Beauty Advent Calendars 2019

[Writersblock2]

It’s almost that time again! Anyone have their eye on anything?

There is a good overview here: www.marieclaire.co.uk/beauty/beauty-advent-calendars-2019-39069

I’m waiting on the M&S one as I loved it so much last year (no sign of it so far but I suspect it will be similar to 2018 for release date, so around start of November). I also like the look of the Look Fantastic and Nuxe but three may be pushing it.

If money was no object I’d be on the Jo Malone and Lush calendars.

I have had the Liberty one 3 times in the last 4 years but I will give it a miss this year. The price just seems too high. The Liberty GWP is much better value.

Harvey Nicks also has a GWP around Christmas I think. I have definitely had that before.

The ASOS looks good value for money. I didn't get the M&S last year so I will look out for that too.

I also bought the Kiehls advent last year in the States on holiday. It was much cheaper than the UK version but some of the products were very small sample sizes. I much prefer the calendars that have multi brands.

Ordered the F&M one. Should arrive Tuesday the 29th of October😂 Watched an unboxing of the Ultimate Body Shop one, went to order today and its sold out.. So hoping it comes back as i quite fancy that. Eeeek, so excited already

Got an update from the Really Ree site about the Jo Malone one today. The contents look fab. Lots of colognes and quite a few different new scents. So far it's definitely top of the list.

I have also pre-ordered the Fortnum and Mason advent calendar. Was waiting for Liberty contents information, although already was thinking about F&M. Have had Liberty last year and 2016, both were great. But I like to try something else for a change every other year. Quite possible will also get M&S bcs it is a very good value.

This thread is really not good for my bank balance. I’ve tried a few over the last few years; loved the 2017 LF one, was less happy with it last year. My favourite to date is the 2018 Fortnum and Mason one, which I think despite the price was still good value.

Things I liked about it:

• There were quite a few brands I’d never heard of, but liked when I tried them (eg. The shampoo and conditioner, the bath oil, the mascara)
• A few things I really enjoyed using but wouldn’t pay full price for, so a treat
• A number were not full size, but still more generous than a normal sample size (as an example, I think there were 5 eye masks, not just one)
• Good mix of products - hair, make-up, bath, serums, masks, creams
• Some nice touches like a hair band to use with the clay mask, for example
• felt the products were aimed at woman no longer in their twenties

Thanks to this thread, I’ve already ordered this year’s. Delivery date is close to my birthday, so using that as an excuse

I so wish I could find one with no make up - the colours are always wrong. I want a calendar that’s just assorted brands of skincare. It’s the moon on a stick, isn’t it?

I'm starting to waver a bit. I went to use a treatment mask / intensive moisturising treatment thing the other day - it was M&S so must have been from the advent calendar or a beauty box - and it stung on application so I had to wash it off.

I think I'm going to have to look through all the contents to decide. But M&S haven't published the contents I don't think.

I got an email from John Lewis today that theirs is going on advance sale to loyalty card holders tomorrow.

I bought the Liberty one last year and I liked it but I'm still working my way through the contents. I'm tempted to try the Fortnum & Mason one but I'm going to wait for the Liberty offer this month and then decide. I can't do both unfortunately.

I’m hoping to bag the spaceNK one.

I bought the Glossybox one last year in the Black Friday offer that included a Karl Largerfeld box for 1p. I'm hoping they do a similar offer again this year.

Just got a notification that the John Lewis one is now available. Looks a bit crap though.
I tend to reject anything with the 'this works' pillow spray in it now!

Have you got a link @paradyning?

My H bought me the Clarins one last year. I loved it but it was only 12 days (cheapskate!).

I might buy the Jo Malone one for myself this year, although it's stupidly expensive.

I can only open it in the JL app but can't find it on the JL website to link sorry
Screenshot below

I’ve bought the rituals and the Occitane basic one for friends in previous years. I would really recommend both. I had the Liberty one last year and much as I liked it, there were hair products that I have no liking for whatsoever and I was unexpectedly allergic to the more expensive things (Votary moisturiser and Dr Sebagh hyaluronic serum! Gutted!) having had no reactions to anything before or since!

I am very tempted by the Elemis. I’d go with Clarins if it wasn’t 12 days, which I think it is.

Thank you @paradyning 😊

Following this with interest.

I had the first 3 M&S calendars, but though the one the year before last was rubbish, so didn't bother with anything last year.

I am tempted this year though by Elemis, space nk & lumene.

I looked at the John Lewis one but like a PP I wasn't that impressed. When some of the products are a 1ml vial of something, it just makes me feel very that I'm paying for a sample I could pick up at a beauty counter for free! Bigger product sizes are definitely needed for me to bite this year.

I get the rituals one every year, it's got good sized products and I do use most of them.

I like This Works pillow spray but I'm not tempted by so many 1ml 2ml 0.9g etc! I will be passing on JL.

I think Next might be interesting because it's a collaboration with Fabled.

As much as I’m tempted by the more expensive ones (ESPA & F&M I’m looking at you), I think £70ish is a more realistic budget. So I guess that means Look Fantastic or Birchbox?

I have no clue what to get. I haven't seen any signs that Mugler would do calendar this year. I really liked Angel one last year.

@CloudsCanLookLikeSheep would the Rituals one work for a man? (one who absolutely loves skin care/candles/nice things)

Really Ree has the details for the M&S calendar. £40 with a £25 spend. Some duplicates and lots of the usual brands. I'll get it as it's such good value but for me it could be more exciting. It depends what you like.

I am bit ... meh about the M&S this year.

I looked at the content of liberty and harrods and not interested. Net-a-porter and Fortnum's appeal more but I need some time to read over what is included in each.

Loved ELLE last year, I hope they do one again and it's just as good.

I don't think I would buy single brand advent again,

M&S is winning for me. They offer much better value compared to everything else. I like the contents and will make use of them. I'm excited about my daily December gifts to myself already. 😁