M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 2019

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Starting a thread to discuss the contents as we hit December.

Who is getting this one this year?

This was my very first beauty calendar last year and it’s definitely got me addicted. I loved it!

This year you can order the calendar from 31st October. Price is £40 when you spend £25 at M&S. Contents are worth over £300.

If you do want to know the full contents you can find them over at ReallyRee (SPOLIERS!).

Please don’t discuss the contents ahead of time on here as most people don’t want to know (or as in my case, read then forget!).

www.reallyree.com/ms-beauty-advent-calendar-full-contents-launch-info/

My first calendar. Liking the hair stuff but with the weather being so frosty I can't be sure what it's truly like as my hair always looks better on a frosty day!

Dh was confused by a product that is okay for eyes and lips but I think it will be okay. I am almost out of my current eye cream and this will tide me over until Christmas day when I know dh has bought me two tubes. As I told him too . I read the other day there is no need for separate eye cream as all the same stuff as face cream..

Tomorrow is hair wash day so I think I am right in thinking I put the Aveda stuff on my ends and then leave to dry? Is it only used on hair wash day? I wash my hair twice a week as that's all it needs now.

I other news I treated myself to the Formula treat box as it is hugely reduced. I blame you lot .

I used my Aveda mid length to ends - people are saying it is making hair soft and swishy, so I wouldn't just limit it to the ends.

The Formula box is fab...there will be repeats from the full advent calendar, as of course it's the same company. But they're lovely products and will last AGES!

I am very happy with my M&S calendar so far. Really like the hair product, and am in bed with the eye product on - and can't feel it, which I am very pleased about! I don't usually wear mascara but this looks a great size for travel and handbag. And what I have is so old it can now be thrown out!
I did a quick tally, prices from M&S website:
Aveda Hair Damage - £25
Lash alert mascara - £19
Formula Eyes and Lips -£18
All full sized so far.

Update on the mascara for me; I wasn’t that impressed to be honest. I found it quite smudgy under my eyes and a total pain in the arse to remove (I use micellar water). I don’t think I’ll use it again.

Delighted with this morning - just what I was hoping for, looking forward to trying it out tonight.

Ooh excited for today... Re eye cream, ex Beautician here. We were told that separate eye cream is worth it if you are using a heavy day cream, maybe for dry skin, as it is too rich for round the eyes, and can cause pouching. If you are using a thinner product, no such problem.

To clarify... Best not to use rich or heavy day cream round your eyes. Thinner cream no problem.. Doh! 😁

Happy with today’s cleanser. Could be a better gift but it’s not bad either.

I'm also happy with today's cleanser and am off to try it out now. I really don't like the smell of Rose though so unless it works miracles, I won't ever be purchasing it. It is nice to try a different sort of product though - I normally use a cleansing balm and then facial wash. The reason I really like getting a beauty calendar is trying so many new products.

Definitely! Me too. I never fail to find something I really love and then buy later!

I love a new cleanser! The one thing I get really particular about and the size is big enough to test - it normally takes me about a week to see the effects. Happy with the smell too.

Yes I agree with skincare tiny samples don’t really allow you to try it properly and see the benefits. I tend to use them for travel but tempted to try this one. I opened it last night as I knew I’d forget in the morning but really I should be opening that day’s at night and not the next day’s...

I use the aveda in mid length to end of my hair after a shower and after I towel dried before blow drying

The mascara is ok, not as clumsy as I was expecting, quite natural

I'm torn on this one today. I love a cleanser but hate the smell of Rose so haven't taken the silver seal off to try it in case I want to put it in the swap box.

Is it very strong?

I've decided to ditch my current No7 eye cream as I noticed I'm actually looking more wrinkly and crinkly than previously. Probably just aging and not looked properly, but happy to try the new Formula one.

Haven't used a cleanser like this before. I always use micellar water and toner on cotton wool, whilst sitting on my bed! Seems a faff to have to run a basin of water and risk getting my hair wet! But will try and give it a go.

I haven't heard of this brand before so excited to try it.

Like Princess, I don't usually use this type of cleanser but I'm more than happy to try it out.

Alpha H Balancing Cleanser with Damask Rose - 30ml

I’m happy with this one and I love the scent of rose. Looking forward to trying it tonight.

I’m liking the mascara, I wouldn’t buy it as I prefer waterproof but it looks good on my long lashes.

Sorry Leelumpkin it won't let me tag you. Yes it is quite strong. First thing I checked as I love the smell of roses. Not sure if it lingers yet though, will report back when I try this evening

I wouldn't use the cleanser at night, but in the morning when my face is wet anyhoo.

I'm looking forward to trying this one. Might use it in the shower. Agree with a PP that filling a basin of water seems like a faff.

Oooh nice! There was some skin-refining stuff from this brand in the calendar a couple of years ago which was lovely, so I have high hopes for this.

I was planning to use it in the evening, after removing make up as I usually wash my face then anyway, but I might also try it in the shower too.

I'm always pleased with the sizes of the items in the calendar. You always get enough of something to give it a proper try.

This looks nice. I rate Alpha H as a brand (they do an excellent high-SPF moisturiser), and I love rose fragrance.

Incidentally, I don't run a basin of water when I wash my face; just wet/rinse a flannel under the tap to remove the cleanser. Shower works too.....!

How does the cleanser work, what’s all this about a basin of water?

I don’t fill the sink either to use face washes. I wet my face with running water, apply the product and then rinse it off with running water. Doesn’t take long at all! I only use a flannel to remove thicker products like balms and masks.