General beauty advent calendar discussion thread 2

[AprilLady]

New thread to continue discussion of any and all beauty advent calendars. As before please don’t post details of content before 7am on the relevant morning.

Only 3 days left to go . But we can continue to discuss products used, and those doing Jadvent please continue posting updates.

H&B was a face vinegar. I am not so sure about it. The bodyshop was a coconut shower gel.

We got the AB cream last week in the Liberty calendar but it's over £200 to buy full size so you might have to up your best face cream price limit . I really like it as a night cream but probably can't justify the spendy price tag.

@OchonAgusOchonO, useful tip about the tea, thanks. I think the difference between the F&M and Lumene moisturisers is that each is an interesting high end product and they are all quite different. Also, they’re all products I’m very happy to try. It just made the calendar a bit unbalanced this year. I checked, and last year there was one day cream, one night cream, four serums plus 2 eye products. This year instead we had the the 7 creams and only 1 serum.

@XmasLockdown, not sure I want a “face vinegar”

@Orcadianrythyms, I probably should have said £100 or more; my favourite so far is the Chantecaille cream which sadly retails for £180 full size.

I’ve tried the face vinegar before and despite the weird name and smell I like it

Here’s the pallet, it’s by sleek make up @OchonAgusOchonO ☺️

@GaryTheDemon - that looks lovely. Dd introduced me to sleek and I've really liked any of it that I've tried.

I’ve liked Fenwicks a lot but I have to say that for the last gift in the calendar, I was expecting something with a little wow factor. I didn’t get it. Gua Sha stone

On the definite good side - absolutely no black eyeliner to be seen in this calendar

Today from F&M is a Bamford Pillow Spray. It has a really pleasant smell, less overpowering than some of the This Works products. DH actually doesn’t hate it for once, so’ll get to use it.

N-a-P is 25ml of body cream, which apparently retails even at this size for £50 I’ll probably use as a hand cream as it won’t last long otherwise.

Only one more day to go

I’ve got the Elemis calendar and have really liked it. I only wanted skincare and there’s just been one thing I’m not keen on. I won’t get it next year though as I guess it would be same again. Like the sound of the Fortnums one. I’ve enjoyed having loads more treatments/masks etc than I would ever buy and the sizes have been good.

@Talisin, no black eyeliners for me either, but I do finally have a pillow mist.

I think this year’s equivalent of the black eyeliner has been lip plumping products. Almost all the luxe calendars have had one. At best they do nothing, and at worst they can really irritate the lips. I’ve now tried the N-a-P one a few times, it goes on nicely and looks like a normal lip gloss, but then starts to tingle unpleasantly and stays tingly for a while.

Today's offering from JL is Sunday Riley Luna sleeping night oil - 15ml which retails for £45 so good one.

The oil is blue and has a peculiar smell but if my lines and wrinkles disappear overnight I'll put up with it

I've been very happy with my advent calendar, only regifted 2 products, the black eyeliner being one. Yesterday's blusher is a great colour for me but prefer a bronzer so jury's still out what I do with that.

In the end I used the CT eye pencil with a bronze eyeliner & liked the result so glad I gave it a go.

Looking forward to the last drawer tomorrow - hope it's a good one!

@AprilLady @Talisin

Congratulations on the lack of black eyeliner Obviously top end is the way to go.

From CEW (or rather a top up from the QVC Elemis offer), hand and nail balm. Always useful. Lumene is an illuminiser. I've never used a liquid one but I'll give it a go. I use powder foundation so I guess I could put it on underneath or else just use it with a tinted moisturiser.

Tea is rooibos cacao chain. I've had this before and it's lovely.

I like the F&M pillow mist but then I'm in the minority of being happy to see them appear. One more day for F&M, I've been delighted with it.

Last day of degustabox and it is two lovely meringue bars, you'll see one packet it flat, I ate it in bed

@CupboardMonster Like your style, meringue in bed is an excellent start to the day! Your Degustabox has been a triumph.

Emma hardy cleansing balm here which I love, so a win, and a money off voucher!

Emma hardy cleansing balm here which I love, so a win, and a money off voucher

Ooh, that's gorgeous stuff! Lucky you!

We haven't tried the merengue bars yet but they look lush. The Degustabox just keeps on giving! I have dismantled it to make space and the inside is a fab cardboard tray with sections, just begging to be re-used for....something! Not sure what yet but I'll find a use.

ASOS today was a MAC lipstick in Marrakesh, it's a dark red but it's really nice. I usually stay away from reds as it doesn't suit my skin tone but this seems more of a muted colour.

The Fortnums calendar has been a joy. There hasn't been one product I don't like. It looked gorgeous and the products were sublime. I don't want it to end.😭

@Talisin

I’ve liked Fenwicks a lot but I have to say that for the last gift in the calendar, I was expecting something with a little wow factor. I didn’t get it. Gua Sha stone

On the definite good side - absolutely no black eyeliner to be seen in this calendar

I had the same reaction! What am I supposed to do with a quartz stone?!

Oh well, it was otherwise a pretty decent calendar. Merry Christmas!

You've inspired me @IToldYouIWasFreaky I'm going to repurpose them as sock drawer organisers. You never know it might be the turning point of me being more Kondo than chaos!

Last one on rituals was an innocuous perfume.

But I got a lovely glass mug in my Nespresso

I recycled my rituals by donating the lights to ds. Then stomped all over the little houses

We got a perfume in the Arran one. Quite pleasant, nothing to shout about.

Pleased with the mousse (or "mouse" as the door description had it!) in H&B.

My Grazia one arrived! Wasn't expecting it to come before Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Final day gifts: a lovely make up bag from F&M and from N-a-P a full size Barbara Sturm HA with a retail price of over £200 . I do use HA regularly, so will be curious to see if this really is any different to my usual more affordable brand.

Hope you all have a good day planned, and that even if (like me) you are in tier 4 you manage to have a special family day.