I'll admit, I'm a bit of an oddball when it comes to Magnit Cosmetics. I've been shopping there for a while now, and I've even worked part-time at the store. But despite all that, I still find myself getting excited about the deals and discounts they offer.
It all started when I started using the app to shop for household essentials. I was blown away by the prices and the variety of products they had on offer. And let me tell you, I've snagged some amazing deals over the years. From shampoos to kitchenware, I've bought it all.
One thing that really sets Magnit Cosmetics apart is their village store. As someone who lives in a small village, I can attest that the prices are lower, and there are more promotions and coupons available. It's like a treasure trove of deals!
The store itself is standard, but it's much bigger than some of the stores in the nearest city. And the selection is the same as everywhere else, but we have more of it. When you first walk into the store, you're immediately greeted by rows and rows of shampoos. The selection is always great, and you can easily find a super affordable option.
I've got a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to snagging good deals. First, I use the app's promo code for in-store pickup, which gives me a 40% discount. My cheapest shampoo purchase was the Gamma one for 130 rubles. Secondly, when the product's shelf life is about to expire, the discount can go up to 90%. I also got a 50% coupon for the Elsiev mask, which normally costs around 800 rubles. With my loyalty points, I ended up paying only about 100 rubles for it, and it still had 5 months left on the shelf life. Thirdly, when the store receives new shipments of shampoos or a brand specifically puts out a promotion, the products are usually discounted by 70-80% a couple of months later. This works for products that are not typically sold in-store.
I've got a great example - last summer, the store brought in Concept shampoos, but the ones in regular packaging. So, I stocked up on the ones in bright packaging, and I got them for around 100 rubles each. This trick works for all sorts of products. I also used it to buy 13 products from the Naturol Siberica 'Gzhel' collection last summer, and I paid around 900 rubles for the whole lot. The cheapest item I got was a toner for 60 rubles.
I was surprised to see how much tech they had on display. I managed to snag a coffee grinder, the Scarlet one, for 300 rubles.
I've got to say, the kitchenware section is my absolute favorite here.
Just like the home goods, the kitchenware always has a lot to offer.
The cosmetics section is always stocked to the brim.
Take, for example, the 'Новинки' shelf.
The magnetic section can be a bit hit-or-miss, to be honest.
I've bought a few things from there, like an iron and a blini-maker.
But the Magnt Kozmetik section is a whole different story.
Right now, they've got the Gortenzia collection going on.
And of course, there's the Bant section.
I've got to say, I'm a big fan of these seasonal collections - but they're mostly focused on mugs.
Last summer, there was a 'Lemons' collection
And my personal favorite is the 'Ferns' collection that came out in the fall
As you'd expect, these collections always feature home goods, linens, and bedding - and let me tell you, it's all so beautifully presented that you just want to buy it all.
The prices don't change while the collection is still active, but sometimes I'll get a notification in the app that there's a discount code available.
Personally, I don't usually buy the whole collection, but if I see something I like, I'll grab it.
And when the collection does change and becomes less popular, the prices drop dramatically - sometimes by half, and eventually, the items become super cheap.
So, let's talk about my purchases.
First up, it's the home goods - specifically, the glassware. I'm not sure why I need it, but I just want it all.
Not all of the glassware is in this photo - just the glass items, and I think I might have some more stashed away in other packages.
I'd say the first thing that caught my eye was the set.
I wanted a standard set of 6 for when I have guests, but I ended up loving the glass transparent set I found. Everything's sold separately, so I got 6 small plates, 6 soup bowls, 6 dessert plates, 2 large plates, and 2 big bowls that are roughly 25cm in diameter. I picked it all up for a 50% discount and 40% off, and I'm pretty sure it all came out to under $200.
Incidentally, I also found these wine glass sets and grabbed them straight from the box since they'll be easy to store. I got them all through self-pickup with a 40% discount, and the small glasses were around $35 each, while the wine glasses were a bit pricier, but overall, I really liked the collection.
First up in my collection was this set of plates.
I have no idea what the original collection was, but the plates were around 40 rubles each. There were two colors – dark blue and green – and I fell in love with the blue ones, but my friend ended up buying them, knowing I wanted them. In the end, I had to settle for the green ones, but I've grown really attached to them. The set was a remainder, with one large plate, two soup and dessert plates, and one small plate.
But you can probably imagine that there might be duplicates in the collection – like these plates from the 'Fern' collection
I picked up two serving dishes, two soup bowls, and two dessert plates to get a similar set. Now I'm eyeing the salad bowls - I just love them! They're so much fun to eat from!
Here's a comparison of the collections - there are some differences, but they're not a big deal.
I also picked up the 'Fern' cups from the same series to use under my coffee.
The 'Lemons' collection was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I didn't love the plates, but I did get the salad bowls, which were smaller than I expected, but still really cute. I also got the cocktail glasses, which I waited for a sale on and got for 120 rubles each, and a lemon-shaped plate to go with the lemons.
Last summer, I stumbled upon a salad bowl. It's really interesting and big, 100 rubles. I think it's an older collection.
I think this was the 'Elderberry' collection. I saw it by accident and picked it up for 40 rubles to use under my soups.
I've been eyeing these mugs for a while, and I finally decided to buy them. They're not cheap for me, but I think they're worth it. The green ones were around $200, and the purple ones were around $160.
This little baking dish was a great find for 90 rubles.
I wanted to get a set of 4 or 6 matching mugs, but I ended up buying these 4 instead. One of them cost around 70 rubles.
I got really lucky with this tea set! It's an old collection called 'Landysh', and I managed to find it in the app even though it was out of stock in the store. I got it for 90 rubles with a discount code.
This cauldron and skovrodka were a great find for 300 rubles last summer. Unfortunately, they're now much more expensive. I wanted to buy them in a set, but I only managed to get one.
I have to say, the most unnecessary purchase for me was the storage containers. I've barely even used them, they just sit there. The large round ones cost me 120 rubles, and I ended up buying the rest through the app because they had a small remainder. I thought they wouldn't send any more, so I bought them. But they actually did end up delivering them all!
Kitchen utensils were pretty standard, with an average price of 50 rubles. The only things that were a bit pricier were the knife and the strainer, which cost around 100 rubles each. The spatulas were a more reasonable 40 rubles each.
Thermoses and cups were a great value. I got a small one for 200 rubles, and I found a 'Provenance' one in the city for 500 rubles. I'm not sure if it was worth the extra cost, but it's definitely a nice-looking cup.
Containers and household items are a different story. I really love the containers with lids - they're super high-quality! The left set of 4 containers is an old collection from Provenance, and it cost me around 200 rubles. But it's really convenient, with two large bowls, a drainer, and a small bowl. I've been using it nonstop.
I've gotta say, I've fallen in love with the storage boxes.
The right bottom one is from the 'Fern' collection, and I'm actually kicking myself for not buying more.
The top ones are huge. The white ones come with lids, but at this point, it's not worth it – I just want to neatly organize my clutter. The container costs 400 rubles, and I got it on sale for 40% off.
I also picked up some gorgeous hooks from the 'Elderberry' collection – I have no idea why nobody else bought them, because I snagged all six for a steal, each one costing around 60 rubles. They might be a bit pricey, but they're high-quality, and I love how the bottom is designed to hold an extra item.
The wireless mouse cost me 80 rubles.
The bath mat or, I guess, my new best friend. Honestly, I'm not even sure when I bought it, but it's always with me.
These two purchases were the cheapest of the bunch.
The vase cost 48 rubles.
And the rod – it's actually a shower caddy – cost 96 rubles.
These armchairs from the 'Provence' collection had been sitting on the shelves for ages, but I finally snagged them as cat beds. They cost around 170 rubles each.
I also picked up some fun toys after the new year - they were just 9, 29, and 49 rubles each. The real steal was a beautiful little garland for 27 rubles.
I've got some home decor items, but they're just artificial flowers for now - I'll probably spread them out on the shelves later.
Then there's the tech and kettles
I picked up an electric toothbrush for 1200, and the Venus one for 1000.
Hair accessories
You can find them really easily in the app
I also got some mouthwash, cotton pads, and trash bags.
Household cleaning products
I scored a great deal on the Dutybox brand, and I ended up getting a huge bottle of Domestos for a price that felt like a steal. The Glorik for floors cost me 90 rubles each, and I bought three - I was really impressed with how long they lasted, and they didn't leave any harsh chemical smells behind.
Shampoos, hair masks, and body washes
I've been buying hair masks through the app, and I've been really happy with the Estel brand - they're around 400 rubles each.
I don't have a huge collection of cosmetics, but I do try to pick up things when they're on sale.
I'm really loving the Beauty Bomb collections, though - they're always so well-curated and fun to try out.
Perfumes
I splurged on a 18ml bottle of my favorite perfume, Paloma, for 240 rubles - it was totally worth it, though. Now I'm eyeing the Equivalente and Pepe Jeans perfumes - they're on my wish list for sure.
Nylons, knee-highs, and underwear
I picked up knee-highs for 200 rubles last summer for 160 rubles, and I get socks through the app with a promo code. The underwear turned out to be a good deal to buy here, and the quality is quite decent. On average, they cost 80 rubles, and a set of three cost around 180 rubles. The last time I bought a set of two pairs for 18 rubles, which was a nice surprise.
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Products for pets.
I like that there's a selection available.
I found it's really good value to buy pet food at Magnit Cosmetics, as there's a 20% discount. There's a great selection of treats and toys for pets. My cats' favorite toy is the feeding mouse from Magnit Cosmetics.
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Decorative cosmetics.
I buy this, but to resell. I picked it up last summer when Beauty Bomb had a collection called 'Rollton' and I saw it was being sold on Avito for an inflated price. So, I started buying cosmetics in the store and reselling them on Avito, as they're often really cheap here. For example, I got Vivienne Sabo eyeshadows for 80 rubles, and mascara for 160 rubles. Regular cosmetics are usually 50/50, but the new collections are really popular!
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From my last purchases - the Bant and Hortensia collections, which are still lying in the package, waiting for me to unpack them.
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I have to say, my experience with Magnit Cosmetics has been a wild ride!
I get the pricing scheme, having worked at both Magnit and Pyaterochka, so I guess I've just been lucky with my purchases.
Plus, living in a small village helps – products don't sell out as quickly, so I can snag some great deals.
I think it also helps that I'm pretty picky about what I like, and what I don't, which is usually the opposite of what others think!
You can check out my review on the Magnit app, where I've written about both self-pickup and how to maximize your bonus points.
For me, Magnit Cosmetics is definitely a great value for money.