I apologise to all the PlayPennies Dads here, this is probably not a freebie for you. And to those mums who think Mills & Boon and other such romantic novels are a waste of time, I apologise to you too. I, however, have a soft spot for these books as I discovered them when I was a teen and thought they were terribly exciting. Now you can get two free books right now and try them out. Go on, you know you want to…

• Click here to get some free romance from Mills & Boon

So, what you have here is Mills & Boon attempting to ensnare the unwary by sending them two free historical romance novels and hoping to hook them to the brand. Clever… You are under no obligation to buy anything if you accept your two free historical novels and there is no catch and no delivery charges.

Just bung them into your bag, send your order and wait for these two free books to appear in your mailbox. Good timing for lazy summer reading…

Thanks to TallerPaul at HUKD!

This is a lovely freebie for a mum! I am a fan of Dove actually, I like their ad campaign and have a soft spot for their products, probably because their soap is one of the few that doesn’t dry my skin out. Anyway, if you fancy a free sample of Dove Body Wash you only need to amble on over to their Facebook page.

• Click here to get a free sample of Dove Body Wash

The new Dove Body Wash is all about nourishing your skin deep down to keep it soft, clean and fresh. They have a new ingredient/formula called NutriumMoisture (hahaha) that is a unique blend of moisturisers, enriched with natural lips to restore the strength of your skin.

Once you have ambled on over to the Dove Facebook page, click Like and you’ll be take to the Get your free sample link. Click on this and fill in your details on the form provided. It won’t take you long and you’ll soon have your lovely free sample to enjoy.

If you fancy a free pack of L’Oreal Sublime mousse hair colour, then this is the fabulous freebie for you. You don’t have to do a lot to get this free sample, but it is definitely worth it. As L’Oreal would say, “Because you’re worth it!”

• Click here to get your free sample from L’Oreal

To get your free sample of L’Oreal Sublime Mousse you will have to register with them, or sign in if you are registered already. Then you fill in all the details required of you, print out the voucher, and then go and pick up your sample from Superdrug.

If you don’t have a printer, they have given you some other options so you are not completely left out of this lovely free L’Oreal sample. And the clever lady who uncovered this deal mentioned that when she hit the “back” button on her browser, she got a second voucher!

So, to summarise, to get your free L’Oreal voucher you need to register, fill in your details, and press print. Sorted.

Thanks to holly100 at HUKD!

This is another great freebie for this fabulous Friday – a seven day supply of Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation. To claim your freebie you need to click on the link, print out the voucher and take yourself to your nearest Lancome counter to collect it.

• Click here to get freebies with Lancome

This foundation claims to be super light and sheer but strong enough to give you complete cover.  It is a water based foundation, with almost 40% of the product made up of water, and includes all sorts of fancy extras that apparently reflect light and other such useful things.

It has had some really positive reviews from mummy bloggers who love to cosmetic, and from some of the pros. It looks really good on, and does offer a lovely flawless finish without caking. I have seen some great shots of it on women’s skin and been quite impressed.

So, if you fancy a free sample of this so-called miracle foundation then hop on over to their Facebook page and get your voucher. Then come here and tell us what you think!

Thanks to crazyterrier2000 at HUKD!

Ooooh, now this is a freebie I can relate to! I love a free sample of yummy scrummy face products. Boots and Olay have teamed up to offer you a free sample of the Olay Regenerist 3 Point Super Serum that is apparently brilliant for firmer looking skin on the face, neck and décolletage.

• Click here for some free fabulousness

To get your share of the free serum being unleashed by Boots and Olay all you need to do is fill in the form and click on Get Your Free Sample. It’s that easy. The offer closes on the 31/12/2010 and is open to residents of the UK and Ireland only. You will have to wait up to 28 days for your order to arrive and it is only available while stocks last.

I am hoping that stocks don’t run out soon, I am assuming they had quite a few set aside thanks to the long deadline. I also hope that this sample is a bit bigger than those little flat efforts you get in magazines. You honestly can’t tell if a product is working when you get only one application.

If you nab the freebie please DO let me know so we can compare notes.

If you were unlucky and missed the chance of winning a free sample of Simple’s eye make-up remover this morning, then this freebie is just for you. While not eye make-up remover, it is another of the lovely Simple skincare products that will keep your skin clear and glowing.

• Click here to nab your free sample from Simple

So if you fancy a free pack of Simple Spotless Skin Quick Fix Cleansing Wipes (that’s quite a name), then fill in your details on the page and soon a sample will be on its way to you.

The new Simple Spotless Skin range has been designed for teenage spot-prone skin (or young adults) and is a nice blend of spot fighting ingredients and antibacterial goodness. Wahoo! I have used these even though I’m not a teenager and they are really light and lovely.

So, whether you’re a grown up teenager or happen to have teenage kids that need a spot of spot fighting action (ha ha) then get your name down on this page and send off for your free packet of wipes.

Thanks to Turtlehead at HUKD!

Simple has teamed up with 30 Days to bring a mega one-day beauty giveaway to the first 300 clever souls to enter into this giveaway today. So quick! Before reading another word, click on the link below and get in there for your free pack of Simple Radiance Eye Make-up Remover Pads.

• Click here to get your freebie from Simple

Simple offer a range of lovely products for skincare and beauty and they have had some great reviews from other mums, especially the younger ones. I really like their eye make-up remover as it isn’t oily and greasy, and it really works nicely.

Instead of turning you into a terrifying mom panda, it wipes the mascara and eye shadow off in pretty much two goes. And one wipe should easily do two eyes. Here’s hoping that you were one of the lucky 300 people who made it and got the lovely free packs!

Thanks to bonnyboo22 at HUKD!

While summer may be on the out (and boy did that happen quickly) it doesn’t mean that the diets are too – why not keep that gorgeous figure going with a free sample of Birt & Tang’s slimming tea. For a limited time you can nab yourself a free sample and enjoy the benefits.

• Click here to get some slimming tea for free

The offer is running in conjunction with the BBCs GoodFood magazine so to request your sample you need only to fill in the form on the page I linked to above. This is Birt & Tang’s premium weight-loss tea called SlimArt and the value of the sample is £4.99. That’s an ace freebie! Oh, and the answer to the question is 95…

So, what exactly is in this fabulous tea? It has been specifically formulated to be packed full of antioxidants which help protect cells from irregular metabolism. It blends Puer Tea with Rosehip and WaterLily Leaf to produce the ultimate slimming tea.

I’ve gone ahead and got one for myself. I’m not sure it sounds very tasty but, hey, anything to be thin!

I think that, unless it wasn’t planned, getting a pregnancy test is one of the most exciting things ever. You’re about to find out whether you’re going to have that much wanted baby and everything is a bit giddy and nerve-wracking. And expensive! I can’t believe how costly some pregnancy tests are.

• Click here to register for your free pregnancy tests

DuoFertility are sending out two free pregnancy tests to 100 people every day as a part of their campaign to raise awareness about fertility issues in the UK. While you may not be guaranteed a test (maybe fill in the form first thing in the morning), it’s worth a shot!

At least they will be free. I really don’t understand the cost of pregnancy tests now. I mean, do we really need a digital display that tells you exactly what day you fell pregnant and all that stuff, and that costs the same as a meal for two at a decent restaurant?

If you happen to be trying for a baby and one of these tests tells you, “Yes!” then do let us know so we can shower you in congratulations.

This is just too delicious to ignore. How could I not tell you about this freebie I uncovered on Hot UK Deals? Seriously! How can anyone not want a tube of chilli chocolate lip balm, heck I’ll take two please. This is an ace freebie and it comes from none other than Nandos. Marketing genius.

• Click here to nab your freebie

So the whole spiel on the page talks about how everybody is always either on a diet or about to go on one (I can SO relate to that) and so a chilli chocolate lip balm is the best possible solution. All your guilty pleasures without any of the horrible side effects (like a big bum).

If you want to get a free chilli chocolate lip balm then fill in the form pronto and get yourself sent one. There aren’t an unlimited supply as this is quite a special offer, so get in there quickly to avoid disappointment.

I know that I’ve already galloped over and filled it all in. I SO want one of these. I want to know if the chilli will tingle on my tongue. Ooooh.

Sorry chaps, turn away and read another post now please. This one is juuust for the ladies. I’ve often moaned about how we have to pay so much for this kind of kit so whenever I uncover someone giving stuff away for free I’m on it faster than you can say, “Omar Sharif.”!

• Click here to get your free samples from Bodyform

This range includes the Extra Dry Extra Long Natural liners, Extra Dry Normal Natural liners, and the Ultra Normal Natural with Wings. You have to register with the site in order to be eligible for your freebie and it will take around 28 days for delivery.

If you’re not yet a member of the site (er, not a site I’d have signed up for straight up if I am honest) then you’ll have to fill in a couple of details to get the ball rolling. It shouldn’t take you too long to get it sorted out and soon your samples will be yours!

New Bodyform Natural Normal Liners with natural extracts of Aloe Vera and Camomile known for their soothing action and the neutralising of unwanted odours. They are extra absorbent to capture moisture and the soft super dry surface locks away moisture and odours giving you guaranteed security at anytime.  And did I mention that they were free?

Super Savvy Me are giving away free bags for life that have been made out of plastic bottles. These hard wearing foldable bags are an eco-friendly alternative to using plastic carrier bags and they come in eight different colours. And did I mention that they were free?

• Click here to nab your bag from Super Savvy Me

They have 120,00 free bags available to give-away to brilliant humans so, if you want one of these beauties, you better act fast. They look fantastic and it’s very hard to believe that they are made from recycled plastic bottles.

You can get them in pink, blue, light blue, grey, green, purple or red, and ordering is very simple. Just click on the Order your bag now icon and you’re taken through to a screen where you can choose your colour. If you are new you’ll have to fill in a short registration form too.

It will take you seconds to get your bag and I nabbed one already.

Thanks to Xenu :) at HUKD!

Fancy a free sample of a new laundry detergent from Method? Well, they have just launched a new variation of their laundry detergents that’s made with something they call ‘smartclean’ technology. This patent-pending formula uses a radical technology to deliver outstanding cleaning power with only a quarter of the dose of a leading brand.

• Click here to nab your freebie from Method

The tiny bottle gets you 25 loads and the product is made from 95% natural and renewable ingredients. It’s biodegradable and non-toxic and, thanks to the concentrated formula, the bottle requires less energy to make and uses 36% less plastic than traditional detergents.

The bottle comes with a precision dosing pump so you don’t have to fumble with measures or spill crumbly powder to the floor. It’s also small enough to fit in your handbag, making it really easy to manage if you use a Laundromat or are struggling to do the laundry while carrying a baby on your hip.

The form for your freebie is pretty short and won’t take you too long to fill out and soon you’ll be able to give this product a try. It’s going to be interesting to see if this will actually deliver everything it claims to.

Thanks to notts6501 at HUKD!

This is pure genius, although you may be taking some of the fun away from the Dad as he sits there with his stopwatch in excitement. Contraction Master have iPhone apps and an online timer that will help you to time your contractions for free.

• Click here to get that timer from Contraction Master

So, this is a rather entertaining idea as I have visions of hugely pregnant mums sitting in front of their desks and smashing the spacebar every time they are gripped by hardcore contractions. I don’t think that many keyboards would survive the experience, certainly not if the mums have as low a pain threshold as I do...

Anyway, they now also have an iPhone application that is bound to offer Dads loads and loads of fun. Is it just my hubby who loves to time things? Well, seeing as nearly every second person now owns an iPhone, here’s hoping that if you’re the mum in labour that you or your hubby are one of these people so you can time you contractions all the way to the hospital too.

In addition to Contraction Master they also have Nursing Master that helps you to make sure they are getting enough to eat (both for breast and bottle) and supports up to ten babies. Erm, yeah.

Aaah, there’s nothing like a free sample of a yummy smelling washing powder to kickstart the weekend is there? Ok, yes, maybe there is, but for now let’s enjoy this free sachet from Surf with Essential Oils because, well, it’s free.

• Click here to sniff on over to Surf

To land yourself a free sample of their latest range of scented washing powders, all you need to do is tell them your secret tips for beating an impossible stain. If you share your wisdom with Surf it could be talked about in kitchens across the country and you get a free sample to say thanks so much for sharing.

My deep inner cynic wonders if they will use your tips to make better washing powder but perhaps that’s just clever marketing. Either way, you get to try out any one of their five new fragrances that sound absolutely delicious.

You can choose from Jasmin & Black Gardenia, Vanilla & Black Orchid, Lavender and Oriental Blossom, Sunshine Lemons & Bergamot, and Tropical Flowers & Ylang Ylang. The one that really appeals to me is the Vanilla & Black Orchid, I have a real thing for vanilla. What about you?

I’ve always wanted to be a yummy mummy. Not necessarily a skinny Posh-a-like, but rather to look more shiny and polished than the scruffy wild woman of Borneo that I currently resemble around 90% of the time.

When you’ve just had a baby, or are racing about after an energetic tot or preschooler, you can end up letting things slide and it isn’t great for the self esteem. Certainly not for mine. There is something disheartening about adding bristling eyebrows and dry skin to the wibbly belly and extra hip poundage that motherhood has bestowed upon me.

It was while I was chatting to a bunch of mothers at a toddler group that I realised most of us would love to know how to be a little more groomed and sparkly, without having to spend a fortune on accessories or spend hours in front of the mirror. Hours we just don't have. 

So, here comes some brilliant advice from yummy mummies that I stalked into submission, and I hope that these ideas revolutionise the way you feel.

The Freebie

If your make-up kit hasn’t been updated for years and is either growing a strange lifeform on the side of the bottle, or is just the same-old, same-old, then why not get yourself some free samples. These are a brilliant way of trying out new ideas and colours, of changing your usual palette to something more daring, and doing it all for free.

We try to include as many of these freebies as possible each week on PlayPennies but here are a few extras for your enjoyment.

Maybelline are giving away 1000 The Falsies Mascaras and all you need to do is fill in the form and see if you’re a lucky winner.

If you want to add a weight loss product to your new you, then Pure Hoodia are giving away samples of their product for you to try out. You may have to pay for P&P though.

Rimmel seem to be on a roll with giveaways lately so it’s a good idea to register with them and enter into their regular make-up competitions. They always give away free samples and there are no obligations.

Chanel are offering a trial size sample of their new Inimitable mascara. Just fill out your details, print out the invite and take it to an approved Chanel stockist.

The Club

Joining an online beauty club is a fantastic way of getting free surprises in the post every so often. In some cases, you can even register to test out samples for companies, as long as you are responsible enough to send them the feedback they need.

I’ve found a couple of the really good ones and listed them here for you:

Join the L’Oreal panel and stand in line to get all sorts of fabulous freebies and opportunities. Every other month they select 10 people from their lists to review a new product that’s hot off the factory line. You can either join their photo panel or their video panel, it’s up to you.

Montagne Jeunesse offer you a very similar deal to L’Oreal in that they ask you to join their panel and then randomly selected humans will receive products that are in development. However, when you complete the questionnaire, they will send you a bundle of free stuff to start you off, and you can enter their monthly free hamper prize draw.

The Debenhams Beauty Club card gives you points and gets you all sorts of VIP extras at Debenhams. The site lists all upcoming special offers with dates and details so you can instantly see if this tempts you just a little bit.

The Expert Advice

Hopefully you’re starting to amass quite a collection of goodies on your make-up table now but if you haven’t done the make-up routine for a while you may be out of touch on the latest techniques. Don’t fret, and definitely do not go out with the make-up that you learned to apply in the 80s. Seriously...

There are several websites that offer free make-up tutorials that will take you through different looks for day, evening and glam. They are created by professionals, and by many of the big name companies themselves, and they are brilliantly helpful.

BarryM is one such site. Here you will find how to get anything from Lady Gaga Telephone nails to Sparkly Gold Party Eyes.

Bobbie Brown lets you ask questions of make-up experts by using their online form. You fill in the important bits, let them know your issue, and one of their resident geniuses will get back to you.

E.L.F – designed to make a yummy mummy out of a scummy mummy for only £9 they have loads of products and ideas and each product comes with some advice on how to apply it. The are firm believers in getting you to look fantastic as quickly as possible – perfect for the busy mum.

So there you have it. Some brilliant ideas by some brilliant mums that will hopefully get you excited about wearing make-up every day, or get you some fantastic extras for your collection. Let me know how you get on and if you have any recommendations I may have missed.

Fancy trying out a new product if you suffer from breakouts? Well Nelsons are giving away sample sachets of their new facial wash that has been created to provide anti-blemish care for spotty or breakout skin.

• Click here to get started on your free sachet

There are only a limited number of sachets available and they will only be delivered to the UK and Ireland so get in there if this is something that you like the idea of. To nab your sachet you’ll need to fill in a short questionnaire and then Bob’s your Auntie.

Nelsons Pure & Clear is free from chemical nasties and is all about giving you blemish free skin. The list of chemical substances that this product doesn’t have is long and impressive. Actually, I didn’t know that my products had half of these so it was a little terrifying.

Needless to say, the product is all about natural health and beauty and is available at stores like Holland & Barrat or your local pharmacy. If you do decide to nab one of these free samples please do let me know how you get on. Did it work?

Pregnancy and childbirth may bring you an adorable bundle of joy but they also tend to bring you some new and interesting body issues. Pregnancy puts a lot of pressure on your pelvic floor muscles and your core so regular exercising of those muscles can prevent all sorts of issues later on in life.

• Click here for your free Core Wellness DVD from Tena

Tena are offering a free DVD that will guide you through simple exercises to help you strengthen your body’s core. These exercises will make a huge difference to the strength of your pelvic muscles as well as help you to improve your posture and ease backache.

The core exercises help limit the damage done by pregnancy and childbirth and may even improve bladder weakness to a certain extent. They have teamed up with Kari Bo, an internationally renowned physiotherapist and specialist, to create a simple and brilliant programme for you, for free!

The Pelvicore Technique featured in the DVD has exercises that are proven to strengthen the pelvic floor and other core muscles. Get clenching for free ladies and stop those post-pregnancy problems.

One of the difficulties of living in a cold climate with areas of hard water is the affect these have on your skin. Dry and wrinkly hands are horrible to have and often feel inevitable, especially when you’re washing them constantly with a new baby. So this fab freebie from Vaseline may well be the skin solution you’ve been looking for.

• Click here to get your free Vaseline Moisture Locking Cream

This cream is designed to increase the moisture levels in your skin instantly and is bound to be delicious on the olfactory sense too. I’ve always enjoyed Vaseline’s products, they always seem to be good value for money and good quality too. Hopefully this won’t be the exception to the rule.

To get your free sample you’ll have to enter a survey first but I don’t see this taking too long to do. It took me only five minutes to complete. The sachet will then be sent to your door so you can enjoy some moisture locking fun. Please note that this offer is only for those in the UK. Sorry to our far flung friends...

Thanks to BAZZAUK at HUKD!

These always come in handy, no matter whether you’re trying for a baby or not, and they are really expensive in the shops. I must admit to having stared at the price of some of the pregnancy testers I’ve seen in horror! So these two free tests are a complete winner and I’ve already ordered my two, just in case...

• Click here to get your free pregnancy tests from DuoFertility

To get your kits you’re going to have to fill in a survey that asks you whether or not you’ve been undergoing any fertility treatments and how variable your cycles are. It’s a pretty detailed questionnaire that may have some of you scratching your heads a bit but the end result is worth it.

It shouldn’t take you to long to complete and if you don’t know the specifics just fudge them a bit. I’m sure it won’t matter that much. I also must add that this is exclusively for UK residents so a big sorry goes out to our Irish readers for this one.

Thanks to BAZZAUK at HUKD!