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Beauty Advent Calendars 2021 - contains spoilers *titled by MNHQ at OP's request*

997 replies

Coniferhedge · 12/08/2021 15:30

Can’t see a thread so I thought I’d start one. Yes, it’s unbelievably early, but I noticed Glossybox have already revealed their Advent Calendar contents for this year. Saw this reveal on YouTube this morning:

Have to say it doesn’t wow me, but there’s plenty of time and many more Advent Calendars to come, I’m sure! Grin

OP posts:
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11
listentomydeclaration · 31/08/2021 19:59

I would spend £50 max

She's not into Harry Potter or Soap and Glory.

She's shown an interest in Lush but we don't have a bath so bath bombs are a waste really.

latedecember1963 · 31/08/2021 21:45

There's a Body Shop one that's £55 although it's possibly a bit lacking in makeup.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 31/08/2021 21:56

listento what about NYX ?
I had a look on the Superdrug site for Revolution but they're coming in at £80 ! Shock

Some calendars are 12 days rather than 24 so might be cheaper or better ,fewer products .

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 31/08/2021 22:05

listen the lush one is quite expensive as well

Theres a Ted baker beauty one and a Macmillan one with a mix of brands. If you look on boots sure there are a few under £50

PomRuns · 31/08/2021 22:48

Superdrug often reduce their calendars by 50%.

gratedbeetroot · 01/09/2021 09:26

I’m tempted by Space NK this year. Does anyone know if you can buy it and qualify for the Autumn gift, or do they exclude the calendar as a qualifying purchase?

Nowmum43 · 01/09/2021 09:40

Just got the email for the look fantastic one, debating if it's worth £70 as I get the beauty box and I'm sure it's a lot of the same products.
Has anyone heard of M&S will be doing one? It's always been the one I've got and last year I didn't bother as they didn't do one. This is something I ended up deeply regretting as December just wasn't the same!

CountryCob · 01/09/2021 10:06

Hello everyone, I think M&S have shown willing to do a calendar but no details yet, that is one I am waiting to hear about. no7 doing a slightly different one so that could be interesting. Much love for H&B here and I did use the products last year, especially the bliss bar and the neck mouse! It was practical but for me the glamour was missing and I don’t need any more solid shampoo or exfoliator so might miss it. I like the look of space NK but it would be a more expensive one for me and if I am honest I don’t actually need any products at all but I do really enjoy one in quite a challenging month I find it keeps me jolly. I thought ASOS was good last year so another to watch. They are getting a bit predictable overall though or maybe I have had too many. Also there is a packaging issue often, I had one of the first CTilbury ones and whilst it is beautiful and solid my daughter now has it as I don’t need an advent shaped box. Love deciding what to get though!

OchonAgusOchonOh · 01/09/2021 10:33

@CountryCob - Also there is a packaging issue often, I had one of the first CTilbury ones and whilst it is beautiful and solid my daughter now has it as I don’t need an advent shaped box.

That is a bit of a quandary. I now have a collection of empty advent calendars, all of which are too sturdy to bin but I really don't have any use for them. I fill one with liquors for dh and filled one for myself last year with the contents of a beauty edit as my calendar hadn't arrived. My dd gets H&B, which gets recycled. Other than that, they sit in the attic, sad and unused.

BakeOffRewatch · 01/09/2021 10:45

@OchonAgusOchonOh I think eBay would love it or gumtree? Not now but nearer Christmas time, end of November, there might be lots of people looking for that sort of thing. There’s so many “how to” make your own I’m sure someone would appreciate a sturdy one ready made!

MidnightMeltdown · 01/09/2021 10:55

@OchonAgusOchonOh

I've sold quality high end calendar boxes on eBay in previous years. I typically get around £25 each for empty F&M, Liberty and net a porter boxes, which helps with the cost of the calendar.

If you don't want to sell them, I'm sure someone would be grateful if you put them on freecycle.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 01/09/2021 12:28

Good idea @BakeOffRewatch and @MidnightMeltdown

I can't see much demand on eBay or whatever in Ireland as they are ones like LookFantastic, Glossybox etc rather than high end ones but freecycle would definitely be worth a shot if there are no takers on eBay.

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 01/09/2021 12:46

@Nowmum43 there is suggestion upthread that there will be an M&S one.

@CountryCob it looks like H&B has different products this year but I don't feel excited by it.

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 01/09/2021 12:47

Interested to see M&S

MidnightMeltdown · 01/09/2021 14:23

I'm not excited by H&B this year either. I got it last year and enjoyed it as it was something a bit different and good value, but I still have quite a few products left that I haven't used yet, and of those that I have used, I wasn't keen on some of them.

I didn't like the coffee face wash, the toothpaste or the face vinegar, but I did enjoy the body wash and bath milk, and the serum wasn't bad. I still have the other products left over, so will give it a miss this year.

Window1 · 01/09/2021 14:39

Look fantastic at £85 - thoughts?

ashmts · 01/09/2021 15:28

@Window1 What are your thoughts? It won't be for me, I'm not interested in many of the contents. It's a reasonable price point. I had already decided I wasn't getting LF after the delivery fiasco last year anyway, regardless of what was in it.

Window1 · 01/09/2021 15:31

[quote ashmts]@Window1 What are your thoughts? It won't be for me, I'm not interested in many of the contents. It's a reasonable price point. I had already decided I wasn't getting LF after the delivery fiasco last year anyway, regardless of what was in it.[/quote]

I was thinking of initially spending around £40 and getting the Holland and Barrett one. Then I thought maybe that plus the NO7 one and now I'm wondering whether to just get the Look Fantastic one as it will contain higher end products that I wouldn't otherwise come across, whereas I would with the others. Impressed with the cost versus value which I think is around £400.

So yes, very undecided.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 01/09/2021 15:41

@Window1 - I'm wondering whether to just get the Look Fantastic one as it will contain higher end products that I wouldn't otherwise come across, whereas I would with the others. Impressed with the cost versus value which I think is around £400.

If you have a closer look at the contents, you will see that £142 of the value is the Avant hand cream at £92 and the Espa face mask at £42. While Espa is a reputable brand, based on reviews/comments online Avant seems to be a bit of a con and is not really worth that. Also, the sizes are mainly small or tiny. It was definitely better last year.

I will issue the disclaimer though that my experience with them last year was so bad that I won't buy no matter what is in it.

I would say the M&S one might be a better bet.

ashmts · 01/09/2021 15:50

@Window1 Cost vs value isn't something that sways me. The way I look at it is, unless I was specifically planning to spend the RRP on every included product, it's never really going to be worth the alleged value. Agree that Avant is just included to bump up the 'value'.

JustWhatIAlwaysWanted · 01/09/2021 15:51

Has there been any further confirmation that M&S are doing one this year? I saw it posted on here on the basis that someone had asked in store, and been told they would be out in November. That fits with the usual timetable - but I'm nervous about counting on it when nothing official has been said. Anyone know more?

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 01/09/2021 15:57

I'm so torn this year as I love love having a calendar even though I consistently don't use a a third of the stuff I get regardless of brand however I've literally just started Skin + Me which means my skin routine is paired down MASSIVELY. I can start adding a few of my old bits in once i know my skins happy with the active ingredients however I'd planned to do CB or SpaceNK as I've always wanted a real luxury one. Which now means there will be a tonne of bits I won't use as they contain lots of similar active ingredients.

Not a huge user of make up either so my head is saying "Don't get one, it'll be a waste of money this year" but my heart is saying I should go for it.

I think it's that daily ritual of a lovely treat every morning in the run up to Christmas - I'm always first up in our house and enjoy opening each days box with my cuppa and the tree lights twinkling, in peace and quiet - and no other type of Callander will fill the void! Grin

Window1 · 01/09/2021 16:13

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

I'm so torn this year as I love love having a calendar even though I consistently don't use a a third of the stuff I get regardless of brand however I've literally just started Skin + Me which means my skin routine is paired down MASSIVELY. I can start adding a few of my old bits in once i know my skins happy with the active ingredients however I'd planned to do CB or SpaceNK as I've always wanted a real luxury one. Which now means there will be a tonne of bits I won't use as they contain lots of similar active ingredients.

Not a huge user of make up either so my head is saying "Don't get one, it'll be a waste of money this year" but my heart is saying I should go for it.

I think it's that daily ritual of a lovely treat every morning in the run up to Christmas - I'm always first up in our house and enjoy opening each days box with my cuppa and the tree lights twinkling, in peace and quiet - and no other type of Callander will fill the void! Grin

Could you perhaps consider an alternative to beauty, such as candles, wine, socks, cheese, scents?

dottyaboutstripes · 01/09/2021 16:33

@JustWhatIAlwaysWanted

Has there been any further confirmation that M&S are doing one this year? I saw it posted on here on the basis that someone had asked in store, and been told they would be out in November. That fits with the usual timetable - but I'm nervous about counting on it when nothing official has been said. Anyone know more?
It was me who asked - the assistant had a timetable of promotions which she checked and it was listed on there, I think it was maybe 28th October?
tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 01/09/2021 16:45

Window I have but none other appeals like the beauty ones. Grin I think it's FOMO like others have said.