Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2023 opening thread!

[CharmedCult]

Here we go. Let’s discuss and enjoy our advent calendars together.

It’s my second Cult Beauty calendar, last one was in 2021 it’s taken me two years to use up most of the items from that.

No spoilers before 7am please!

Meh! I’ve had today’s offering in a previous advent calendar. Quite underwhelmed . Another one for the holiday toiletries bag.

Not too thrilled today. Travel size Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen.

Today is Summer Fridays cc serum. Looking forward to trying this.

I use Summer Fridays Cloud Dew as my regular moisturiser so it’ll be nice to add another of their products to my routine. Very happy with this one - and it’s worth £65.

The last 2 days are good ones for me. The sunscreen will get used and I think I’ll start using the CC serum in the morning. I have an open pot of the Summer Fridays cloud dew too (from last year’s calendar possibly). I had stopped using it when the weather turned colder but tried it again today with a serum underneath and the Saie tint over the top my skin seems happy enough.

How long do you leave opened products unused before chucking them, or are you just happy to carry on using them?

I only ask because I’ve been trying to use previous calendar stuff before opening new items. Last night I started re-using a half full bottle of Oskia hydra-serum which I think I opened over a year ago and I noticed the bottle said to discard 9 months after opening.

Happy so far with the calendar. Sharing with DD, so everything will get used. Never heard of Summer Fridays, but the cream seems lovely.

I was quite excited by a Double Drawer today, but wish they’d not bothered with the Barbara Sturm, I can’t imagine I’ll get more that one use out of it. I don’t usually mind a small size, and put them away for weekends away, but the packaging must be worth more than the contents today!
I’d have been happy with just the Paula’s Choice cleanser - that will go in DS’s travel wash-bag.

@CharmedCult Your post made me laugh as we are clearly both trying to use up the same old calendar remnants! I have an open bottle of Oskia hydra serum too which I’m still using. I never pay much attention to the use by dates on things. Obviously if the scent or texture of a product changes then I throw it away, but otherwise I keep using it.

Most of my products are kept in a cupboard so in the dark which I think helps. Although bathrooms tend to be warm which isn’t great for preserving stuff.

Today was a big disappointment - such tiny products! They’ll get used when travelling though. I have the Look Fantastic AC too, which had an amazing double drawer today - Medik8 cleanser and Vitamin C serum.

Has anybody got any advice on layering on all these serums? Eg if using vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and moisturiser in the morning? Presumably you use less of each product?

Big catch up…

Paula’s Choice cleanser and Dr Barbara Sturm hyaluronic serum - both tiny, will get used but not enough of each product to convince me to buy the full size unless they really wow me with immediate effects.

Bare Minerals lip gloss in Heart. Haven’t tried it yet, but you can never have too many lip glosses as far as I’m concerned!

Dr Levy Matrix Mask. I have lots of face mask products still to use up. I struggle to be bothered find the time to use ones that you only leave on for 5 minutes so I’m not sure I’ll ever use this one which is supposed be left on for 20 minutes. I’ll probably give this away or swap/sell it.

Herlum All Over Body Oil. I do love a good oil. This can be used on your hair too and I’ll be trying this tonight. It smells beautiful.

Today is the 15ml Augustinus Bader Rich Cream which retails at £71!

Here’s the last 3 days items for any lurkers…

I’m never really fussed on any hair stuff in these calendars. I have fine thin hair and have spent years figuring out which products work for me. Most hair products make it flat. Anyway, I’ll give the Olaplex a try.

I’m very much looking forward to trying The Seated Queen cold cream/evening cleanser. It smells divine. I’m currently using Emma Hardie Moringa balm which is one of my “can’t live without it” products.

I’ve had the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream in a previous calendar and it is indeed extremely rich. My DH pinched it last time so he’s happy this morning!

My two favourite products so far are the Huda cream blush which has totally converted me from powder blush and I’ve had several comments about my skin and how fresh I look while I’ve been wearing it, and the Herlum All Over Body Oil which my skin really seems to love. I’ll definitely repurchase both.

I’m very impressed with the seated queen and the body oil. The olaplex stuff is also pretty good. It seems to have stepped up a level over the last couple of days

I’ve been lurking so thanks for keeping the thread going!

Happy with the oil and night cremes. Would be lovely.to have a larger size of just one of the hair care products. Tried the hair mask and it made a real difference to my frizz.

Today is Natasha Denona Bronze & Glow.

I’m pleased with the bronze and glow, although it’s quite small to get a bronzer brush in. My Nars Laguna is finished so this is a timely replacement! I tried it out today - I’m quite fair (MAC NC20) and this gives a decent colour without being too obvious.

It's a tiny palette, I'm definitely not going to get my big bronzing brush in that!

It's in a really nice case metallic magnetic case with a mirror though, it makes it feel high end and expensive.

Big drawer today!

Benefit Fluff Up Brow Wax. I just used this and I love it already. It’s made me decide to try and book in somewhere for eyebrow lamination. It’s made my overplucked brows look much fuller and fluffier, very nice.

Byredo Astronomical Mascara Volume. I’m almost ready for a new mascara so I’m happy to try this.

Roen Eyes On Me Eyeshadow palette. I have one already, different but similar colours, barely used. This will go on my swap/sell pile.

19/99 Precision Colour Pencil Crayon. The shade I got is Barna, not my colour at all. Swap/sell pile.

CB handbag mirror. Cute.

2 shower creams and gels today. Both smell lovely. I'm trying to only try 1 thing of each category so they don't go off but as the pot is so small don't think I'll have to wait long

Very small Ouai pot, but it smells beautiful. I'm not a fan of the travel sized products, it seems.like a 'free sample' rather than being a luxury.

I really love Ouai shampoo but already have a pot of this scalp and body scrub and never really get around to using it.

I’ve had the Elemis shower cream before too and it smells really nice. Plus it’s always good to get a double drawer!

I’ve been using the eyeliner we got a few days back and am happy with it - mine was a nice brown colour (I hate black eyeliner) and it goes on really nicely and lasts well. The Benefit eyebrow wax is also good with a pencil used under it.