Three 'beauty' advent calendars for a grown woman?

[royco]

I've just seen someone posting that she's got three beauty advent calendars to open this year.

When did this become a thing? Surely it's wasteful, expensive and completely unnecessary?

Call me Scrooge

Please post a comprehensive list of all your Christmas shopping.

I don’t buy any Christmas gifts.

I’m not a Scrooge and I’m not anti consumerist. I love treating people to nice things, but I buy my family members gifts throughout the year when they are needed and unexpected. I found at Christmas, I sometimes ended up buying presents for the sake of it, rather than something meaningful. I prefer not to be bought gifts.

I do buy myself really nice things, quite often. But I think about how much I need it/or will use what I buy, how long it will last and do take packaging etc, into consideration. At Christmas, I have lots of lovely meals and drinks with friends and family. It would be more sustainable to stay in and eat homegrown carrots, but like I said, I’m nowhere near perfect. Most of the Advent calendars really are particularly wasteful in terms of packaging. They also encourage consuming for the sake of consuming.

At the end of the day, I’m just trying to think a bit more about the planet, and by commenting, just trying to get others to think a little bit. This is a forum for discussing ideas, thoughts and opinions. I don’t want to spoil your Christmas, but maybe next year, more people will say, we’ve done the advent calendars, let’s think about a different treat.

If it’s what you really want to do every year and it sits well with you, go ahead and enjoy it. I don’t have kids, I’ve probably got an absolute maximum of 60 years left in me, if you want to consume, it really doesn’t ruin my day.

oooh Op you wouldn't be impressed with me then. I have three - last year I had two and saved one for January.

This year I have two that are quite different (one is skincare and room fragrance, the other is a lot of make up); the third I bought when it suddenly came back into stock and I realised I was planning to buy three things in it which made up the total value - so may as well have the rest and the fun. I do think it's fun, a little treat each day. I also sell on or regift anything I will not use. I actually like smaller sizes as a) the product doesn't lose fragrance (can happen with big sizes) b) if you don't like it, you are not wasting a big pot c) handy for your gym bag d) chance to try a small amount of something new e) nice little gifts for friends.

I love nice skincare and make up. I don't smoke, don't have an expensive hobby such as cycling, don't spend lots of money on crafting as some friends do (and why not?), don't go on expensive holidays, don't have a £30,000 car, work full time and have two side jobs as well. This is what I enjoy and I think it's fine.

@royco - you 'highly doubt' You can't possibly know what people will use or not.

I dont understand why the judgement of someone buying a once a year advent calendar.
When the i wash 10 loads of washing a day, i have a huge suv when i dont really need it threads no one (or very few people) condemn anyone it's just bizarre.

I suspect half the items will be unused or used once and will end up in landfill

BINGO!!!!

Where do I claim my prize and is it an Advent Calendar?
😂

There's so little joy in the world for so many of us (and as I mum I've sacrificed so many of my little luxuries!) that I don't begrudge anyone this sort of thing.

Sadly, I have no time for things like eyebrow gel or body cream so don't tend to get beauty calendars or boxes 😭

"How is it wasteful or unnecessary if the person who has them is enjoying using them?"

Because as said women's consumption is always criticised.

@wavingwhilstdrowning

"Things traditionally for women - beauty, bags, nails etc are all ridiculed as unnecessary and flippant and a waste. It is misogyny. It's no more of a waste that items men buy. I remember once my dad ridiculing DM's silly 'lotions and potions' whilst carefully organising his hundreds of mad expensive fishing lures and floats. Even at 10 the hypocrisy wasn't lost on me."

Absolutely.

I wanted the cheese one advertised in the Lidl leaflet, but they've had supply issues. We don't do adult presents, so it would be my treat this year.

Live and let live.

Have you considered she has them because she wants and enjoys them?

Scrooge

@Goatinthegarden

Please post a comprehensive list of all your Christmas shopping.

I don’t buy any Christmas gifts.

I’m not a Scrooge and I’m not anti consumerist. I love treating people to nice things, but I buy my family members gifts throughout the year when they are needed and unexpected. I found at Christmas, I sometimes ended up buying presents for the sake of it, rather than something meaningful. I prefer not to be bought gifts.

I do buy myself really nice things, quite often. But I think about how much I need it/or will use what I buy, how long it will last and do take packaging etc, into consideration. At Christmas, I have lots of lovely meals and drinks with friends and family. It would be more sustainable to stay in and eat homegrown carrots, but like I said, I’m nowhere near perfect. Most of the Advent calendars really are particularly wasteful in terms of packaging. They also encourage consuming for the sake of consuming.

At the end of the day, I’m just trying to think a bit more about the planet, and by commenting, just trying to get others to think a little bit. This is a forum for discussing ideas, thoughts and opinions. I don’t want to spoil your Christmas, but maybe next year, more people will say, we’ve done the advent calendars, let’s think about a different treat.

If it’s what you really want to do every year and it sits well with you, go ahead and enjoy it. I don’t have kids, I’ve probably got an absolute maximum of 60 years left in me, if you want to consume, it really doesn’t ruin my day.

The question wasn't directed at you, but if you want to answer it, please answer it. A comprehensive list of all your Christmas shopping, and please note I said shopping, not gifts.

Some of the people in here sound like absolute hoots to spend the festive period with. As I said previously OP; what happened to not judging others and #bekind? Curious to know.

At Christmas, I have lots of lovely meals and drinks with friends and family. It would be more sustainable to stay in and eat homegrown carrots, but like I said, I’m nowhere near perfect. Most of the Advent calendars really are particularly wasteful in terms of packaging. They also encourage consuming for the sake of consuming.

Like I said...everyone thinks that their idea of festive is just right, and anything they don't do is what's excessive and consumerist.

I have two beauty ones this year and am 100% unrepentant.

As said upthread the sneering at beauty calendars in particular comes across as misogynistic.

Yes you can make criticisms on an environmental and waste basis, but these can be applied to nearly anything. So my two beauty advent calendars per year are awful and destroying the environment, whereas a box of individually wrapped chocolates or a Chinese takeaway that involves endless plastic tubs, boxes etc are not subject to the same degree of handwringing and criticism. Funny that it’s the product aimed specifically at women that gets all the flak.

And as for the ‘waste’ element. I reckon I use 80-90% of the beauty products in my calendars. For virtually all the others - I either sell it on for a few pounds on eBay, or give to a friend who will use it.

It wasn't directed at me either, but I'll bite:

Food: a pile of veg; beef joint; fruit; stuff to make Christmas pudding; stuff to make mince pies; ice cream.

Presents: second-hand things - lego, puzzles, books, pencils, pyjamas, socks. Stuff I've made - individual christmas cakes. Things I've bought new - books, socks. I'm also giving some experiences, like lessons for things my kids want to learn.

That's it. Don't buy decorations, just use the ones we've had for the last 15 years. We have a lovely Christmas. I love the build up at this time of year - singing carols, making christmas cake, seeing family. I know other people have different values but I like to challenge the idea that it's a good thing to get our 'treats' from buying things.

I’d kind of love a beauty advent calendar. But only if I could be certain that I’d want everything in it. I just don’t think I would.

Now a chocolate advent calendar, I can be sure of wanting what’s behind every door. 🤣

To those who think they are so appalling… where do you stand if it was a gift? My dad bought me mine. Should I have said ‘thanks for that but they’re wasteful and tacky. Don’t bother next year, spend your money on second hand socks instead’?

@ThePoisonousMushroom

To those who think they are so appalling… where do you stand if it was a gift? My dad bought me mine. Should I have said ‘thanks for that but they’re wasteful and tacky. Don’t bother next year, spend your money on second hand socks instead’?

I was raised to say thank you and accept any present, whether you like it or not, so that's what I'd do. I might say something in advance next year so I don't get it again. "I loved that gift, but I'm trying to cut down my plastic waste, could you get me some second-hand socks instead"

Food: a pile of veg; beef joint; fruit; stuff to make Christmas pudding; stuff to make mince pies; ice cream.

Three desserts/sweets? Four, if you count the fruit. That's unnecessary. You probably don't NEED all the veg and fruit you buy either. Even if you do eat it all, you'll be stuffed and overfull. You don't NEED beef either. Chicken would be cheaper and less excessive. Vegetarian or vegan would be better yet, especially for the environment.

Presents: second-hand things - lego, puzzles, books, pencils, pyjamas, socks. Stuff I've made - individual christmas cakes. Things I've bought new - books, socks. I'm also giving some experiences, like lessons for things my kids want to learn.

Gifts are unnecessary. Nobody NEEDS gifts, even if you did indirectly contribute to consumerism consumerism by buying stuff that someone else bought already. And you bought stuff new, too! You can get books from the library. And was there any plastic in any of this stuff? And what are these experiences, will they involve any emissions, even just to get there, or any wastage? Anyway, who NEEDS to go go karting or glass blowing or whatever?

More Christmas cakes? So that's four, or maybe five, sweet things that nobody NEEDS?

Would it be OK for people to buy decorations if, unlike you, they didn't buy them already?

So much that you don't NEED!

@Applemelon

Are we honestly saying that this buying stuff is the best way to have fun? Who benefits from us having fun in this way (shareholders of big companies, CEOs etc)? Who loses (people who are buying this stuff even though they can't really afford it, THE PLANET)?

Who's saying it's the best way to have fun? I love an Irish cream hot chocolate too. Does that mean I'm saying that's also the pinnacle of how I have fun? What a bizarre thing to project. No one's said this.

Who benefits from it? The people that sell it. And me, enjoying the items. And DH enjoying the brownie points for getting it for me.

Who's said they're buying it but can't afford it?? You're literally making stuff up.

I've never had one before, but I've got one this year. Because I'm really struggling atm and having a little treat to open every morning brings a little much needed pleasure.

@PurpleIndigoViolet

I have two beauty ones this year and am 100% unrepentant.

As said upthread the sneering at beauty calendars in particular comes across as misogynistic.

Yes you can make criticisms on an environmental and waste basis, but these can be applied to nearly anything. So my two beauty advent calendars per year are awful and destroying the environment, whereas a box of individually wrapped chocolates or a Chinese takeaway that involves endless plastic tubs, boxes etc are not subject to the same degree of handwringing and criticism. Funny that it’s the product aimed specifically at women that gets all the flak.

And as for the ‘waste’ element. I reckon I use 80-90% of the beauty products in my calendars. For virtually all the others - I either sell it on for a few pounds on eBay, or give to a friend who will use it.

Yes exactly. The environmental damage caused by flying, or eating meat, neither of which I do on a regular basis, is worse I think, but no one starts a thread berating non veggies or those who fly on holiday four times a year.

I don't waste my beauty treats either. Why would I?

Why so negative, can adults not have fun around Christmas time and enjoy new things. It's only a waste if she decided to bin the items, I assume if she didn't like anything she'd give it to a friend etc

@DrSbaitso

Food: a pile of veg; beef joint; fruit; stuff to make Christmas pudding; stuff to make mince pies; ice cream.

Three desserts/sweets? Four, if you count the fruit. That's unnecessary. You probably don't NEED all the veg and fruit you buy either. Even if you do eat it all, you'll be stuffed and overfull. You don't NEED beef either. Chicken would be cheaper and less excessive. Vegetarian or vegan would be better yet, especially for the environment.

Presents: second-hand things - lego, puzzles, books, pencils, pyjamas, socks. Stuff I've made - individual christmas cakes. Things I've bought new - books, socks. I'm also giving some experiences, like lessons for things my kids want to learn.

Gifts are unnecessary. Nobody NEEDS gifts, even if you did indirectly contribute to consumerism consumerism by buying stuff that someone else bought already. And you bought stuff new, too! You can get books from the library. And was there any plastic in any of this stuff? And what are these experiences, will they involve any emissions, even just to get there, or any wastage? Anyway, who NEEDS to go go karting or glass blowing or whatever?

More Christmas cakes? So that's four, or maybe five, sweet things that nobody NEEDS?

Would it be OK for people to buy decorations if, unlike you, they didn't buy them already?

So much that you don't NEED!

We're not eating it all on the same day - this is over the whole Christmas period. Given we need to eat, it's probably ok to get your calories from mince pies on occasion.

Basically, all the stuff I'm buying is about on a par with my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents would have bought when they were my age. This means it's probably broadly sustainable. Beauty advent calendars are completely off the chart if you use this scale.

If anyone is looking to reduce waste etc at Christmas, one of the best things you could do is forego wrapping paper. If it's shiny or sparkly then it's not recyclable, and even if it's not, sellotape is a contaminant.

Reusable gift bags are a much better idea, or look up the Japanese practice of furoshiki - reusable fabric wrapping that looks absolutely beautiful.

And yes, this even applies to those who manage to cover all bases by being generous gift givers but not terrible wasteful Christmas people by GIVING LOVELY GIFTS BUT ONLY WHEN IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS or whatever it was.

I have a perfume one this year. It's just cardboard which could be recycled but in fact, it's so beautifully made, I will re-use it next year and out my own little gifts in tge drawers.
I bought it intentionally because it gives me the opportunity to try out lots of different scents without paying out for a large bottle. The miniature perfumes and aftershaves will also be perfect for when we travel (which we do, a lot 😀)

@NinaDefoe

You can say the same about any (one year only) advent calendar. The chocolate ones with minuscule pieces of chocolate and huge amounts of packaging for example.

It’s strange isn’t it because we had a fabric advent calendar when we were young - a wall hanging of a Christmas tree with numbered pockets.
Every day we would take a ‘decoration’ out of a numbered pocket and attach it to the Christmas tree with a pin.
By Christmas Day the tree was decorated.
Exciting times (!) 🤣🤣

I still have a fabric advent calendar like that. I've probably had it 20 years or so and I still enjoy it. I also have a wooden one (about 15 years old) which I put a small bit of chocolate in for the (adult) children (something like a chocolate coin).

I bought each of them a Holland and Barrett Beauty advent calendar one year. Despite the fact that it was obviously an advent calendar I didn't realise you were supposed to start opening them on 1 December so I wrapped them and they opened them on Christmas Day!