John Lewis advent opening thread

[pinkchampagne1]

I couldn’t see a thread for the JL calendar and know a few of us have gone for it so thought I would start one. 😃

DOD?

Drawer of disappointment

Thanks - that makes sense - the drops were exactly that.

Whilst I love the calendar, every year I fear that one of these incredibly expensive creams will work miracles and I’ll have to buy more! 😂

I have the same fear! 😂

Same! Space NK gave me a sample of a gorgeous lip cream that makes my lips softer than anything else but it's nearly £70 🙀

Full sized Clinique mascara today. Not the most exciting item for me as I don’t use mascara often and have several already.

I'm happy with the mascara! I've been wanting to try it for a while so glad to have the chance.
I'm also now a convert to the drops, especially the Power ones. It may well be placebo effect but I do think they help me cope with both perimenopause and hangover symptoms!

Oh really? That’s interesting. I am in that same stage of life and have over indulged over the last few nights. Maybe I should give the drops a go

Very happy with mascara, especially as it's full size. My current one is crap.

Nice mascara, will save for when my current one dries up

I can’t believe we’re coming to the end of our calendar. I have been pretty pleased with it overall

Merry Christmas all! Unfortunately I won't use any of today's products as they are not Curly Girl friendly but they'll make a nice addition to my sister's gifts!
Overall it's been a good calendar and I'm glad I got it but I'm definitely going to try something different for next year.

I tend to be quite loyal to my hair products but this is a nice little selection. I've been very happy with the calendar too but agree I might try a different one next year as I know they can become a bit same-y. I'm thinking maybe Space NK.

Happy Christmas everyone! 🎄

I have very thick hair so not sure the shampoo and conditioner will be for me so will probably pass them on.
All in all I have been very impressed with the contents of the calendar - it has been a lovely treat each day.
I also might try another next year as it is my 3rd year of the JL calendar.

All in all not great. I felt the premier products were missing and there were too many fillers. For me skin care is key and there weren't any knock out moisturisers and some very small sizes...

I've started a swap thread here...https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4970285-advent-calendarbeauty-box-swap-thread

So all in all I was happy but not as blown away as I was with last year's calendar. I agree with @Livelifelaughter

What are everyone's highs & lows?

Here are mine:
Drawer of delight: Neom candle & spray
Drawer of doom: too many repeats from last year
Surprised by: the Nars blusher
Wished for: A full size wow moisturiser/night cream

Mine are:
Drawer of delight: Some nice things, but can’t remember anything that has stood out. Although I did like the Bobby Brown eyeshadow stick.
Drawer of doom: The sleep and energy drops. The blusher brush. And I found door 25 very bland (the shampoo/conditioner combo)
Wished for: Also a full size wow moisturiser/night cream - not nearly enough every day face cream for me.

I was happy with the calendar but agree that a high end moisturiser would have been nice rather than the power drops. Last year we had the Sunday Riley moisturiser and the Dermalogica one. This year the calendar contents were apparently worth about £200 more than last year’s too. 🤔

My drawers of delight were: Neom candle, Portrait Of a Lady perfume which I love, Clarins fragrance, Sunday Riley GG and the Votary serum.
Drawers of doom: Nars tiny blusher, the blusher brush and I felt day 25 a bit disappointing. Shampoo and conditioner isn’t really very exciting, plus I have thick hair that really doesn’t need extra volume! I felt that day 2 would have been better for Christmas Day.

I have now started my Fenwicks 12 day calendar which has some pricey skincare. 😃

Agree with the posts above

Lows

...the blusher brush that is too big for the tiny blusher
...the CBD drops, can't recollect if there was one or two mascaras,

the Ordinary moisturiser.. the

Charlotte Tilbury eye palette in red tones was odd .

High points

Sunday Riley - Good Genes

The face mask

Votary Serum

Sunday Riley, bath oil and the teeny tiny Nars blusher have been hits here.

The main disappointments were the CBD drops and maybe the two face washes. There's a lot I haven't used yet though.

I'm realising that there's loads I haven't tried yet!
Low points were the blusher brush for sure and the jury is still out on the eyeshadow palette.
High points are Votary serum and the CBD drops for new products and the bath oil and Aqua di Palma for old favourites. Oh and I do love the lip gloss.
Agree that another moisturiser would have been nice.

I really like the blusher brush, I've used it everyday. For me the CBD drops were the only items that I thought were pretty poor. The rest were great, the Neom candle has been used over Christmas, loved the eye crayon & the votary. My no 1 was the Fredrick Malle Portrait of a Lady, I will definitely re/purchase. Overall an excellent calendar & good value

I think the sleep drops are helping me have a better nights sleep but like someone else said, I have noticed some weird vivid dreams!