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Beauty Advent Calendars 2023 Part E - Last Buying Thread Till Doors Open

694 replies

Stoic123 · 22/11/2023 20:57

Roll up, roll up for bargain spotting and anticipation.

This is a thread to discuss the buying of beauty calendars and not the opening of them. There may be general discussion about contents of a calendar but please do not share information about what is behind a specific door you've opened. Thank you

OP posts:
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29
PomsRun · 02/12/2023 14:14

AprilLady · 02/12/2023 12:51

My CEW beauty edit arrived today. It was quite expensive (£180) but is one of the nicest (non-advent) edits I’ve bought in a long time. Almost everything is full sized and in its original retail packaging.

It’s still available for anyone looking for a calendar substitute.

The bubble wrapped item at the back is a large Iconic eyeshadow palette with some very pretty pinks and purples, if that appeals.

That looks lovely and very tempting !

shinny · 02/12/2023 14:42

I got my Sarah Jossell box and it’s lovely. Other than a huge tub of banana and nut hair mask!! Won’t suit my fine hair at all. Otherwise it’s lovely.
Nervously awaiting the £50 Bridal box now - hope it’s good! It’s quite nice to have smaller boxes as the sheer size of the real AC is massive.

Growlybear83 · 02/12/2023 16:28

My £50
Mystery box has just arrived and I'm quite pleased with it. I've got several full sized items, lots of cleansers and moisturisers, and only three makeup items - a fairly bright deep pink nail varnish which I might use, a laura mercier mascara and caviar stick set which my daughter might use, and a decorte aq lipstick which I won't use.

My lumene advent calendar also came earlier and I'm really happy with that. I tried the little pot of cream that was in drawer no 2 and it feels so nice, and smells lovely too.

ACAC2023 · 02/12/2023 17:30

My Lumene Calendar still hasn’t arrived. At least when it gets here 🤞I’ll have bonus drawers s to open 🙂. I’d already taken the necklace from the Vogue Calendar & knew what was in drawer 2, so haven’t started opening my Calendars yet. I cheated and checked all my Vogue drawers & then figured out the order on the website matches each drawer, so have totally spoilt the surprise 🤔

coffeestrongblacknosugar · 02/12/2023 18:12

Just want to say I opened 1 on my NEXT calendar and it is an Elemis bath and body oil, smells amazing, however, the cap was unscrewed and it was leaking all over the inside of the box and the crinkle paper. Such a shame.

shinny · 02/12/2023 19:32

I also got my Bridal box and am so happy. It had the sunscreen Goop that I was going to buy and REN that was also on my list plus some CT freebies. I’m soooo chuffed with what I’ve got 😊

pinkchampagne1 · 02/12/2023 20:19

I got my Bridal Beauty Box today too. It was ok for the money but nothing wowed me and one of my cleansers had leaked everywhere.

BuyStuff · 02/12/2023 20:54

I was a bit worried about whether I’d like my bridal beauty box but just opened it and I love it! Perfect for me as it’s “normal” stuff that I’ll use

dullandgrey · 02/12/2023 21:23

pinkchampagne1 · 02/12/2023 20:19

I got my Bridal Beauty Box today too. It was ok for the money but nothing wowed me and one of my cleansers had leaked everywhere.

Was this the cultured cleansing balm one? I noticed mine had slightly leaked also but wasn't too bad luckily.

pinkchampagne1 · 03/12/2023 00:20

dullandgrey · 02/12/2023 21:23

Was this the cultured cleansing balm one? I noticed mine had slightly leaked also but wasn't too bad luckily.

Yes it was the cultured cleansing balm. It had leaked over the box and the bottle.

Branster · 03/12/2023 07:23

Very interesting feedback on these BB mystery boxes.

How annoying to have that cleanser leak everywhere!
I had this twice with LiB boxes on a spray toner and oil cleanser, very annoying. As an aside, I often find LiB stuff will have at least 1 item where the packaging is dented, which spoils the experience a bit.

I couldn't wait and opened mine as soon as I got home last night. It was the £100 version.
Overall I'm actually very pleased with it and my expectations have been met on all points.

A few repeats which I had in earlier boxes.

There is stuff I'm not bothered too much about such as 2 x nail polishes, the coral one we all seem to have which I will use and a glittery one which is meh; a Fenti lipgloss which was in a previous box and the lid is a bit scratched, not a colour I use either. And a Denman hairbrush which I don't need so this will be passed on. A mini White Company pillow spray which means nothing to me but I'll use it just because it's there.

Sadly the moisturiser I was hoping for was not included, but I did get a shampoo and conditioner set which I'm very keen to try.

All the other stuff is actually very nice and I will be using (not sure if in this lifetime, but I'll try my best). A Penhsligon's mini candle which smells absolutely lovely and received in the festival bags before. A Decorte blush and Trinny lip2cheek (not overly impressed with Trinny stuff but I always use it when I get it, this is a repeat but different shade). A face primer Photo Face, never heard of it and really expensive to buy so I'll give it go but I doubt it will be amazing.
I think all other stuff is skincare, my weakness. Got the Decree mask I was hoping for and a few items from Oskia, Zelens, Fenti, MZ skin, Erborian plus the cleansers from Elemis and Eve Lom and the Ren mini set. I wouldn't necessarily go and look for all this skincare, but I will definitely enjoy trying those I haven't used before.

I added all this madness to my beauty boxes spreadsheet. I made this with the view of using as a tool if I sell anything and also I want to know what what I'm spending, how much I'm 'saving' and how much I recoup if I sell anything.
Total 21 items RRP value £555.49, spent £105.

Now I'll just wait for the next mystery box to come on sale. I might have a full on addiction going on here. I shall keep ignoring all obvious signs of this.

coffeestrongblacknosugar · 03/12/2023 08:24

I love that you have a spreadsheet with all your items on.

Emmmmz9 · 03/12/2023 08:26

interested to know whose beauty edit boxes or mystery boxes you rate the best?
Like the mystery element but then can sometimes be disappointing with certain products

Lovethatforyouhun · 03/12/2023 08:57

Vogue has sold out. I need to accept its over lol Enjoy your calendars. This thread has been such fun.

MidnightMeltdown · 03/12/2023 10:03

Interestingly, last years look fantastic seems to be available from several retailers at an inflated price. They obviously didn't sell out, they must have sold them on.

Twinsandsome · 03/12/2023 12:58

Would those with the muster boxes at both price points mind sharing pics I’d love to see what you got x

Addictedtobeauty · 03/12/2023 19:53

This was my £50 Bridal Beauty mystery bag. Im pretty happy with it. Lots of new things to try.

Beauty Advent Calendars 2023 Part E - Last Buying Thread Till Doors Open
dullandgrey · 03/12/2023 21:09

@Twinsandsome here you go! Photo missing a tiny CT eye cream sample as I found it in the box later.

Beauty Advent Calendars 2023 Part E - Last Buying Thread Till Doors Open
BlowingAway · 03/12/2023 22:31

Anyone seen discounts now we are into December?
The Nivea calendar is half price.

Nowtbettertodo · 03/12/2023 22:43

This is mine. Wore the lipstick last night. It is gorgeous.

Beauty Advent Calendars 2023 Part E - Last Buying Thread Till Doors Open
pinkchampagne1 · 03/12/2023 22:53

Mine was pretty much identical but only had one lipstick and had a Neom body cream.

QueefofSheena · 04/12/2023 07:52

BlowingAway · 03/12/2023 22:31

Anyone seen discounts now we are into December?
The Nivea calendar is half price.

Haven't seen anything spectacular. I've been keeping an eye on Sephora and Carolina Herrera for other family members but they aren't budging. The ridiculous NAP one keeps getting some discount applied and then going back up to full price. Presumably because it's not actually a numbered advent

Babysharkdoodoodood · 04/12/2023 09:43

Next is down to £80

CountryCob · 04/12/2023 11:48

The bridal beauty boxes look good. @BurningTheToast I finally sent you that pm thanks very much for the kid offer

Fairyliz · 04/12/2023 13:06

CountryCob · 04/12/2023 11:48

The bridal beauty boxes look good. @BurningTheToast I finally sent you that pm thanks very much for the kid offer

@BurningTheToast
I know times are hard but I hope you haven’t resorted to selling the kids? 😁

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