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 realise the 2022 prices in the spreadsheet are misleading, as they include some of the later big discounts. For the next version I’ll show both full and discount prices for 2022.

You're putting me under pressure @AprilLady . I haven't started my spreadsheet yet. I'm not going to bother doing it for Liberty as there are too many drawers of doom for me.

I will dh the LF as, while it does have DoDs, the price point means I'm less concerned about them.

Excellent spreadsheet @AprilLady!

Fab spreadsheet. I've made an exec decision in that I always get swayed by the look of the box. As I love how at least previous Liberty ones look festive, I've gone on ebay and bought an empty box. That way I can either buy one this year regardless of box and get DH to transfer the contents or if all prove disappointing I can make my own from GWP etc.

I know this is probably a bit contradictory to the theme of the thread but for £10 why not and worst case scenario I'll use it to make one up for my mum with a mix of gifts.

As I love how at least previous Liberty ones look festive, I've gone on ebay and bought an empty box

I still have last year’s box in a drawer under the bed - I should sell it! It was just too pretty to throw out but we’re moving and I’m trying to declutter.

Harrods

beautyadventcalendar.net/harrods-beauty-advent-calendar-2023/

Thank you @magicalkitty that's Harrods out for me as well. I actually prefer Liberty but not at all inclined to drop £250 on either of them.

Thanks @magicalkitty .
Gutted last year Harrods was my favourite but they released it too late and I had already spent up!
This year lovely and early but too many products I already own or have tried already (although love the EGF serum) and no wow factor for me. A no from me too

Oh hang on their is a fragrance advent too. Now that may be more tempting although not heard of most of themHarrods Fragrance

Harrods is a no for me.

It’s all feeling too samey. As soon as I see the rich cream etc I’m put off as it feels like a repeat of the past 2 years.

Anyone have major calendar pet hates?

Mine are:

Augustinus Bader
Elemis Marine Cream
Black eyeliners

Definitely black eyeliner! Even if I wore it, which I don't, I couldn't get through the amount I end up with from advent calendars, beauty boxes and GWPs. I'm also not keen on single use masks and eye gel things.

Free samples as standalone items. Space NK were bad for this one year.

Eyeko mascara
Nars Orgasm blusher
This Works pillow spray

I quite like a bit of Augustus Bader and Marine Cream.

Oh yes pillow sprays too. And rollerballs.

I'd actually like to get the much hated Nars Orgasm blush in a calendar, I've never tried it.

I bought the JL for the first time last year, it got reduced in November to £152. I really liked it, so will probably buy again. I missed out on the GWP but jumped on it when it was reduced.
My pet hate - black eyeliner.

It was the first time I’d had AB, it was like putting glue on my face.

I’ve bought LF previously but wasn’t keen.
The Liberty calendars always look beautiful but not the contents.

@BurningTheToast you should sell it. I saw it ranging from £10-£25 on eBay. Makes me think what a fool I am for binning all my previous boxes!

My calendar pet hates are:

Augustinus Bader Cream
Ren Aha tonic
Nuxe Oil
Most hair products
and of course a black eyeliner!

I agree about AB and eye liners. I like Elemis though and that cream is usually expensive.

I hate getting eye shadow pallets, gua shas (or any other 'tool'), Nars orgasm blush, small make up brushes, nail files, non-safe lipstick colours (M&S had a horrid peach last year)

Mine are
AA Destress/relax/sleep/anything rollerballs
REN AHA tonic - I could practically bathe in it I have so much
Any neutral eye shadow pallet I have brown/gold covered in any shade now

i don’t mind eyeliners ( I have teenage DDs) although fully saturated on mascaras
And I love Elemis and actually don’t mind the AB the cream (not the rich cream , too rich)

Forgot to mention that I already use Elemis so I’m happy to get that. I don’t think there has ever been a lipstick or lipgloss that I’d actually wear. I tried one from an M&S calendar one year and it made me look like I’d died an hour before. I’m not brave enough to wear Ruby woo, I think Syrup was the closest to being ok

Glad that Harrods have got their act together this year!

The calendar isn't bad. Definitely not as good as last year, and boring that there are several repeats, but there are a few products that I like, and no major duds (i.e. gua sha, eyeliner, roller ball etc), so I'll consider it.

Ren tonic, AA oil and EGF serum were all in last years calendar which is rather boring of them, but the EGF serum is great so would be happy to have another.

Not keen on the CT mascara (last one I had flaked off and smudged down my face), but I'd use most of the products. To me, this is a much better option than Liberty.

I’ve pre-ordered the Harrods fragrance calendar as it was a no brainier for me. It includes a couple of fragrances I already have (and use quite a lot) a few I’m keen to try and only a couple of definite nos. It sold out very, very quickly last year (was priced at £150, but £175 is still excellent value for the contents).

I think there is a question of what you are looking for in an advent calendar - lots of exciting products you’ve never tried before or good, solid products you know you’ll use, priced well.

For me, Liberty hasn’t done either that well - there were a (very) few products that excited me, and quite a lot that weren’t great.

Harrods do much better as value for good, if not exciting products, that you don’t like paying RRP for. Includes for me things like the AB cream, the Elemis cream, the EGF serum, the CR scrub, the AA bath oil etc. I’ll need to do some further analysis, but I actually think the Harrods looks pretty decent, just not exciting.

At first glance Harrods is a maybe for me, although it's a slightly higher price point than I usually like to go for. Think it was the same price last year though so I guess taking into account inflation etc it's not bad. I loved that Bioeffect EGF serum (think it was LiB last year?) and use the REN and Living Proof anyway.

I actually like the pillow sprays! I used to think they were pointless but I got This Works last year and am converted. I'm using the Bamford one just now and it's nice too.

My DoD are Augustinus Bader (glue is a great description!), Paula's Choice BHA (but like the REN tonic so just shows we're all different), nail varnish, vitamins, and anything tiny. E.g. 5ml of serum, far too small to be able to tell if it works.

I like getting lipsticks as I don't have many but really want to branch out from my usual lip glosses and tints. The colours usually don't work for me but it's a way to try a few new ones without having to think about what to buy. I had high hopes for the M&S peach one from last year as I have very warm colouring and suit peach and gold rather than pink and silver. It was pretty much bright orange though, which really did not work for me.