What gems have you found from Beauty Advent Calendars this year?

[JMAngel1]

What have those of you who had Advent calendars found that you now will definitely repurchase as you have found the product to be amazing?
Or are there any products that have been good but you just couldn’t justify the full size price in the future?

The Origins Serum and Elemis Marine pro-collagen from LookFantastic Advent Calendar will have me ordering them when they’ve run out.

The Iconic Eye Shadow Pallette has made me question my Urban Decay Naked palettes!

I’m definitely going to buy the Aveda bond styling crème again from the M&S one this year and bought the Shay and Blue ‘black tulip’ perfume a couple of times last year after getting it in the 2022 calendar.

Summer Friday Cloud Dew moisturiser has been a staple for me for several years now. Likewise Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. Both discovered from advent calendars.

I’ve never yet been disappointed with any Sunday Riley product, I’ve had face oil, a couple of serums (Good Genes in 2023 calendar), eye cream - but I never get the chance to buy them again as I have so many similar advent calendar products to use up.

Huda Cheeky Tint Cream Blush was an outright winner for me in the Cult Beauty 2023 calendar. I’m a convert, I’d never used cream blush in my life and now I may never use powder blush again. I’ve had so many comments on how fresh and glowy my make up looks.

Also, I think I’m the only person who hates the Augustinus Bader rich creme moisturiser. It’s been in almost every calendar I’ve had. I find it too thick and ‘draggy’ and it makes me break out in spots.

DH loves it though so it gets passed to him every year.

There is absolutely no way that manufacturers are doubling their costs by producing a more potent formulation for samples and then a diluted version for retail. Come on. The sample is likely addressing a skin concern that you haven’t previously treated, meaning that you see more dramatic results with those very first applications.

I don't hate it but I don't see that it's any better than hundreds of other cheaper brands. I've had a few sample sizes and never been tempted to repurchase at all.

And another one. My memory was jogged thanks to @CharmedCult. Bobbie Brown was the creme blush that converted me from powders.

I had the same issue with AB, made me break up. I used it up on my neck but wouldn’t repurchase.

Eve Lom repair mask from Look Fantastic - have already repurchased from someone on eBay who clearly bought calendars to split and sell.

I had a Molton Brown advent calender quite some time ago and loved the Alba White Truffle Hand Exfoliatior and Alba White Truffle Hand Treatment. They've gone now and been discontinued, sadly. I don't know why, the fragrance is amazing.

Another vote for AB rich cream here. I have very dry skin and it's incredible. The only way I have managed to buy full size was with my Liberty beauty club savings when they did an amazing sale before Xmas; got the 30ml plus 10ml face oil (which is sadly also amazing) for £200 of vouchers. I reckon I've got about a week left of both and then I shall be in mourning.

They had a good range of full sizes this year and the CT eye shadow palette was great
but yes, and SPF would have been nice to have especially as they had a retinal in there

I had M and S, LookFantastic, Next and Macmillan.

Faves were:

Mac Stack mascara
Iconic eye pallet
Benefit Roller mascara
Neom candle
Philip Kingsley Elasticiser, particularly impressed with this.
Elemis Rose cleanser

In terms of favourite calendar, I can’t remember which products came from where!

Ahh so now I have to try AB rich cream - not sure my bank balance can cope 😂

So far it’s Byredo lipstick and Poets of Berlin perfume. I’ve already bought some more of the perfume on Vinted.

I didn't hate it but I didn't want to repurchase it.

I had Liberty and I am loving:

Seated Queen serum OMG amazing my skin is so soft
Vilhelm Parfumerie Poets of Berlin fragrance
Le Labo rose oil fragrance
Bibbi perfumes Ghost of Tom

I love a fragrance and I find I do use them up so a good number makes the AC good value for me

I actually don't like the AB cream - it is too heavy on my old skin - so I sold it on eBay for £27 not bad.

@SirChenjins I had that Shay and Blue perfume and it was PANTS. Sprayed it and literally couldn't smell a thing five minutes later. I complained and they offered me a fresh one but I thought not worth it really. Maybe I had a duff bottle?

Over the years:-

Weleda Skin Food Light
Sunday Riley Good Genes
Nuxe hair oil
Anything from Aromatherapy Associates
Bobbi brown creaseless cream eye shadow
Faith in nature soap and hair mask
Various Percy and Reed styling products

I got way too many face masks this year though.

For me. Not used much of this years advent yet but from last years
Votary Hylauronic Acid serum
Bobbi Brown Blusher
Sunday Riley Vitamin C serum
Really enjoyed discovering Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow quads (although over them now having received too many!)
Loved every Kate Somerville item I have received and have subsequently bought other items from her range

I'm working my way slowly through things, so that I can tell which ones actually make a difference (and to cheer me up over the next few months). I had the John Lewis one, and am absolutely loving the Neom pillow mist, and the Bobbi Brown eye shadow stick, as well as the Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner. The Sisley hair oil was a complete disaster, turning my hair into a greasy mess...

From the Rituals one I will
Probably buy the foaming face wash.

Clinique moisture surge moisturiser - this one it's lasting really well so I might be able to justify the cost if it's going to last for ever. Maybe.

Nuxe oil. It's nice, I like it, I can't afford it. I'd like to be able to afford to use it liberally and frequently but I can't, so I'm just using a teeny bit on my face and hair.

I loved the Liberty Calander

kept loads me for and gifted my friends the rest for Xmas

the only product I loved was the Luna night oil for some reason

many of the other serums irritated n my eyes and I happily returned to my Holland and barret products

I really dislike it, its like rubbing in PVA glue and it seems to dry out my skin.

My favourites from the liberty calendar that i would actually purchase were

Sunday Riley, luna
The seated queen serum
The liberty tudor fragrance, the poets of Berlin fragrance and the rose gel balm fragrance
The orange bottle of hair oil.
The Paula's choice exfoliater (I already buy this)

Loved but wouldn't buy:
The Barbara sturm face cream
The liberty candle

The rest I liked except for the rich cream and the really expensive hyaluronic acid, neither of which I can get on with at all.

oooh yes @ThreeTescoBags I already buy the Paula's Choice AHA as well! That was one tiny bottle in the AC.

Did you not like Ghost of Tom? I think maybe I love it the best! Also yes liking the orange hair oil.

I think we can all agree on The Seated Queen serum, so good.