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.

@BurningTheToast i thought the advent calendars were more entry to beauty brands rather than for seasoned beauty people. So putting in winning faves for people who might not have tried it yet makes sense. When they first started (I think Space NK was first in 2016 or 17?) they were pricier and more like what you said, but they sell loads now.

like PP said I think the whole GWP thing has become an expected thing rather than surprise delight by consumers and they’ve gone run of the mill as a result. I remember GWP that I queued for in London were amazing 7-10 years ago, like little mini leather purses I still own, they don’t really do that now.

So far I'm not tempted by any of the beauty advent calendars which is a massive relief 😂. But still time for John Lewis or M&S to change my mind!

I'd like to see what's in the M&S calendar before deciding whether to get one of the pricier ones. I know it's not in the same league as Liberty etc. but it's scratched the itch for me in previous years. Only thing is M&S tends to reveal the contents later (looks like it was the start of November in 2022) while others are releasing now/September/October and might be sold out by then.

Nothing has ever come close to scratching my itch for the Liberty calendar. I’m having it this year and hoping it will be disappointing enough for me to never want it again!

I managed to abstain last year, so I’m feeling like I need to have one this year.
I have a beauty double door unit that I should be ashamed of..doors open and it’s like a luxury beauty counter…but not as tidy! Then don’t even get me started on the bathroom cabinets and surfaces!!
I think 🤔 I may have a problem 😁

Ooh can you post a photo please @SoloCat or of something similar? I’d love something like that. Was thinking large drawers like in that Motherland episode of Meg’s bathroom but yours sounds better, can see all the labels.

Yeah I've had rituals before too @Peridot1 and I didn't think much of it either.

4 of the doors were mini candles that were so small that you couldn't smell them when burning, even in a small room.

There were also several shower gels/scrubs without a matching moisturiser which was disappointing. I wouldn't buy it again. Would rather just get a full size set of the products I want.

@BakeOffRewatch I’d love to say it’s a luxury cabinet but it’s most definitely not…just full of luxury products.
I moved last year into a 17th century thatched cottage and it’s more Steptoe and Son than Catchpole and Rye 😁 I should be saving money as I have a scroll 📜 length list of renovations…I need no more beauty products…but I’m too far into the advent web to retreat now 😂

Completely agree with @MidnightMeltdown view of the space NK calendar contents - so disappointing!

Hmm well so far H&B is the front runner for me, despite the price hike - didn't think that would be the case, but just not loving any of the others. Liberty the best atm .. interested in John Lewis as was so good last year

I've just been emailed a pic of space nk and the CEO cream is a tiny size too! At £215 I'll be surprised if it sells out without a heavy discount.

Unless they couple it with an exciting GWP at some point as they did a few years back...

I wonder if that's right though it's geared at a non space nk typical customer

Following
got today emails from Liberty and spacenk

Agree soaceNK looked disappointing. I feel like the amount of stuff I'd use, is less than you'd get in a good gwp. Not worth £200+

It would be better if they either did two price point calendars, one for newbie introduction and one for seasoned beauty aficionados, or a 25 and 12 day calendar.
Price is always going to come into play and you’re never going to please everyone, but I would love a more thought out one than a ‘that’ll do’

They wouldn’t make any money if they did that.

@Blossomtoes Maybe you’re right…I do wonder what the mark up is for each product.
Don’t most advent calendar producers make sales due to onward purchases…or is it mostly excess stock, as we now have so many GWP, beauty subscriptions, samples and freebies it does make you wonder. The fact that calendars are sitting around longer would indicate that we may be at saturation point for the type of products they includes and they may need rethinking…I’m just dreaming of my ideal calendar 😁

I think so, I think the Christmas edits and limited editions are for beauty aficionados. I’ve always felt the calendars are for those buying for others - “Er wife/gf/mistress/mum/daughter loves beauty! I dunno what to get, ok this is flashy and has loads of stuff!”. They are advent calendars in the true sense too, does anyone get the chocolate calendars for the same reasons.

I look forward to the Space NK Christmas stock much more, the little party mini palettes, baubles and so on.

@SoloCat

I imagine that they get most of the products free, or heavily discounted from the brands. Just look at the AB rich cream popping up in every calendar last year.

Most beauty products cost pennies to make, so the brands don't lose much, and they get wide exposure with lots of people trying their stuff.

My F&M calendar has arrived and it's so heavy!

Mine too @Someaddedsugar
Ive been busy so not opened it yet but the box is very heavy!

@AmethystMoonShine I've hidden mine away - don't think I can be trusted not to open it 😂

So,e companies do several. Loccitane and Body Shop come to mind, but I think there are others too.

@Someaddedsugar 😂

@MidnightMeltdown

The dreaded AB cream 🙄 some people it works for..I came out with dry patches…can only use it mixing it with the oil, or something else.

I get sucked in with every promise of looking like I’m in my twenties again…you would have thought I’d have learnt by now….I’ll be 90 and still believing the next miracle cream is the one 😊 and still complaining about the calendar contents!

I found it really sticky. When I was in space nk a bit ago they were saying it sells really well, I was surprised