General “Waifs and Strays” Beauty Advent Calendar opening thread

[AprilLady]

As last year, I suggest we use this as a general beauty advent calendar thread for everyone with beauty calendars that may not be covered by other threads or who prefers a general thread. I’m opening FM, Harrods and M&S this year, and will aim to post on both this and the M&S threads.

Please can no-one post any spoilers before 7am on the relevant day.

Just over a week to go. I’m really looking forward to it!

Vanilla Mentoes (WTF?) in Degustabox today, and anti-ageing cream in Rituals. Can't palm that one off on DD (age 11) so I'll give it a go.

@DrRamsesEmerson - never tried the vanilla mentos. I love the mint ones though.

We must be calendar twins @DrRamsesEmerson - same here - Rituals and Degustabox.

Not sure what I’ll do with 3 packs of vanilla mentos!

Bom dia body cream in space NK today. Smells delightful.

Today Rituals from the advent village is Oudh foaming shower gel. And todays Museli is fruit of the forest.
I'm happy with both.

Lixirskin universal emulsion in Feelunique today, it says it can be used as a day cream, night cream or primer so basically it's just a moisturiser I think! A bit meh but it will get used

Not tried a vanilla mento yet can't say it's something I would normally buy but we will give them a go!

ASOS is Olaplex No.3 which I’m very happy with because I’ve wanted to try it for a long time but hadn’t got around to buying any.

JL is The Beauty Chef Collagen Inner Beauty Boost drink (you dilute it and it lasts for 6 days) which I’m also happy with because lack of collagen is something I’ve been thinking about as a vegetarian and supplements are something I’ve been looking into.

@FaoinDrualus

Today Rituals from the advent village is Oudh foaming shower gel. And todays Museli is fruit of the forest. I'm happy with both.

Fruit of the forest sounds more breakfast like than a lot of the ones you've been getting.

Just a question about the muesli - are they granola type (i.e. a bit crispy) or more raw, traditional muesli? I like a bit of crisp in my muesli, which is why I end up mixing my own with a mix of granola, muesli and other bits.

My mentos are vanilla mint so assuming some mintyness. Mind you with yesterday's offering also being mint I'm getting a little paranoid about my breath!

@AprilLady that lip balm is very good, certainly better than the Ultrasun one in yesterday 's M&S. Although I better not complain as I was accused of having first world problems. Finding it strange that people come on to these forums to complain about beauty treats. There's plenty of stuff to get het up about but jeez advent calendar opening isn't one of them.

@Orcadianrythyms, I saw that. I thought your response was very appropriate. I also wonder why that person was reading the thread in the first place.

@OchonAgusOchonOh Just a question about the muesli - are they granola type (i.e. a bit crispy) or more raw, traditional muesli? I like a bit of crisp in my muesli, which is why I end up mixing my own with a mix of granola, muesli and other bits.
The muesli is generally a granola type - crunchy granola with the fruit/nuts/chocolate chips or whatever added in. Its quite sweet.
I usually make my own museli - I mix a big bag of oat flakes with nuts and currants (a fruit'n'nuts bag) and store in a tin, then at night I mix a bowl of that with some frozen berries and pot of yogurt and leave overnight in the fridge. So my museli is not crunchy at all - this is quite a change! I've had some of them for breakfasts, but sometimes have it for lunch or dessert instead and have porridge for breakfast!

[quote FaoinDrualus]**@OchonAgusOchonOh* Just a question about the muesli - are they granola type (i.e. a bit crispy) or more raw, traditional muesli? I like a bit of crisp in my muesli, which is why I end up mixing my own with a mix of granola, muesli and other bits.*
The muesli is generally a granola type - crunchy granola with the fruit/nuts/chocolate chips or whatever added in. Its quite sweet.
I usually make my own museli - I mix a big bag of oat flakes with nuts and currants (a fruit'n'nuts bag) and store in a tin, then at night I mix a bowl of that with some frozen berries and pot of yogurt and leave overnight in the fridge. So my museli is not crunchy at all - this is quite a change! I've had some of them for breakfasts, but sometimes have it for lunch or dessert instead and have porridge for breakfast![/quote]
I'm not a major fan of sweet breakfasts but I reckon ds2 would love it.

I've never done the overnight thing. I must give it a go. It sounds different but nice.

I usually use a spelt, no sugar muesli as a base but it hasn't been available for a while (brexit, apparently) so I'm using spelt flakes, shredded coconut, goji berries, seeds, nuts etc. Then I add some low sugar granola (about 25%). I add cinnamon to the bowl and add yoghurt.

@OchonAgusOchonOh My museli advent is from Aldi, I guess they must also do boxes of some of these selections, but I have never looked. I dont think I would buy a chocolate chip museli, a treat in Dec is nice, but not as a regular breakfast. The gingerbread ones are nice, but I suspect that is a christmas special. I have liked the ones with peanut, which I would not have thought to add, might try mixing some unsalted peanuts in my next tub.
This is the museli advent box - its huge!

Sorry to be bringing so much museli chat into a thread in Style and Beauty

Loving the muesli chat, and thinking I need to be more adventurous with my breakfasts!

My DS would love that muesli box! Wish I lived near an Aldi...

Rituals serum today. It's quite small and the tube feels full of air but useful to try as I have rosacea and I never know what my skin will react to!

I'm really impressed with my DD's Revolution calendar this year. All have been full size and she loves everything she has from it so far

@AprilLady - Loving the muesli chat, and thinking I need to be more adventurous with my breakfasts!

One of the reasons I love this thread is the variety of interesting tangents.

Todays Sephora offering is better. A shiny eyeshadow/ highlighter. A bit glittery but it's nice for Xmas. Ignore the age spots on my wrinkly hand

Yet another espresso in my Nespresso calendar. Don't see the point of them in a vertuo one as the machine is designed for mug size. Have to make it into Americano.

Love rituals shower gel. I have so many stashed away 😂

I'm enjoying the muesli chat too! I'm surprised that it's an Aldi one - I'd assumed it must be some bougie (as the kids say..) brand as they all sound so lovely.

I've taken one for the team and tried the Mentoes. I can't taste vanilla in them at all. To me they just taste like a slightly less pepperminty Mento. Very nice, and cute with the Christmas designs printed on.

@IToldYouIWasFreaky - I'm surprised that it's an Aldi one

Same. I don't know were they available in Ireland but it will be a definite contender next year if they are.

I'm in Switzerland, and the Aldi Muesli advent is one that I got here. Muesli is very popular here (there are MANY types of muesli in the cereal aisle in the supermarket - far more than any other type of cereal).
Probably they are also available in Germany, all the branding is in German, but I've no idea about the UK or Ireland. I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would, I am developing a taste for sugary museli (a taste I could well do without!).

I'm loving the muesli chat. Great idea! Today's Vanilla Mint Mentos have divided the house, with DS2 using his 'Get Out of Advent Free' card this early in our Degusta game. That means he has to try everything else that the calendar offers. Being a fan of plain, beige food he is slightly apprehensive!

My Amazon calendar arrived today and I've opened 7 doors. See photo!
Happy with the 3ina primer and CeraVe hand cream. Love the L'Occitane Amande hand cream but it's a measly 10ml sample. Vit C face mask will be nice. Not sure about the eye mask. Nails Inc Tate I already have but it's a good deep red and doesn't seem gloopy (I suspect it's old stock because I think Nails Inc are now in rectangular bottles). DD will have the hair treatment in her stocking. So far it's ok.

M and S is nice so far. I tried the Percy and Reed balm this morning. Works well but I've never liked the smell. I prefer the Aveda. I'm hoping for some make up soon.

Ochon which calendar did you get the AlphaH toner thing in?

@NumaNumaYay - which calendar did you get the AlphaH toner thing in?

I put together my own with two of the Cult Beauty edits. The More Glow and the More Care, I think.

Meh. My drawer of disappointment This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray. Certainly not a beauty product. I've had it before and it does actually work so that's something.

Day 8 of my rituals calendar and it’s the ritual of Hammam conditioner for me. Although the info on the door says shampoo so not sure if there’s been a mix up somewhere