AIBU to think that beauty advent calendars agave become a horrible representation of this who ‘have’ and those who ‘don’t’

[ThisOrTha]

The price of some of these calendars is crazy! I think everyone should have the right to buy what they want, but with the current state of things it feels like a really horrible waste of money. Yet built up to be a ‘must have’ etc etc.

Im probably being a grump and I do love beauty products/fashion, I just think some of these companies could donate some of the cover price to other causes as I’m sure the price markup is substantial.

This one is £20 and cruelty-free, and their stuff is nice. I like expensive stuff because... it's your face, but this stuff is genuinely good.

I'll be getting my mum and some others this for xmas. It was always the superdrug one, which was also good and cruelty-free, but I can't find it this year, but found this other cheap one that looks nice lbworld.co.uk/product/sunkissed-25-days-of-beauty-advent-calendar-2021-25-pieces/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnP-ZBhDiARIsAH3FSRcktdpXr6pSyWX3IFN0at3SqtY9_edmUBKvbOxwZn51VaFSQcw6-awaAoAAEALw_wcB

The thing with trends is there will always be a high end that the price is inflated on, and an affordable end, which is often just as pleasing.

Above post mean to include this www.amazon.co.uk/W7-Beauty-Blast-Advent-Calendar/dp/B09RKF8DQK/ref=asc_df_B09RKF8DQK/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606511222060&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14372109643918818696&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046540&hvtargid=pla-1745618042787&psc=1

I make advent calendars for my DH, DD and myself because they really are such a rip off to buy. I just enjoy the fun of having a little door to open every day.

I remember when it used to just be a piece of cardboard with a little picture behind each door, of angels and shepherds and wise men and such! So hundreds of pounds is mad.

I buy one every year. I put a lot of research into which one, based on what's in it that I will actually use, and the brands that I'd like to try, and what I will give away. If I were to buy a full size version of every product in a calendar, and not like/use 50% of them, then I'd definitely be far more out of pocket than buying an £150 advent calendar. Would I consider myself to be a have not? Nope - I've just opted to spend what little spare cash I have on something I like, like most people would on various hobbies.

I've never had one and do not feel under any pressure whatsoever to buy one or expect someone else to buy me one

There is all sorts of frivolous crap available to separate people from their hard earned cash but I don't see these as being any worse than other luxury items which we all have a choice whether to but or not

I'm not sure the price mark-up is substantial actually, or that they're poor value for money. Like anything, it's only worth it to people who like and will use the products. Some of the higher end calendars this year have very good contents. Take the John Lewis calendar, there are 27 products in there. The cost of the calendar is lower than the cost of 3 of the (full size) products. If you were planning to buy those three products anyway, the rest is a bonus. I'm not saying the shops make a loss or anything, I'm sure the calendars do cost them less than the sale price, but it would still cost me a lot more to buy the contents individually. They're not all full of tiny samples and plastic waste (yes, some are but you can choose carefully).

I got the net a Porter one last year in the sale which made it great value. Loved 95% of the products. I wouldn't have bought it full price and haven't got one this year hut would definitely get a sale one again. It was full size products, no sample sizes

This is so bizarre. I love beauty but have never bought one because I don't want to spend £200 on an advent calendar.
I don't begrudge other people paying £200 on one. We are all free to spend our money how we wish.

DH bought me my first one Christmas 2020 to cheer me up and I loved it so he bought me another one last year. I used about 90% of what was in there and the rest I gave to my daughters.

Nasty things, so much packaging and waste for minute amounts of product. I always look at them and just think 'landfill' - just a load of disposable crap. What percentage of the materials/chemicals used are in the bin before Christmas? I know many things we consume are pointless and wasteful but these are right at the top of the scale.

I've always assumed that these calendars are marketing for the products- basically 24 big samples.

I love beauty products and fall for all sorts of "buy two get this bag of things you don't want free" all the time. I've never bought a beauty Advent calendar however as they don't really fit with my approach to Advent- it sometimes feels like Christmas starts on 1 December and finishes on 26 December, whereas I try to keep Advent distinct at least to some extent and then celebrate Christmas for the 12 days. Having a present every day in Advent doesn't really fit with that- I do have a paper one though.

OP it must be to do with your particular sphere that they are a “must have” - in my sphere they very much aren’t and I can’t think of a single conversation I’ve had about them (have seen them in MN year on year; would like the Diptyque one maybe but I often get a couple of candles for Christmas and I don’t need or want more than that)

Some of them sound like good value if you use a lot of products, and opportunity to try new things is a good idea. I use my very old Playmobil calendar - the old style one with the reusable boxes - and keep my money for stollen, amaretti biscuits, ginger bread and Bailey’s throughout December. We’re all different!

There are lots of unecessary, expensive, luxury items. I'm not sure why the buyers or sellers of these items should be singled out.

I really hope they aren't seen by anyone as a "must have". That would be sad. Personally I think they are pretty silly and I would be slightly embarrassed to own one. Give me an old fashioned paper advent calendar any day (if anything). I'm a pretty high earner, so affording one wouldn't really be an issue.

I have a couple of friends who buy the make up/skincare ones because they’re big into beauty, they know a lot about the products and use them all and see it as good value because they’ll buy some of them full price/size. It’s not my cuppa but they can afford it and it’s an interest of theirs so no judgement from my end.

I don’t really feel I ‘must’ have one so I don’t feel left out. It’s like any product, if there’s a gap in the market then companies will fill it - doesn’t mean you have to buy it all. I think a lot of people are convinced by glossy Instagram campaigns etc that they need one, but they really don’t. I push the boat out to get a fancy Lindt one over the cheaper dairy milk options but that’s about it.

I think beauty advents have got much better they used to be full of small samples but lots this year have at least half of the drawers with full sizes and if you were going to buy the products any way it makes cost sense.
I have bought one simply because it saves me money . I find I hardly buy any other beauty products throughout the year and instead of having to buy budget basic products I get to try higher end products at budget prices
If it didn’t make cost sense there wouldn’t be the massive eBay resale market there is with people buying up the advents and selling the products individually.
The one I bought each drawer worked out about £6 and for that I am getting full size face creams/serums / body products which I would have bought anyway and paid a lot more for, with the smaller sample drawers working out effectively free which I either try or regift (helps I have teenage daughters!)
Obviously if you don’t use this stuff you are right it is a waste of money but if you do and choose carefully it can make cost sense
Yes there is a lot of packaging but that is the same for all advents not just beauty it’s the nature of the beast

When did one present and a £1 advent calendar for fun turn into the fiasco of beauty calendars, December boxes, personalised xmas eve pjs and xmas eve boxes and piles and pike of presents become the norm?

Don't you be trying to take our traditional Christmas pike of presents away from us. There's nothing makes it feel like the festive season so much as pulling your presents out of the great gaping toothy mouth of a bloody big fish in a Santa hat!

I've had the m&s one in the past and it was a lovely treat for £40 ish I think but they seem to be everywhere now and I actually found myself looking at the Jo Malone one for £325 the other day before I got a grip and remembered that's what my energy bill is this month.

It's been a miserable couple of years I think people are just desperate to buy a bit of happiness tbh.

Wasn’t that long ago I read on here some women buying her three children beauty advent calendar at the grand total of 600 quid EACH!! Because she could afford it, was her words. How the other half live that’s all I can say lol

I've never had one and do not feel under any pressure whatsoever to buy one or expect someone else to buy me one

Same here.

Hardly must-haves! I've never felt the slightest inclination to have one.

I buy the m and s one. I don’t spend a lot on beauty, Aldi normally but It’s nice bits and I get through it over the year.

It's a marketing gimmick created to separate women from their money.

Started early this yer!

I used to get one, and in fact have had more than one some years. I didn't last year, and did miss it a little bit...

I think yabu OP, there are lots of things that are a horrible representation between those who have and have not - like holidays, clothes, heating and food. But these things exist and have always existed. I have stopped buying advent calendars because they are frivolous to me and I ended up stockpiling the products, but I still spend alot of money on things other people would probably think are a waste of money.

Genuinely wealthy people don't have these advent calendars. They don't have them because they always have several, full size, bottles of whatever luxury potions & lotions takes their fancy.