General “waifs and strays” beauty advent calendar opening thread

[AprilLady]

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.

Morning all. I'm another fan of yesterday's tights and would wear them - cute little skull & crossbones.

Today's By Terry drawer contains a travel sized black mascara (RRP £19). Supposed to boost growth. Not exciting but I wear black mascara and am always happy to try a new one.

Harrods Day 8 is a 10ml Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum. This is something I will use so happy with it even though it’s quite small. I’ve had a couple of these before though and can never see that they’re any better than more reasonably priced ones.

I can report success with using the AA oil on a cotton pad on a warm radiator, my home office smelt lovely yesterday. Will definitely try and have a couple of relaxing baths with it over Christmas though.

Snag tights day 8. I like these! Pale blue rather than the grey they look in the photo

Finally a hit from Snag @Dogsitterwoes although less comedy value!

Degusta was a chocolate milkshake which DD2 was happy to take to school.

More roiboos from Mommin so will put aside for the SA summer iced tea suggestions!

Very disappointing. They are actually normal and wearable.

Much better for you though.

Pale blue argyle tights wearable? Are you sure? 😅

In comparison to my little pony or the Irish flag, then yeah, wearable. It's all relative😀

They wouldn't be my thing but I wouldn't look twice at someone wearing them.

Glad for you @Dogsitterwoes though I would find yesterday's easier to weaaaaarr 🏴‍☠️

Commiserations to those with tea advents. My nearest and dearest know not to come near me with such anymore. It is a sad day when Bonne Maman yields a foul sachet instead of a jar. At least the Moomin box is delightful @Stokey

Forgot to add a picture of the Selfridges mini mince pie calendar while I still have one of each left. Ranking: citrus, almond, plain, chocolate though all are tasty. Bit annoyed at the random filling which often had 3 days in a row of one flavour, though perhaps that's reasonable punishment for anyone peculiar sensible enough to just open one drawer a day 🤔

Drawer 25 is a mini Christmas cake. Will split this with DP when his cheese calendar yields something that will pair well.

I didn’t know there was such a thing as a mince pie advent calendar until you mentioned it @clowniform. Hope I remember next year!

@Dogsitterwoes - more wearable today but not as much comedy value unfortunately.

Peach and nectarine jam this morning n my Bonne Maman calendar.

A full-size (3g) Orpheon solid perfume in Diptyque day 8. Will give it a test later.

It seems I opened the wrong door in my Jo Malone calendar yesterday - the wood sage and sea salt hand cream should have been today's box and I've now opened yesterday's which is an English pear and freesia fragrance. I got a brow serum thingy in Lumene which has gone straight into the charity box.

I've never really had any good quality skincare products until recently and wondered if I seen to keep things refrigerated? Do many people use those little cosmetic fridges?

Sorry I have been neglecting my advent so have had to play catch up today
Day 5 was a Philip Kingsley Shampoo
Day 6 the matching Conditioner
Both decent sizes for travel so will definitely be used
Day 7 is a teeny AA support breathe bath oil which smells like the sort of thing you need when you have a cold to clear your nose, very menthol. Hoping I won’t need this
Day 8 has thrown me as it is the KS peptide K8 power cream this is by far the best day in the advent and worth over £100 so not sure why it was relegated to day 8 I would have thought it was day 24 or 25. But more than happy to have it now as nice surprise

I've been having a great time following everyone's calendars. I have Selfridge's and the Boots Premium - have been really happy with both so far but had my first disappointment today.

Discovered the shampoo in this morning's Selfridge's calendar has almost entirely leaked and ruined the box and damaged the bottom of the drawer. 😩

That's so disappointing. Maybe contact customer services and see what they say?

Boots Premium. A foaming cleanser.

I'm not a fan of foaming cleansers but will use it in the shower.

Also enjoying all the reveals.

@YfenniChristie sorry your shampoo leaked. I’d definitely contact customer services, tell them what happened and ask for a replacement.

I have to admit the only tea advent I’ve had my eye on is the Fortnum and Mason one in a beautiful wooden advent box. And I generally really like the F&M teas. Can’t quite bring myself to spend £150 on it though, so still hoping it gets reduced.

@Growlybear83 I’ve never kept cosmetics in the fridge, and think the cosmetic fridges are just a gimmick. Obviously don’t keep them in direct sunlight, but otherwise they should be fine. Once opened they inevitably deteriorate, so I do try not to have too many of the same type - eg moisturisers - open at once.

@Dogsitterwoes glad you’re getting some wearable tights but I am hoping we’re building up to something spectacular 😁

Yesterday for me was AB cream plus a mini mars bar. Today was AB cream again plus a small bag of popcorn and a reminder to file my self assessment. I’m not sure I’ll ask H for his help refilling again next year.

And he started off so well.

By the way, make sure you file your self assessment.

H&B today is a beauty blender sponge. I'll probably use it, but yawn.

Love the reminder to file your self assessment!

If you’re looking for a calendar that will go down well with a family member next year, this one has proved only too popular:

@Growlybear83 I agree with @AprilLady that cosmetic fridges are unnecessary. Storage below room temperature (25 degrees) should be fine, and I doubt there are many people in the UK right now exceeding 25!

Ha ha love this - I nearly bought one of these but wasn't sure if it would go down well or not with DCat. That looks like a definite positive endorsement though 🐱

@Pinenu - love the self assessment reminder!

Thanks very much to you both. I won't waste my money in that case!