Beauty Advent Calendars 2023 - Spreadsheets & SPOILERS

[Stoic123]

Thread to discuss and compare 2023 Beauty Advent contents. Started because Liberty has already published their contents.

I've not been taken by any of the calendars released so far except the Fortnum and Mason one due to the wide mix of items. However I looked at my beauty stash and I have loads of creams and serums still to use but very low in bath and shower. I also have last years 12 day jewellery advent calendar so just wanted to bump that to make 25 days. So I've gone a bit rogue and bought the Rituals summer advent calendar which has a nice mix of bath and shower as well as home scent items. It has 13 items - a bracelet is a bit of a dud but can be gifted. I've not shopped on their website direct before (bought from elsewhere) so got a discount and a free gift which will make someone a nice Xmas stocking filler. I'm keeping my Liberty beauty drop credit for either the GWP or the sales. I'd like some perfume and a Cire Trudon candle.

The CB sneak peek looks terrible to me

That Sunday Riley product has been dished out continually for years and does nothing as far as I can tell. Same applies to the Olaplex

The Roen Pallett and Jo Loves candle are things that they've given out in previous calendars in different shades/scents. I don't think that mini candles are worthwhile, and I'm not really into eyeshadow.

So far, so boring. And then eye gels? Just no

The only thing that interests me is the Glow Recipe product, and that's a travel size.

Will wait to see what else is I'm there but I think CB will be a no for me this year. Which is a relief tbh as it makes my decision easier!

So disappointed to see the Roen pallet in CB - I have the one from a couple of years ago and really dislike it but equally don't want to just chuck it, so it sits in my makeup collection annoying me.
They've also massively downsized the olaplex. Will wait to see the final release but am not hopeful it'll be for me!

Ooh I'm late to the thread! I've pre-ordered the Harrods fragrance one. I do own a few of them already but a mini always come in handy.
Liberty doesn't appeal for the second year running. F&M is a let down too, I've still not been able to get rid of the Cult 51 Day and Night creams from the year before last!
Off to find the CB sneak peek.

Is the AC sparkle wearing off a bit for anyone else?

I have been an advent calendar addict since 2017, with at least 3 per year. But this year I've found myself thinking 'how much of that will I actually use?' Rather than seeing it as a chance to try new things. £200+ is a lot to spend on beauty products, so I wonder if I'm better off using that money to buy full size things I actually want, rather than a calendar which has too many eye shadow palettes, make up brushes and lip colours that I wouldn't choose. It's only worth the price it says it is if you actually want all the products.

M&S is always a bargain so I will stick with that unless this year's changes drastically because it is nice to have a surprise everyday without spending ££££. Anything else I'm open minded about but nothing is terribly exciting so far. I think it's also worth waiting a few months as prices did drop last year plus GWPs emerged alongside the calendars too.

Give yourself a few years off @magicalkitty - I highly recommend it! I only ever got one a year and am just about finishing up all the bits that I kept (gave a few bits away that I hadn’t used), I haven’t had one for 2 years now. Just nothing much new that I hadn’t tried but I looked at space nk and there’s enough in there that is new to me or things I know will be useful travel minis to be good value for me.

I think it's also worth waiting a few months as prices did drop last year plus GWPs emerged alongside the calendars too.

Ooh! I’d definitely buy the Liberty AC for a GWP! Hope it’ll still be available in September.

If this thread’s anything to go by, it’s a discerning buyer’s market out there these days. Taking more time spending our money when there’s less of it available for fripperies. I notice that AC site linked to a few times on here has 100+ different brands of AC on it, so competition is fierce.

@magicalkitty part of the issue for me this year is that even though technically the calendars are worth around £1,000 and you get a huge discount it's still a big investment for products you haven't really chosen.
There were enough products last year in Liberty and HN I wanted for me to be happy plus I was a bit more flush! I bought the two calendars quite freely last year but this month I've needed to replace a Paula's Choice product that really works on my skin and have hesitated and delayed to spend the £34.
My Liberty BD credit this year will go on GWP to get things I actually want and need rather than a calendar I think.

I might get the Liberty GWP and keep it unopened for Christmas Day, when I’ll have completely forgotten what’s in it.

The thing I’ve found after about a decade of GWPs and about five calendars is that I now have a number of “holy grail” products from which I won’t deviate. It’s pointless giving me mascara unless it’s Chantecaille or eye cream unless it’s Filorga because I just won’t use it. I’m really fussy about perfume and lipstick and I’m way too old for black eyeliner. Calendars are feeling like diminishing returns now.

Yes, @Blossomtoes - I used to envy beauty journalists and bloggers for all the free stuff they get to try, but actually I still love Elemis above all else, and feel I can’t justify buying it while I have such a huge stash of new brands to get through. I bet those journalists and bloggers long for a fortnight off work to go back to their real favourites.

Although having said that, after about 5 years of using only Benefit mascaras, I tried a couple of other brands recently and loved them both.

This is a great idea!

I bought myself quite a few kits and edits in the month or two leading up to my birthday last month, left them unopened in the spare room, and had indeed forgotten almost everything in them by the time I finally ripped ‘em all open in a birthday frenzy.

I really am tempted to do something like that, I might even use a GWP as an advent calendar and allow myself one product per day.

I've done similar a couple of times. I bought a beauty edit topped up with GWP.

I have the memory of a goldfish so I never remember what's in them.

Hi @Couperi did you not
like the cult51 creams? They where part of what has interested
me in the F&M this year x

My memory is pretty terrible too so this really could work for me.

And you can do the daily opening on the waifs and strays thread which is, imo, the best one.

Great idea!

SwordBilledHummingbird
I'd actually like to get the much hated Nars Orgasm blush in a calendar, I've never tried it.
Same here! I think lf might have me as I’ve also always wanted to try origins and Brazilian bum bum cream and the rituals of Jin scrub is gorgeous!

AllTheChaos
Following with interest. I’d love to get my mum one of the calendars as a thank you for all her support this year, but while she’d love the skin care and jewellery, she really isn’t interested in makeup these days!
I’ve gotten loccitane, no 7 and m and s as a present over the past few years from friends/my mum and they were fab!!

AllTheChaos
Sorry, lot of make up in no 7 though if your mum wouldn’t like it!

Anyone else tempted by Next?

I always used to love the Liberty September GWP and it was my benchmark to which I compared all other GWPs. I haven't bought it for the last few years though as I have found that it isn't as amazing any more. The last time I bought it, it had a 10 ml Portrait of a Lady EDP.
I doubt the Liberty AC will be released in time for the GWP. I think it's usually released mid October. Last year the GWP was released at the end of August.