Selfridges Advent Calendar - 2022 opening thread 🎄💛

[Zoetrope1]

A little late but I thought it start an opening thread for the Selfridges AC. Partially because I enjoy documenting and partly to avoid spoilers for those in the general thread holding off on opening.

As with the other threads, suggest no photos before 7am.

Hope you’ll join me!

Day 1: MAC matte lipstick in Avant Garnet, £20

A beautiful colour but I’m not a big make up person and I am terrible with lipstick!

Day 2: Gisou honey infused hair oil, 20ml worth approx £13.60 price per ml

Description:

What’s the story behind Gisou? Well, it starts with the six generations of beekeeping in founder Negin Mirsalehi’s family (an active beekeeper herself, BTW). And, after several years of experimenting, the brand harnesses fresh honey from the Mirsalehi Bee Garden to create a secret formula that transforms tresses. That’s where the Honey Infused hair oil comes in. Designed to rebuild and repair locks from the core, the multipurpose formula works as a pre-styling, finishing, hair mask and overnight treatment.

Smells nice and I’m happy to try it!

Hello

The yesterdays lip stick was way too dark for me but gave it to a friend who looks good with it.

I sometimes use hair oils and will be trying it tonight.

lipstick is too dark for me too and I’m not a fan of matte lipsticks but I dabbed it on lightly with my finger for a more sheer effect and liked it

Day 3: Exfolikate intensive exfoliating
treatment, travel size 60ml, £26

Description:

Get a brighter, healthier-looking complexion in minutes with the Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, a skincare treatment that reveals a smoother, softer and more radiant complexion.

This complexion-enhancing exfoliator is
formulated with AHA, lactic acid and fruit
enzymes to dissolve dead skin cells, while silica acts as a physical exfoliant to slough them away. Honey and aloe vera provide a soothing sensation, and soy-lipids support the skin's natural defences.

Kate Somerville Extolikate Intensive ExfoliatingTreatment can be used once or twice eachweek. Start by wetting the face, then apply athin layer of the treatment. Next, massage it infor 30 seconds using gentle circularmovements. Then leave to work for 2 minutes before rinsing and drying.

Happy with day 3! I’ve received this in the larger size in a few goodie bags and I think it’s also in other advents. Would have been nice to receive it in the full size but nice to have.

Today is a drawer of disappointment to me. The Exfolikate seems to be almost compulsory in this year's advent calendars. I don't use it and can't even sell it for a decent price on eBay because it is swimming in them.
I know there are lots of other lovely products to come though - I'm trying to forget them so they are a surprise every morning.

I've tried the exfoliate today, my skin feels nice so I'm happy enough
I gave the lipstick my mum as it's her colour (it matches the nails Inc nail varnish she got today in her m&s)
Not sure about the hair oil, my hair is fine so oils can make it greasy
I saw on a thread people had things missing in their calendars but I've had a feel in all my drawers and mine is ok

Day 4, Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick in Lit, 2.5g £44

Available in three flatterings shades, the Lit Up Highlight Stick is a new-generation highlighter that looks just like skin, but with an unbeatably healthy glow. Think: revitalised, post-facial radiance, all imparted by one, easy-to-use, quick-to-apply stick.

The literal embodiment of the glass skin trend, this highlighter uses multidimensional undertones to complement all skin tones. The secret to overhauling dull complexions, the formula encourages collagen and hyaluronic acid production with detoxifying vitis vita grape extract. In a refreshing jelly-like texture, this multitasking highlighter can be used whenever skin feels dull and thirsty, with Gucci Westman herself always keeping one on hand to rejuvenate her skin throughout the day. The only hard part is choosing between 'Lit' (a glassy iridescent), 'Bra»lace' (a bronze gold) and 'Nectar' (a golden peach)

A meh day for me. I don’t wear make up and I don’t know anyone who would use a highlighter. The packaging is lovely and it does have good reviews though.

it does seem to be prolific this year!

I'm such a fan of Exfolikate - it really works with my skin so I was v happy to see it. Will be giving the highlighter a try today and maybe the lipstick but I'm also not much of a make up person so we'll see

www.stylist.co.uk/beauty/make-up/westman-atelier-lit-up-highlight-stick-review/514737 A good review of today's highlighter. Sounds like it will be great for minimum makeup looks too. I'm happy to wear a subtle highlighter like Glossier Haloscope. I'm not a fan of the tin man look, so today's sounds promising.

I'm happy with this I use a little highlighter and could prob use this on a bare skin day ( I don't wear foundation much)

I priced this incorrectly - Selfridges actually sell the 20ml size and it retails for £19

Day 5, Augustinas Badar, The Rich Cream, 15ml worth £68

Stimulate the skin’s natural processes of rejuvenation and work to dramatically improve the complexion’s appearance with Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, a deeply nourishing face cream supporting the skin’s barrier function.

Formulated with the brand’s TFC8, or Trigger Factor Complex, The Rich Cream nourishes the skin with key ingredients for healthy cell renewal. Rich in omega 6 fatty acids and antioxidants, this face cream features replenishing argan, avocado and evening primrose oils to help protect the skin against free radical damage. Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream also acts as a shield against dry climates and is ideal as part of a night-time routine.

The thick and rich formula is ideal for normal to dry skin as well as more mature skin types. For best results, use both morning and evening by applying the cream onto cleansed, dry skin, smoothing the desired amount over the face, neck and décolleté .

I know this one’s prolific in the advent calendar world but I haven’t actually tried it yet. I’m not convinced by these super expensive, luxury face creams but it’s a lovely treat and I’ll enjoy using it.

I first thought today's is a gigantic nail polish because it was blue. I put on that cream and let's see if it does it's magic.

I’m here to join you all. I was saving the calendar until next year but due to some items being missing/used I’m opening it this month. So far Day 1 and day 4 show signs of use and day 3 is missing.

I still have a full size of todays from last year’s space NK and I’m yet to try it but always happy to have face creams in stock.

It’s horrible that some people are getting used products! I’m paranoid about this so I guess it’s a good reason to buy early rather than wait for late discounts? I bought the JL calendar fairly early and it arrived pristine. I also got the subsequent discount by calling customer services - I buy loads of stuff from JL so they refunded me happy. I’ll continue to buy from JL as I’ve never had a bad experience with them. But I feel bad for them because how are they supposed to deal with these awful people who return products after using?!

Sorry I got confused and thought I was posting on the JL advent calendar thread

Welcome @Pinenu! It’s so horrible that you received a used calendar - why wouldn’t they check returns before sending them out again?? Baffling. I’m glad they refunded you and I hope there are still some products in there you’ll enjoy!

@Mrcpy how lovely of JL to refund you the discount, that’s fantastic customer service.

Thank you @Zoetrope1 I’m really impressed with how they’ve handled it, especially after seeing how other large retailers are dealing with similar issues. I wonder if it was a display calendar, as someone suggested on the other thread, and the speed they got it out to me meant it wasn’t checked. I don’t know but it hasn’t put me off getting it again next year.

Day 6, Escentric Molecules Molecule 01, 30ml travel size, £43

Description:

Molecule 01 consists of the molecule Iso E Super pure and singular.

Iso E Super is a molecule that hovers close to the skin to create an indefinable aura around the wearer.

It is characterised by a hyper-modern cedarwood note with a velvety sensation. Perfumer Geza Schoen explains its allure: "Iso E Super is one of those skin-sexy scents that makes you want to nestle into it. It's comforting, cocooning."

Iso E Super has a marked intermittence. To the wearer, it seems to vanish and then re-appear. This is due to the way it bonds with receptors in the olfactory system, only slowly releasing to make way for a fresh charge of the molecule on the receptors.

Iso E Super does not exist in nature. It was created in a laboratory at IFF in 1973.

Very intrigued by this one! It’s one of those not-a-perfume perfumes that apparently smell different on everyone and one you can layer with other perfumes. A lot of people are anosmic to this scent, sometimes I can smell it, sometimes I can’t.

Happy to find mine sealed and tamper-free. Looking forward to showing off my indefinable aura 😁

A. Badar cream seems good to me. No skin reaction so far. I keep using it until there is another cream from the calendarZ

Used the Badar cream last night and loved it! The molecule perfume - I've had one in another beauty box previously and didn't really get on with it so I'll see how I go with this one