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Original poster

General “waifs and strays” beauty advent calendar opening thread

863 replies

AprilLady · 30/11/2023 17:57

As in previous years, this a thread for those opening Beauty Advent Calendars not covered by specific calendar opening threads (though also happy for contents of those to be shared here too).

As previously, it will also be fun to hear about other calendar openings - food, jam, socks anyone?

Please do not include spoilers before 7am on the relevant day. Please also avoid dropping hints or spoilers about future contents if you have opened the calendar in advance.

I’ll be opening the Vogue and Selfridges calendars this year. Really looking forward to Day 1.

OP posts:
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Theraffarian · 03/12/2023 16:51

Just catching up with the thread and realised we have had totally different things in our Degusta advent to those mentioned . Actually just checked the door numbers in case we couldn’t count , but no definitely the right doors . So far door 1 , a fancy bottle of balsamic vinegar, day two vegan mini marshmallows , and today a pouch of sauce to make tortillas or similar.

Nearlyadoctor · 03/12/2023 17:22

JM - Orange bitters candle
Degusta - Bag of Jelly beans, Dd was very happy

Doubleraspberry · 03/12/2023 17:26

I wear brown mascara. I am beyond pale so it’s less jarring than black, although it’s hard to find.

Nearlyadoctor · 03/12/2023 17:27

DH - has a Brewdog calendar so beer everyday , we haven’t forgotten about him 🤣

SoloCat · 03/12/2023 17:27

Pinenu · 03/12/2023 10:29

I woke up looking forward to the tights reveal. I’ve lived a very sheltered tights life.

My refilled calendar (done by my H) was a 111 skin face mask and a badger?

I was puzzled and assumed it must have been an in joke I’d forgotten about but H confirmed ‘you know how you’ve always loved badgers!’

Suppose I do quite like badgers.

That’s so sweet of your DH…not even sure mine would make the effort to fill my calendar without moaning 😁 it would probably be filled with car parts, saying he’s doing me a favour as I need them for the next service! He bought me a new ice scraper recently, v romantic!

pepperaunt · 03/12/2023 17:31

Have treated DH to a Japanese whiskey AC. So far he seems happy.

diamondsandrose · 03/12/2023 17:37

Doubleraspberry · 03/12/2023 17:26

I wear brown mascara. I am beyond pale so it’s less jarring than black, although it’s hard to find.

It's not your usual brown mascara colour. It's kind of caramel as the name suggests. Unusual!

narniabusiness · 03/12/2023 18:04

Theraffarian · 03/12/2023 16:51

Just catching up with the thread and realised we have had totally different things in our Degusta advent to those mentioned . Actually just checked the door numbers in case we couldn’t count , but no definitely the right doors . So far door 1 , a fancy bottle of balsamic vinegar, day two vegan mini marshmallows , and today a pouch of sauce to make tortillas or similar.

That’s odd. We had the jelly beans today like the other posters on this thread.

Pinenu · 03/12/2023 18:10

@Theraffarian that’s strange. We’ve had coffee, baileys chocolates and jelly beans. Yours sounds great. Perhaps it’s just in a different order? I hope so.

😂 @SoloCat what is it with men and ice scrapers?! I assure you he’s not usually the thoughtful gift type. I’m still suspicious of this badger.

Theraffarian · 03/12/2023 18:23

@Pinenu i am wondering if it’s just in a different order , I think I might stop reading this thread as if that’s the case it will spoil the surprise. I’d be very happy not to get the coffee mind you as we don’t drink it .

jay55 · 03/12/2023 18:29

I've had the coffee, chocs and jelly beans, but the balsamic fell out as I moved the calendar earlier so maybe some are in a different order.

Doubleraspberry · 03/12/2023 18:55

diamondsandrose · 03/12/2023 17:37

It's not your usual brown mascara colour. It's kind of caramel as the name suggests. Unusual!

Show quote history

Interesting! I’d like to give that a go I think.

SoloCat · 03/12/2023 18:56

@Pinenu Maybe there’s an ice scraper in one drawer…a mini one, you know, just in case 🤷‍♀️😁

CinnamonCoffee · 03/12/2023 19:08

Day 3 LIB- like this brand but I've insanely thick hair already.

General “waifs and strays” beauty advent calendar opening thread
lookingforMolly · 04/12/2023 04:06

Day 3 - my sister got me a £10 Caffè Nero gift card which is great as that's my favourite coffee shop!

General “waifs and strays” beauty advent calendar opening thread
HollyGolightly4 · 04/12/2023 06:51

That's so exciting @lookingforMolly how thoughtful! I am not loving Vogue's offering today, but I knew that when I looked at the content list so I'm glad it's come early on! It's also a fairly generous- 2 in one door- scenario

Noeggsontoast · 04/12/2023 06:54

@PurBal we both really liked day 2s cheese but could see how it might not be to everyone's taste. We served it with a chutney from the Hawkshead relish company which had many of the fruits it recommended pairing with. Loved Day 3s cheese too though have had it before. I hadn't cared for Day 3s previously as it wasn't very mature matured and I felt it was very bland but this time it was delicious and had been cared for and aged very well.

Original poster
AprilLady · 04/12/2023 07:18

Day 4

Vogue: Two travel size Hourglass products, a blusher and a translucent setting powder. Pretty happy with this. My HG blusher is actually an Hourglass one in a very similar shade and I really rate Hourglass make up generally.

Selfridges: Fable and Mane Hair serum. Less exciting, and looks a bit of a faff to apply but will give it a go.

General “waifs and strays” beauty advent calendar opening thread
OP posts:
Original poster
AprilLady · 04/12/2023 07:21

That cheese calendar sounds really interesting @Noeggsontoast will be looking out for it next year!

OP posts:
RazorstormUnicorn · 04/12/2023 07:27

Two hourglass products in the same drawer in Vogue! Wow! I know travel size but even so. I might start saving my pennies for that next year...

Enjoying seeing @lookingforMolly selections and the randomness of @Pinenu extras!

I have a chocolate advent this year (trying to reduce beauty stash) so living vicariously on this thread.

snowfootsteps · 04/12/2023 07:30

By Terry Day 4- Brightening CC Serum in Apricot Glow it's a travel size and worth about £20.

Very happy with today - it's one of the products I've been looking forward to trying.

General “waifs and strays” beauty advent calendar opening thread
Noeggsontoast · 04/12/2023 07:34

My next rituals item was a hand mask for night time and my next Liberty Jewellery advent is a sunburst necklace from Rachel Jackson. Necklace is really pretty and catches the light - will be a great piece for dresses.

@AprilLady I got it this year for DH based on last year's reviews. They only do it in limited numbers so bought back in October.

bigdecisionstomake · 04/12/2023 07:43

Day 4 Harrods offering is a Decree Treat Tincture Serum to be used as part of your evening routine. This is a new brand for me so looking forward to trying it.

General “waifs and strays” beauty advent calendar opening thread
bigdecisionstomake · 04/12/2023 07:46

Have just checked and this retails for £130 in this size 😲so it had better work miracles!

Peridot1 · 04/12/2023 07:52

Some lovely items in all of your calendars today.

Todays’s Bonne Maman offering is strawberry and guava jam. Yesterday was plum. I’m having to look some up as my French is pretty rudimentary.