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!

Space nk is a face mask. It’s the last day and a thoroughly underwhelming product to top off a hugely disappointing calendar.

@Orcadianrythyms

Don't forget to include 'first world problem' *@OchonAgusOchonOh*

Like the perfume from M&S and got choc popcorn from Joe & Sephs. But best of all....... pink gin jaffa cakes from degustabox .
I'll definitely get that one again.

Don't forget to include 'first world problem - Of course! Nobody will get upset then.

The jaffa cakes sound gorgeous.

Cult Beauty was good today - another one of their multi-product days. Medik8 vit c serum which I'm looking forward to trying as I use their retinol already, Drunk Elephant Glycolic Night Serum, Kate Somerville ExfoliKate, Espa Grounding Crystals ( bath salts basically, they smell amazing though) and then Patchology eye gels - something I never use because frankly my crinkled eyes are beyond help. All good sample sizes. This is one of my favourite days as I prefer skincare to make-up really and these are all brands I've used and enjoyed other products from.

Hi all!

Hand cream from Rituals for me today and the pink gin Jaffa cakes from Degustabox. Happy enough with those.

A bit sad I’m done with my ACs now. Then I remembered I have the Origins 12 day one coming from Dh tomorrow!

@Jooox - rubbish, right?!

JL is a Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow quad palette.

ASOS is a mini Charlotte Tilbury Magic cream. I’ve never tried this so I’m looking forward to using it.

Have to say I’ve been thrilled with both the JL and ASOS event calendars - both have been excellent value for money. I checked contents and sizes before buying so knew I’d be happy with them but I’d forgotten contents by December so still had a surprise each day!

@westr yup. At least we know to avoid next year.

Tbh the only calendar I've ever really enjoyed was Liberty. I'm going to get that next time!

@MrsMcCluskeysChristmasTree that's fantastic 😂😂😂 glad you didn't get short changed on the advent calendar!

New mug in my Nespresso, lovely perfume in Rituals, Sephora has been a multitude of drawers of disappointments. Nose masks, hairclips, and today a very minging brownish lipgloss

Got 4 bags of yumminess in Lakrids though.

@festivefuschias the CT eyeshadow palette is gorgeous. I wore it tonight. I used last years CT eye pencil first on the lid then used the Matt brown blended over that but just above crease as have hooded eyes and then one of glittery ones in the middle of my lid. The shadows are absolutely divine to apply and blend and stayed on well. I used the Hourglass mascara too which is lovely and a brown stila eyeliner, from a previous AC, below the eye as black is too harsh for me. I also wore the new Mac lipstick.

I would never have bought these as separate items as too £££ but they are all so gorgeous and wearable.

Tomorrow I'll use the glittery eyeshadows from the new CT quad.

I forgot to open the Boots ac before I left. I did use the eye mask hydrogel thingys earlier tonight and they didn't magically instantly remove my eye bags or make any difference at all so I'll stick to my many eye creams I have on stand by

I'd have bought the lipstick as it's just a lipstick

Merry Christmas everyone

Floral street sample set Harrods. One of the few disappointments in the calendar for me. I already have this, and Harrods do an amazing range of perfumes, a small bottle from one of their niche brands would have been great.

Make-up bag F&M. This is really pretty, so happy with it.

Aveda Botanical repair M&S 2021 finishes strongly with a full size Aveda product.

This works sleep spray M&S 2018 finishes with a DoD with a small sleep spray. Oh well.

And the final score is:
16.5 to 8.5 to M&S 2021. This year’s calendar has been excellent from my perspective.

Despite the lack of a good perfume, Harrods has been the pick of the luxury calendars for me. If they keep it up next year I’ll definitely be repurchasing.

Merry Christmas to all

I am delighted with this morning’s full sized Aveda conditioner in the M&S. We aren’t opening presents until later so it was nice to have a box to open first thing - I will miss it tomorrow!
@AprilLady I LOVE your F&M make-up bag, very pretty!

I have really enjoyed this thread and seeing what everyone has got each day. For next year, I would love to get the degusta box, but doubt they deliver to Switzerland. I would have loved to get the JL, they used to deliver to Switzerland, but stopped after Brexit - maybe they will start again sometime next year. Or the F&M. I will definitely get the M&S if I can.
Not sure about getting the the Rituals again, it was nice but got a bit same-y. I will definitely keep the village itself to use as a decoration, it was lovely!
I will have seven doors of muesli to open when I get back home, plus about six tubs that I didn’t eat, so will probably have one at the weekends to see me through Jan/Feb

Hope everyone has a lovely day, with more lovely things to unwrap

A strong finish today. Aveda hair repair from M&S.

Elemis body oil. Beautiful bottle. I'm sure it will smell lovely except I can't figure out how to get in to it...

Because I'm not male, I read the instructions (after a hunt for some reading glasses). It's solid at room temperature so you have to heat it up first using hot water.

Happy Christmas everyone. I've really enjoyed the chat and sharing your calendars. See you all next year.

Full size espa mask from LF (espa is made by the hut group these days, didn't know!) Which looks great, and full size Mercury retrograde palette from glossybox. I like a mix of skincare and makeup so have been really happy with both of these calendars :)

@OchonAgusOchonOh, that body oil looks amazing!
I'm currently drying my hair after applying the Aveda stuff and hoping for a good result!
Merry Christmas to all! I love these threads

Already used the pressed gold glitter from today's Glossybox Huda palette in my Christmas eye look so feeling happy! Tbh I rarely have time to do full face makeup but really enjoy doing it when I get around to it. Lashes and everything. Feeling glam :) hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas day.

Today was a lovely Neom candle and Kate Somerville cleanser in JL so very happy with that indeed

@westr and @Jooox I felt the same about Space NK some good products but M&S probably better :(

So in summary degusta box is popular and M&S, which other calendars were people really happy with?

JL was fantastic. Will definitely buy again next year.

CB was absolutely brilliant, I'm really hoping it doesn't go downhill next year now they are part of The Hut Group as it will be top of my list again.