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'm not impressed with space nk either. I think that Cult Beauty and Liberty are both much better than this.

For me, the drawers of disappointment are:

• Paula's choice - already have
• Pillow talk - already have and not mad on the colour
• La Mer - I think that this was there last year? And tiny
• Caudalie - already have
• Olaplex - don't like. Does nothing for me
• Hourglass - don't want setting powders. There was one last year.
• Drunk elephant butter - 5ml sample!
• Fresh Soy cleaner - I've had loads of these and not that keen
• Sisley Products - have had before and they're tiny
• Laura Mercier stick - not keen
• Bum Bum cream - 😴
• Sunday Riley cream - already have in stash
• Dennis Gross - already have
• Rose inc - I think that there was one of these last year? And I wasn't that keen
• Jo Loves - another mini candle
• Tatcha - ridiculous size
• AB - already have and not mad in this brand

Almost relieved that I'm not keen in space nk as it makes my decision easier!

I'm relieved too - this was the last calendar I thought I might be tempted by after F&M/Liberty and whilst I do like the AB face oil and don't have any, most of the other things I like I have plenty of in my stash (including Olaplex 3, Bum Bum cream, the Dennis Gross pads and the Sunday Riley CEO cream plus others).

I will be sticking to my homemade one.

Yeah not that tempted by Space NK either - that hourglass translucent setting powder among others has been in so many GWPs...

Agree on the mini candles too, I could just buy 4 huge TWC candles for the price of the calendar in the white weekend nov offer...

So between Liberty, F&M and Space not that excited - possibly a good time for a break year!

It irritates me when they put 5ml and 7ml creams in there too. Is it really worth packaging 5ml of cream?!

Just had a look at last years and the olaplex, Sisley products, La mer and rose inc are all repeats (although rose in a different shade)

Yeah I don't want 5ml

Space nk..: it's a no from me this year. I'll always get the M&S calendar (unless it drastically changes for the worst this year), but I may also get John Lewis if it looks good.

I'm also intrigued to see Glossy Box contents.

The Dr Babs Sturm hyaluronic serum is gorgeous and I like the Space NK voyage and the Ultra Violet, but not worth buying the whole calendar for.

Space NK out for me as well. I travel for work so find smaller sizes of things handy but there's small then there's minuscule. Liberty is front runner, keen to see Harrods. It looked great last year.

I’d of thought that they would have pulled all the stops out this year, but alas no!
I had the full size BS hyaluronic serum in a value Space NK box…I’m finding the calendars uninspiring atm, tiny samples and the same brands on repeat.

Space NK is really not worth the price. I was about half way adding it to my spreadsheet and have just decided to abandon it. There are a few things I'd like to try but the sizes are tiny.

All the hair stuff in CB and Liberty is putting me off a bit. I have a couple of patches of psoriasis on my scalp that were triggered a few months ago by diptique shampoo. I'm struggling to get rid of them so I'm not really using hair products at the moment.

I’ve been looking at previous years’ Liberty calendars and I think 2022 compares favourably for me. Two mini perfumes, two full size candles, a good mix of skin care, hair care, makeup and body care. And no body lotion (I can never use it up)!

@Orangeslemon the candles are 60g and 70g AFAIK, unfortunately not full size

Oh thank you for letting me know @KimmySchmitt! Not sure why I thought they were full sized – apologies if I got anyone’s hopes up.

Space nk is so disappointing for me, easy pass. Quite a few small sizes, CT pillowtalk looks like concealer on my lips, too many repeats and things I’ve had in lots of GWPs in the past so quite boring.
i love the Sisley mask though!
CB for me this year, enough new to me things to try.

I did a tough calculation and Liberty is slightly in front of Fortnums for me. I’m not very excited by either though so might abstain 😮

The problem with most or all of the calendars lately is that there are so many repeats and products seen regularly in GWPs. I would have thought that most people willing to spend this much on a calendar are really into skincare and so on and it would be the time of year when retailers and manufacturers went all out to wow us so that we were likely to repurchase and develop some brand loyalty. That doesn't seem to be the case. And I say this as someone who likes This Works sleep spray and Bum Bum cream!

Last year I had John Lewis and it was great - more than paid for itself with products that I buy anyway such as ANR and enough other items that I fancied trying or had tried and liked even if not repurchased.

I have my Liberty Beauty Drop credit and so I'm leaning towards that but hoping to see the Harrods and John Lewis contents soon. I might just not bother this year and used my BD credit in the sales.

*rough not tough calculation !

Space NK is not appealing at all for me.

Thank you for sharing the H&B info. £55 is a big leap but I suppose everything is more expensive now.

I had space nk last year - never again. Products were dried out, damaged or missing. Some of the tiny ones had ‘free sample’ written on them. It was hugely disappointing for someone who normally doesn’t spend much on themselves.

I missed the Holland and Barrett update - how much has it gone up by? Was ot £40 last year?

Elemis might be worth it this year for me. Depends what's in it and the cost

I think the Flannels one looks great, but I already have the palette and perfume. Otherwise those two items would be the big draws for me. Perfume and palettes are always the items I look forward to most. So far CB is my favourite (although I preferred the last 2 years). I'm looking forward to seeing what's in John Lewis as I thought that was excellent last year.

Love these threads. I’m DEFINITELY not getting a calendar this year. Definitely not. I have so much stuff to use up. But I will enjoy reading the thread anyway. It’s helpful as I was thinking I quite liked the look of the Space NK one and then reading the negative comments made me rethink! My willpower is shocking so I need the negativity!

Last year I wasn’t going to get a calendar either but ended up with Rituals and Degustabox. Wasn’t wowed by the Rituals one and still haven’t used some of the Degustabox things so won’t get them this year.

@christmas2022 i think it was around that price point, maybe even £45 but it was discounted when it first went on sale. Hopefully they’ll do the same again.

I might go for a beauty box this year. CB had a few decent ones last Christmas.