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.

Oh well. I guess that's space nk out for me. I do want to try some of the things, but 7ml and 10ml just isn't enough for a face cream.

I’ve looked at the Fortnum and Mason one again based on posts here beautyadventcalendar.net/fortnum-mason-beauty-advent-calendar-2022/. The box is wonderful and I like the look of the makeup bag, but none of the products interest me. Bramley stuff is lovely but I associate it with hotels. I’m very familiar with Space NK so their calendar isn’t new stuff or exciting for me. The Liberty is a good mix of scent and skincare and not much makeup, and brands that are a bit above what I’d spend at Space NK that I’m excited to try. Can reuse the drawer box too. beautyadventcalendar.net/liberty-advent-calendar-2022/

I'm so disappointed with the liberty one. I was saving my beauty drop sub for that. But there isn't anything there I am interested in. The sebagh retinol would be good. Some other bits I'd use up. But it is not a good calendar for me.

@Zeeza

There's a pic of the space nk calendar in this article. Definitely looks like a mini ceo to me:

www.standard.co.uk/shopping/esbest/christmas/best-beauty-advent-calendars-christmas-2022-b1018637.html

I agree re Liberty - it's got nothing that is something I really want.

Noble isle is alright but I agree, posh hotel. I do love wildsmith though, their stuff smells amazing, glad to see that back in F&M this year.

Posh hotel pretending isn't a bad winter thing to do though!

@BakeOffRewatch

Hmmm... I'm not keen on the makeup bag, but I like the full size cult cream and the mascara.

Noble isle and Bramley are things that would use but not be excited about.

I quite like Liberty but I'm not sure whether I prefer that or cult beauty 🤔

@AprilLady whenever you need another distraction I would love more detail on the column f,g and h I love seeing what appeals to others and is useless to others xx

Thanks for all the nice spreadsheet comments. @OchonAgusOchonOh can’t resist some ratios. Having to stop myself getting too carried away with the stats!

For those unimpressed with the calendars so far and thinking about a DIY approach, can I suggest you look at mintd:
mintdbox.com/collections/gift-store
No make up, but a great selection of skincare.

They currently have a sale on, plus a GWP if you spend £215.

if you bought the AM+PM edit, the GLOWD edit and 1 more, you’d get the free GWP and for c£235 almost 25 products, the vast majority full size (Including 2 full size Sunday Riley moisturisers, amongst others).

Thank you! Well thats that then. I wonder if harrods will be good this year.

I have heard horror stories about mintd so I never bought anything. Did you find them ok?

@Zeeza not sure what you’ve heard, but I’ve had generally very good experience with them - both as a subscription and also for one off purchases. I think they’re pretty small, so do occasionally mess up. I’ve had to chase a monthly box a couple of times, but once I chased they responded very quickly (and sent an extra freebie with the box).

The products themselves are usually exactly what you’d expect of a premium subscription: full size and boxed, which I really like.

Good to know. I will certainly keep an eye out then. Thank you

M&S sneak peek...

reallyree.com/ms-beauty-advent-calendar-full-contents-launch-info/

I'm liking the look of this. Will get some bits lined up in my basket ready to pounce once it's released.

They've kept it at £40 - well done M&S

Not sure about M&S. I've still got the Aveda and PK hair stuff left from last year, and there are more hand creams (although at least it's not tiny day creams like 2021). I like and use the Clinique mascara and LP dry shampoo, and I'm one of the few who likes an eyeliner, so depending on sizes I might get it. You can't go wrong for £40 really.

I might go with M&S. I’m finding it so hard to justify spending €250 or so this year, especially when there are so many products that I just won’t use.

M&S is always reliable and good value. I'll get it. I did prefer the tin last year and ideally I'd prefer them to choose perfumes other than Shay & Blue. I always find them too sweet and never like them.

Ooh, thank you for this. A couple of repeats from last year, but I like it!

Not 100% about M&S this year!

Things I really like the look of:

• Two shades of nail polish
• Two perfumes
• Elasticier – works great for my bleached hair
• Full size (I think) Clinique mascara – the one makeup item i use up really fast!
• Apothecary shower gel – really like the scents in this range

But there’s a fair amount of repeats or things I just wouldn’t get use out of (the two hand creams, two volumising hair things, Clinique moisturiser, Prai eye serum) my mum would love so I will probably buy it and split it between us.

I do appreciate them keeping it the same price!

Just had another look at RR's post and she says 'I am yet to confirm the price and offer details for the 2022 edition' so that £40 price tag doesn't seem to be set in stone

M&S looks decent - I like the design.

I'm leaning towards Liberty because it's the sensible (if spending £200+ on an advent calendar can ever be sensible) choice as I've lots of Beauty Drop credit saved. I think it looks nice - the one thing that is a bit annoying is that there are four exfoliating products there (including a full size Exfolikate, which I don't rate...I wish it was a KS cleaner/moisturiser instead). Are they trying to sandpaper all our skin off or something? I remember last year noticing that they had three hyaluronic acids, which seemed like overkill. I guess they must be limited to some degree in having to accept what brands want to offer.

Still intrigued to see what Net-A-Porter, Selfridges and Harrods are like. Looking at advent calendar contents is a great for procrastination.

Think I’ll be going M&S. Enough in there to give me good days, and I can regift what I don’t want to DD at that price.