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Original poster

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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Original poster
Coniferhedge · 18/08/2021 08:34

[quote AprilLady]**@OchonAgusOchonOh, I was going to suggest the same, as I’d also prefer to be able to discuss content. If @Coniferhedge as the OP is happy to do so, perhaps we could get the title amended to make it clear spoilers are included?[/quote]
Morning everyone. I’ve asked Mumsnet HQ to change the thread title to warn that it contains spoilers, so we can discuss away about contents.

OP posts:
Giftwithpurchase · 18/08/2021 08:44

Nice one @Coniferhedge - we def need to discuss contents - I want to hear all the opinions - good bad and ugly 
@Luvacuppatea @PomRuns I'm also on the fence with F&M, have it in my basket but just not 100% sure. I feel like the contents are a slightly random selection and maybe a few too many face creams? Plus I'm not keen on the bum bum or gallenee products 🤷‍♀️

LastSummerHere · 18/08/2021 08:59

Brilliant Conifer...thanks for doing that.

Fortnum just hasn't brought its usual A Game this year. It costs more for less value, although it looks absolutely beautiful and Christmassy. I also don't really like that there are so many paired brands, such as two Sol De Janeiro, two Dr Vranjes, two Bramleys and so on....although the two Cult 51 creams are good! A few niche items such as muscle gel, sleep spray (again), pulse point oil and cuticle oil as well. I just wouldn't get use out of these, personally speaking. I would quite like to try the face vinegar to see what it's like.

WellTidy · 18/08/2021 09:34

I’d love a proper m&s one too. I find them excellent value. I might be in the minority, but I really liked their summer bag. I’d been wanting to try the Aveda leave in conditioner for a while and it had a full size one, also. 75ml occitane almond shower oil which I really like, a Nuxe oil and lots of other bits.

PomRuns · 18/08/2021 10:07

@Giftwithpurchase I love the bum bum stuff - I’m mostly put off by the room sprays !

PomRuns · 18/08/2021 10:09

@AprilLady @WellTidy agree the m and s. Always send to be a good size Aveda product too.

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 18/08/2021 10:12

Yes the M&S summer bag was great this year.

If you want nail polish. TK Maxx has has the Ciate calendar in for around £20-25 before and I've had that a couple of times.

Blossomtoes · 18/08/2021 10:15

Just checked out the F&M calendar and I’m pretty underwhelmed. If I’m going to pay over £200 it has to be better than that.

Luvacuppatea · 18/08/2021 10:18

Ooh yes, I’d totally forgotten about M&S! Usually great value for money so I hope it makes a comeback
@Giftwithpurchase and @LastSummerHere - agree that F&M is a bit less ‘wow’ this year, which is probably part of the reason why I’ve not committed (just) yet. I’m not a great fan of the Bum Bum cream (I have three unused pots of the stuff here) and had the face vinegar stuff in another calendar (?H&B) and didn’t really like it. Large bottle plus another Gallinee product (yes, there’s a lot of ‘doubling’ going on here) is a lot to plough through / not use. I do like the sound of the Cult51 creams, the cuticle oil (might be alone in this 😂) and one of the fragrances. Had one of the room sprays (possibly from Liberty, in a gwp or a gift set) and didn’t like that either. I’m talking myself out of F&M now - I need to seriously think about how much I would actually use/enjoy - hurry up Liberty and announce your contents. Eyes peeled for potential M&S........

PomRuns · 18/08/2021 10:24

The spray that was in the Liberty GWP was awful. I’m also not interested in the face vinegar.
Liberty need to release content so we can decide.
Never count the m and S as a real calendar , it doesn’t cost much ..

Blossomtoes · 18/08/2021 10:29

They don’t have to “cost much” to be a real calendar. That’s certainly sucked the joy out of it for someone who can’t afford an overpriced luxe calendar and who considers it a real treat. It would be nice if we could consider that not everyone can drop hundreds on a luxury item.

PomRuns · 18/08/2021 10:32

Sorry I really didn’t mean it like that - it’s how I justify my personal spending.
Apologies.

Viviennemary · 18/08/2021 10:35

I have been quite tempted by the Jo Malone one. But such an extravagance. No I just couldn't.

Enko · 18/08/2021 10:54

@AnnieSnap

Try white company their advent calender is sizes they sell themselves. I loved mine.

Looking at H&b or cult beauty for dd2 and 3 not sure what to do for dd1
Ds last years had a doritos one (not beauty I know) it was fab. Full size packaged each day. He loved it.

Blossomtoes · 18/08/2021 11:05

How much was the White Company one @Enko? I’m a bit of a fan of their products too.

MorrisZapp · 18/08/2021 11:19

Marks and Spencer are now stocking Lumene, so with a bit of luck that'll clear out some dreaded Nuxe oil, Percy and Reed shyte, and ghastly colours from Leighton Denny.

If they offer decent Lumene stuff in a mixed calendar, that might sway me over from the actual Lumene one. Who am I kidding, I'll get them both.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 18/08/2021 11:53

@MorrisZapp

Marks and Spencer are now stocking Lumene, so with a bit of luck that'll clear out some dreaded Nuxe oil, Percy and Reed shyte, and ghastly colours from Leighton Denny.

If they offer decent Lumene stuff in a mixed calendar, that might sway me over from the actual Lumene one. Who am I kidding, I'll get them both.

While I really liked the Lumene products last year, I felt the calendar was a bit samey. It really put me off buying a single brand calendar.

At the moment, SpaceNK is looking good. I'll see what they are charging in Euro (some of them do a ridiculous exchange rate that I refuse to engage with) but am also waiting to see what Cult Beauty looks like.

Hopefully H&B will be available from their Irish site for dd. And if M&S come back, I will certainly consider it, particularly if they are including Lumene. I really liked their summer box.

MorrisZapp · 18/08/2021 12:08

Agree Space NK looking good. Has anyone had any luck selling unwanted bits on ebay?

JustWhatIAlwaysWanted · 18/08/2021 13:30

Has anyone had any luck selling unwanted bits on ebay?

Thought about it but it looked like a load of faff, and I could see sellers on local sites not getting much for bundles of beauty products. So my plan this year is going to be to give all my unwanted products either to a women's shelter or to one of the charities collecting for presents as items for teenage girls. Reckon I can offload those to collections in November ready for a new round of opening in December.

LizzieMacQueen · 18/08/2021 13:43

@MorrisZapp

Agree Space NK looking good. Has anyone had any luck selling unwanted bits on ebay?
@MorrisZapp I've sold a couple of things that I've tried before and know I don't like. Usually only things that are travel or full size and worth at least £10. Anything less is not worth it. And you can choose to give up to 100% to charity too so it's a way for me to off load excess things and donate to charity too.
clary · 18/08/2021 14:11

YH I have tried and failed to sell on ebay. Last time I just put things I didn't want (nail polish for example) on my FB and asked friends if they wanted them. Then just dropped round or posted.

Charity for teenage girls is good idea tho.

Blossomtoes · 18/08/2021 14:16

@MorrisZapp

Agree Space NK looking good. Has anyone had any luck selling unwanted bits on ebay?
I’ve bought on eBay, especially things that have been given a good rep from the Liberty calendar - it’s ridiculous, I can afford it but I just can’t bring myself to spend so much money.
MidnightMeltdown · 18/08/2021 14:17

Hmmm... I'm tempted by space nk, but would be interested to see an unboxing, as quite a few products sound like they may be super tiny (e.g. 7ml moisturiser, 4ml mascara etc). The rich cream has been so over done, and I got a full size Barbara Sturm last year (I think it was in Liberty calendar?). I also don't need eye serum or face oil (of which there appear to be two).

I like the idea of the jo loves shower gel and the Kate Somerville cream, but I think that I'm leaning more towards F&M than this.

ashmts · 18/08/2021 14:37

@MidnightMeltdown The Laura Mercier mascara that was in there last year was 3ml (I just checked) and I actually got lots of use out of it so 4ml wouldn't put me off. The AB rich cream is terrible, it was in Space NK last year, as was the BS serum Hmm Those are the duds for me.

Space NK also has brand duplicates but I counted and there's 29 products. I wonder if they'll put multiple products from the same brand in certain days.

clary · 18/08/2021 15:42

YH a small mascara is not an issue for sure. Only supposed to use them for six months anyway!