Do you get the urge to splurge on beauty products? Are your cupboards full of your stash? Join this group of beauty addicts!

[Experiment627]

Going strong for more than 8 years! Full of great reviews, reports of empties and despair over our ever growing stashes!

I NEVER had an advent calendar of any kind as a child growing up in an atheist household. I even envied the ones which were just paper doors on a card, nothing behind them, just counting down the days before the giant Present Festival. And some very lucky kids got chocolates in theirs!

So I started ACs very late in my 50s and feel I have a lot of years of godless deprivation to make up for.

I live in the US where advent calendars aren't really a thing. Mind you, growing up, my sister and I had to share a paper calendar. We weren't allowed to tear the door off as my parents put it away for the next year so it was a bit under whelming. Anyway, they're not really something I care about that much so have never got hooked. Although, if I had access to a Chanel one I would be tempted.

Jan Marini may only be in the US btw.

@Experiment627 no dodgy digestive fake tan smell 🤣 a light pleasant fragrance in the bottle and I can’t detect anything once applied. I generally start using like you once I have a base tan and just keep a light glow going.

@MavisMcMinty go for it! If it brings you JOY then en-JOY!
I too grew up in an atheist household but we at least had the paper ones... my son has never known these... I have ruined him forever with ones that have trucks in them...

Thanks @CurlyFerret! I hate that biscuit smell!

No I didn’t either! It felt like a massive indulgence to buy one and then it just snowballed… 🫤

Adventt calendars here, the beauty ones included, all get imported from Europe. They are$$$. I've never seen beauty ones in stores, although the US is beginning to see that here is another selling opportunity. The beauty ones here cost several hundred or even thousands.

@KickAssAngel - Sephora did a few different ones here in the UK last year at different prices so they may try the market in the US this year. It’s definitely a huge thing here. Ridiculously so!

As much as I love beauty products, I'd rather have gin in my advent calendar 😉

@MavisMcMinty go for it! Hope you had a good speshul birfday, did mention you on Saturday but hopefully you were busy enjoying yourself!

Thanks @SpongeBobJudgeyPants - actually spent most of the day in bed with terrible back pain, had to cancel my best friend’s visit AND had to be all concerned and caring about my partner who’d had a cataract operation the day before… but my presents were lovely. Just a few years ago this would have been the year we BOTH received our state pensions, so what with that and the cataract op we are both feeling very old.

Oh that's a bit rough@MavisMcMinty I got there 2 yrs ago in covid. I'm only glad they've decided to leave free prescriptions at 60. Hope you are celebrating another day. Have you opened all your beauty boxes yet?

I have, but in more of a hurry than I wanted, as unfortunately my OH is now off work for 4 weeks and I usually keep my addiction hidden from him. So I had to wait until he took the dogs out. AIBU to be irritated with him already? I’m used to having the place to myself all day during the week.

What are people's thoughts on calendars with only 12 things in them?

They annoy the hell out of me, but I can see why the financial decision was made.

They're meant to be for the 12 days of Christmas aren't they? So starting to open on the 25th. I like the idea, keeps the presents flowing for a bit longer!

I asked about the 12-day ACs on another/previous thread and was told they’re “Twelfth Night” calendars, to be opened after Christmas, up to January 6th.

…And as @SwordBilledHummingbird says, what a great way to keep the presents flowing! I always miss the morning calendar-opening ritual once Christmas is over.

Me too @MavisMcMinty , I actually had a January calendar this year (ok, I had three...), which was really nice. But I'm one of those weirdos that quite likes January, I find it such a relief to see the days slowly start to lengthen again, so maybe I need a November calendar this year? And maybe a January one too then a 12 day one to fill the Christmas gap...?!?

I like February best - the evenings start getting appreciably lighter, spring starts springing, and all the best months are ahead. And there are only 28 days to get through (most years)!

When I’m king of the world I will make February 1st “New Year’s Day” because it’s much more like a new year than awful dark miserable January is.

You have my vote @MavisMcMinty ! I hate our long, dark winters and February always feel like the beginning of the end of the darkness.

Belated big birthday wishes @MavisMcMinty. Sorry you had a bad day with back issues. That is rubbish.

I got a 12 day one a couple of years ago. It definitely kept the enjoyment going a bit longer. I too hate January. So depressing!

I like these threads but I’ve spent the last couple of years whittling down my collection and either using or giving away things I won’t use or don’t like so feel it’s all under control now. I did have a beauty drop box full of those little one use card/sachet samples which I passed on to my niece as I’d had some of them for a while and knew they would need using but didn’t have any intention of doing so.
Now I know what I like I can wait for GWPs that I’m interested in to repurchase my favourites and get some new things to try, I think I’ve got it down to a fine art!
I was watching someone on YouTube and her collection really stressed me out, I don’t want drawers and cupboards full of things and backups - it does go bad and/or lose efficacy even when unopened as her videos often show. So much waste!

HAPPY BDAY, LOVELY! @MavisMcMinty I’m so sorry I missed it! I hope you had a magical day surrounded by those who love you, and spoiled yourself silly!
I am currently doped up to the eyeballs on very strong antihistamines. (Never slept so well, so that’s a plus…) Seems I’ve developed an allergy to nuts. Have told the kids and husband that this means they all have to move out, but they never take me seriously. 😆 I have been covered in hives for days. So sexy.

@MavisMcMinty I hope you are feeling better. 💜

@KickAssAngelI am not a fan of 12 day advents & strictly speaking I think you are meant to open as the 12 days of Christmas... so from 25 December to 5 January. LOL @SwordBilledHummingbird just saw your response 🙌🏼

The year I had 5 calendars I started in October, did 2 in December and one whole on Christmas Day! I think I am still using stuff up from that splurge!

Argh @Fraaahnces what a pain in the fanjo! Hope you feel better soon.

In the US they've got completely the wrong ideas of the 12 days and count down to Christmas as if they're advent. Then they don't know what an advent calendars is or how long advent lasts. I can't believe that such a heavily commercialized country has missed the trick of advent calendars.

They also don't get Christmas crackers, another opportunity for little gifts. Or tree presents. Actually, Christmas isn't as big a deal in general. I think I need to come home to the UK for Christmas soon!

No Boxing Day either! That’s really interesting, @KickAssAngel . Wasn’t it Queen Victoria and Albert who “styled” our Christmases? And the US was independent long before that, so maybe the UK influence didn’t make it over there?