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Original poster

General beauty advent calendar discussion and swap thread

991 replies

AprilLady · 29/11/2020 15:10

Like many others, I’m looking forward to starting my Beauty Advent Calendars on Tuesday. With no M&S calendar or thread this year, I thought it might be fun to have a general beauty advent calendar discussion and swap thread. I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts about the calendar they are opening, whatever it is.

I suggest though we comment only on content from current or previous days, so as not to spoil the surprise for those opening one day at a time.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
163
CupboardMonster · 04/12/2020 08:58

Great product in the NaP, I'm keen to try Pai.
I've opened the F&M chantecaille cream, very light but hydrating and a tiny bit goes a long way. Lovely product.

OchonAgusOchonO · 04/12/2020 08:58

[quote bigdecisionstomake]@OchonAgusOchonO I had the Barbara Sturm calming serum in a Cult Beauty Skincare Edit box earlier this year and it's really lovely. Perfect to put on after an acid toner to calm the skin down.

JL a bit underwhelming today - a tiny 7ml primer. It is bare minerals though, a brand I haven't used much so good to try something new.[/quote]
Good to know about the serum.

I use bare minerals a lot. The primer is fantastic. I just ordered a new one this week, despite having some unopened other brand ones from last years advent calendars.

Bumbl · 04/12/2020 09:00

Clinique moisture surge moisturiser in today's ASOS calendar, which I'm pleased with

Retailqueenie · 04/12/2020 09:01

ASOS is a jar of Clinique moisture surge. Feels lovely on skin, it’s a gel so very light.. would never buy this so happy to try it..

General beauty advent calendar discussion and swap thread
OchonAgusOchonO · 04/12/2020 09:01

[quote bigdecisionstomake]@OchonAgusOchonO Nivea gentle eye make up remover is my go to. Not expensive and works well without any irritation. Don't need to rub with it which I like.[/quote]
Thank you. I'll try that.

I use the Nivea soft moisturiser when I run out of the expensive calendar/box ones and I find it great.

I think Nivea is an underrated brand. It took me a while to get over the notion that it is an old lady brand. Mind you, I am 55 so maybe old lady brands are appropriateGrin

OchonAgusOchonO · 04/12/2020 09:01

@Retailqueenie

ASOS is a jar of Clinique moisture surge. Feels lovely on skin, it’s a gel so very light.. would never buy this so happy to try it..
I've have that before and it's lovely.
Retailqueenie · 04/12/2020 09:02

Ha! Duplicate post Bumbl! Very happy with ASOS so far..

HuggedTheRedwoods · 04/12/2020 09:02

@OchonAgusOchonO - I use Superdrug Simply Pure eye make-up remover, gentle but does the job. Not expensive and cruelty free.

Todays H&B Ayumi body wash smells lovely with a 25% off voucher too.

Original poster
AprilLady · 04/12/2020 09:03

@OchonAgusOchonO, I use eye make-up most days, makes it more bearable to look at myself on video calls Smile. What I really like about the face balm cleansers is that they can be used on the eyes and are usually reasonably effective, so I always have one in the go. Currently using the Elemis cleansing balm, which works beautifully.

OP posts:
Retailqueenie · 04/12/2020 09:03

OchonAgusOchonO It has got a gorgeous texture 👍🏻

Bumbl · 04/12/2020 09:05

Ah we all rushed to post at once!! Grin

Yes I'm really happy with ASOS too so far! Although I am quite obsessive with checking the contents of every calendar before I buy, so I do (roughly) know what's coming. Depends on how good my memory is though!

NorskSkogkatt · 04/12/2020 09:10

I also highly recommend the Lumene - (DH bought it for me solely as he saw it advertised with a Moomin lipbalm. I love Moomins - so much I have moomin tattoos Grin)

The balm and cream though, and of course the lip balm, have been great. I don't wear a lot of make up (always wear tinted lip balm which is a good coincidence!) but the mascara seems very good, no clumping. I think I've had Lumene products before in Birchboxes and they are great for my skin, but it's 40s skin which is very pale and very thin. I'm really enjoying it so far. Highly recommend Smile

Also very much enjoying seeing what everyone else is getting!

NorskSkogkatt · 04/12/2020 09:12

I am having a very Nordic morning with my advent calendar and my cat Grin

OchonAgusOchonO · 04/12/2020 09:17

[quote HuggedTheRedwoods]@OchonAgusOchonO - I use Superdrug Simply Pure eye make-up remover, gentle but does the job. Not expensive and cruelty free.

Todays H&B Ayumi body wash smells lovely with a 25% off voucher too.[/quote]
No superdrug anywhere near me unfortunately and their online stuff comes from the uk so that's a bit of a no-no at the moment, with the uncertainly over tariffs etc. I'll keep it on my list though for whenever I'm in Dublin next.

My dd is really enjoying the H&B one too. She had it last year as well. I would definitely have gone for it myself if I hadn't bought it for her. It's very reasonably priced for what you get.

OchonAgusOchonO · 04/12/2020 09:21

[quote AprilLady]@OchonAgusOchonO, I use eye make-up most days, makes it more bearable to look at myself on video calls Smile. What I really like about the face balm cleansers is that they can be used on the eyes and are usually reasonably effective, so I always have one in the go. Currently using the Elemis cleansing balm, which works beautifully.[/quote]
That's good to know. I've never used a cleansing balm before and now I have two elemis ones - one from QVC and one from CEW.

I use eye make-up most days, makes it more bearable to look at myself on video calls

I only have one video call a week and I just haven't bothered. I have 2 screens on the go, so I'm usually looking at the screen without people as we are generally sharing documents.

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 04/12/2020 09:24

I use the Nivea soft moisturiser when I run out of the expensive calendar/box ones and I find it great.

Nivea Soft is amazing. It's my usual night cream - never found anything better. I have quite sensitive skin too so I'm actually amazed I can use something advertised for hands, body and face on my face and not have any kind of reaction!

I love the shower gel in H&B today and the Degustabox offering is a packet of Vietnamese salted cashews. DS was less impressed with these than he has been with the sweet treats, but I'm looking forward to trying them with a G&T later.

ajandjjmum · 04/12/2020 09:29

I always use the Clarins gentle eye make-up remove - blue bottle.

Got me thinking - I don't think Clarins provide product for any of the advent calendars do they, except their own?

OchonAgusOchonO · 04/12/2020 09:29

@NorskSkogkatt

I also highly recommend the Lumene - (DH bought it for me solely as he saw it advertised with a Moomin lipbalm. I love Moomins - so much I have moomin tattoos Grin)

The balm and cream though, and of course the lip balm, have been great. I don't wear a lot of make up (always wear tinted lip balm which is a good coincidence!) but the mascara seems very good, no clumping. I think I've had Lumene products before in Birchboxes and they are great for my skin, but it's 40s skin which is very pale and very thin. I'm really enjoying it so far. Highly recommend Smile

Also very much enjoying seeing what everyone else is getting!

I had to google Moomin after it was mentioned it yesterday as I'd never heard of it. The books look fantastic. How did I miss those when my kids were young? I wonder would my baby (who is almost 18) like one for christmas? Mind you, I did give ds22 a Dr. Seuss book when he graduated from university this year so I do have form.
OchonAgusOchonO · 04/12/2020 09:32

Those cashews sound gorgeous @IToldYouIWasFreaky. Perfect with a G&T. I'm doing 2 weeks of no crap/drink to make space for christmas so I can only enjoy vicariously.

OchonAgusOchonO · 04/12/2020 09:32

@ajandjjmum

I always use the Clarins gentle eye make-up remove - blue bottle.

Got me thinking - I don't think Clarins provide product for any of the advent calendars do they, except their own?

I'll add that to the list if cheap and cheerful from nivea doesn't suit meGrin
XmasLockdown · 04/12/2020 09:35

I like the H&B shower gel but bodyshop was a disappointment, two hair bands that I gave to dd.

Cocopogo · 04/12/2020 09:38

@PalacePaper not it’s only the salt and pepper one that’s a bit strange, the others have been delicious, the chocolate orange one was nice and the salted caramel. Not sure why the original one isn’t vegan anyway unless it’s just the cheese flavoured one that isn’t.

BuffaloMozzerella · 04/12/2020 09:44

Lovely to see people are more pleased with their goodies today.

I got a No7 mini nail varnish in Golden Sands colour and in the Rituals one some fragrance sticks in The Ritual of Jing. Has a lovely fresh smell.

General beauty advent calendar discussion and swap thread
bigdecisionstomake · 04/12/2020 09:59

@OchonAgusOchonO Good to know about the Bare Minerals primer. I'll give it a go next time I put make up on. I always think that's the beauty of these advent calendars, you get to try some new things. This thread also great for tips and advice about new products!

NorskSkogkatt · 04/12/2020 10:38

@OchonAgusOchonO How can you not have heard of the moomins?! I am also lamenting for you Wink if your baby 18 yr old likes Dr Seuss they will like the Moomins, I'm sure. There are also TV programmes/DVDs. My DC are around that age and like them (not to the point of getting them tattooed on them Grin)