General beauty advent calendar discussion and swap thread

[AprilLady]

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.

I like the small sizes in advent calendars, I'd rather have a cheaper calendar with small sizes than a really expensive one with full sizes. I like the fun of trying new things that may turn out to be amazing.

That's why I bought the Boots No 7 AC @Ponks as it was cheaper due to smaller sizes I guess so it came as a delightful surprise today when I got my whopping great full size hydration mask.

I wanted to try out the No 7 protect and perfect advanced range which is in it. I've applied the protect and perfect intense advanced serum tonight actually so we'll see if my skin looks fabulous tomorrow

Today's offering from N-a-P is a vitamin C booster from 111 Skin - small, but actually full size, so hopefully a case of a little goes a long way. Looking forward to trying it.

Anyone else with N-a-P, does the "secret ingredients" bit inside the door tell you how to use the products? I don't want to look now in case it's a list of what's in there and I spoil the surprise, so hoping someone else has already done it! Otherwise I'll just stick to Google...

Skinstore
Christophe Robin Perfect Hair Duo - DeluxeSize(Worth$23)
Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt & Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil

I am happy to try this, I have used/purchased the sea side scrub few times and happy to try the mask. Really happy with the skinstore advent

ASOS is Living Proof perfect hair day - love this stuff!

Today is the day of the black eyeliners.

A very unusual one from CEW with a stamp to do a wing. The lumene one is a normal one.

I'll give the waterline a go with them.

Another really good day. Very keen to try the N-a-P which is a high end full size Vit C serum. And F&M is 2 9ml Aromatherapy Oils in cute packaging. Will enjoy using these.

I attempted to do the waterline with a (dark brown) eyeliner today. Not entirely successful. My eyes look nothing like @QueenPaws.

@Ponks, I agree that part of the point of the calendars is to try things, so deluxe/travel size items are good. Also for some things eg. Bath and body products, the bigger the better really. But what I don’t like is tiny samples. For example, a serum that last 3 days when you need to use it consistently for 1 to 2 weeks before you could judge whether it worked.

Tiny little By Terry Lip balm in John Lewis today - I think this was in another calendar somewhere upthread. Smells and feels divine and is perfect handbag size but the smallness of the pot makes it a little frustrating to use.

Oooh @OchonAgusOchonO I'm really interested to see what the "stamp" eyeliner is like!

The Lumene eyeliner is alright it's only three hours later seems to be good so far. I've not worn eyeliner for yonks (as I spent years wearing it Amy Winehouse style and then stopped when everyone else started ) But it hasn't run down my face Alice Coooper style yet which is a plus. I only have a very thin line on though - also envious in awe of your neat eye make up Queen, I simply can't put anything near my waterline!

"Simply can't put anything"
Why does that sound so tinkly little laugh when I read it back

@NorskSkogkatt

Oooh *@OchonAgusOchonO* I'm really interested to see what the "stamp" eyeliner is like!

The Lumene eyeliner is alright it's only three hours later seems to be good so far. I've not worn eyeliner for yonks (as I spent years wearing it Amy Winehouse style and then stopped when everyone else started ) But it hasn't run down my face Alice Coooper style yet which is a plus. I only have a very thin line on though - also envious in awe of your neat eye make up Queen, I simply can't put anything near my waterline!

I'm debating whether to put the stamp one in dd's stocking. At 20, she's much more likely to wear flicky eyeliner than I am. Mind you, at 20, her hands are much steadier and her eyesight much better than mine so she is in less need of additional aids.

That's a good haul @AprilLady. What scents are the oils?

You're exactly right about the samples. Travel or deluxe sample size is fine as you get a feel for it but sample sample size is useless.

Kiehls Body Oil in Fenwicks today. The accompanying card invites me to ‘Gleam from top to toe’ which is somewhat off-putting...

The By Terry lipbalm was in Fenwicks a few days back @bigdecisionstomake

@Talisin

Kiehls Body Oil in Fenwicks today. The accompanying card invites me to ‘Gleam from top to toe’ which is somewhat off-putting...

The By Terry lipbalm was in Fenwicks a few days back @bigdecisionstomake

That does sound a bit off-putting alright. I'm not sure "gleam" is a look I'd be going for.

I tried the flick eyeliner on my hand. It's pretty cool but is way thicker than I would ever wear (too old and too pale).

I'll either do a swap with dd (she has H&B which has lots of nice bits) or be extra nice and put it in her stocking.

Nespresso was a double espresso.
Rituals: Karma 100ml body lotion. No minis here

I'm getting so jealous of the Rituals stuff! Definitely top of my list for next year.

Hydrabadi Curry Paste in Degustabox today. It looks lush! I'm pleased to be moving away from the snacky items too. DS is less thrilled but he does enjoy a curry so I'm sure he'll love it once it's made.

@OchonAgusOchonO it’s distress muscle, and revive morning oils.

Looking at that eyeliner, I think mine from the CEW box is definitely going to DD(17).

@AprilLady - they sound lovely. One to burn and one for massage.

How did you order the degusta box @IToldYouIWasFreaky? I looked on the website but it just kept trying to sign me up to a subscription - I think another subscription might just send my husband over the edge Lockdown brings me books, beauty, fish already.

Diptyque has now offered me two set of Christmas tree ornaments. They are pretty but have to be bent into shape by me (and I have a very poor track record on bending things without snapping them) and also are NOT what I got a calendar for! More candles and scent please.

@Orcadianrythyms I saw it advertised and followed a link basically! I did have a lapsed subscription from years ago so when I ordered it I had to log into my account but now I've looked back at the site, I can only see evidence of my old subscription and not of the advent calendar order...if that makes sense?!
I am sure when I subscribed years ago, it was one of those "first box free" type deals so maybe keep an eye out for those?

I ordered the box from here: lp.degustabox.com/uk-advent-calendar-2020/

@bigdecisionstomake it's tiny isnt it the By Terry lip care. It's a very thick consistency and so I think it will last a while actually. I didn't think I'd like the smell of roses on my lips at all but I dont mind the smell and love the balm itself. My lips can get really dry sometimes esp if Ive been wearing a long lasting lipstick so I'll save it for those moments when nothing seems to help.

In my Boots No 7 AC I got a voucher for one of their blushers so I or DD can go in and choose a colour that suits.

@FlyingByTheSeatof I can usually take or leave rose scent but I really like this one. I've already managed to take a chunk out of mine with a nail by accident though (I don't do dainty very well!) so not sure it will last too long for me!