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!

JL - Sunday Riley Good Genes - one of the main reasons I wanted this AC

Boots No7 - Hydraluminous night gel cream

Degusta - Rummo pasta sauce to go with yesterdays Rummo pasta which we'll eat tonight

Very happy with todays offerings

Photos

Prai Neck cream in Feelunique today, I've never tried it and I'm only in my late 20's so not sure if I need neck cream yet (if ever?!). This one is going to go to my mum who will appreciate it more than me .

I'm looking forward to trying the pasta and sauce from Degustabox

@MrsMcCluskeysCat It's never too early for neck cream! Prevention is better than cure in this case. I really wish I'd taken better care of my neck when I was younger. I'm mid 40s now and my neck looks about 60

I'm pleased with the pasta and sauce too - nice to have a different, higher quality version of something we eat a lot!

Yesterday space NK was the ordinary caffeine solution and today is drunk elephant teeny tiny moisturiser and some rose drops.

Thanks @AprilLady. I have space nk this year but enjoy reading about the other calendars too. I can't believe there isn't a Liberty calendar thread. A few years ago that was the only calendar people seemed to get!

Today was a guest size soap

That’s probably it, AprilLady. And I agree re Liberty, westr.

JL is Sunday Riley Good Genes. Have never tried anything from this brand.

ASOS is a mini EL advanced night repair - I use this religiously so I’m happy to have a travel size version.

For those also with Liberty calendars - was yesterdays just the £15 voucher? Which is not bad in itself - I’m sure I’ll spend it! - but just wondered if I’d missed something.

I’m enjoying the frivolity of the 5hread too and seeing what people get.

We got the pasta sauce today too and will use in next week or so with the pasta and some halloumi cheese that needs using.

Also got the Rituals shampoo today to go with the conditioner from yesterday.

The £15 voucher in Liberty sounds like it be a replacement for an item which had supply issues maybe? I think I did get a voucher in Liberty before, but not by itself, I've an idea it might have been a 'bonus' in box 25 along with something else. But that was probably in 2018.

I got the Liberty advent twice, in 2018 and 2020. I LOVED it the first time, it was my first beauty advent calendar and I'd never tried most of the items or used the brands. I enjoyed it last year too - but there seemed to be some repeat items and lots of repeat brands from 2018, so not quite so exciting. I didn't get it this year and it seemed a bit too samey - though great if you didn't get it before I would think.
The box alone is beautiful. I do love a festive Christmassy box - it was a big part of the reason I got the Rituals advent village!

I was tempted to try the Mens Liberty - it seemed to have quite a lot I would enjoy (the Neom candle and the Gin in particular), but was afraid I'd end up giving too much away!

@Peridot1 - We got the pasta sauce today too and will use in next week or so with the pasta and some halloumi cheese that needs using.

Just an FYI - halloumi freezes very well. I always have a few blocks in the freezer.

@OchonAgusOchonOh - good tip - thanks!

I had the shampoo today in rituals too so they were just in the wrong slots 🙂

This is my 3rd attempt to upload this file!

Anyway, some form of supplement I need to take before bed that is going to do amazing things for my skin. I'll report back in a week.

Shower gel in M&S. Not terribly exciting but it will get used eventually.

Last few days of Lumene have been serum, lip gloss and make up remover.

After whinging a bit about the small sizes I've changed my mind. The Percy and Reed Wonder balm from M&S reminded me that sometimes committing to working through a full size product isnt fun, so I'm actually really happy with smaple sizes

I didnt hate the wonder balm that much, but the Aveda really is so much better as all the PP said!

@PurpleIndigoViolet yep, just the £15 voucher yesterday. I also felt a little swizzled by it, just because I want something to actually try each day! I absolutely love one of the perfume samples from earlier on though (the Dear Polly one) so I'm sure I'll cope

@RazorstormUnicorn, I completely agree about sizes. I really like getting, say 15ml to 20ml of a serum or moisturiser I haven’t tried before; enough to try it out properly, but not a chore to finish if it turns out I don’t like it.

I like smaller shower gels too, as I can have variety in what I use without having too many products on the go at once.

@PurpleIndigoViolet, I seem to recall from the advent calendar buying thread that the £15 voucher was because Liberty had shipping problems with the item intended for that day.

Rituals mini anti-aging face cream today. The Samurai range I've always thought was more masculine and unfortunately DH won't be interested in it! Maybe DS will use it ..

Day 10 is a mixed bag:

Cult 51 night cream. F&M. Another good product, hadn’t remembered that both day and night cream were included in the calendar. Very happy with this.

Natura Bisse neck cream Harrods. While sceptical of neck creams generally, and the claims of this one specifically, I’m very happy to give it a go. It’s also more than it looks - 15ml.

Prai hand cream M&S 2021 Will be good to try something other than the neck cream from Prai. Pretty small sample for a hand cream though.

Wonderbalm overnight recovery M&S 2018 I tend to wash my hair at night, so find an overnight conditioner impractical. Not sure I’ll use this.

So 2021 scores again: 7:3

I’m really happy with both F&M and Harrods so far too.

Nuxe oil in Feelunique today, I always forget to use oil but I now have 3 that I have received in the last few weeks (Elemis deal and x2 advent calendars) so I really need to start remembering to use them!

Some yummy looking granola bites in Degustabox today, they will make a nice morning snack today.

@LookdeepintotheParka

Rituals mini anti-aging face cream today. The Samurai range I've always thought was more masculine and unfortunately DH won't be interested in it! Maybe DS will use it ..

I didn't realise that. I am planning to use it. I don't think the face cream knows I am female!

Candle from space nk. Can’t smell it due to covid nose but it looks pretty.

JL offering is a brand I've wanted to try but not as a single use mask - I always feel a bit cheated with these - Dr Jart ceramidin mask

Boots No 7 a rose gold nail varnish which I'll happily use

Degusta - King Monty chocolate snack which will be devoured between the DC later.