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Original poster

Beauty advent - best and worst bits?

40 replies

MWM · 24/01/2017 19:44

So now we've all had some time to use the products from our advent calendars I just wondered what everyone thought of them?
I got the liberty calendar and I loved it, the box was so pretty I daren't bin it. My favourite product has to be the Votary oil, it just makes me face look so fresh the next day. I have also liked the lip balm, Bobbi Brown tint and the Eve Lom cleanser.

The worst was probably the weird cucumber perfume and the brow balm.

OP posts:
Tanaqui · 24/01/2017 19:49

Clarins had 3 (3!) key ring things!

But the lip comfort oil was lovely.

tessiebear4 · 24/01/2017 19:50

I had Liberty as well.

Very fed up with two handcreams! And also the toothpaste and the weird fluorescent blusher.

Worth it for Dr Sebagh, diptyque and the perfumes imo. The cucumber perfume will be nice for summer

PremierCru · 24/01/2017 19:53

M&S clear eyebrow gel was pointless Hmm

But the Rosie lipstick and wrinkle filler were fabulous.

PremierCru · 24/01/2017 19:53

Oh and M&S had two consecutive nail polishes that were virtually identical which was most bizarre and quite annoying!

Original poster
MWM · 24/01/2017 19:57

I haven't used the candle yet. It's my stunt candle on the coffee table Grin

I enjoy have cream so i was happy with those. The blusher is weird isn't it, very bright. I've been experimenting how to apply the BB one and love it now, it's a really lovely colour if you don't use a lot.

OP posts:
Original poster
MWM · 24/01/2017 19:58

Tempted to get the M&S one next year.

OP posts:
IvorHughJarrs · 24/01/2017 19:58

The You Beauty one was excellent this year, I don't think there was anything I thought was rubbish. I gave a couple of bits I would not use myself to my DDs as stocking fillers but they weren't awful, just not things I would use (bright red nail polish and a nail quick dry spray spring to mind)

MinniesAndMickeysNeedCounting · 24/01/2017 20:10

I had the no7 and m&s one.

M&S love the liquid gold, going to purchase that one when it runs out. Not keen on the cranberry nail varnish and wont use the brow gel.

No7 I really like the blusher, it was a colour match one so you go to store and they match it to your skin tone rather than everyone gets the same colour, I don't usually wear blusher so was surprised I liked it so much. Also liked the 2 of the 3 eyeshadow shades. Didn't like the shower gel, it smells lovely and lathers up well and feels really soft but I had a reaction to it.

isobelaisobela · 24/01/2017 20:11

I really liked the selfridges one. 7 perfumes which is great for me. Best bit was the kheils midnight rescue oil & Lancôme absolue premium - amazing stuff!

AmberNectarine · 24/01/2017 20:12

I had the same one isobela and also loved the perfumes. Also loved the kiehl's and the Lancôme makeup remover.

WhisperingLoudly · 24/01/2017 20:15

I had the M&S one, best bits were:

Liquid gold
Chubby pencil lip gloss
The M&S own brand night cream - amazing

Bluestern · 24/01/2017 21:59

I had the M&S one too. Really liked the Emma Hardie balm, tempted to repurchase but it is so expensive... Also liked the M&S night cream. Just started using the REN day cream which seems well suited to this cold weather. The gel-type nail varnish chipped in less than 24 hours and my nails have been flakey ever since.

tiredbuthappyworkingmum · 24/01/2017 22:09

Very happy with the ASOS one.

BeforeWeFade · 25/01/2017 07:40

I had the Liberty one and so far my favorite products have been: Bobbi Brown blush, Votary facial oil, Le Labo Santal 33 perfume, Malin + Goetz Vit E moisturizer, Laura Mercier primer, Byredo hand cream and the Dipytique candle.

Wasn't a fan of: OdeJo perfume or the Kiehls Amino Acid shampoo

I still have a few products from the calendar that I have yet to try, but overall, I think that it was worth the £££.

thethoughtfox · 25/01/2017 08:02

Actually loved most of the M&S bits and pieces although after randomly trying lots of things and other products people got me for Christmas, it's hard to work out what skin products actually work. I particularly love the hand cream and the Liquid Gold as I could feel their effects overnight. Agreed about the pointless identical nail varnishes. I tried to be sweet and offered my mum and a few friends to take the day's treat when they came to visit and lost the Elastizer and a few other good ones. Stupid Christmas spirit.

TresDesolee · 25/01/2017 08:07

Have to disagree on the Liberty one a bit - some of the products were good but not sure I feel I got a bang for my buck. I know what I like make-up-wise and all the colours/products were wrong for me. I was hoping for more age-related skincare - my guess is the products were chosen for/by people with dewy young skin. And really, toothpaste??

My bestie gave me the contents of the M&S calendar for Christmas and was much more impressed with their skincare.

Those of you with the Selfridges one - which one was that?? The only Selfridges one I could find was all products from one company (can't remember which but wasn't a company I thought worth it)

At the moment I'm thinking I will just save my money and go M&S this year

FleshEmoji · 25/01/2017 17:23

I had a different Selfridges one (pink box) and would have preferred more makeup. Loved the Philip Kingsley elastisizer - that really sorted out the dry knotty bit of hair at the back of my head and now my curls are in much better shapes.

Also loved the Eborian (I think from memory) BB cream - but wish it was a bit less drying.

Trulymadlymotherly · 25/01/2017 18:50

I had the m&s one and there are several things I'd buy again. The Emma Hardie balm, liquid gold, Rosie lip tint, the Kingsley elasticiser and the hair oil were all big successes with me. I didn't rate the eyebrow gel. Because the packaging is clear you can see how discoloured it's become from my make up. I don't wear nail varnish.

StrawberryStar · 25/01/2017 18:59

I had the clarins one and as well as the 3 key rings there was also a day where you got gift tags!!! I was not impressed.
The days you did get a proper gift were lovely. In particular the primer. My make up sits so much better when I use it.

jeaux90 · 25/01/2017 20:25

I had the l'occitane one. I loved the super rich face cream and the shower gels. Didn't really like the fact there were about 6 different hand creams though

BringMeTea · 27/01/2017 11:49

I had M&S and Liberty and I think M&S definitely better all round. Really don't think Liberty lived up to its price. However I will reuse the Liberty box so that's good!

The Clarins one with multiple keyrings sounds terrible as does L'occitane with mini hand cream overload. Smile

mouldycheesefan · 27/01/2017 11:51

The clarins one was very expensive and there were too many similar products plus the crappy three key rings and gift tags. It was a rip off.

AmethystMoon · 27/01/2017 12:39

I got a Sparks offer on my Mand S sparks card yesterday, 20 per cent off the advent products. So worth checking if you liked something and have a sparks card.

Also the Nuxe advent is currently on the Nuxe website for about 14 pounds, was 49 pounds...bargain. There is also quite a lot of Nuxe stuff in their online sale for 70 percent off. Good if you like Huile prodigeuse etc.

lozengeoflove · 27/01/2017 22:59

Why, oh why did I read amethyst's post. Had a bit of a splurge at NUXE.
This treat made me very jealous about not buying a beauty advent calendar. Errrr I'll have one next week Blush

Itscurtainsforyou · 27/01/2017 23:07

The Aldi one was rubbish! Mainly/ only serums (that I'm not keen on).