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.

[clary]

Who said about the NHS discount on Flannels? Good tip - if I miss CB and there are no JLP ones left I will go for that as it becomes 170 which is good. Eye palette looks nice, no VB lippy and unneeded eyelashes but I can gift those...so I think I am sorted either way :)

[MidnightMeltdown]

@toffeeshock

I think the value really depends on what you’d use. You could have the most positive impartial review but if they’re not products you’ll use or enjoy then it’s not good value. I went through each calendar myself working out the value only of the products I know I’ll use/ love. I then looked up product reviews of products that I didn’t know. I.e. there is a calendar that has a facial moisturiser that at first glance looked great for my skin type but when I looked up reviews they weren’t great at all.

The videos are good for seeing the products though, rather than just a list. I watched one unboxing recently and the girl was lovely but had never even heard of Liz Earle Skin Tonic and didn’t know what to do with that or EL ANR so I couldn’t take anything she said seriously - but it was worth it to actually see what you get.

I like watching unboxing videos too, and find it useful for helping me make my mind up (although they are often posted after things have sold out!).

I do think that packaging can be very deceptive though. My space nk arrived, and there are some big bottles in there - but I know full well that there is only a tiny amount of product inside! It's confusing because you can't trust your perception, which is one of the things makes it difficult to judge and compare calendars.

[MidnightMeltdown]

@RockaLock and @AprilLady - you ladies are lucky! Oily skin is less prone to ageing. My mum is the same.

I'm in my 30s and I think that I have normal skin. It's slightly more on the dry side than the oily side, but I sometimes get spots too which is annoying! Think this is why I struggle to find the right products for my skin.

[MidnightMeltdown]

@Stokey, yes I have olive skin and can't pull off nude/pink make up shades either. I like berry shades.

The lipstick in cult beauty would be too pale for me. Not sure about the NAP lipstick.

[PomRuns]

Flannels looks lovely but too much make up for me which I’d be unlikely to use. I think I’ve come full circle and happy again with fortnums. Late 40s. Love candles, keen to try the face creams, one of the rare people who love bum bum cream and like the molecules perfume. The room sprays I will give away.
I won’t look again now 😂
Might get m and s if the Aveda is full size and give the rest to my sister.

[StiffyByng]

I’ve just watched Cosmetopia on the CB calendar and am for the first time feeling a bit tempted. She pointed out too that it’s been bought by the Hut Group, so this will be the last year it’s free of sodding Eyeko etc. I’m thinking hard though because it’s a lot of money if it’s all just FOMO.

[Offredismysister]

I’ve still not ordered anything. I quite like the look of the Liberty men’s.

[OchonAgusOchonOh]

[quote TheWeeDonkeyFella]For those still waiting on M&S they've updated their page with a countdown and now hinting at the contents - but don't get too excited yet, its just a lot of little boxes no details: www.marksandspencer.com/c/beauty-box[/quote]
The full list is on here

The still haven't stated how much it will be or what the spend is on the Irish site. It's usually a pretty crap exchange rate but hopefully not too bad.

[TheWeeDonkeyFella]

Thanks @OchonAgusOchonOh. Hopefully you'll get a fair exchange rate especially with not having as much choice this year.

[QueefofSheena]

I’d get Flannels if it was Molecule 01 as that’s what I wear. DH has a Blue Light Card, is that the where you are getting the discount from?

[HoneyDewMel]

[quote MidnightMeltdown]@WaterScarf

I can't say that I've noticed any difference from the ones that I've used, but I tend to donate the most expensive ones to my mum as she's always complaining about her neck! It might be that I'm not quite at the age yet where neck creams are needed.[/quote]

Yes that's probably true.

I'm older but not wrinkly yet even though I really should be. But I do use quite an assortment of skin care products.

In my 20's I got really bad sunburn on décolletage and over the years the skin just started to look really wrinkled compared to the rest of my skin and the Prai really did magically make it look like soft plump skin again.

[Stokey]

@StiffyByng I feel the same about CB. I think it's probably FOMO for me and don't know whether to make the effort to try and be disappointed when it sells out in seconds. Does anyone know what time it normally goes on sale? Don't think I can face staying up till midnight for it!

[toffeeshock]

Yes, you definitely can’t use the videos to judge sizes but the ones I’ve watched have stated the ml (plus sizes are listed clearly on the sites). However packaging size did seem to fool the girl on the video I referred to previously, as she’d say that a product was 15 ml and then go on to say that that’s a really good size - for an eye cream maybe, but not a face cream! She did this a few times.

[Popsicle33]

I've got Space NK and ASOS. I'm tempted by Harrods or Liberty though....do any stores do a big GWP at Christmas?

[BunnytheFriendlyDragon]

I've found you all!

I quite like the next box but think it's because I've had my eye on that palette for a while. Thinking of getting it as a gift but thinking other then the palette the rest of it isn't particularly exciting. What do you think, if you've seen it?

The asos one was great value.

[EasterIssland]

@Popsicle33

I've got Space NK and ASOS. I'm tempted by Harrods or Liberty though....do any stores do a big GWP at Christmas?

O was tempted by the Liberty one as I had my eyes on some of the products. But after watching tje video review not sure I’m keen.

The harrods one looks good.

[PomRuns]

@Popsicle33 GWP normally February time.

[MidnightMeltdown]

I'm not at all tempted by Liberty this year. I got it last year and it has the same face serum that I'm still using (and isn't anything special IMO). I also have a couple of Olaplex already in my stash (not to mention the AB cream!).

Harrods I think is better, but there are still too many products that I already have, so it's not for me.

[MidnightMeltdown]

I do like the 80s wash bag print in Liberty though.

[Luvacuppatea]

Yay, here you all are 😊! Despite already having F&M on order, I’m still very, very, tempted by Harrods. It’s the only other one calling to me. Keep telling myself that I DO NOT need it, but I still want it and it’s coming out in a few days (14th I think). Please tell me that I really don’t need another lux calendar 😂 (though I was definitely planning on getting Liberty until I saw the contents - and the Harrods calendar is not too much more expensive than Liberty)

[PomRuns]

@Luvacuppatea I really want Harrods as well, contemplated cancelling fortnums but the box is so lovely 😳
Was considering a Neom set which is £90 but I guess that’s silly and should just get Harrods which is v good value..
sorry I haven’t put you off at all.

[Luvacuppatea]

Your post is very enabling @PomRuns 😂. Yes, the Harrods one is really good value and I think I’d use pretty much everything in there. A few more days to debate...............

[PomRuns]

Ha - me too!
Obviously it’s not just a lovely box - I do think Fortnums has some really lovely products - lots of new things to try.
I’m going to have another look at Harrods

I think fortnums should do a joint beauty food calendar next year.

[PomRuns]

Talked myself out of Harrods- decided I need a simple skin care regime.

[Luvacuppatea]

Well done, now I need to do the same @PomRuns - talk myself out of Harrods, that is haha. With my sensible head on, I really don’t need any more skincare and I have the Liberty Beauty Drop box coming soon 🤞 Also, I think that Liberty did a GWP in early December last year, when they first offered the Iphis bag (repeated similar in February this year) so I might hold out and then treat myself to a few of the bits I really fancy from the Harrods calendar to meet any qualifying spend (if that makes sense 😂)