to think that only a couple of years ago, I got super excited because I’d finally hit the top tier for the first time ever.  Since then, I’ve hit that level several more times.  It’s that Optimum app, I tell you!  😀  This points redemption event is a bit bittersweet because the Optimum Points program as it exists now will be gone by next February (read more about it over at fivezero’s blog).  I wonder if there will be another redemption event before then. I wasn’t going to take a chance though, so I depleted most of my points at this event. I got:

I should mention that I went to Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) after I’d had a couple glasses of wine so some of my choices weren’t the most sound. o_O

The sensible stuff:

• Shiseido WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream $70

• Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream $94

This was available in a set that included 3 sample items at no extra cost:
» Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
» Bio-Performance Glow Revival Serum
» Ultimate Eye Power Infusing Eye Concentrate

The gift box was so nicely done – too bad I just tore it all up instead of savouring it. 😆

I also received a gwp containing:

» Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
» Bio-Performance Glow Revival Serum
» Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Night Emulsion
» Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Retinol Express Soothing Eye Mask
So I have duplicates of a few items, and I’m pleased to have the eye mask, I love that stuff!

• Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer $26

• Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm $38

The 2 Shiseido creams are my HG products that I have to have stashed away at all times. The Smashbox primer was one that I wanted to buy in the Sephora sale but they were out of stock.

The impulse stuff:

I recently learned that SDM is phasing out the GOSH line, which is a shame. I never did like their bestselling product, the Velvet Touch eyeliner (it smudges on me and migrates into my eyeballs), but they had some good products like their mascaras, nail polishes, and lipsticks. I suspect that GOSH never really caught on here due to their price point – at the highest range of drugstore prices.  I spied a clearance display with 50% off all of their remaining products and since I can’t resist deals, I picked up:

• GOSH Foundation Primer Anti-Wrinkle $12.50
• GOSH Xtreme Mascara $8
• GOSH Click n Conceal in Light $8
• GOSH Forever Metallic Eye Shadow Stick in 03 Light Copper $9

• GOSH Multicolour Blush in 50 Pink Pie $9

I’ve worn this a couple of times now and it is a great product – long lasting and looks very natural on the skin.

Prices shown are with the discount applied. I’ve tried that mascara before and liked it enough to consider repurchasing it. The rest, who knows! And that’s the risk of getting stuff on clearance. At least these aren’t items being discontinued by the brand (usually duds) but the line is simply being phased out by SDM.

• Eye Studio Sampler $42

This is exclusive to SDM and contains 7 mascara samples and 1 eyeliner mini (I’ve added the value of the full sized mascara for value reference):
» Benefit They’re Real Mascara 3g ($31 for 8.5g – $10.94 value)
» Clarins Supra Volume Mascara 8ml ($28 for 8ml – this is full size – $28 value)
» Clinique High Impact Mascara 3.5ml ($24 for 7ml – $12 value)
» Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara 6.5ml ($34.50 for 6ml – $37.38 value. This sample is larger than the full size? Hmm.)
» Smashbox Full Expose Mascara 9ml ($28 for 9.56ml – $26.36 value)
» Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara 6ml ($30 for 13ml – $13.84 value)
» Lancome Monsieur Big Volume Mascara 10ml ($31 for 10ml – $31 value – now I’m skeptical about the size of these samples – this is clearly NOT the same format as the full size tube)
» Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner 0.25ml ($29 for 0.5ml – $14.5 value)

It’s a neat concept in that you get 8 mini sized eye products to test out first, and at the end of the trial, you take the enclosed coupon to redeem for the full sized version of the product you like best.  SDM also offers perfume samplers with the same concept, which I’ve bought before – that’s how I came to discover the Prada Candy perfume. From this sampler, I already know at the onset that I don’t like the Clinique and Smashbox mascaras so they’re already eliminated. The biggest bang for my buck would be redeeming for the Lancome Hypnose mascara based on price point. But if all else fails, I can just redeem for the Stila liner, which I already know I like. 🙂

• Estée Lauder Pure Color Love Lipstick in 140 Naked City $28

In the store, they were demo-ing a new toy (an app) where you can “try on” lipsticks virtually – when you stand in front of a monitor, it applies various shades of Estée Lauder lipsticks on your image. It was pretty neat, actually! Out of all the shades I “tried”, this shade was one I could see myself wearing regularly.  It’s a nude but with a brown tone.

The SA also gave me a sample of the shade “Bar Red” which is the colour that Kendall Jenner wears in the campaign photos.
I received this sample. I’ve had the full size of this product but it didn’t work for me. I’ve passed this on to a friend.

The lipstick was unplanned as I didn’t even know it existed – I guess I had Estée Lauder on my mind since just earlier that day Dal of Little Beauty Loves and I were discussing on her blog, about how Estée Lauder doesn’t get enough love even though they have great products.

I got all these on Optimum Points!  😀  My total came to $344.50 and I was able to redeem the top tier twice which took $340 off (I had to pay the taxes).   There was a bonus at this event so I got a total of $80 worth of Optimum Points back… I hope I’ll get another chance to redeem before February.  Have you redeemed your Optimum Points lately for anything fun?  What beauty loyalty programs do you have where you live?

61 thoughts on “Optimum Points Redemption Haul Again”

  1. um wow these optimum points sound bloody brilliant…i will have to start looking into similar schemes over here! Also, that eye sample kit sounds brilliant – I love the idea of trying before committing to the entire product and there’s such a good range xx

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  3. Wow, that’s crazy how much stuff you got just by redeeming! I love the points program at SDM, but I’ve never actually been able to reach the top tier and I’ve always wanted to wait until I reached the top tier to redeem them since it’s a better deal. Hopefully they have another one coming up before the programs merge, otherwise my husband’s going to take all my points and spend it on groceries at Superstore NOOOOO.

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    1. Yeah I told my SO about how I lament the loss of Optimum Points that are just dedicated to my “fun” stuff. I also have a PC credit card which is reserved for groceries. He said it’s all OUR stuff. 😛 Do you have the Optimum app? That’s how I was able to get to the top tier. I don’t even shop at Shoppers all THAT much but the app rewards are really good (ie. they give you personalized offers like if you spend only $20, you get bonus points). Maybe between now and Feb you can get up to the top tier and redeem!

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      1. Each week the offers for free products are different. But there is no cash back nor percentage off. And you can’t just exchange it for any product you want either. The luxury places have a system where you get a 5 euro gift voucher when you reach a certain number of points.

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  6. You got a lot of good stuff! The GOSH blush looks really pretty. You wouldn’t think it’d look natural with such a mix of colours. I love the Eye Studio Sampler. I got a set like this for Christmas but it’s a Sephora one. It’s a nice way to try out different mascaras😊 x

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    1. I was apprehensive about that blush but I figured at 50% off, why not take a chance? I’m glad I tried it! I’d imagine it would be good for travel since I typically only carry 1 blush with me – this way I can have 4 shades to play with.
      Oooh that Sephora set sounds good. I’m all about samplers!

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  7. I am the same way with Sephora. I remember when it was difficult to become VIB Rouge…And now I am it without fail every year. lol. Make-up goals! I LOVE the Smashbox primer. It is one of my favorites! You got such great make-up treasures ❤

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    1. I wish Sephora points would be redeemable for percentage off instead of point perks aka samples! I’m at VIB Rouge and I don’t really see a whole of benefit. I still haven’t taken advantage of free makeovers at Sephora – have you done a makeover there?

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      1. That would be amazing if they did that! I am too, and while I love the samples for traveling, I rarely redeem except this time of year when they offer amazing products! I have had make-overs there and I DO love those! They know there stuff! But at the same time I have also had makeovers even without scheduling an appointment. They have been super quiet and I think were board and I had time to kill lol. ❤

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  8. Nice haul! I’ve had my eye on that Estée Lauder lipstick but I still need to swatch it (the tester of that shade is always missing at Ulta). Their PureColor Envy lipstick in Intense Nude is one of my faves ever.

    Oh and drunk shopping FTW! 😂🍷

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    1. The formula of the Estée Lauder lipstick is stellar. I need to get outside of my typical brands like MAC and Shiseido… but it might be opening a can of worms.

      LMAO tipsy shopping is the BEST! 😉

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    1. It is a truly envy-worthy program! But it’s now going to be combined with another program as the store was acquired by the major grocery chain store here. So now it can be used for both grocery and drugstore / beauty items. It can be a good thing, I suppose. I just enjoyed having an award dedicated to beauty stuff!

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  10. Bahaha I love that you went shopping post-wine – that’s extremely dangerous!

    That mascara set is an interesting idea, although I’ve tried them all except the Clarins and Monsieur Big ones…and I hated the rest. Why is that benefit mascara in every mascara set of life? I HATE it.

    I have almost $200 in points to redeem – I’m hoping they have another event before February!

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    1. Heehee, yes it could potentially be dangerous when my judgement is impaired! 😆 Thank goodness I was limiting myself to my points amount.

      Oh yes, if you’ve already tried most of those mascaras and didn’t like the majority of them, then the set would be useless. I’m hoping I will like at least one well enough to redeem for a full size.

      I’m fairly certain they will have have another event before Feb. It’s just silly now though since the bonus are now in the form of MORE points so the cycle keeps going…

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  11. I don’t know what’s going on but this optimum points scheme sounds amazing!

    I get the feeling that you must be a huge Shiseido fan 🙂 I have actually never tried any of their products! Will be on the to-try list!

    The Estee Lauder virtual try-on sounds pretty neat. I believe they have a similar sort of system for colour matching foundation. (Unless I am getting mixed up with another brand.)

    The idea of the Eye Studio Sampler is really smart! To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever spent lots of money on a mascara for fear that it will just be mediocre for me, so the kit is a really nice way to test different ones at a nice price before committing.

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    1. The Optimum Points are earned when I shop at this drugstore (Canada’s main drugstore called Shoppers Drug Mart or SDM). When I earn enough points, I can redeem for anything at the store up to the dollar amount at each tier. At the highest tier, I can redeem for $170 worth of products! 😀

      Yes I’m a big Shiseido fan! See if you can get samples to test out. 🙂

      I typically do not like to spend much of mascaras since I find drugstore ones to perform very well (my favourite is from Cover Girl) but sometimes it’s fun to test out higher end ones. I do find their packaging to be so nice.

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      1. I see now! I don’t think we have a system quite like that! I mean, I collect points on my Boots card and Superdrug though the latter is not is useful. I used up about £40 worth of points in Boots earlier this year but those points took me a LONG time to save up. However, you can be quite smart with how you save your points. Sometimes Boots offer triple points etc.

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  12. Oh, Shoppers got me too with the bonus points event! My items are still in the box waiting for photos before I put them up on the blog. Hello to all the awesome Shiseido goodies! Those bonus items and GWP are amazing. I live for the Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate! I have 4 little samples of it that I’m using up right now. I’m always happy with doubles when it comes to Shiseido (see what you did to me!!! I’m obsessed! haha)

    I love the Sephora Sampler sets! When in doubt they are my go-to for gifting! I never knew this one came with an eyeliner sample too. I’ve heard Hypnose is really good. My faves are They’re Real and Monsieur Big but I’m curious to know what you end up going with in the end for a full size.

    Such a good haul!

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    1. I’ve not tried shopping on Beauty Boutique site yet. I was going to try this time around but they were out of stock on the Smashbox primer and when I checked the bricks & mortar store, they had it in stock.

      Heehee, I’ve created a Shiseido monster! (And I’m not even sorry about it!)

      I’m super curious about that Monsieur Big mascara!

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      1. I find it’s easier for me to shop in store because the website isn’t layed out right for me! BUT! I’m also really lazy and like to online shop in general. Plus I like that I can pick some samples and gwp a bit easier on the site.

        Haha! I think I am a little monster!

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  13. What a great rewards program! I am part of the Walgreens beauty something program, but I’m not actually sure what the benefits are 😛 A few times I’ve been to events where I’ve gotten bags full of samplers, which is awesome, but not as awesome as this looks!

    Sad to hear Gosh is being phased out at Shoppers. It’s already hard for me to get their polishes in the US, now Canada is letting me down too ;]

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    1. I suppose the good thing about the US drugstores is how low the sale prices are – we don’t have as many sales or coupons here. This program is a nice perk to make up for it, I suppose.

      I’ve only tried one GOSH nail polish and I don’t remember anything that stood out… I should try it again.

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  14. This might be a silly question but did you redeem these products with points or money? All of the Shiseido items look so luxurious! The mascara set where you can redeem the product you like best is a good idea 🙂 Bar Red looks beautiful ❤️

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    1. It’s not a silly question! I just assume (wrongly) that everyone knows about this program but doh, not everyone is Canadian who reads my blog! I redeemed these products with points, not money. I earned the points when I spent money at this store and I saved the points up until I hit a certain tier. 🙂
      I really like the concept of that eye set too – it feels like I’m on a journey of mascara discovery! 😛

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      1. I thought that’s what you’d done. We have similar schemes in NZ but nothing on this level and not in many stores. It’s good you can save your points until a certain tier and they don’t run out 🙂

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  15. That’s crazy that you got so much with your points! I’ve had a shoppers card forever but I’ve never redeemed anything. It sucks that they’re merging with PC points, I actually HATE the PC program with a passion. I’ve been a points member for two years and I don’t have a single point from superstore even though I do I giant shopping trip every month. grrrrr. I’ll need to use up my points before February.

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    1. What, why don’t you have any PC points on your card? I collect the points right on my card for the PC points. I don’t use their stupid app. I’ve redeemed for a lot of free groceries and I’ve even redeemed for free clothes from Joe Fresh. You should ask the cashier next time about whether your account is set up properly!

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  16. I really like this idea of having mascara minis, we don’t really get anything like that here, the best I’ve seen is a Lancome Christmas set which has a full size mascara with 3/4 minis – the Lancome Hypnose Drama is one of my all time faves, how odd it’s bigger! Those values do seem completely off though!
    I wish boots did an extra bonus redemption scheme, I save up my points anyway and tend to splurge on Boxing Day sales when perfume/makeup sets are heavily discounted, but I’d be more inclined to do it at points through the year if they had events.
    I haven’t tried much GOSH here, I think it’s always seemed to me a bit pricey for what it is, it’s the high end of drugstore here and I feel like because I’m not familar with the brand that it feels ‘risky’.

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    1. Technically, I guess I could collect free mascara samples here and there but I always seem to get duds. I’m not trusting what the back of the box is claiming for the sample sizes! There’s no way those little tubes contain more than the full size tubes.

      GOSH would do better if the brand went on sale from time to time here but it didn’t. I’m starting to worry that Bourjois might meet a similar fate, although that brand has more people talking about it than GOSH does.

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  18. Well, we don’t have loyalty programs like that where I’m from that’s for sure haha! Or maybe I don’t shop as much as I thought? I’m always getting free coffee with the amount of coffee I buy. Does that count?

    And shopping after wine is a dangerous game. It looks like you did well though. That Estee Lauder lipstick is a gorgeous shade!

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  22. Great SDM points haul! I am finally getting around to trying out the Eye Studio Sampler from last year…oops! I may need to try out the Smashbox primer, I use the Under Eye Primer daily, and actually used the bonus redemption to pick up a back up as mine is getting close to done.

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    1. Always good to pick up something you use daily, for free! 🙂 It’s funny how we run out to buy something, only to leave them unopened, unused for months and months! 😛

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  23. That’s some SERIOUS haulage! Lots of nice Shiseido skincare…have you spotted any NARS in beautyBOUTIQUEs, yet?

    I am really liking these new EL lipsticks. There are some great shades in there. (I got one of those glittery toppers!)

    The Eye Studio Sampler would be awesome for me if it came in waterproof. Le sigh. Typical BeneFit with the ittiest, bittiest sample size! I am impressed with most of the other brands’ sizes, though, 8-10 mL for sample mascaras?!

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    1. I tried one of the EL glittery toppers on – it was a dark one that sheers out. Pretty but I know I wouldn’t make use of it!

      Nope, I haven’t seen Nars in any BeautyBoutiques yet… I can’t wait!

      I’m really surprised at the size of those mascara samples – but yeah, not WP sadly for you!

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