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M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 2023 Opening Thread

782 replies

TokyoSushi · 30/11/2023 23:08

Roll up, roll up, there doesn't seem to be an M&S thread that we can find yet, so please join in to discuss here!

General rules: please don't disclose what the product is until after 7am on the day that it's due to be opened. No spoilers, if you want to open in a different order then go ahead, but please only discuss the product on or after its specific opening date here!

Happy opening everybody, enjoy!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
29
Growlybear83 · 11/12/2023 19:22

I was quite happy with today's item. But I was irritated to find that the box for the 24th is missing. I watched an inboxing video and it is one of the few things I would use as well!

Houseplanter · 11/12/2023 19:25

Happy enough with this, another for the weekends away bag (not that I do that many) but personally I'd have preferred a bit less skin care.

(Fussy I know)

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 11/12/2023 19:44

@CointreauVersial thanks, I didn't look at the tube properly 😂

As I'm extremely happy with my Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream I'll either give the Clinique Moisture Surge to my Mum or swap it.

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 11/12/2023 19:47

Nice to have the the money off voucher for the Formula Sleep Cream (it's brilliant) but would rather have had the sleep cream in the advent calendar.

Hapagirl48 · 11/12/2023 20:09

@WombatCowgirl I agree with you. Last year’s box design was much better with the boxes being the size of the item so it was fun to guess. I use last year’s box to put chocolates in for DH but I don’t think I will with this year’s.

H3lloMums · 11/12/2023 21:24

The long boxes do make some
of the products feel
underwhelming…

PepsiCoco · 11/12/2023 21:45

Just slapped the moisture surge on, not keen as it’s very sticky.

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 12/12/2023 01:47

The boxes are ridiculously long/big for many of the items.
Though I suppose they all have to be the same height to allow the vanity case to hold its shape otherwise it would be quite floppy.

Just opened today's box (No12) & I like it.
That's all I'm saying as it's not 7am yet.

greencheetah · 12/12/2023 07:16

I absolutely love this perfume and was just thinking about it yesterday!

Ilikeyoursleeves · 12/12/2023 07:42

Day 12 is a perfume, decent sized spray of by Shay and Blue 'atropa belladonna' (not sure if that's its name??). I've just tried it and I like it, it's quite subtle and would be great for daytime wear!

M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 2023 Opening Thread
tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 12/12/2023 07:54

Love todays. If I can force myself to keep it until then it will be perfect for holiday hand luggage.

NotMyDayJob · 12/12/2023 08:02

Love the idea of a perfume but this smells horrible to me (and my six year old who helps me with all the calendars) and my DH just grimaced.

staryellow · 12/12/2023 08:19

DH just compared its scent to these yellow things they used to put in urinals to disguise the wee smell 😐

But I've discovered the eyebrow thing makes my thin eyebrows actually look a bit thicker somehow. So that turned out to be a win after all

<goes back to lurking>

VeronicaBeccabunga · 12/12/2023 08:19

NotMyDayJob · 12/12/2023 08:02

Love the idea of a perfume but this smells horrible to me (and my six year old who helps me with all the calendars) and my DH just grimaced.

I think you're right, strange smell.
I can't make this out, somehow cold and sharp like sniffing stuff in a chemistry lab.
If you wanted to disguise the smell of petrol or nail varnish remover, this would be it.

DurhamDurham · 12/12/2023 08:21

I love this perfume, there's usually a Shay and Blue in the advent calendar. We've had this one several years ago, it's their best one.

My favourite day so far.

itsnothingoriginal · 12/12/2023 08:26

Ooh good...I really like this perfume and it's different from anything else I have. It's a very powdery patchouli and wouldn't say it was a safe choice for this calendar! I can imagine a lot of people won't love it (might be wrong!!)

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 12/12/2023 08:30

I like the perfume, I rarely wear it or buy a new one, so it's nice to try something else.

I like the scent. I sprayed my wrists and rubbed together hard, had a sniff and got a really familiar astringent smell - cannot for the life of me place what it was. Went in for another sniff and it has gone. So if it was a bit sharp or zingy I'd recommend letting it warm up and having another sniff. It's a lovely warm scent on me now.

Buster27 · 12/12/2023 08:35

Good timing as I managed to smash a (thankfully small) perfume yesterday. Don't think I'd pick this but it's inoffensive to me on first spray, will see how it wears.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 12/12/2023 08:41

Haven't opened yet, but I dislike Shay and Blue perfumes generally. (The blood orange one is awful and used to come as a free gift in everything!)

weyaye · 12/12/2023 08:46

I was excited to try the perfume, but I really don't like it unfortunately.

concernedmumhelp · 12/12/2023 09:20

Really like the moisture surge.

Not sure about the perfume!

clowniform · 12/12/2023 09:25

This one is odd, such a whimsically dark name for such a muzak scent. I find it inoffensive, but better suited to a shampoo or shower gel maybe. Bland but better than yesterday's cloying £££ horror from the Liberty AC.

ExpensiveDecorations · 12/12/2023 09:36

I'm not sure about this. I haven't liked any of the previous Shay and Blue fragrances, especially the black tulip one. I've sprayed it on my arm but can hardly smell it, usually they are quite pungent. Seems nice enough but not wow.

NeedWineNow · 12/12/2023 09:37

I'm pleased. I like Shay & Blue perfumes generally and this a good holiday size.

CointreauVersial · 12/12/2023 09:47

I like quite a few of Shay & Blue's fragrances, but this one's a stinker. Boo.