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.

M&S and John Lewis are the most attractive options for me within their respective price brackets. I’ll decide nearer to the time how much I want to spend.

@AnnieSnap yes, of course. I was a little suspicious at first some years ago when Avant began to appear regularly in beauty subscription boxes with the RRP of £100+ for a 30ml cream. I had never heard of this brand...had never seen it in the beauty halls of department stores, which is unusual for a pricey brand one would assume was luxury. But I thought that it was probably ok...better, in fact, if it was worth so much.

However, I did some digging, and saw that quite a few people online, like Cosmetopia, were also suspicious that the brand was being used to 'mark up' the value of advent calendars and beauty boxes, even though there is nothing in the ingredients that is remarkable. Some people even suspected the ingredients or creams themselves were being bought cheaply from China and privately labelled.

On a personal note, I have used a few of the products and disliked them or found the results unimpressive...although I did read online reviews from people who liked them.

Around £40. Have had to reduce hours at work due to caring for my uncle so money pretty tight. My husband is going to buy me one as half of my Christmas present as I love them so much...so want to choose very wisely. I'm doing her same for him and he has already asked for Degustabox as it was such a big hit last year for him.

@BrokeAsABone Thanks for the information. I have cottoned on to this ‘ruse’ too. I got a Roccabox with a supposedly £100 eye cream in. That made it really good value and I do really like the product. After I bought it though, I googled it. The only places it’s sold is in beauty boxes, or on eBay where, I assume, folk are selling the ones from their boxes. It’s all well and fine that I like the product, but I have still been duped on the value of the box. Also, I try to avoid stuff that has been tested on animals. I took my eye off the ball there.

Annie I'm so with you on the animal testing. And because the brand more than likely comes from China and is steeped in secrecy, I am highly dubious it is cruelty free. So it's just a big NO for Avant from me. It's 'fake posh' and as you say, a ruse.

I thought I posted this but can’t see it. Brand alley have 2 of last years body shop advent calendars for sale

While I want one I’m thinking I might give it a miss and buy some beauty products I’d like to try. Past years I’ve had

2 x cult beauty, liked it but too expensive now and ended up selling some items on vinted
4 x rituals, love everything and will reuse the one from last year with the light up village
1 x feel unique, liked it but didn’t think last years was worth it
2 x loccitane, good to try products but too many hand creams
1 x soap and glory, was good as rediscovered some items I liked
1 x decleor, decided the brand isn’t for me
1 x lumene, loved it and now know products I like
1 x body shop, some crappy filler items but ok
2 x glossy box, good items but not bought in a few years

thought the look fantastic looked ok this year but on breakdown too many hair items

Do any of the Irish Mumsnetters know if John Lewis or Fortnum & Mason ship their calendars to Ireland, Republic? I usually go with M&S ( which I love) or Rituals but I'd love to go for a more luxurious one this year, as a treat! I love all the Beauty Caladars build up but don't want to get too excited in case it is stated( usually in TINY writing) that they don't post to Ireland. Or if they do and then get landed with big customs charge!

@AnSionnachGlic Neither JL or F&M ship to Ireland. I was interested in them last year but no joy.

BT did one last year but it was fairly over priced, as you would expect.

I think that cult beauty is the best so far, but I'm hoping for something better. I can't be bothered with the whole palaver of the random release time for CB.

In past years I've had:

2 x Cult Beauty
2 x Space NK
1 x Liberty
1 x Harrods
2 x Net a Porter
3 x Fortnum & Mason
3 x M&S
1 x Holland & Barrett
1 x Look Fantastic
1 x Rituals
1 x Grazia

F&M has always been my favourite but it's too samey this year. Also not getting Harrods, Look Fantastic, Rituals, Grazia or Holland & Barrett this year.

I wouldn't mind trying Selfridges as not had that before. Otherwise Space NK or Liberty are possibilities...

Had CB last year and it was brilliant. Especially the infamous door 18 which had about 6 products in it!
Year before I had Space NK which was also awesome.
This year not taken by any so far. Will wait and see Net a Porter as that was overall best last year IMO (& went into the sale!).. Will also get degusta box again as is fun.
Would recommend Alexandria Ryan on YouTube if you want reviews. She does all the calendars and is really fun to watch. Pretty sure hers was the Chanel review mentioned above 😂

Ochon Agus ochon...thanks so much for your reply.. ...just what I expected that they don't post to Ireland! I agree that Brown Thomas's calendar is overpriced but our options are limited. Have signed up for a reminder for Cult Beauty and Tge White Company so hopefully they will work out🤞

Yes. Much better as it cleans the hair rather than soaking up the oil iyswim? Still a bit of white left but brushes out really well without hair feeling chalky like some dry shampoos do.

I've ordered from both SpaceNK and Cult Beauty since Brexit and haven't had to pay anything extra. Delivery much faster and service slightly better with Space NK, but no real issues with either of them. Haven't bought an advent calendar from either of them but I assume will be the same. Considering it this year, even though tbh both will have an excellent sale.
The whole "£10,000 worth of product for 50p" thing is very suspect. How much is a thirty quid lipstick worth if it's a shade you'll never wear?
Was kind of sorry I didn't get the Space NK one last year though. I think I'd have used most of the stuff and the few bits of make-up were in very neutral shades.

Fortnum and Mason now available to order...

https://www.fortnumandmason.com/fortnums-beauty-advent-calendar-2022?utmsource=Affiliate&utmmmedium=26inhouse&utmcampaign=rewardStyle&clickid=VZk3plxMQxyNUPE0QZxt8TcTUkDycUzdhUwYTk0&dclid=CKmAl4fewPkCFUBIHQkdCAUIrg

Thanks.

Yes, I agree with you re the €1000 for 50¢ thing. And the 5,000,000 black eyeliners I have now accumulated. Plus the stuff like Avant that only turns up in calendars.

Defo giving F&M a miss. I hate Bramley, Noble Isle, Aromatherapy shite and bumbum cream. I also think a tiny lip balm and hand sanitizer are not treats!

I had F and M last year and it was lovely but won’t get this year’s. I do have the NAP one unopened as I managed to get it in their sale but am very tempted by the Cult Beauty one if I can get one. Harrods looked good last year too.

It looks like a feast to open, but it’s a lot of money. I can’t justify as I can’t wear mascara, really don’t need any more primer and can’t add much to a bath due to sensitivity of my vulva.

Next advent calendar:

beauty-detective.com/next-beauty-advent-calendars-2022/

Not for me but, might float someone else's boat

Looks like they're all hiking prices this year. I wonder whether M&S will be around the £50 mark

Looks like Next has gone up £16 since last year and I think that the 2021 contents was better

I actually quite like Next for the price, barring the one pointless item. But my daughters like that so it does do for a stocking present.

So many of the items in the items in the Next calendar are 7ml, a few 15ml. For me, they are just an annoying size that I wouldn’t end up using. Surely those are nothing better than the free samples given with a purchase 🤷‍♀️ I wouldn’t waste my money!

Yes that was my reaction too. Some nice items tho I am not keen on the Foral Street perfume actually, but Bad Gal Bang is a great mascara and I love that Mac lippy if it's the one from last year's JLP calendar. Also Elemis moisturiser and a nice Neom candle. But the ANR is 7ml, as is the Lancome serum, and 5ml of Smashbox primer is a bit poor.