M&S beauty advent calendar

[Keepthechangefilthyanimal]

Is available on Thursday in store and online apparently.

I think we all know that but as we're all unlikely to get handed a box of 25 samples, it's nice to see what it would cost to buy the equivalent vs what we paid for it.

Agreed - it's just out of interest, I'm not going to sue M&S if I can't make it sum to £300.

The flip side is I buy this because of (some of) what's in it, not because it's the M&S brand. I know roughly what to expect and there is a product in there I was going to buy at full price but bought the calendar instead (and will buy the full price product at a later date). If it wasn't in there, I may not have bought it.

I am happy to buy my calendar - note to self must open box 1 tonight - I buy it willingly not because I think I'm getting £300 worth of stuff

If I go to M&S and they offer me some dog biscuits - a huge sack worth £100 for £5 I don't buy it because I don't have a dog

For me it's £40 that I appreciate I'm lucky to have to spend on frivolous / or essential depending on your viewpoint

@DobbyTheHouseElk

Ok, I’ll get this out of the way now so I don’t offend. I really don’t mean it to.

The value of this advent calendar is in a way what we paid for it. Actually less cost in a way to M&S. The brands will have jostled to be in the calendar, it’s fantastic promo for the brands. I don’t expect M&S pay much for the products because it’s all about advertising the brand.

Yes, I’m sure if you work out each gram of a full size product and divide it by our products you can get a rough estimate, but it’s not realistic as a true price.

In past years some products have been made especially for the calendar in packaging and sizes, so again less actual value because they are a promo item.

This doesn’t at all take away from the products which will be good.

I’ve been in the beauty industry for many many years and know how it works.

I don’t want to upset anyone. But that’s the truth. This calendar is fantastic as a calendar. It’s worth is what we paid for it as a calendar.

A full size product will be packaged accordingly and advertised which is where part of the cost comes from. I worked for most top beauty houses in my career and they all hand out samples like sweets. It’s all about advertising.

Not offended at all, surely is common sense rather than a big inside secret? I got myself this calendar because I wanted to. I wanted to treat myself and in the past have gone on to buy the full sized products (sometimes at a great cost). It is excellent advertising but I’m happy that the companies all jostled to be in it, as a consumer that means that I get better products.

Okay, am I being dumb here? I would use a fluffy flannel and micellar water and then use this afterwards instead of my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. Is that okay or have I got that wrong?

@FreshFaceTime I think it’s useful to offer opinions on comparisons with other products 👍

@DobbyTheHouseElk

Well if you think of it like that you’ve effectively bought something that’s free.

Huh? If it's for sale, then it's not free. It cost money to produce in the first place.

The items are not available to me for free so I decide whether to buy it based on its contents and its cost. I don't care who is absorbing the costs or making the profit on it or why they are doing it.

This is mainly a nice thread where we're all happy to varying degrees with the items and want to discuss how others feel. It would be great if it could stay that way without anyone raining on our parade.

@OchonAgusOchonOh Agreed. Next we'll have someone coming on to tell us Christmas is for children and we should be ashamed, or berating us for single-handledly destroying the planet with plastic minis. Anyway. At least we've got it out the way on day 1! Let's get back on a nice festive track

I hear what you are saying @DobbyTheHouseElk but the points you raise don’t change the customer’s experience of value in the real world. I only count the cost gram for gram, of the products I would be prepared to buy individually. Several of the products in this calendar, I already use and regularly replace, or products that I would buy. My assessment of the value to me (made before I purchased it) was made on that basis. The same applies to my Beautypro one - a gift from my husband.

Delighted with the inaugural offering I love EH products I think I remember this from a previous calendar. I know it's called morning balm but I plan on using it before bed, can't wait!

Ha! I've just put my glasses on and looked at it again to realise it's moringa not morning (doh!) so of course can be used anytime day or night

Very pleased, useful for taking away

@LifeInAHamsterWheel - Ha! I've just put my glasses on and looked at it again to realise it's moringa not morning (doh!) so of course can be used anytime day or night

I, and presumably everyone else over a certain age, also read it as morning

There is definitely value in the calendars, even if the brands virtually give them to M&S. I personally really like getting generous travel sizes like today’s EH balm; it’s much bigger than the typical sample you could perhaps get free, it’s enough for you to properly test the product, but not so much that you feel guilty wasting it if it turns out the product is not for you.

I'm surprised that today's offering would be considered a travel size by many posters. My travel sized toiletries are in much smaller containers than this.

@Nuffaluff

Okay, am I being dumb here? I would use a fluffy flannel and micellar water and then use this afterwards instead of my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. Is that okay or have I got that wrong?

Yes. Or just skip the micellar water. The balms I've used don't need anything else beforehand as they cleanse well. Plus I'm lazy. Double cleansing is a step too far for me.

Marks and Spencer sell a 15ml tub for £10. I knew I had bought a small one after getting the first one in a calendar ages ago. They used to do a small one with a cloth too at one point. So I thought this was a good size. Not worried about values but just enjoying the pleasure of a surprise to look forward to each morning before Christmas. I have a few if the cloths from past purchases but any muslin or a flannel does.
Now looking forward to tomorrow. I’ve put box number 2 on my bedside table ready to open.

The container is big but there is prob only 1cm of product in it, the rest of the pot will be hollow. Its 30g, full size is 100g.

@RampantIvy

I'm surprised that today's offering would be considered a travel size by many posters. My travel sized toiletries are in much smaller containers than this.

Yes, so are mine but this is fine especially as I'm not flying anywhere anymore

@Countmeout I’ve put box number 2 on my bedside table ready to open.

That's cheating!!

I deliberately leave mine on my dressing table which is impossible to reach without hauling my lazy arse out of bed on a cold December morning

Oh gosh guys, don’t start dissecting the cost per ml. It’s Christmas and it’s for FUN 🤩

@DobbyTheHouseElk

Ok, I’ll get this out of the way now so I don’t offend. I really don’t mean it to.

The value of this advent calendar is in a way what we paid for it. Actually less cost in a way to M&S. The brands will have jostled to be in the calendar, it’s fantastic promo for the brands. I don’t expect M&S pay much for the products because it’s all about advertising the brand.

Yes, I’m sure if you work out each gram of a full size product and divide it by our products you can get a rough estimate, but it’s not realistic as a true price.

In past years some products have been made especially for the calendar in packaging and sizes, so again less actual value because they are a promo item.

This doesn’t at all take away from the products which will be good.

I’ve been in the beauty industry for many many years and know how it works.

I don’t want to upset anyone. But that’s the truth. This calendar is fantastic as a calendar. It’s worth is what we paid for it as a calendar.

A full size product will be packaged accordingly and advertised which is where part of the cost comes from. I worked for most top beauty houses in my career and they all hand out samples like sweets. It’s all about advertising.

Such a weird post.

Why would anyone be upset by your post?!

How could it offend anyone?!

Why did you feel the need to get it out of the way?!

Bizarro! 😂

@simpledeer 🤣

@LifeInAHamsterWheel

Ha! I've just put my glasses on and looked at it again to realise it's moringa not morning (doh!) so of course can be used anytime day or night

me too!