Anyone disappointed with beauty advent calendars?

[Holdingtherope]

First world problem, I know but I have hated the Amazon beauty calendar after loving a couple of years ago. The Elemis one is ok and has a full size marine cream I’m worth £80 but the rest is tiny samples and then the green superfood range which I don’t like.

Anyone else? What was the best one this year?

I wouldn't buy one because the packaging to product ratio is very high - especially if it contains sample size products. Rather than just looking at value for money, I'd urge people to consider whether product-based advent calendars are worth the cost to the environment

I have had two. Last year was Jo Malone. Very, very expensive for what you get. I did not like the tiny candles, body wash, bath oil and tiny tubs of hand cream. A lot of the perfumes had a distinctly masculine vibe and my husband ended up getting them. For £300 it should have had at least one 30ml perfume and full size ones for shower gel etc.

This year I tried the M&S one and I am underwhelmed to say the least. One rank peach perfume, so many moisturisers/cleansers/creams and very little make-up. Hair stuff for people with long hair. One crappy nail polish.

I won't be bothering again as they are a con.

I really want one, but none have enough decent stuff in to justify the expense. I've rather just buy one decent item.

Yes I must say the packaging from amazon is staggering. I have kept all the boxes to do my own next year

I got the M&S one a couple of years ago and so glad I did as it introduced me to several products which I've continued to buy since and which have made a big difference to my skin.

This year I was so tempted by the Cult Beauty calendar as looking online I could see that there were several things I'd like to try or knew I would like, but I just couldn't justify the price to myself. Instead I got the Holland & Barrett calendar which was much more reasonable and again I think it has introduced me to brands and products I'll buy again.

I bought the JL one when it was reduced for my DD and she loves all the free treatments at a JL store that come with it

As much as I hate to admit it, I’m disappointed with my Jo Malone calendar.

I’ve got the M&S one. First (and last) time for me. My favourite bit about it is the the lovely and clever design of the boxes, every morning I’m like “ooh look at these very pleasing angular folds” I bet the person who designed those boxes is on level 11 life satisfaction.
The stuff in the boxes is fine but everything is so highly scented. I’m no beauty expert (understatement) but I thought putting highly fragranced stuff on your face was a big no no.
Some kind person on the thread is doing the pricing and I’m kind of horrified that such tiny amounts of stinky cream cost so much money.
I’ll use it all up but I think once for a beauty advent calendar is enough really.
Rather spend that £40 next year on cheese.

@EmpressJewel it’s too late this year as it’s now sold out but I managed to buy the Expert Beauty 12 days of Christmas for £65ish. It has 12 full sized items and the Elemis night cream which I wanted is more than £65. Last years calendar looked good too so it might be one to keep an eye on next year.

DD is loving her Body Shop one and will definitely use all the gifts in it (apart from the ones that I steal!).

I shared 5 calendars with 4 x family members. We checked contents and divided. Bought for products, to try new things and not to use as advent calendars. Worked out it actually saved us money refilling beauty bags and using some as products.

Liberty- I thought the collection was very good but it ought to be as it was expensive (£215). The most full sizes of any AC I think. Packaging is gorgeous and I’m using it now as AC for my DD (filled with nativity characters, small Christmas decorations, experiences and some chocolate!). Fully recyclable

Holland and Barratt - excellent value for money- good sizes and great selection if you’re into “natural beauty”. Terrible packaging- inner not recyclable

Elle - THE best calendar I’ve ever had. Paid £92. Every single product was awesome. Everything is excellent in its field- some true cult products. Some very luxury brands including Bella Freud candle. A good balance of products and no fillers!

Look Fantastic and Glossybox- pretty decent for £70. But a fair few fillers that no one really wanted. I’d say they are on the same level but LF packaging is seriously lovely (have to friend for children’s AC). Glossybox packaging fully recyclable

*Using some as presents not products! Some really nice things to gift that you’d buy anyway (Molton Brown, Rituals, candles)

Oh Elle packaging was not great- looked good but lot of plastic inside. Cheaper packaging but made up with high value of contents inside

I have never really been tempted by beauty advent calendars even though I have a staggering amount of high end makeup/skincare/fragrance. I’d rather spend the money choosing products/shades I know I like. I also hate samples, I never get around to using them.

I didn't bother this year - none of them excited me, and as I have had one for the last ten years, I think maybe I'm over the idea now. They've felt quite samey, despite buying different brands, the last few years anyway. And despite sending tens of kilos of stuff to Give and Make Up, I've still got a stockpile anyway. Maybe I'm just suffering from over-consumption

Last years amazon half the stuff was in Poundland. I paid £20 after Xmas for mine and it was meh, People who'd paid £50 we're leaving bad reviews and I don't blame them.

The M and S one I bought last year, first calendar I've bought and I was tempted to buy again because I did like opening something everyday but I still have some of the stuff from last years unused, and some of this years seem to be repeats or from brands that gave me a bad reaction, there was a lip balm in last years that blistered my lips quite badly.

We're also trying to reduce the general amount of waste we produce but esp plastics and beauty calendars seem to be full of plastic. It also worked out expensive considering I don't shop in m and s so would be buying stuff just to qualify for the lower price which makes it quite pricey.

I treat myself to the conspiracy palette instead of a calendar.

I worked very hard not to get on this year. I have Libertys or Harrods for last 4 years as a gift from my sister. And I think the surprise and the loveliness has gone. Just seems pure materialism and gives me a nasty feeling inside. I think I have just had enough, but it has been lovely while it lasted

I've had four so far this year (ordered the NYX 24 day one and the Sleek one the other day but haven't got them yet. They look interesting though!)

Boots Harry Potter one, mostly bath/body stuff, some surprisingly pretty nail polishes and some colour changing lipsticks which I'm a bit meh about, and an eyeshadow brush that you could possibly use as a weapon as it's made from metal, and which is really pretty. Four tubes of hand cream is a bit much even for me but everything smells really nice!

Revolution one, third year of getting it and I haven't enjoyed it as much as the past two years. They've moved away from it being mostly highlighters and lipsticks (and the two lipsticks in it are really dull colours) and added more eye/brow products. I know I'm going to enjoy the eyeshadow palette and I love the two baked highlighters I got, I'm just a bit 'meh' about it this year, also the same four mini brushes I get every year!

NYX 12 day one. All lip products, mostly nude shades. Some formulas I haven't tried yet so I'm going to enjoy seeing what they're like (butter gloss, etc.) Love the bright pink suede matte lipstick I got. Two things I had already so gave them to a friend of mine.

Profusion 25 days to sleigh, a mixed bag. Two eyeshadow palettes with really pretty colours, two blush/highlight duos, lots of mini lip products. Lots of more boring things as well and some rather scratchy tweezers. Their brushes are full size though and quite hefty. (Can't really complain as got this for free, I got two of the HP ones and sent the other one to my friend, so utilised the 3 for 2 offer from Boots.)

Meh. I was a bit late and broke when buying for my DD this year and after advice here got the NYX one for her.
Spoilers...

Lots of really bright lipsticks that she simply won’t use as she has piercings so doesn’t wear lipstick. Glitter. Just glitter! Mostly full sized things as far as I can tell. We aren’t sure what the glitter is for. I know she is disappointed but she’s being kind.
I didn’t get myself one as I’m still using the ton of L’Occitane goodies from last year.

However, I did get my old mum a cheese one for fun and she is over the moon thrilled with it! Apparently she has never, ever had an advent calendar before 💔 I had no idea, so this can be a new thing for us.

I didn’t even know these things existed until this year!

I got the birchbox one this year. I love it.

DH got me the Body Shop bath and body one. I’ve had various skincare/make-up ones before.

Loved the first one I ever had for the novelty/value, but then the fact that sometimes the products weren’t suitable for my skin/came in colours that didn’t suit me bugged me a lot.

The bath body stuff one got round that. But there’s a lot of repetition- hand cream or body lotion etc. I loved the first 12 days but second half has been a bit flat.

Won’t bother next year.

@PlatinumBrunette did you mention the no lipstick when asking for a rec?

@Writersblock2 I did, and NYX was suggested. Ultimately it came down to cost, and what was in stock (Not much at that stage!)
It’s not the end of the world - perhaps she will remove her face ironmongery and use lipstick in the new year! That would be nice 😊

Oh that’s a shame! Maybe someone in the swap thread will be interested in swapping.
Or buy her a lip brush so she can still use them with the piercing.