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)

@OchonAgusOchonO And I love yours. Mine turned up on the 14th too.

@thelegohooverer - And I love yours.

I changed it to that during dd's leaving cert. They may not do Peig anymore but dd provided more than enough 'woe is me' that year to compensate.

I got the cult beauty one for the first time (to open in December) and loved it. I will definitely buy it again; I had the M&S one for the previous 4 years I think.
I also got the Space NK calendar as part of my Christmas calendar. I was slightly less impressed but perhaps because I have already used a number of the products (I like them but it's not as exciting when they are not new to me) or perhaps because I opened all 24 boxes on Christmas Day and there was no build up. It cost me less than CB because I bought during a promo and I had Ndulge points to put towards it.
I would buy one of the two next year, depending on contents.

As part of my Christmas present I mean.

I had the Sabon one - which I hated and do not recommend to anyone
The Harper’s Best of Beauty tacked on to the Space NK
I loved Harper’s although not strictly an advent

I know I said I wouldn't go for the lumene one again as it's quite samey (8 moisturisers). However, I've started using them and the Nordic-C day and night creams that I am using are gorgeous. I also really like the skin tint. It's a little pale but a hint of bronzer on top and it's perfect. It gives good coverage but looks really natural. I've also used one of the face masks and found it really brightened my skin.

So in hindsight, I think it's a good buy so long as you don't expect to be wowed with something different every day. That's the case really for any single brand calendar though. The big benefit of the mixed brand ones is the variety of products and brands.

I’m a complete convert to Lumene now ochon. I really like the Vit C line too, especially the serum and it’s nice to have all of the items from the lind. The pressed serum and night cream is also lovely although I’m not yet in their target group (I hope) at early 40s.

Sali Hughes really rates the skin tint, I use it as foundation because my skins too dry for any coverage.

The skin care is mostly 15ml, which is half of the full size product, its amazing value and the pots are brilliant for travel and repurposing.

I'll get Lumene for as long as they make it!

The pressed serum is DIVINE

@chloechloe - forgot to mention the serum. I'm currently using the 3 nordic-c products (serum, day and night cream). I'll move on to the other lines once they're finished. You use very little of them so I expect they will last a while.

Just checked and there is also a nordic-c toner. I'll start using that one too now.

I'm definitely their target age for the Ageless range (mid 50's). A bit disappointing they don't have a day cream from that range in it but the hydra care one looks like it would go with it.

I think it's a fantastic second calendar but I do like the mixed brand as a main one.

I don't buy mixed brand because I have a cellar full of Nuxe oil and Percy and Reed hairspray 😂

There’s also a face wash / balm in the Nordic C range ochon. Mine is nearly finished which I’m a bit gutted about. I also like a multi brand AC as my main one but I’ve been totally blown away by the quality of the Lumene products, plus I’m hoping it’ll turn me into some glowing Nordic beauty

The suncream is also amazing, goes on really nicely and smells lush. I’ve started using acids and retinol and this is lovely to put on over creams and under makeup. I’ll definitely buy a full size one.

@MorrisZapp - there is that 🤣.

Although I haven't got either of those, I do have the ridiculous collection is black eyeliners, including the one from Lumene 😁

@chloechloe - did we get a suncream? I don't remember one. I'll check my hoard.

Is it the SPF30 day fluid? I had that filed under moisturiser

The one I liked the look of alongside LF was the Elle one so maybe I'd get the Elle one next time

I still prefer the multi brand ones as I think they are more interesting and usually better value

Yes, I thought the Elle one looked great too, although if I recall correctly, it had a couple of tanning bits that I wouldn't really use.

I'll be much more limited next year with brexit. Elle, the CEWUK beauty edit I got, and a few of the other calendars, don't ship outside the UK. That wasn't an issue as I could use Parcel Motel or Address Pal. Parcel Motel are no longer doing the UK and Address Pal is now only doing their more expensive service for the UK. Plus VAT will need to be paid on anything from the UK and I won't be protected by the distance selling legislation.

I'll need to find companies with an EU base. I think Cult Beauty do. Lumene obviously do as they're Finnish. They Who Must Not Be Named have a base in Poland but I won't use them.

@OchonAgusOchonO

Is it the SPF30 day fluid? I had that filed under moisturiser

I think you’re right that it’s strictly a moisturiser! But I’ve been putting it over a thin layer of separate moisturiser and using it as a winter sunscreen and it works really well. It’s more so I’ve got some SPF protection after using acids etc.

I also slapped it on my 3 kids as sunscreen when we went sledging in the sunshine and it did the job

I also slapped it on my 3 kids as sunscreen when we went sledging in the sunshine and it did the job

That sounds fun. We have sleet. Not quite as much fun

I tried dd's coffee facial scrub from the H&B calendar today. It's like sandpaper! I am definitely exfoliated!

DH panicked and got me the Cath Kidston one. It was ok, but way too many hand creams!
I got my DM the Arran one and she loved it.

I twitched and got 12 day calendar from Lush for half price. I was eyeing this but full price felt too steep. Now I have 12 day Origins and 12 day Lush for Jadvent. I will start to open Lush when it arrives.

My mum uses Lumene and has always used it. When I was teenager ages ago I tried Lumene day cream but it felt too creamy. That was in 1994. It's probably fine now but it feels old lady's brand even though my mum was in my age then.

I was late to choose so went with the Fresh 12 day one. I loved it, really nice products and a good way to try their range. Not sure I would do again as now I know what I like but a good into and some lovely products that I will buy.

cult beauty and feel unique here and would 100% buy both again. The feel unique was a spur of the moment purchase as i got money off and a feel gift, cant think of anything that was a disappointment.

From past years id get the body shop, rituals and lumene again (another vote for the vit c range)

DH got me an Inika beauty one. I think all the others had run out by the time he got round to ordering it. It was only 12 days and although it is stuff I will use I wont get it again. I used to get the Holland and Barret and M&S ones. Next time I will get Cult Beauty or Liberty based on this thread. When do they come out? Going to write in the calendar now!