Beauty Advent Calendars 2021 Thread 3 - Decisions Decisions! (Spoilers included)

[Peridot1]

Hope it’s ok to have started the thread as we seemed to run out of the last one a bit quickly! And I was really enjoying the thread and reading everyone’s thoughts.

I started reading the first one determined not to buy one this year.

Currently I have the Rituals one and have just ordered the Origins 12 Day one for the 12 days of Christmas!

Let the chat and decisions continue!

Regarding sorting and sorting like others I have my stash sorted into bags of cleansers, toners etc. Now that travel is back on the cards I will use them up that way.

@Giftwithpurchase Celine and Chloe bags? I need to go...

@PomRuns yep! They were nice ones too - I was v tempted. There was also a lovely balenciaga city bag which was so nice. Think it really depends on the store - hopefully yours has some good stuff 👍

Has anyone had a shipping notification from F&M yet? My confirmation email says "arrival on or before 01 November" ... and I'm impatient

@20FlowerPower, no not had anything from F&M yet. In previous years it had definitely arrived by the end of October, so hopefully it will come soon!

I've not heard anything from Fortnum's yet either. Had almost forgotten that I'd bought it! Only ordered on standard delivery though, so not expecting it for a while yet.

@20FlowerPower I went for click and collect and it's due to arrive on Friday (29th) but I haven't had any notifications or updates yet.

I'm a bit funny with TK Maxx, I trust it for beauty stuff but with clothes, bags etc I always wonder if it's really a good deal or if they're seconds made especially for TK Maxx.

If anyone's interested, Look Fantastic are doing 3 for 2 on various gift sets and the Decleor calendar is included.

I'm not getting it, but I ordered 3 of the Look Fantastic x Christophe Robin beauty boxes.

CB still hasn't come. So now I have to wait in limbo for the next 3 days for their 'internal courier team' (code for hermes) to investigate. I'm pretty sure it's lost. It's DD's birthday present and I have a deadline to beat - if it hasn't come by Thursday I'm going to have to give her my JL one.

Just had notification that the Harrods calendar is coming back into stock soon

@supadupapupascupa

Just had notification that the Harrods calendar is coming back into stock soon

Great! I'm holding out for that one. So far I have Rituals townhouse and White Company but wanted a mixed one.

There is up to 25% off on advent calendars and other stuff on FeelUnique at the moment. The offer ends tomorrow.

@plantingandpotting I will pm you after going through my stuff. Otherwise happy to buy xx

I wasn't going to buy anything. My sister usually buys me one. But I saw the Net a Porter and the contents of the skincare and I couldn't resist. For woman in their 50s, this is a superb selection. I would use every item extremely happily - apart from the crystal which might daughter will love

Thank you @OchonAgusOchonOh

I just bought the invisibobble calendar ehich I wanted for some reason!

@OchonAgusOchonOh do you need a code for the 25% off?

I'm coming to this threat late in the day but would love to know whether the M&S calendar is really £300? I thought in the past it was around £40 if you spent over a certain amount. Or am I looking at the wrong calendar?

@creampuff99 it costs the lower amount when you spend a certain amount (£30 or £40?) so if online you need to add the other items to your "bag"

@PomRuns - do you need a code for the 25% off?

I think it's SURPRISE. It was on the top of the website but I can't see it now - wifi is down and I'm on mobile site so not as easy to spot things. There is another code now OCTOBER15 that gives 15% off. Most of the things I looked at with the code yesterday were only 15% off anyway. The discount was "up to" 25% off.

@creampuff99 the M&S calendar is £40 if you spend £30 on clothing or home. I think £300 is the price if you don't spend £30 on other items

Thank you @OchonAgusOchonOh It was 10% off decleor so now not sure !

No 7 calendars are both available again. Not sure how fast they will sell out!

No 7 usually also do a massive set half price as a star gift around Black Friday, if anyone misses out

@friendlyflicka

I wasn't going to buy anything. My sister usually buys me one. But I saw the Net a Porter and the contents of the skincare and I couldn't resist. For woman in their 50s, this is a superb selection. I would use every item extremely happily - apart from the crystal which might daughter will love

I just went back and took a good look at it after reading your post....looked up a few of the items and read the reviews and bought it! Some of the items I am really excited about trying now as my skin isn't getting any younger either!

I think I will try to get Harrods and that will be it. So much for feeling all meh about them this year.

I normally get dd21 the H&B one as part of her christmas present but they're not shipping to Ireland this year. Sending it via a redelivery service really adds to the cost as there is double VAT plus the collection cost. She doesn't want a more expensive one as she has other things earmarked for her present so I'm looking for something around the €50-60 mark.

She wants mixed brand. The Next one, which looks good, doesn't ship to Ireland. Nor does ASOS, Latest in Beauty or Amazon. Pretty Little Thing doesn't appeal (quartz roller...) We were looking at the M&S one the other day and she thought that looked good. However, I'm just wondering if it is a bit too old for her?

I'm no help as I'm pretty clueless on brands. While I love trying out all the different stuff from the calendars and boxes, I tend to just buy nivea soft as a moisturiser and a pretty random series of cleansers. I do go for the No. 7 serum but that's the only expensive product I get.

She is 21 but has dryish skin - she had eczema as a child and her skin still soaks up moisture. She also does a lot of swimming, which dries it out too. The fact there are 3 hand creams is appealing to her as she works part-time in a hospital so is hand-sanitising like mad and will be on clinical placement after christmas too.

Looking through it, the only things I think mightn't suit are the wrinkle cream and the 2 fragrances (might be too old lady?) but I could swap with her.

So, wise and knowledgeable ladies, what do you think? Would it be ok for a 21 year old who really just wants a little bit of something nice to open every day? Or is there something else that I'm not thinking of in that price range?

@OchonAgusOchonOh

I think that M&S is the best mixed brand one in that price range. I was around 30 the first time I got it and I loved it. I don't think that it's too old ladyish