Which Advent Calendar did you buy and will you buy it again next year?

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I had the Rituals one which was nice but not sure I'll buy it again next year (too many shower gels)

I had Fortnum and Maison and also L’Oreal. Loved the F&M and would get it again - loved trying the different brands and felt it was a fairly good mix.
Loved the look of L’Oreal as it opened into a Paris cityscape but it got rather samey. Lots of skincare (including one item that appeared twice) but I’d have liked more makeup to give a better balance.

Typo - that should have said that it's nice to "open" a calendar / have a surprise every day

I flit between cult, space nk and liberty, they are all nice with a mixture of skincare, hair care, makeup, pillow sprays, masks, candles, that type of thing.
This year I had the cult beauty one because that had the most amount of things I knew I wanted to try or that I had previously tried and enjoyed. I just check the contents of each calendar and weigh up what I’m going to get the most use out of.
I was overall really happy with the cult beauty one this year, several duds but lots of new discoveries which have been brilliant. I’m not loyal to one though, it always depends on the contents!

Like the chosentwo, I check the contents of the luxury ones each year and decide which to go for based on the contents. I’ve had Liberty 3 times (gets quite samey) and F&M. I was tempted by Cult Beauty this year but I already owned most of the makeup in it. I will consider that next year, as well as Space NK.

I also had Lumene for the first time this year which I love love loved. It’s a new brand for me and the various creams are fantastic quality in good 15ml sizes so it will allow me to test most of their range out. The mascara is also one of the best I’ve ever used. I’ll 100% buy it again.

I also had Look Fantastic for about the 3rd time. I will buy it again (despite the CS issues many have had) as I think it’s really well priced for the contents.

Just out of interest, are they all around the £30-50 mark? And do you get one instead of Xmas presents? I can't see my DH ever realising they even exist..

They range massively in price, depending on what’s inside. Holland and Barrett was £40 I think (M&S previously was similar), and at the other end of the scale Space NK and Cult Beauty were £195 each this year.
I buy mine myself. DH is clueless! I had to buy my own eternity ring as he had no idea they were even a thing 😂 so there’s no chance he’d get on the lux beauty advent calendar train!!

I buy mine myself, it’s not a Christmas present of any kind. I just want it!
Dh is aware of its existence when it appeared on the shelf beside the dcs chocolate ones, he jokes that maybe it’s one for us to share but he wouldn’t think to ask how much it costs! He must be aware though as a few years ago in a row he was in London and picked me up the Liberty one as a surprise (not a Christmas present but a thoughtful gift).

@didireallysaythat

Just out of interest, are they all around the £30-50 mark? And do you get one instead of Xmas presents? I can't see my DH ever realising they even exist..

I research them every year from these threads and online and buy a couple in lieu of a Birthday and Christmas present from DH. He is clueless and terrible at gift giving so it's a winner-I get exactly what I'd like!

@Eaumyword - that's a smart plan. Taken me 25 years to figure out that DH can't think of presents and if it matters to me (normally it doesn't but every now and then it does?) I need to give him a list. Seems rather indulgent but there we are!

@Rainydays200 😄 I don't have an eternity ring either (I do have a wonderful engagement ring but don't wear it, come to mention it I don't have my wedding ring on at the moment - not sure where I've put it..) Do they usually comemorate a significant wedding anniversary?

@TheChosenTwo the kids haven't had a advent calendar for a couple of years now - they kind of grew out of them once they hit 8-9 years I think. I think I'm curious about them as they seem to be a big then for lots of people but I'm not sure I'd want one over other things (e.g. nice bunch of flowers).

I had Holland & Barrett for the 3rd year running. Absolutely love it and definitely want it again next year. Great value, good variety of products and all cruelty free/vegan/organic. Superb

In response to those that asked these are just some of the H&B contents:

UpCircle Face Scrub 100ml
EcoDenta Toothpaste 75ml
True Rosehip and Rosemary Face Oil 10ml (gorgeous!)
Kili-g Face Mousse 60ml
Amoora bath bomb
Galineé face vinegar 50ml
Ayumi body wash
Dr Organic Reishi face mask 10ml
Dr organic Guava moisturiser 50ml (smells amazing!)
Ambience CBD body oil 50ml
Natura Siberica hair mask

Several of the products also have money off vouchers.

I have recommended it to so many people, it really is worth it.

I debated between Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic and decided on Look Fantastic so that if a bargain came up I could justify a second calendar.

I ordered it on September 3rd. It arrived December 14th. Yes, that's right. Advent was more than half over by the time it arrived. So no, I would not buy it again. Based on threads here and twitter, I was not alone. Many people never got a calender at all. Others had a number of empty drawers so didn't get products every day.

By the time I realised I wasn't getting my calendar, pretty much everything else was sold out so, thanks to research by wonderful mn's, I bought the CEWUK Founders' beauty edit and made up my own calendar using an old one I kept. It was brilliant and I would definitely consider doing this again. Products were mainly full size and really good quality. There were 20 items so I topped it up with a few bits I had to make up 24.

I also got Lumene. The products are lovely but I found the calendar very samey. There were 8 moisturisers. I don't think I would get it again for that reason.

I got dd20 the H&B one for the second year in a row and she loved it again. I would definitely buy for either of us again. It's great value and lovely products.

I had H&B, bodyshop and Origin. I really liked H&B and might get it again. The bodyshop one was boring. I will use all the products but I gave loads of them to dd. I haven't started Origins yet.

I had the Boots No 7 one, having last had it a couple of years ago. I liked and will use most of the make-up items (although I have no use for the ubiquitous black eyeliner), but some of the skincare is unlikely to get used (masks and primers for example). It was a nice surprise to find out there was a door for the 25th, I only realised when I was dismantling the box to recycle on Christmas Eve. Even if I only use half what was there it was good value, but I do feel a bit concerned about all the packaging waste.

I ordered the look fantastic one and it arrived 4days later, ordered on November 3rd. It had some great products and a full size espa 24 hour moisturiser and a full size Elemis night cream so those 2 alone would cost more than the ac. Definitely would purchase again.
I reuse my liberty one for my daughter every year, far too beautiful to throw in the recycling.

Another one who got ASOS and loved it! I’ve had M&S for the last few years so was a bit nervous with anything different. But it was brilliant and I’m in love with the Mac lipstick!

I had the 3D Rituals and Space NK. I've had ASOS the past two years so this was a step up. Rituals was a nice change from skincare and makeup and a good way to try the scents but I think once is enough for it. I loved Space NK and although it was about 3 times the price of my ASOS ones it was worth it. Everything felt like a treat. Also noticed that a few of the ASOS items were quite repetitive this year so watch out if anyone's considering it again for next year.

I also look at the contents before I buy. I thought Space NK, Cult Beauty and Selfridges looked best this year so they'll likely be my top contenders for next year.

I didn’t get one this year and I really missed it. previously have got the M&S one. Going to save £5 per week from new year to buy the SpaceNk one for next Christmas .

I had Liberty for the second year in a row. I was just happy with it and will use it have used about 80% of it which is a decent hit rate. I think I'd like a change next year so will consider Fenwicks or F&M. I think Cult Beauty and Space NK may be too make up heavy for me but would check ingredients.

I got the Elle one for DIL-to- be and she was pleased with it ( got a whisky one for DS).

Temple Spa was pricey at £110 but had travel size products. Was really impressed but getting it next year!

I ordered Look Fantastic and have a similar tale of woe as OchonAgusOchonO. Definitely wouldn’t order from them again 😂

Following the thread with interest for next year.

@thelegohooverer - did you get the calendar in the end?

Love the username