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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
LastSummerHere · 05/09/2021 19:04

I have tried all the subscription boxes and wouldn't ever go back. The sizes are tiny, the contents quite boring with the same old brands over and over and they keep using fake brands like Avant and Symbiosis to con people. You just end up with a pile of sponges, Eyeko mascara and eyeliners, Elemis samples and Avant crap. Even Cohorted the so-called luxury box at £40 a month (eek) had one box filled with it. They're a rip off!

I am quite tempted by Feel Unique this year...it's not a bad curation at all. Quite a good mix. And Fortnums is calling to me still...have changed my mind about it as having moved house and seen my ridiculous beauty horde a calendar with a few room sprays and muscle gel doesn't seem too bad actually!!

Housewife2010 · 05/09/2021 19:08

For anyone looking to fill an empty AC, this is a good deal. £127 of Boots No 7 for £24. www.boots.com/no7-summer-beauty-blockbuster-bundle-10300436

LastSummerHere · 05/09/2021 19:09

[quote OchonAgusOchonOh]**@BunnytheFriendlyDragon* - I am tempted to make my own calendar using the LF box from last year but then what would I put in it? Is it really dull to open a calendar if you know what's in it? I suppose we know what's in these calendars anyway!*

I did that last year. I bought the CEW female founders beauty edit and topped it up with stuff from an Elemis set I got from QVC. I found it brilliant but I have the memory of a goldfish so not at all dull. I was on the general calendar thread so got to see what everyone else got too. I much prefered that thread to the dedicated ones from previous years as there was such variety..[/quote]

I remember you did that Ochon. I bought the box too and was seriously impressed. Lots of full sizes and I liked the 'supporting women' aspect of it. Wonder if they will do the same this year.

Having had LF for every year it has been around, and really liking it, this year I'm passing. A little to do with your awful experience last year but mainly because I feel they're taking their customers for granted here and chucking out a piss poor calendar believing people will buy it anyway.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 05/09/2021 19:30

@LastSummerHere - I agree re Feel Unique gaming a good selection. However, I think the sizes are pretty small for the price. That said, the GWP at the moment is tempting.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 05/09/2021 19:31

@LastSummerHere - I agree re LF. Quite aside from last year's disaster, it really doesn't appeal.

LastSummerHere · 05/09/2021 19:58

Ochon totally agree....the GWP is the trump card here and if not for that I'd be like..mmmnn, not bad - and move on. Quite impressed they haven't excluded the calendar as past of the GWP cost.

I like Feel Unique as a beauty lovers' site. It doesn't seem to treat its customers like dirt on their Jimmy Choos unlike some other places I could mention.

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 05/09/2021 20:15

That's very true @Hekatestorch

I would forget

Horehound · 05/09/2021 20:31

I hadn't looked at liberty yet because of what was said on this thread. However, just had a peep and I actually quite like it.i think I'm the only one!

LastSummerHere · 05/09/2021 21:11

Horehound it's not a bad curation for first timers but I think the issue is, it is so samey for people who have had the calendar before ( pls forgive if I sound patronising...I definitely do not mean to be!!! I only got Liberty for the first time last year and found it anti climactic. The box isn't even all that!!! People rave about it but I've had better shoe boxes!!) I found Fortnums utterly luxurious compared to Liberty.

LastSummerHere · 05/09/2021 21:13

And if you like it, go for it!! The thread on here is always great and it's always nice to get a Liberty calendar once I think!!

Hekatestorch · 05/09/2021 21:16

Has anyone unboxed CB yet?

MidnightMeltdown · 05/09/2021 21:45

I think what puts me off Liberty and Space nk most is that the big ticket items are eye creams/eye serums. This is something that I really don't need as I already have a stack to use up. One eye cream or serum lasts me about a year.

Housewife2010 · 06/09/2021 04:38

I don't like it when Advents have incredibly expensive single products in them. Last year Liberty had a lip line filler worth about £145. This vastly increased the value of the calendar but for me it is not an exciting type of product and if I did love it I would be unable to afford to replace it. I love luxury products and would consider repurchasing an £80 serum if it was absolutely fantastic, but I would be very unlikely to spend more on a single product other than perfume.

gratedbeetroot · 06/09/2021 07:15

I don’t consider what a calendar is ‘worth’ when making my decision. I look at which has the most items that I want to try. Points taken off for eyeliners, mascaras (I only use waterproof), candles, nail varnish which I won’t use. I don’t worry too much about loving a very expensive product because I’m not sure I’ve ever been wowed enough by a product that I’ve wanted to repurchase; after many years of trial and error I’ve found the skincare routine and make-up items that work for me and trying things from an advent calendar once a year just adds a little excitement into my routine. I often feel a little out of the loop in terms of beauty products due to sticking to trusty favourites so it helps keep me in the loop (therefore most products are usually new to me).

ajandjjmum · 06/09/2021 08:33

@LastSummerHere

Horehound it's not a bad curation for first timers but I think the issue is, it is so samey for people who have had the calendar before ( pls forgive if I sound patronising...I definitely do not mean to be!!! I only got Liberty for the first time last year and found it anti climactic. The box isn't even all that!!! People rave about it but I've had better shoe boxes!!) I found Fortnums utterly luxurious compared to Liberty.
The box mine arrived in last year had clearly been returned from someone else (biro writing with another address on it), and was bashed in one corner which was disappointing.

I did flag it up to Liberty but they couldn't have cared less.

I enjoyed the calendar (which was a gift, so I didn't make a fuss) but I wouldn't purchase again.

Horehound · 06/09/2021 08:33

@LastSummerHere

Horehound it's not a bad curation for first timers but I think the issue is, it is so samey for people who have had the calendar before ( pls forgive if I sound patronising...I definitely do not mean to be!!! I only got Liberty for the first time last year and found it anti climactic. The box isn't even all that!!! People rave about it but I've had better shoe boxes!!) I found Fortnums utterly luxurious compared to Liberty.
Yes I wondered if that was maybe the issue. Tbh I find that the same with M & S...lots of same products year after year...kinda takes the shine off it. I'm so tempted by the F & M one...but it's so expensive and I'm about to go on maternity leave.im not sure I should! But I realllllyyyy want to lol
Luvacuppatea · 06/09/2021 08:50

Been reading that some people are going to refill old advent calendars this year, which sounds like a brilliant idea! If anyone is looking for potential contents, I have a bag of (mainly) skincare items, all brand new and sealed that I’ve got from various gwp’s over the past year - I think most came from Harvey Nics, CB and SpaceNK.. I have such an enormous stash of stuff I can’t see myself ever working my way through them and it would be a shame for them to sit here and eventually go ‘off’. They are largely sample sizes so would be ideal for an advent calendar. There’s 27 or so items I think. If anyone would like them, please DM me......

RazorstormUnicorn · 06/09/2021 09:07

@Luvacuppatea what a lovely thought! I've just gone for Feel Unique GWP so am not short of stuff myself.

I have also just gone to buy the Lumene advent calendar and they can't ship to UK! Will wait a bit and see what happens. I'd be happy with M&S really if I can't figure it out Smile

Horehound · 06/09/2021 09:17

When are m and s releasing theirs? Seems so late compared to others.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 06/09/2021 09:18

@RazorstormUnicorn - Lumene was sold on sites that ship to the UK last year. I think it was Beauty Bay where I got it with a GWP.

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 06/09/2021 09:22

Also Feel Unique, Look Fantastic & John Lewis should have it soon according to
beautyadventcalendar.net/lumene-24-nordic-beauty-wonders-calendar-2021/

I think M&S will have it too as they sell Lumene.

Luvacuppatea · 06/09/2021 09:23

Having a brain block right now and don’t know if I can / or how to edit my above message, but the bag of skincare stuff I mentioned above has found a new home 😊

LastSummerHere · 06/09/2021 09:26

Luvacuppatea that was so lovely of you! If it is Harvey Nics I got that one and really liked it so someone is in for a treat!

LordEmsworth · 06/09/2021 09:56

@Horehound

I hadn't looked at liberty yet because of what was said on this thread. However, just had a peep and I actually quite like it.i think I'm the only one!
Last year, I went for Liberty but didn't open till January. It got a really meh response on here in December so my expectations were low - but I loved it...
CountryCob · 06/09/2021 09:59

@gratedbeetroot I am absolutely the same as you, I don’t beauty shop often although it is something I enjoy or read that many magazines. Advents give me new ideas and a refresh when they are good. Which is why I really don’t want another black eyeliner, red lipstick or gold nail varnish