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 wondered what the NAP lantern is made of, I can't tell from pics

https://beautyadventcalendar.net/sephora-favorites-advent-calendar-2023/

Sephora have an EU calendar. I went to checkout with it to see does it ship to Ireland and it does!

Too much makeup in it for me and a gua sha - surely everyone who wants one of those already has one? but @AnSionnachGlic, you might be interested? I'm sorry, I can't remember who else is Irish on here.

Thank you Ochon for the link.....calendars that deliver to Ireland are thin on the ground! However, like you I think there are too many makeup pieces. However O have 2 dds, so might get it for them. The search continues!

Oh I got excited then thinking the Sephora one had the manicure green glow nail hardener that I have been looking at . Also love the Mac play lip balms if that’s what it is !

I think for me it's net a porter and liberty. Selfridges also in the mix for consideration

Harrods discounted as I think it contains Ren Glow tonic and just no to that.

Waiting for the confirmation email, but tomorrow is delivery day for the F and M. I have decided to give it to my dd as she has been so supportive in the last few months with some annoying health issues.

I'm planning to put together a men's fragrance calendar for 16 year old DS. I'll use one of my old calendars, and I've seen bundles of aftershave samples on ebay which will do for most of the days.
Just wondering if anyone has seen any other testers or sets of travel sized men's fragrance anywhere? I got him a box from the Perfume Society last year which was a bit hit and what prompted the request for a whole calendar, and I get another box from there.

@Roundaboot Sephora do a pick and mix service where you can get 5 samples for the cost of postage (£3.95) just had a quick look and they have a few aftershaves on there so may be worth checking out

It's going to be Sephora for me i think. I'll only get Glossybox if it goes on sale.

@ferretface Same here I think, unless the Boots premium one is amazing but at almost £100 cheaper I'll need to have lower expectations.

The contents of Debenhams have been announced. I still think it looks alright.

https://www.beautyqueenuk.co.uk/2023/09/john-lewis-beauty-advent-calendar-2023.html?fbclid=IwAR3OERYlJPDvcelvups97EOc_xssiPqhGJhgbMmnKG4-Sx_9-H9k8CPeWxU&m=1

JL is pretty good too to be fair. It has some strange things in it though, like the 2 X OTO and presumably splitting the shampoo and conditioner into different days. I could use most of that and easily resell the bits I'm not interested in.

Strange that there are 4 repeats from last year, Aqua di Palma Colonia x 2, LM powder & AA De-stress Muscle Bath Oil. Price increased too.

I've been following you all discussing for a while but not posted before. I;m personally disappointed with the new JL. Price increase and none of the higher end brands - i know its not always popular but the Augustinus Bader cream isnt on there. I was banking on this as being the one to get and now I am not sure

Votary? Murad? Elemis?
I'd say these are high end brands.

Mmm I am not sure about JL they are 31 items in there so that is good but agree with @Housewife2010 lots of repeats . Its not an obvious wow and with the price increase moves it closer to comparison with Harrods, Selfridges, HN . I will see what Boots looks like this week

true but last year there were those brands AND Bader, I cannot seem to remember what else there were, but this just doesn't seem to take me. Also seems odd to have The Ordinary in there. May be it is just my first impressions

It has a full size Susanne Kaufman mask worth £60. I think that's far better value than the usual 15 ml AB cream worth £65.

Value is subjective, it's perfectly okay to be disappointed in JL. My first impressions aren't great either tbh. AB cream is in almost every other calendar though if it's a dealbreaker for you, so it's actually nice to see a calendar that doesn't have it! The only other higher end one I can think of that doesn't have AB cream is Sephora I think? Off the top of my head.

Going back to look at Harrods. It's a bit more expensive but I do love the EGF serum.

I'm fairly pleased with JL. There are some repeats but it's all stuff I really liked from last year's calendar.
Apart from the hair products which I won't use, everything else looks really usable. The make up all looks very wearable and I love the wee Caroline Herrera lip balm case.

I'm still planning on getting it, unless Boots premium absolutely knocks it out of the water.

The question is how long can I wait to buy it? Last year I bought as soon as it was available and missed out on the GWP and price drop (though I did manage to claim that back) so I think I'll hold off for a while...

It's going to be difficult this year second guessing which ones will be reduced/have GWPs. Last year I was lucky and got loads on offer. It's a risk to wait for a favourite one to be reduced if it then sells out.
I'm really pleased that JL now has a Frederic Malle. I'm really happy with the 3 scents. I already have them, but happy for more. Ideally they'd be the same brands, but a scent I don't have.
I love CT palettes, but this one does look very pink and less wearable for me.
I'm surprised there isn't a lipstick - last year there were two. The red lipbalm looks lovely, but I would like one or 2 lipsticks too.
JL does have some great products, but I would prefer not to have repeats, a more wearable palette and a lipstick or two.
So far, Selfridges is my favourite, but it does depend on the lipstick shades as they are 2 of their standout items.

@Puravida23 Thank you! That looks absolutely perfect!

Portrait of a Lady is John Lewis is a nice inclusion (I’m a bit on the fence about that particular fragrance but lots of people adore it, and a 10ml Frederic Malle is a exciting drawer to open).

What’s with all The pink/red/orange eyeshadow palettes in everything though?! Am I the only one who likes cool-toned eyeshadows?

I love PoAL though it's cheeky to call 10ml full size! Also Good Genes which I like, and Votary - it's a decent offering.

I'm not a fan of the Acqua Di Parma though and gave that to DH last year.

Still hopeful for LiB.

I don’t particularly like any advent calendars this year. Will buy LF for my nieces but I think I’ll give them a pass this year and will restrict myself to a dark chocolate one.