Beauty Advent Calendars 2021 Part 2: The Curse of the Drawers of Disappointment *Spoilers included*

[Coniferhedge]

As you were everyone!

Neither Harrods or Selfridges are impressing me, which is surprising! I actually think I'm going to get the Next one (already ordered F&M). Or John Lewis, but it is almost £100 more than Next so not sure I can justify that cos I don't think it's that much better for me personally. Need to go through them item by item I think.

@Luvacuppatea @AprilLady ok so Harrods is now a front runner for me. The packaging is gorgeous! Really decent selection but am thinking it's going to be £££ .. might be able to squeeze off 10% with rewards card maybe. They tend to do around Black Friday.

Waiting for Fenwick to reveal before final decision. NAP still in the running too 😊

I agree that Harrods looks good this year. They actually have an AB product that isn't the rich cream 😱

I already have a few of their products in my stash though - the iconic mascara, the 111 skin, the Dr BS, the Elemis cream, and the scrunchies. I don't use primer and the shampoo/conditioner would probably be barely one use in my hair. Don't think I'll be buying this.

@jay55 haha I was 😳 about Nars Laguna in Selfridges.

I’m not even slightly tempted by Harrods. DoD would be the mini handwash, mini shampoo and conditioner, eye cream, eye mask, Lip balm, mascara, scrunchies and I don’t love the Elemis cream either. I would like the AA oil but that’s also in JL which is still no1 for me.

Having said I wasn’t going to buy an advent calendar this year but having been reading the thread regularly and being very tempted by the Harrods and Fortnum ones and thinking in the back of my mind I might get the M&S one but I really don’t need any skincare or make up I have succumbed and ordered the Rituals one.

I do love having one to open every day in the run up to Christmas and I know I would miss not having that every day. Decided I would use everything in the Rituals one.

Was hoping to be able to use Advantage points to buy it but didn’t have enough. Think I’ll aim to save up enough points over the year to buy one outright with points next year if I want.

Will obviously still keep reading the thread and getting tempted by others! (Could ask DH to get me the Fortnum one for Xmas……)

F&M is my favourite this year. Second is NAP, third is Cult Beauty, and then Space NK and JL are probably joint forth.

It’s interesting (and probably a good thing!) that we all like a slightly different mix of products. There are only a few Drawers of Disappointment in Harrods for me: the eye mask, the Facial oil (I have yet to find a facial oil works for me) and the Floral Street discovery set, which I already have and don’t particularly rate. While I have years’ worth of mascaras, the Iconic one is actually an HG product for me so happy with that.

How does this sound to you all - I buy advent calendars for people who work with my son (he has severe special needs) each year. I like to buy the same for everyone, and as they are a mix of ages, I always go for a body/skincare one rather than a make up heavy one. Around the £50 mark, no more than £70.

In previous years I’ve done fever tree gin and tonic (I know - not beauty), Occitane and rituals (twice). I absolutely love the Rituals one as I think the products are great quality and it’s such a bargain. It would be my first choice always but I think I need something different this year.

In this position, what do you think of the Arran one here?

Any other suggestions please at around this price? I’ve discounted body shop as that is more everyday I think for them. I have thought about M&S but they’re being so slow in releasing details.

Thank you!

@WellTidy How about the Macmillan ones at Boots. Seems to be half price at the moment too so less than £45 each.

https://www.boots.com/macmillan-24-beauty-treasures-advent-calendar-10298714?affwin&cmmmc=affiliatessSocial%20Contentnt--Beauty%20Calendar---685115&utmsource=affiliates&utmmmedium=Social+Content&utmcampaign=Beauty+Calendar-685115&awc=204111632828418_91d24048b2e4b2dde567e7e462a05d4b

Thank you @LizzieMacQueen I hadn’t seen that one - I will get it for our lovely cleaner! But I think it’s too skincare heavy for the others.

I'm so in 2 minds about whether to get one or not this year. I've had M&S twice, Liberty twice and then did a Space NK GWP so am quite well stocked. I really don't need any more masks 😬

Then again I know I'll have massive FOMO if I don't and most have a few products that I'd really like, like the Augustus Bader rich cream which is over £100.

Does anyone know if Fenwick's are doing one this year? I keep meaning to try theirs but can't see anything on their website.

@WellTidy Not sure if you've seen but details on M&S here

I'm not a massive Arran Aromatics fan (think I'm the only one!) and heard mixed reviews of it last year. Some thought the sizes were too small, but a friend of mine had it and loved it. I'd still prefer the Arran over the Macmillan.

Have you considered Next?

@ashmts thank you - I was looking at the next one this morning and umming and aahing I think that is a bit too make-up heavy too unfortunately. I am now wondering whether to go back to the cheaper Occitane (£55), or the M&S - thank you for the link. I may hold off until I see the sizes in the M&S. But what if the others sell out?! Decisions decisions.

@WellTidy

How does this sound to you all - I buy advent calendars for people who work with my son (he has severe special needs) each year. I like to buy the same for everyone, and as they are a mix of ages, I always go for a body/skincare one rather than a make up heavy one. Around the £50 mark, no more than £70.

In previous years I’ve done fever tree gin and tonic (I know - not beauty), Occitane and rituals (twice). I absolutely love the Rituals one as I think the products are great quality and it’s such a bargain. It would be my first choice always but I think I need something different this year.

In this position, what do you think of the Arran one here?

Any other suggestions please at around this price? I’ve discounted body shop as that is more everyday I think for them. I have thought about M&S but they’re being so slow in releasing details.

Thank you!

I don't think the Arran one was rated particularly highly here last year.

I was looking at the Arran one this morning. I think it looks nice and the after the rain hand wash is nice

Up to you of course but I had the Arran one last year.
For me, it was a big pile of pants.
I could hardly smell anything (appreciate I do like strong scents so in all fairness this will be my own fault.)
The bottles looked like Travel Inn mini's and I was just really disappointed compared to the Rituals one or L'Occitane at a similar price point.
The box was pretty but I did resolve not to bother again...

I'd find the Arran calendar a bit dull. Their products are nice but don't have the ooh/wow/gorgeous effect on me.

DD and I shared Arran last year: I thought it was very disappointing. Similar concept to Rituals but the products weren't nearly as nice (and if we had been keen they were nearly all travel sizes, so that would have been disappointing too).

Have you seen the 2D rituals calendar @WellTidy I think it is £69

All feedback appreciated! I will give Arran a swerve then. Maybe I peaked too soon with the Occitane and Rituals! I’d 100% go for Rituals again if buying for myself, but I’ve got it twice for them already and it may start to look like I’m on commission.

Any other ideas for more of a body/home advent at this price point please? Candles always go down a treat. Maximum £70 please, but I could go to £75.

@WellTidy not advent but Neom have 20-40% off some sets on their website at the moment.

Really like the look of harrods but purchased fortnums now... hmmm could I justify?!

@PomRuns thanks! I’ve now made a start on my Christmas shopping - a fabulous neom set half price, down to £83.

Still need two advent calendars though

I'm dithering over that Neom set @WellTidy

Rituals looks fab - we might get this for at work to share.