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.

Me too Bumbl -all the other days are just a bonus!! 🤣

Duff day on Rituals today. A scrub glove.

F&M today is a Sol de Janeiro hand cream. Smells very similar to their other products, and feels good on. Happy with this.

N-a-P is another hair product, a Philip B thermal protection spray. I use straighteners often, so should get some use out of this. I remember when I originally looked at the calendar it seemed to have more hair care than most, and I’m fine with that, although I suspect it may put some people off.

Very pleased with the F&M hand cream, not greasy but suitably moisturising.

Degustabox delivered a healthy looking treat, very nice.

An eye cream today from Amazon. I've just put some on - nice light texture.

I'm hoping for a lip colour of some sort - ideally a crayon or tint rather than a full on lipstick, a cleanser would be nice, maybe an eyeliner that isn't black and a mascara. 11 more days to go so let's see!

@CupboardMonsterbbIve tried a couple of those bars before, although not that particular one. They're delicious. I'm definitely going to try the Degustabox next year - is it massive?

ASOS today is a full size Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Creme! Super impressed, with yesterday’s Aveda and this today the £75 price has justified itself with those two products alone!

Blimey, John Lewis are selling today’s Elemis for £87!!

@Snowplop yes, it's huge. All cardboard so easily recyclable but big. The products are of generous sizes (whole packets of biscuits etc.).
We're really pleased with it, they give no hint of products when you order so relieved it's so good!

@Retailqueenie Wow, up to now the F&M advent calendar was my top pick for next year, now the ASOS one is giving it a run for its money. Love both of those products!

John Lewis is a NEOM sleep spray which is lovely but will be a spare as I have a bottle on the go already!

Today's offering from L'Occitane is a hair conditioner. Smells fab.

From CEW, an Omorovicza magic moisture mist. I love this brand. It smells delicious and is a good size (50ml) so should last.

Another little tub of moisturiser from Lumene. Is anyone else feeling it's a bit samey? I know they are different types of moisturisers but there are an awful lot of them.

Jasmine green tea, which I love.

So pleased with ASOS today too!

@Snowplop they're exactly the things I'd like from Amazon too, plus maybe a hair product. I quite liked the eye cream today but I'm finding it all very skin carey this year...preferred last year's so far as I'm a very basic kind of girl with skincare.

ASOS is the winner for me so far based on what everybody has had! Very jealous of the things ASOS openers have had 😁

Fenwicks gave me an twofer of anti ageing creme and eye/lip contour cream today from a brand I’d never heard of - Sisleya. Looked them up and it’s freakishly expensive so I actually hope it’s not great as I could never afford it

The accompanying card, summed up, basically says Christmas makes you old. Cheers, Fenwicks!

Ochoa, that's what I'm feeling with Lumene too.. the products are nice but there have been lots of moisturisers and it isn't that exciting. I like the brightening toner, mascara and hand cream though.

@Ponks - I was most pleased with those too. Plus the under eye concealer. The colour suits me.

It's just confirmed for me that I prefer mixed brand calendars with a variety of product categories. My preference is mainly skin and body care and a bit of make-up.

The rituals one does look very good for a single brand but I don't use shower gel so not really an option for me.

Another dinky candle from Rituals today. Only had a few shower gels so far.
Lovely Mexican coffee from Nespresso as well.

Happy to get an eye cream, hoping that means more skin cream is on the way!

Agree with @OchonAgusOchonO, I like a variety of brands & products in my advent calendar. Makeup can be hit & miss so do prefer more skincare I guess.

I'm very happy with the Neom pillow spray today (JL). I purchased a lot of Neom for gifts recently & regretted not popping in a pillow spray for me so very well timed.

A bit boring day for me. H&B some sort of headband and bodyshop exfoliating cloves.

@Retailqueenie

ASOS today is a full size Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Creme! Super impressed, with yesterday’s Aveda and this today the £75 price has justified itself with those two products alone!

That is my very favourite face cream ... so lucky!

the rituals look great I have to say!

Yes so an eye mask from Boots No 7 AC and Neom pillow spray from JL. I use the This Works pillow spray which actually really works for me and as this Neom one smells similar I'm sure it'll work too.

Again lots of lovely and interesting items today all round.

Complete derail from thread but The Shape of Water is on All 4 for the next 7 days if you haven't seen it yet

@FlyingByTheSeatof The Boots No 7 calendar seems to be full of really good, useful products (black eyeliner apart). I didn't consider it this year but have been really surprised by how good it is.