Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

General beauty advent calendar discussion thread 2

234 replies

AprilLady · 22/12/2020 09:51

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 Sad. But we can continue to discuss products used, and those doing Jadvent please continue posting updates.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
bigdecisionstomake · 25/12/2020 08:42

Shiseido Ultimate Eye in John Lewis. Not tried it before so very happy.

Merry Christmas to all!

OchonAgusOchonO · 25/12/2020 08:44

A great finish April. No 25th for me in CEW, Lumene or tea.

Happy Christmas all. It's been a great advent with you.

I was really happy with the CEW beauty edit and might do something like that again next year. Excellent value and only 2 things I won't use. The Lumene was fine but very samey so I don't think I will get it again.

ProfessorRadcliffeEmerson · 25/12/2020 08:53

Merry Christmas everyone! An Upcircle scrub made with grounds from artisan coffee shops (no slumming it with Costa) in H&B.

QueenPawPaws · 26/12/2020 01:56

@ProfessorRadcliffeEmerson if it's the one in the metal tube, I advise a tube squeezer thing
I had a tube and honestly the swearing it caused BlushGrin wet hands, metal stiff tube...
smelt nice though and worked

Original poster
AprilLady · 26/12/2020 08:00

Well no boxes to open today. In the end, I’ve really enjoyed both mine, and they ended up complimenting each other well. For example, no hair products in F&M, 6 in N-a-P. Lots of moisturiser in F&M and 1 serum, 1 face cream but more serums in N-a-P. Overall both were definitely worth what I spent on them, and I’ll use pretty much everything, except the Gua Sha stone and lip plumpers.

After a slow start, N-a-P was really good. I think all it would have taken to make good great was to improve the sizes of the first few items - 50ml rather than 15ml of shampoo, 3 rather than 1 scrunchie etc. I would happily have had a smaller Barbara Sturm HA instead.

Overall though I probably still preferred F&M, and it’s likely to be my first choice for next year.

Have thoroughly enjoyed this thread too, thanks all.

OP posts:
bigdecisionstomake · 26/12/2020 08:16

Thanks for the thread @AprilLady I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been lovely sharing calendars with everyone and I’ve picked up some great tips along the way about how to use some of the products.

Overall I was very happy in the end with John Lewis. For me, one less fragrance and no black eyeliner and a couple more skincare products would have made it just about perfect. The selection of brands was really good and I was happy with the sizes for most of them, enough to give them a good try where they were sample or travel sizes and a good number of full size, particularly towards the end.

ashmts · 26/12/2020 09:50

So now that advent calendars are done, we all have our Christmas presents and the sales are starting... What are everyone's top 3 products from their advent? Would you repurchase? Considering treating myself to some bits.

ProfessorRadcliffeEmerson · 26/12/2020 10:19

Love the Whamisa toner from my H&B calendar, and the Weleda bath milk - I'd definitely buy both those again. I also really love the BB cream (Dead Sea Spa Magik): smells lovely, feels nice on and evens out my skin tone without looking "done". I've used half the tube already. There was a lot in there that I haven't tried yet (face vinegar, a day cream and a night cream, and a few other things).

In general I was really happy with H&B. There were a couple of duds (whoever thought of the eco ear bud needs to give their head a wobble), but overall it was brilliant value, and there were some lovely things in there.

The Rituals one was also good: there was a lot that I haven't used yet, but the tulip and yuzu shower gel gets a special mention - I've finished it already. Gorgeous scent.

Less thrilled with Arran Aromatics, which DD has had - the products are all OK but no stand-outs.

OchonAgusOchonO · 26/12/2020 10:29

I reckon I won't need to buy any skincare for at least another year. Dh also bought me a L'Occitane moisturiser, serum and hand cream and dm bought me L'Occitane hand cream. Add that to the QVC Elemis offer, the CEW beauty edit, the Lumene calendar and the very, very late look fantastic calendar, and I have a ridiculous amount of stuff.

I tried the lumene face tint (I think that's what it's called) the other day and it's lovely natural coverage. It's a little pale for me so I topped up with a light cover of bronzer. I used the hourglass blusher on top and it looked completely natural and healthy. I think the Lumene tint in a slightly darker shade is the one thing I will buy in the next year.

Themarvellousmrsm · 26/12/2020 10:40

A little sad to not have an advent door to open today.

I'm very happy with the JL calendar, think only 1 hair product which suits me fine & several brands I'd either not heard of or used before. Totally didn't mind the several perfumes as will use all but could have done without the black eyeliner! There were 2 eye serums which seemed a tad unnecessary but again will get used.

Having read this thread, I've decided to stick with beauty calendars that feature different brands as some have been a bit samey even though the products themselves are lovely.

Hard pressed to narrow down the top 3 products but will go for:
Neom pillow spray
By Terry Lip Balm
Lumene vit c serum

However, special mention to the Nars lipstick which I didn't think I'd like but is actually a good colour nude for me.

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 26/12/2020 10:46

In general I was really happy with H&B. There were a couple of duds (whoever thought of the eco ear bud needs to give their head a wobble), but overall it was brilliant value, and there were some lovely things in there.

Hard agree! For me, the ear bud and the shower bomb thing were total duds.
I also loved the toner and the bath milk, and I will buy the body scrub version of the coffee face scrub at some point. I also have a few untried products stashed away to keep me going.
It's actually been lovely not to have any make up this year. I have so much from old calendars or beauty boxes which is unused or used once because the shade doesn't suit me or because I have tons already (back eyeliners obvs, but also highlighters, I seem to have a million of those!) So for future, I am definitely going to stick to skin/body care calendars.

chasingmytail4 · 26/12/2020 13:35

I've loved following this thread. I missed the M&S calendar and treated myself to L'Occitane this year, which was fine, but I definitely prefer a variety of brands. Your posts have helped me decide to get the John Lewis one next year, so let's hope they don't stop doing it! Happy Boxing Day all, see you next December.

Butterymuffin · 01/01/2021 13:51

Anyone opening a Jadvent calendar? If so, keep me company...

Also, the Caroline Hirons skin care book is 99p in today's Kindle book deals if anyone's interested.

DrRamsesEmerson · 01/01/2021 14:09

I am! Amazon Beauty here. Day 1 is Elemis apricot toner.

Talisin · 01/01/2021 15:30

Me! Sukin Rejuvenating Day Cream from the Holland & Barratt calendar day 1.

Original poster
AprilLady · 01/01/2021 16:08

I’m not doing a Jadvent. I have a lot of unused products now to get through over the next few months. Will be fun to read about all of your openings though.

I can also report further on my December calendar products that I have now tried. I have now started the Lucia Magnani moisturiser from the F&M calendar. It’s not nearly as rich as I was expecting - more a day cream than a night cream - and I’m really enjoying using it.

Surprisingly good is the Mauli cleansing oil from the N-a-P calendar. It smells wonderful and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how good an oil is at
make-up removal. One of the products from the N-a-P calendar I have really loved using.

The Bramley body wash and cream from F&M are just about fine. Slight citrusy smell but nothing remarkable, and not a brand I would repurchase.

OP posts:
lockdownromance · 01/01/2021 16:42

I have two jadvent 12 days ones but waiting for lush to arrive. I will start Origins one when my dressing table arrives.

Butterymuffin · 01/01/2021 17:36

Mine is Birchbox. Day 1 is VQ (Vitamasques) Rose Gold Hydroglow cream which is a combined moisturiser and primer with an illuminating effect. Good start for a gloomy January.

OchonAgusOchonO · 01/01/2021 17:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OchonAgusOchonO · 01/01/2021 17:55

Crap. Just realised as soon as I pressed post that I shouldn't have as there are some people doing LF for jadvent and I've just put in a spoiler. I'll ask for my post to be removed.

Butterymuffin · 01/01/2021 18:14

In answer to your question, @OchonAgusOchonO, you assume correctly!

None of the people doing that calendar seem to have shown up yet, so no harm done, I think.

OchonAgusOchonO · 01/01/2021 18:31

Thank you @Butterymuffin. I'm currently using up one from Lumene but will try it then.

I've asked for it to be deleted so hopefully that will be done before anyone turns up.

HedgieHog · 01/01/2021 21:21

I’m doing feel unique, not really seen it meantioned much through December

Talisin · 02/01/2021 07:13

Spa Magik BB Cream from H&B today which will inevitably be too dark but I shall try it tomorrow.

DrRamsesEmerson · 02/01/2021 08:48

Something called Wunderlift in theAmazon one today. Apparently reduces wrinkles if you apply it and then keep your face perfectly still for a minute - I’m picturing a coat of stucco here...