H&B advent calendar - opening!

[Plump82]

I know last year's was a bit disappointing but I still decided to get one as theres been a few products over the last couple of years I've loved.

I don't think theres a thread for this so far, if there is please point me in the right direction.

If not then I'll kick off by saying I'm pleased with Door 1. I always like to try new cleansers and i love the eyecream from this brand.

Yes, they had some different fragrance varieties too so might go back and try them!

If everything in it was worth £3.50 then the whole contents would be £87.50, so still a good deal. I defintely wouldn't pay £3.50 for the tiny Jojoba oil though!

Yes, and the serum worth £10 I think

It just makes me a bit nervous as I already have oily skin...I like using jojoba on my body (especially feet!) But think my face wouldn't take to it. I used the hair oil last year and it was OK a couple of times but then felt really itchy so I stopped. I tried the hair mask from a couple of boxes ago and that was great!

The hair mask was £1.50
Jojoba oil £1.80
and then the scratchy eye mask without a value 😂

I’m hoping for something full size tomorrow.

Can we use today's oil as a carrier oil for the frankincense or would it be a waste?

@Zampa I think that's a good use for it if you won't otherwise use the jojoba. I used the oil today on my face and my hair/ scalp too- about a 5 pence piece size.

Thanks @Piemam .

My nail tech is always going on about cuticles so I could use it as a cuticle oil. I'm just concerned about using oil on oily skin/fine hair.

I sometimes add oil to my moisturiser (face or body) rather than directly into skin. Gives it more slip and makes lotion go further.

I knew exactly what today's was as soon as I saw the tissue paper.

This one has definitely made me decide not to buy next years. I just think the choices have been really lazy this year.

I was obviously tired when I opened it as it made me feel really cross and was so tempted to email H&B and tell them! Now I'm more awake, I've decided that's a ridiculous thing to do and won't!!

It's my last year with this calendar as well. At best I feel like I've done the weekly shop, at worst I feel like I'm being mugged off. Today's drawer was the clincher.

Yes so many products are repeats of previous years not much thought or imagination gone into making 2022's calender...

The thing that annoys me is H&B are meant to be environmentally friendly, natural products etc but so much of this is stuff that's ending up in the bin and ultimately landfill.

I was excited, thinking today's would be something useful like a little mirror. Alas, no. Another DoD. Regret buying this calendar now.

@Plump82 , give the stuff you don't want to a charity shop or beauty bank

There's no beauty banks near me. I've looked into that in the past. And no charity shops here are needing donations. I would have normally biut think they're still full from all the clearing out people did over the pandemic. The products will be used but I'm meaning the Gua Sha and the eyemask.

I really like the gua sha.
Absolutely no charity shops taking donations? Really?
Could you put them in a food bank then, or leave them in the ladies loo at work or something? Offer it on freecycle, leave it in a help yourself box outside your house/flat, take it back to H&B...

I work from home so never in the office. Live in a small town so there's only 3 charity shops and they're over run. Currently trying to sell things on vinted that the charity shops couldn't take. It's a shame as it's all good stuff.

To all those who are disappointed what did you want to find in the calendar? I don't work for H&B - or any other beauty advent calendar producer - but am just interested. I would quite like a candle as loved the one from last year and a nice body lotion/cream.

I used to get the M&S Beauty calendar but found I got lots of duplicates in that - reading the opening thread on here I think some are still being repeated! (Elasticiser, Shay & Blue perfume and black liner)

I'd have liked a candle, nice shower gel, maybe some sort of makeup item. Even just products we've got (so face cream, serum etc)but from a different brand.

I know I said I wanted something full size but I take it back 😂 can we have another 10ml face oil instead of today’s please?

Today is the most expensive item so far and potentially in the whole calendar.

H&B always have an odd item (tweezers, nail file, face roller, mirror) but they’re always normally at least useable.

That and the fact we’ve received minis of items we’ve received full versions of in the past (face oil, hair mask), yet it being the most expensive the calendar has been, has made me not want to buy again for a while.

My main complaint is that some of the items have been really small and stingy. For example the jojoba oil wasn't worth its own drawer and would have made more sense in with the gua sha.

I thought it included a candle and shower gel.
I like the gua sha, the eye serum, the jojoba (even if a bit tiny), shower gel, cleanser, the frankinsence , wipes, the shampoo and conditioner... can't remember what else

I liked the deodorant and soap, and the Dec 25 one.

I'm liking today's. Full of cold and running hot and cold. Feels lovely on my face when I'm feverish. Not what its intended for but I'll take anything to make me feel better. 😁