Advent calendars 2019 and GWPs 2020 - looking back

[MiaN]

Few of us decided that it will be good to chat about last year advent calendars. Looking one year later - what do you think?

What advent did you have 2019?
Looking back - was it worth it?
Did you find any favourite products?
Any other thoughts

And just so we don't leave the GWP fans around - please feel free to tell us about GWPs you purchased last 12 months

I will start with Elle 2019
beautyadventcalendar.net/elle-advent-calendar-2019/
I puchased it fo 75gbp when it was on offer.

Things I tried or still have but didn't work for me

Bella Freud Make Up Bag - I still have that but really don't need it
Floral Street The Discovery Set RRP £24 – Used/tried them but really did not appeal to me
Murad Perfecting Day Cream SPF 30 RRP £50 – FULL SIZE it was too rich for me, I gave it to friend and I think she likes it
Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence Leave-In Conditioner RRP £11 (60ml) - it didn't work for my hear
Spacemasks Self-Heating Eye Mask RRP £3 – FULL SIZE - not a fan

Things I like but didn't love
Dr Sebagh Serum Repair RRP £69 – FULL SIZE HA serum
Natura Bisse Eye Cream RRP £12 (2ml)
111Skin Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask RRP £20
Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Eyebrow Pencil RRP £7

However out of pocket I wouldn't pay over 10 for HA, 2 for the 2ml eye cream sample and 5 for sheet mask. I have and still use the pencil so I am adding 7gbp for it - 24gbp value

Things I loved
Dermalogica PreCleanse Balm RRP £13 (15ml)
Bella Freud Fairytale of New York Candle RRP £20 (Mini)
Chantecaille The Anti-Pollution Finishing Essence RRP £14.90 (4ml)
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel RRP £12 (3 applications)
Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream RRP £18 (75ml)

13 + 10 (I wouldn't pay over 10 for such small candle) +7+ 12+9 (price I would pay for such quantity body cream)

Everything else I gave away or binned. Paid 75, I got value of 75. I felt the first year it was fantastic and used every single item, and as the years go the price goes up and the value in it for me goes down. I did not repurchase this year

There is a value of trying things even if you don't like them but in general I wasn't that impressed. I repurchase few of the products like DDG pads or dermalogica balm but they were not new to me so no new discoveries.

Thanks @MiaN. I’ll start with Fortnum and Mason 2019.

Packaging was lovely. I’ve seen a review complaining about a damaged box and damaged items, but mine was in mint condition (still is!).

Starting with the things that were used and okay:

• Cult51 Night Cream (20ml): Thicker than I usually like for a night cream
• Aurelia Miracle Balm and cloth (20ml): Nice, but nothing special
• Christian Breton Liftox Serum (full size and expensive) Didn’t do anything for me.
• Bramley Shampoo and Conditioner. Both fine
• 3Lab M Cream - also fine
• Lilou et Loic Amber Candle. Very little scent for some reason (especially when compared with the Diptyque Amber candle!)
• Patchology Eye Gels (5 pack). Quite nice to use, not sure they do much.

Things I liked but won’t repurchase:

• EFG Day Serum (5ml), EFG Serum (5ml). Expensive serum, do think it worked pretty well but not worth the price. [15ml retails for £110]

• Lucia Magnani’s Eye Cream. 15ml full size. £130 RRP. Loved this. Beautiful bottle, and a rich cream but absorbs really well. Wouldn’t pay over £100 for an eye cream though, however nice!
• Aromatherapy associates Perfect Partners. (Two 9ml bottles of bath/shower oil) Also really liked using this, but expensive for what it is so wouldn’t pay full price (£18)
• Penhaligons Halfeti Body Lotion and Body Wash. Also really enjoyed these. (c £20)
• Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Balm. Quite fun to use (£15)

Things I loved and will/have bought again:

• Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara. This is my favourite mascara. One of the few that doesn’t give me Panda eyes or clump. Quite subtle, but exactly what suits me. (c £15)
• Femmue Lumier Vital C Serum (10ml). Really loved this, and made my skin noticeably smoother an brighter. Sadly really expensive and hard to get hold of, but I’m on the look out for any deals. (c£25)
• Noble Isle body washes (2 75ml bottles) c£10
• Sol Janeiro Bum Bum cream (75ml). After trying this, now my favourite body cream. £18
• Olverum Bath Oil (60ml). Easily my favourite bath oil, and you need only a tiny amount per use, it lasts a long time so is worth the price (unlike the Aromatherapy ones). c£18

There is still an eyeshadow stick, serum, 15ml perfume and nail polish I have in my stash and may use and a small number of things (including the silk eye mask) I’m unlikely to use.

So overall 17/25 used and 10 really enjoyed, which is pretty good overall.

No black eyeliners, no pillow sprays. I also like that there are lots of drawers with things worth £15 to £30 pounds, rather than a small number of very expensive items and a number worth £10 or less.

Overall I easily used well over £195 of content, and what I liked or loved was worth more than that, so definitely worth while.

No wonder it sells so quick. I love chantecaille, may splurge on their mascara next time they have offer on

@MiaN, a sample size of the Chantecaille mascara was also included in the September Liberty GWP, if you got that?

By the way, did you see the Liberty GWP that was released on Friday worth over £800, of which £375 was the bag it came in? It sold out within hours, probably not surprisingly given the value. There was no way though I could justify spending another £250 on beauty products now, with the various things I’ve purchased over the last few months.

I had the M&S calendar. Missing it this year.

Really boring, but the Pure day cream was amazing and I’ve not stopped using it all year. Several jars later. My skin is much better.

I'll do my overview of the M&S calendar 2019.

Highlights for me:
Aveda damage remedy daily hair repair - I was new to this and am a convert now!
Eyeko lash alert mascara - I'm one of the few people who seem to like Eyeko, though I agree it crops up perhaps too often. This is a staple for me.
Nails inc. Weekend Millionaire polish - really nice shade and not the obvious red
Philip Kingsley volumising shampoo
Emma Hardie purifying pink clay detox mask
Stila caramello lip stay all day - swapped to get this shade, I like Stila but had got red originally
Murad Age Reform exfoliating cleanser
L'occitane hand cream mini

Ok items:
Shay & Blue white peaches perfume - liked some of their other scents better
Skyn mint lip balm - fine for me, I remember some posters found it burned
This works sleep together calming spray

Not too bothered by:
Formula lip and eye cream
Formula ultimate sleep cream
Autograph radiant primer - really like the hydrating one in the blue tube; this wasn't as good

Didn't try or still have waiting:
Alpha H Balancing Cleanser with Damask Rose - like the look of but have loads of cleansers and gained more during the year. Must try it!
Ren revitalising night cream
Nuxe multi gel correction cream
Filorga supreme multi correction cream
Coconut body butter
M&S Pure super hydrate day cream

Didn't like or never use:
Autograph black eyeliner
Percy and Reed wonder balm for hair - tried it but it didn't work on my hair
Autograph double end eyeshadow brush - don't like double end brushes!

I really must try the untested things. Too many, I know. But M&S was always a good all rounder for me. Hope they'll bring it back.

I had M&S but more than half of the items I gave to my mother in law
Percy and Reed wonder balm for hair - does not work for me either.

This is what I kept and used

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 30ml used & like
EYEKO Lash Alert Mascara 4ml used and liked
This Works Sleep Together Calming Spray 75ml using and I like
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 10ml used and I like

All used and enjoyed but don't plan to repurchase
Shay & Blue White Peaches Natural Spray Fragrance 10ml
M&S Coconut Body Butter 50ml
Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser with Damask Rose 30ml
Philip Kingsley Body Building Weightless Shampoo 60ml
PRAI Ageless Throat & Decolletage Night Crème 30ml

Did not work for me
AVEDA Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair 100ml - such shame as the cost of this was close to the advent!

M&S is great as at this point there is no pressure to like everything and it's very easy to get your value out of it. I generally don't like mini mascaras but the wand of eyeko is long enough to be comfrotable to use. I like the calming spray as well. My mother in law loved sharing the products so it was a win even the items I did not keep. I still have crystal nail file from previous years and makeup blender. There wasn't a big hit in the advent for me last year but I would have purchase if there was one.

I also purchased Selfridges for her last year when they released it for 70gbp. There is small fee to be added to this due to using parcel motel

The hits for me
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid 118ml FULL SIZE £28.00
Slip Scrunchies FULL SIZE £39.00
Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm £47.50 FULL SIZE 15ml
Sol de Janeiro Hand Cream 50ml FULL SIZE £15.00

I needed PCBHA and I was planning to buy it . I calculated the values for what I would pay for such item 28, 20gbp is how much I would pay for pack of scrunchies, 25, 15 = 88. I wouldn't pay 47.5 for eye cream and reduced the value to me accordingly.

Used and enjoyed
Coco & Eve Hair Mask 38ml
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Pre Shampoo 40ml
Rodial Pink Diamond Mask
Dr Jart Shake & Shot Hydro Mask 50g FULL SIZE £8.00
adding value of 15

Still to use
Frank Body Lip Balm 15ml FULL SIZE £6.95
adding 5

Repurposed as body cream
Eve Lom Brightening Cream 50ml FULL SIZE £75.00
adding 5

Tried and did not like
Dr Sebagh Rose de Vie Hydrating Mask 100ml FULL SIZE £74 -it's kind of ok, I just had nicer products
Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Mask 50ml
Omorovicza Daily Vit C Serum 30ml FULL SIZE £87 - I hated this
adding 12 as I would pay this for sample to try

I didn't keep
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Bacca 3ml
Pixi Glow Tonic To Go 60 pads FULL SIZE £20
Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence 50ml
Zoeva Contour Shade Brush FULL SIZE £10

I didn't buy this year. I paid about 72gbp including postage and I got 125 worth out of it. When I calculate value I think how much would I pay to get the product or a sample size if it did not work for me.

It was worth it for me last year but if buying bundle like this when already having a lot of cosmetics it's important to do the research and accept that some products will not be used. You don't want to end up using products you don't like to make your money worth

And my last from last year is Space Nk
Either used completely or still using and loving

Kevyn Aucoin Contour On The Go Duo - I would repurchase this, it is now HG product for me. It's fantastic and I didn't think I would like something like this
Chantecaille Bio-Lifting Cream 10ml
Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil 50ml
Olaplex no.3 100ml FULL SIZE
SLIP Silk Scrunchies Pack of 3
Jo Loves Pomelo Paintbrush Gel 18ml
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream 10ml
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum 5ml
Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial 5ml

Used or using and like

Eve Lom Cleansing Balm & Cloth TRAVEL SIZE
Christophe Robin Purifying Scrub 75ml
Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Cream 25ml
Malin & Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant 28g
Lipstick Queen Lipstick Nude The Truth 3.5g
Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath & Shower Oil 9ml
111SKIN Rose Gold Sheet Mask

I gifted as I already have
By Terry Mini Baume de Rose Lip Care

I am glad I tried, I was interested in the product but didn't work for me
IGK First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo 90ml
Fresh Deep Hydration Rose Toner

Repurposed on elbows/knees as both are too strong for my face
Sunday Riley Good Genes 15ml
Kate Somerville’s ExfoliKate 60ml

Not a fan
Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara TRAVEL SIZE - I don't like mini mascaras, vey hard to apply
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder & Powder Puff 9.3g - I have powders I like more
Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow - it did nothing for me

It also came with Christmas Crackers and some of the things I used and loved

£25Space NK Gift Voucher
Dr LippOriginal Nipple Balm 4ml
Dr Dennis GrossAlpha Beta Exfoliating Moisturiser 15ml
DiptyqueLys Candle 35g
Living ProofRestore Mask Treatment 28g
OSKIAPerfect Cleanser 35ml
Kate SomervilleWrinkle Warrior 2-in-1 Plumping Moisturiser & Serum 15ml
Sol de JaneiroBrazilian Bum Bum Cream 25ml
VirtueRestorative Treatment Mask 15ml
VersoHydration Serum with Niacinamide 10ml

and few used and like
Institut EsthedermBronz Repair 5ml
OribeSerene Scalp Leave-on Treatment 5ml
Malin + GoetzRum Body Wash 30ml
Malin + GoetzRum Body Lotion 30ml

I am not posting all but it was without a doubt a great hit fo me. I loved the advent, I used 20gbp worth of points and got 25gbp as gift card and that made the advent 150 gbp. I am glad I didn't wait for chacker this year as I am loving their 2020 too and I suspect I will be buying it again next year!

The M&S one is interesting. As @MiaN says, at its price you only need to like a few items for it to be worthwhile. I loved the Aveda damage repair, and the Wonderbalm is also fine for me, so happy with both of these. Also really liked the hand cream, and the eyeshadow brush which I still use regularly. Haven’t tried the Pure cream, but following @DobbyTheHouseElk’s post, I’ll give it a go.

I hadn’t originally planned to, but also ended up getting the 2019 Space NK calendar when the cracker offer was on, as the calendar plus GWP plus £25 voucher was such a good deal. I then put it away, and only opened it in September this year when I started seeing info about the 2020 advents. I agree it was really good though. Bearing in mind I only opened it 3 months ago, I have already used up 9 products, have 4 on the go and a number I’m still looking forward to trying. Hair products were again winners, especially the Olaplex No 3 which I have already repurchased. I found the Sarah Chapman overnight facial very oily, but liked how soft my skin was in the morning, so very mixed feelings on that one. Didn’t like the Chantecaille Bio-Lifting cream as much as the Rose de Mai. The ExfoliKate mask doesn’t just tingle, it really hurts! I’ve tried to use it a few times to see if it gets better, but so far it hasn’t. The Kevyn Aucoin contour duo is unopened so far, but perhaps I should try it.

Exfolikate - give your knees and elbows royal treatment! It's way too harsh for face but knees and elbows can handle and benefit of good exfoliation.

@AprilLady

The pure cream is really good. I love the scent. It’s a thick consistency but glides on and I put make up over the top without issue. I’ve been using it non stop since the calendar and now use the night cream too.

It’s £16 for a 50ml pot. It’s not expensive but IMO it’s fantastic.