Marks and Spencer advent calendar - day by day discussion thread

[milly848]

I am so bloody excited fo Sunday

Does anyone want to join me in a discussion about the contents this year? No spoilers!

I’ve been hearing good things about this product for the last 15 or so years, so I’m happy to finally try it!

I think I am more excited about opening this thread to see what Decembers running total is and to find out how to use the products than I am about opening the box.

I get up at 6am and am out the door to get to a yoga class so I open it then to bring it with me but it's too early to be getting excited. I would probably enjoy it more if I left it until I got home after work but then I wouldn't be able to read this thread until night time.

I think I will like this product, in fact i have liked all of them so far.

I'm off this morning so I've just put it on and I'm sitting in bed with slightly damp hair under a shower cap. DH came in and walked out again - almost certainly overwhelmed by the youthfulness of my décolletage (thank you Prai cream)

Not really a hit for me this morning, when I have used pre-shampoo products before I have ended up with greasy hair, but I'll give it a try this weekend when i have a bit more time on my hands.

I use the elasticiser a lot - it gives my fine (and slightly thinning) hair extra body and bounce - so very happy to have some more! I tend to use it over the weekend - wake up, wet my hair and pop on the elasticiser and cover with a shower cap, then go back to bed to read/look at mumsnet for 1/2 hour...

I'm so happy to get this. I've been wanting to buy it for ages. I used some of my sister's once and it made my hair lovely.

I am loving the calendar so far!
I am using the eye cream every day, including on my eyebrows, as it says it thickens lashes, so might work there too!

Sooo I'm inspired by so many of your "no faff" elastisiser (sp?!) experiences and I'll give it a go. My hair generally looks crap anyway so hopefully it'll be a pleasant surprise!

Overall though loving the calendar so far and I never fail to feel excited when I go downstairs each am and open my box while the tea brews!

Oooh one for the weekend I think. I have neglected my hair for the last year and have just had a shiny new cut and colour. Good timing for trying out some hair treats!

I’m holding on judgement re the perfume as I have a cold and can only smell random things atm. It seems to have divided opinion on here!

I like the perfume, just not on me! Will give it to my sister to try. I loved last year's grapefruit one, smelled lovely on me.

Today's offering is my favourite so far. I spend a fortune on this stuff so this is a welcome freebie.

I've just used the hair mask, dried my hair & really impressed! Ive used other (cheaper) hair masks before, so wasn't expecting much. It's really given my hair loads of body & it's so soft! 😀

Audrina I am now opening the next day’s door just before bedtime for exactly those reasons.

Ah, so the elastisizer adds body? I have very fine, thin hair so I dismissed this thinking it would coat my hair and make it even more straight and limp! Maybe I will give it a go at the weekend....

I was pleased with the perfume. I didn't like last year's blood orange but this one reminds me of Marc Jacobs decadence which I like.
I was underwhelmed by the mascara but only because I'm always reluctant to trial anything other than my trusty max factor waterproof!
I like the idea of the Elasticizer but not sure about length of time needed. Will try some of these tips maybe!

The Elasticizer is brilliant I usually buy it in litre tubs they last me nearly a year. Apply to sections in wet hair and leave on for 20 mins minimum but preferably overnight then wash and condition as normal. I initially used it as a conditioner which didn't give the best results. I suspect Kate Middleton uses it, she has fab locks

Much better results on wet hair, helps the product emulsify, it does nothing for me on dry hair.

I’ve given it a go today. Only left it on for ten minutes and let it air dry for two hours (which is usually a recipe for disaster with my thick, unruly hair) before blasting with a hairdryer. It’s really smooth and really soft. Will definitely be repurchasing that.

A bit unsure about today's hair product. I follow a version of the 'curly girl' method so can't use products with various ingredients including '-cones'.

May be naughty and give it a try though.

@MeetOnTheSIedge Have read the thread backwards and realised you're a 'curly girl' too. I do use mild baby shampoo rather than 'no-poo' so I should be fine to try it.

I will try it when I’ve got half an hour to myself. My DIL will pinch it if I don’t hide it.

@diamondsandrose thank you for the hug :).

I've used today's stuff before, Our shower doesn't work properly, cuts out after a minute or so and it's a job that h has not gotten round to fixing yet. So it's baths all the way for me, I tend to take my phone or iPad in to read mumsnet so can be in there a good hour at least, I whack the stuff on when I get in and then rinse it out when I shampoo.

Iirc last lot of this stuff lasted me months but then I have thin fine lank hair. It made my hair smell nice but it made not a difference at all to my hair. I think I might keep this to see if anyone wants to swap for something they don't like. So far I have the shower gel unopened from day one (I know I don't like this scent from prior use) and then today's unopened elastic stuff.

Baubles
I would be happy to swop the Elasticizer fir something you like , did you like the perfume?

Baubles you are very welcome

Elasticiser is soooo good
Behold my faff free routine I use every couple of weeks when I remember/have time

Put unwashed hair in a ponytail half an hour before shower
( good if having afternoon/evening shower if going out so not for morning rush)
Dip ponytail under the tap to dampen
Squeeze out
Put elasticiser on the damp ends
Put hair in bun

After half hour of pottering about or whatever , get in shower
Rinse out elasticiser
Shampoo and condition as normal

Ta da!

Also refer to the bath/bun combo and the holiday daytime bun system

Hair must be damp for it to work but not soaking
Makes hair feel very smooth shiny and guess what....ELASTIC

DiamondsandRose you've convinced me to give it a go. Do you only put it through your ponytail then no need to apply at the roots?