Beauty Advent Calendars *spoiler alert - contents discussed within thread*

[ithoughtisawapuddycat]

Is it too soon for a thread on these? I remember last year they were all coming out or going on sale in September so not too far off.

I got the spacenk one last year and it was first ever beauty advent calendar and I loved it. Still using some of the products and have gone to purchase at least five items in full size, two of them multiple times.

This year I'll get the spacenk one again but might also go for the cult beauty as well.

Title amended by MNHQ to alert folk to the presence of spoilers within the thread.

I know it's not popular on here, but I love the bum bum cream - looks to be the small size in Elle though. And I use the Aveda leave in treatment but again, it's only a small one. Liberty this year has the same size. Useful for travel but won't last long sadly.

Has anyone used the Living Proof dry shampoo? I've heard good things but never tried it myself. I have fine, straight hair.

Elle was definitely better in previous years. I would say at least half of them are drawers of doom for me.

Loved the Living Proof I got in a calendar but I’ve got thick curly hair so maybe not that useful a recommendation!

I’ve had three AB creams from calendars and they seem OK but certainly not worth the actual price for me!

@Fleecy I love the Living Proof dry shampoo, I'm sure I was raving about it earlier in the thread. I have fairly thick straight hair. Discovered it a couple of years ago in Space NK calendar I think. Someone said Aldi do a good dupe but haven't tried it myself.

I didn't like the AB cream at all, I've had it in various calendars and beauty boxes but it just seems to sit on my skin and leaves it drier than normal

Agree Elle seems overpriced. Three mascaras seems excessive, and all the same brand?! Bit dull

I’m here! Thanks for the link @supadupapupascupa

I have repurchased AB - I do like it, particularly the rich cream which was their original product but there is just so much of it now. As for living proof dry shampoo, I've got fine rubbish thin hair and it does nothing for me, although I love the brand in general.

I had F&M last year and have used nearly all of it, I quite like this year but a bit similar so but I'm waiting to see Space NK or JL/Diptique/TWC, or may pass. Like others as a long term calendar/GWP junkie I've got a drawer of things I'm running down.

I've had Space NK and Look Fantastic before, and Nuxe which if you like the brand is a nice way to try a lot of their products.

I love the AB face oil and if I didn't have a million others to use I would have re purchased, never tried the rich cream but I do have one in my stash which i had forgotten about so I'm going to try once my current Elemis cream has run out .

Also never had the bum bum cream but have had the bom dia one which I loved and have repurchased.

Think I'll give the Living Proof a miss then - although if I see the Aldi one in store, might as well try it for that sort of price!

I love seeing all the contents released. I've only ever had one calendar a year and need to hold firm on that - last year I also got three or four bargain beauty boxes around the same time, so I have quite a stash too.

For me, it's candles, perfume, bath and body stuff that gets used first. And skincare. I'm not massive on make up or masks.

I’ve found my people!

I have a load of Liberty Beauty Drop credit that I was planning to use for the calendar but I’m underwhelmed. Too many resurfacing/exfoliating products for my liking. And blue mascara? Just because I’m old enough to have worn it in the 80s, it’s not something I want to go back to.

Might have to consider other options - I like candles, nice bath and shower stuff, and skincare that feels pampering not as though it’s solving a problem I might not have. And no blue mascara.

Following @OchonAgusOchonOh ’s suggestion, I now have a spreadsheet 😀 Have analysed CB, F&M and Liberty so far - see attached. Have guesstimated the cost of buying each item on eBay as a way of getting a more realistic value of contents. Conclusion so far: definitely not CB for me this year.

@AprilLady - love the speadsheet.

I was on the JL thread with you last year and am hoping they come up trumps again as nothing so far really appeals.

Woo hoo. Brillant spreadsheet.

I had planned to buy the liberty one too as I'm a beauty drop member but similarly underwhelmed with contents - just nothing I can't live without - I love le labo for example but not the matcha one they've got.

@AprilLady I LOVE your spreadsheet! Totally up my street.

I’m probably not going to get an advent calendar this year, but will watch out for John Lewis and M&S in case I can be tempted…

lovely spreadsheet @AprilLady !! I've just been counting the number of things I'll never use/don't want!

Very impressed with the organisational skills of the spreadsheeters. OchonAgusOchonOh , I think I'll be led by your recommendations as unfortunately not all places deliver to Ireland. At the moment I'm between Cult Beauty and Liberty!

@AprilLady

Brilliant - I need one of those!

I like candles too, but I don't really like to get mini ones as I tend to find that you can't really smell them. F&M and Liberty both have two mini candles.

I'm under pressure now. I'd better get colour coding 😁

I am very impressed with the spreadsheets. I just write a sort of list on a Word doc #lightweight.

Better get spreadsheeting. Will be interesting to see if my gut feeling (CB or JL if the latter is as excellent as last year) is correct loving this!

Can I join the thread? I've bought my first ever beauty advent calendar (usually just go for a chocolate one but feel like I need a treat this year) and have ordered the F&M one. It says it will be delivered on or before Friday - is that right?!

Fabulous spreadsheet!

Welcome @Someaddedsugar . I ordered the F&M calendar (my third) and was given a delivery date of ‘on or before 19th August’. It arrived yesterday, on 19th August, so I would take your given delivery date as accurate 😊. Now it’s just a long time to wait until the ‘permitted’ December opening haha………

Thanks @Luvacuppatea2 - I didn't realise they sent them out so early! I'm very excited as we don't really do presents since having DS so it'll be a nice surprise every day!

In previous years F&M have sold their calendars in August and then not shipped them until later in the year. Seems that they are shipping them straight away this year!