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M&S beauty advent calendar

1000 replies

Keepthechangefilthyanimal · 26/10/2021 20:16

Is available on Thursday in store and online apparently.

OP posts:
Chrysanthemum5 · 04/12/2021 10:13

I love the polish - very festive

NumaNumaYay · 04/12/2021 10:53

@Decaffe

Ah, the ubiquitous red nail polish.

Bit disappointed with this one as it's the same every year!

Do you remember a couple of years back when we got two dark red nail polishes - very similar but one was shimmery and one wasn't?!

If we have to have a nail polish then would much prefer a non-red or non-metallic colour.

In fact what would be great would be some sort of paint-on nail treatment - a strengthener or something like that!

Yes, this was probably the first time I had the calendar! Today's shade is a brassier red than what I usually would wear, but will give it a try. I think in previous years I've also had a gold.
NumaNumaYay · 04/12/2021 10:56

@Findingthelight1

Loving today's.

I'm still a bit confused about the cleanser we got on day 1 though (I'm usually a hot cloth cleanser person, so not used to a balm). Is it meant to take my makeup off? And am I supposed to use it on cotton wool pads?! It smells very nice but I'm not used to the texture.

You use it the same way as a hot cloth cleanser - actually I thought those usually were balms? Massage it on, wash/scrub off with a hot wet flannel or similar.

I tried the Eve Lom balm cleanser ages ago and their instructions included massaging it on, soaking a flannel in hot water, wringing it out and resting over your face with your eyes closed for a few moments - then scrub it off, then get your flannel in cold water, wring out and rest over your face... I admit I do sometimes do this with any balm cleanser! Have copied the Eve Lom instructions below.... (ignore the bollocks about 'draining toxins')

Apply the cleanser once a day, at night for normal/dry skin types or twice a day, morning and night for congested skins. Massage a small amount onto the face and neck over the make-up and grime from the day.

Immerse an Eve Lom Muslin Cloth into a basin of hot water. Squeeze off excess water and place the cloth over the face and neck for a few seconds. The heat opens the pores, allowing the aromatic plant oils to drain toxins.

Fold the hot, rinsed cloth into a square and, in small circular movements, work the cloth across the face and neck to remove all traces of cleanser and make-up. The Muslin Cloth here exfoliates and encourages healthy blood circulation.

Rinse the cloth in cool water, and again hold over the face and neck. This helps to close the pores, leaving the skin soft, smooth and radiant.

Findingthelight1 · 04/12/2021 11:03

Ah lovely, thanks @numanumayay - I'll try that tonight!

I8toys · 04/12/2021 11:16

I now have very festive toes! Lovely!

simpledeer · 04/12/2021 11:24

Red nail polish

LizzieSiddal · 04/12/2021 11:26

I don’t like red nail varnish but my Dd will love it, so will give to her.

I’m absolutely loving the cleansing balm, I’ll definitely buy it when I’ve finished this.

Findingthelight1 · 04/12/2021 11:32

I like that the sparkly red nail polish is a bit boring tbh. It's a Christmas staple and I don't have one yet this year. Would rather that than a more offbeat colour I wouldn't wear.

IloveJudgeJudy · 04/12/2021 11:56

I like the nail varnish. I've just bought a Nails Inc today's special value from QVC and this red is a different colour again from the ones in that collection.

Thank you for whoever posted about the Eve Lom cleansing balm. I'm going to use it that way from now.

AnnieSnap · 04/12/2021 12:24

I love bright red nail polish. I think I’ll like this one too for an occasional change.

AmethystMoonShine · 04/12/2021 13:04

I kind of expected a red nail polish. Whoever mentioned the year that we got two dark red ones - yes I remember that too. I think there was also a year we got a gold and a silver, or maybe a silver and maybe one was glittery? Anyway, it's a fab toenail colour and very festive, so I'm okay with that.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 04/12/2021 13:59

I'm not usually a fan of red nail polish but this has a nice metallic look to it, I'll give it a try.

Plantsandpuddlesuits · 04/12/2021 14:36

I like the colour of the nail varnish but I'm not a nail varnish type of woman as you can probably tell by my username I have gardeners hands 🤣 but will pop this in my daughter's stocking she will love it!

Skinfulnappies46 · 04/12/2021 17:04

Love today’s ! Beautiful on ! Very happy with everything so far!

marchduck · 04/12/2021 17:29

I hadn't seen this thread and hopefully I'm not too late to join you.
I love the EH cleansing balm. First time I've tried it, but will definitely buy the full size.. I think this is better than my usual Darphin, I like the lighter texture and the scent is gorgeous
I m also liking the L'Occitane. I haven't used any of its skincare range before. I probably prefer a gel texture for a moisturiser, but this is nice.
I like a strong colour for my time nails, so I'm happy with today's treat too
The last beauty advent calendar I had was about 10 years ago I think. It was a Benefit one, very kindly bought for me by my sister, but about a quarter of it was weird filler stuff- paper clips, a couple of post-it notes,, hair ties etc. it was a little disappointing.
This on the other hand is great so far Smile

Helpstopthepain · 04/12/2021 18:02

I’ve changed my mind about the nail varnish, it’s beautiful on.

H1Drangea · 04/12/2021 19:52

Haven’t put the varnish on yeti, as we’ve been pulling up carpets and I’m painting walls tomorrow
Christmas nails start Monday !

PrimalLass · 04/12/2021 20:59

The gold nail polish a few years ago was the best. DD nicked it though.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/12/2021 21:01

I'm sure the previous nail varnish ( would've been the 2019 one) was "Weekend Millionaire" a bronzey/pinky one ( I don;t buy the AC but I like to nosey in Xmas Grin )

They still had some icalendars n M&S store today , usually they're sold out or whisked away before Dec 1st .

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 04/12/2021 21:21

Pretty colour! Shame I'm not better at applying it.

M&S beauty advent calendar
GlomOfNit · 04/12/2021 23:03

Late to the party, but you lot facilitated me into buying this thing (I had to get M&S Christmas PJs and pants for stockings anyway...) and I have to say I'm the LEAST pamper-y, beauty products-oriented person I know! Grin I pride myself on my uncluttered bathroom windowsill, which has: can of deodorant, Oil of Ulay moisturiser, baby powder - that's it! I don't do products or pampering but something made me think, 'I'm 48, it would be nice to try some things out on my poor knackered skin'.

I surprised myself by loving the Day 1 cleansing balm. I have naturally very oily skin and normally run a mile from putting actual grease onto it, but I've had periods where I used Eve Lom so I knew it would be ok. This stuff smells delightful and is making my skin peachy but NOT oilier, so that's amazing. I have to go easy on the hot cloth scrub off though, I got dry patches the first two days, after a bit of an 'argh get the oily stuff OFF me' frenzy. Grin

The immortelle cream seems so mingy for an all-over facial cream that I'm using it under eyes only. The shower wash is really nice, wish the smell lasted though. And today's nail varnish is pretty (Greebo it looks great on!) but not for me. I never paint my fingernails as I work with my hands a lot (very messy crafts) and usually paint my toenails dark blue or dark red. So this will be regifted to SIL.

NumaNumaYay · 04/12/2021 23:44

I surprised myself by loving the Day 1 cleansing balm. I have naturally very oily skin and normally run a mile from putting actual grease onto it, but I've had periods where I used Eve Lom so I knew it would be ok. This stuff smells delightful and is making my skin peachy but NOT oilier, so that's amazing. I have to go easy on the hot cloth scrub off though, I got dry patches the first two days, after a bit of an 'argh get the oily stuff OFF me' frenzy.

I have oily skin and always used foaming washes.
I switched to oil (like DHC cleansing oil) a few years ago and it's so much better! I'm never going back to foaming cleansers again! I use an oily gel in the morning (used to use Clarins Pure Melt until they discontinued it).

Anjelika · 05/12/2021 08:29

Mmm a bit meh about today's. Had this a few years ago in the advent calendar and used it maybe once. Mainly because I always wash my hair when having a shower so find it a faff to wet my hair separately, apply then wait 20 mins.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 05/12/2021 08:43

Yeah, I don't think I can use this one - I follow the Curly Girl method so avoid silicones. May give it to my mum.

HeySeamus · 05/12/2021 09:05

I'm really pleased with this as I have been wanting to try it. I already use the Phillip Kingsley Bond Builder and that is brilliant. I got a sample of that in a look fantastic beauty box and have since repurchased.
I was hesitant to spend a lot of money on the full sized elasticizer though in case it's rubbish on my hair.

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