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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:
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Snowplop · 14/12/2020 09:32

I thought I'd also share my Liberty calendar. No beauty products but it is very beautiful.

General beauty advent calendar discussion and swap thread
CupboardMonster · 14/12/2020 09:33

Please report back @Talisin , I have the same hair type and always hopeful for a volume boosting swishy miracle result.

OchonAgusOchonO · 14/12/2020 09:35

@Snowplop

I thought I'd also share my Liberty calendar. No beauty products but it is very beautiful.
It is very beautiful.
IToldYouIWasFreaky · 14/12/2020 10:01

@Snowplop

I thought I'd also share my Liberty calendar. No beauty products but it is very beautiful.
Ah, that's lovely!

I do miss the days of a proper picture advent. I remember being properly excited as a child, opening the door each day and seeing what picture was inside. I'm fairly sure that I even had to share it with my brother and sister but I still loved it. Simpler times in the early 1980s!

FlyingByTheSeatof · 14/12/2020 10:42

A lovely marine day cream by Elemis from John Lewis today which I'm excited to try. And a night cream from Boots which I'm also looking forward to trying.

I love a nude lipstick but I think that's too brown even for me.

General beauty advent calendar discussion and swap thread
BookShark · 14/12/2020 11:05

I'm quite pleased with the Omorovicza mask from today, but also a bit nervous about using it. I'm currently using one of their moisturisers and while it smells lovely, it can be a bit tingly. Given that the reviews for the mask say things like "don't use it before an event as it brings impurities to the surface", I think this might be one to save until after Christmas when I'm less likely to see people, just in case my skin objects to it!

secretlyhappy · 14/12/2020 11:47

H&B was a face oil. I haven't tried oils before so I will give this a go. Bodyshop was a strawberry shower gel which I am sure I will use.

FlyingByTheSeatof · 14/12/2020 12:44

@secretlyhappy the trick with oils is less is best or less is more.

So 3-4 drops of oil in the palm of your hand then rub your palms together to then rub / pat gently over face and it should sink in nicely. If it doesn't sink in you've used to much or it's just not a nice oil. Then after a while apply a moisturiser to sort of seal it in

OchonAgusOchonO · 14/12/2020 12:47

[quote FlyingByTheSeatof]@secretlyhappy the trick with oils is less is best or less is more.

So 3-4 drops of oil in the palm of your hand then rub your palms together to then rub / pat gently over face and it should sink in nicely. If it doesn't sink in you've used to much or it's just not a nice oil. Then after a while apply a moisturiser to sort of seal it in[/quote]
I usually do oil after cream. Am I doing it wrong or is it a matter of preference?

FlyingByTheSeatof · 14/12/2020 12:48

and you can always add a drop or 2 of oil to your moisturiser if you feel a bit dehydrated esp in winter with central heating. I do this a lot.

FlyingByTheSeatof · 14/12/2020 12:51

@OchonAgusOchonO Oil tends to go after serum but before moisturiser. But you know do what you feel works for you.

For instance currently I cleanse then use an acid toner then apply eye cream then retinol then HA mixed with oil then moisturiser

GaryTheDemon · 14/12/2020 12:53

Interesting that the Amazon eyeshadows were rather hodgepodge of colours depending which advent calendar you’ve got but that this lipstick seems to be the same for everyone! In that case I may as well break it open and see what it looks like on me (fully expecting to look like an extra from the walking dead) as clearly no one is going to want this as a swap!!

OchonAgusOchonO · 14/12/2020 13:02

[quote FlyingByTheSeatof]@OchonAgusOchonO Oil tends to go after serum but before moisturiser. But you know do what you feel works for you.

For instance currently I cleanse then use an acid toner then apply eye cream then retinol then HA mixed with oil then moisturiser [/quote]
I'll give that a go then. I just assumed oil would go over water based products.

I'm a bit of novice at all this. I only started using moisturiser in my late 40's Grin

Original poster
AprilLady · 14/12/2020 13:15

@OchonAgusOchonO, I’ve only recently tried to add facial oil to my routine. Some Googling suggests you are doing it right, and that oil should come after moisturiser. The theory is that oil is heavier than moisturiser, so will still penetrate skin that already has moisturiser on, but that the reverse isn’t true.

OP posts:
FlyingByTheSeatof · 14/12/2020 13:19

If your skin feels dehydrated then it's perfectly normal throughout the day to layer oil, moisturiser, oil then moisturiser as and how your skin feels.
So this morning for instance I cleansed with bioderma used ren aha toner, applied the lumene vit C from JL AC followed by a Nuxe moisturiser from last years M&S AC. If I feel dehydrated then I might apply an oil later.
I've always worn foundation with an spf in so have Unknowingly been helping prevent lines for years. If I did on the rare occasion wear a moisturiser it had spf in. Now I'm much better clued up about skin care and my skin does really good. It's sensitive, temperamental, prone to redness and spots so I've been on a long journey product wise.
Hence my love of beauty AC to try out new and different products. Evens ones I'd written off can be brilliant now I'm taking care of my skin properly

FlyingByTheSeatof · 14/12/2020 13:23

@OchonAgusOchonO I've only embraced skincare seriously in my late 40's too.
And I've been quick shocked and pleasantly surprised at how amazing skin care products can be for me and my skin.

FlyingByTheSeatof · 14/12/2020 13:24

Bloody autocorrect Hmm

MiaN · 14/12/2020 14:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MiaN · 14/12/2020 14:06

Sorry, my comment is wrong, I meant to quote @AprilLady. Oil is last is what I have heard/read when I looked into it.

FlyingByTheSeatof · 14/12/2020 14:29

Well I've always applied oil before moisturiser as per the skin care specialists I've followed over the years so I'll continue to do so.

MiaN · 14/12/2020 14:53

sure, why change if it works for you.

OchonAgusOchonO · 14/12/2020 14:59

I can always try one method on one half of my face, and the other on the other half and see which looks better Grin

Original poster
AprilLady · 14/12/2020 15:08

@OchonAgusOchonO please do and report back Grin You’ll be doing an important service to mankind by solving what is obviously an unresolved question, even among the so-called beauty experts!

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonO · 14/12/2020 15:11

Presumably I need to do about 6 months worth so I'll see you all back her for the big reveal in June and report the stunning news......

Drum roll.....

It makes no difference.

Bumbl · 14/12/2020 15:14

Today's ASOS items were two little Sunday Riley serums - a Vitamin C serum and a glycolic acid treatment. (5ml each)

Absolutely no idea how to use these so will have to Google!