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Beauty advent calendars 2024

1000 replies

virgocatlover · 30/06/2024 13:27

Yes I know, I'm stupidly early, but I love a beauty advent calendar and I've just seen Liberty has stopped a sneak peek at their offering this year...

beautyadventcalendar.net/liberty-advent-calendar-2024-sneak-peek-pre-order/

OP posts:
Thread gallery
28
sparklybead · 02/09/2024 08:51

Delurking as my first beauty advent calendar was a Selfridges one in 2010 or 11; a colleague also got one and we discussed the contents daily in work - our colleagues thought we were mad back then as it was the first of its kind! I later had the 2017 LF AIW which is still going strong as a storage box that I use daily (the drawers are still in perfect condition here)!

I’m a lurker because the last one I bought was a few years ago now. Although some of them are good value for money if you look at what the items are worth, for many years I’ve only added up the value of the items that either I already use or that I really want to try and would have bought anyway. Now in my mid 40s, I’ve found the products that work for me and while I like trying new things every now and again they rarely live up to my favourites.

None of calendars in recent years have been good enough value for me, but I still enjoy reading your experiences and get excited to see what you’ll get, and your opinions on the products!

I’ve always enjoyed Cosmetopia’s videos, but not so much this year. I like her honest reviews and I like her, but they feel a bit different this year, a bit too scathing, and that comes from someone who has come to the same conclusion overall.

Though we should be thankful that we get to see contents in advance with beauty advent calendars; advent calendars linked to one of my hobbies are a thing and those cost cost £100+ but they give no contents list in advance - not even a sneak peek - which leads to some very disappointed people every year! I’ve given those a miss!

GorgeousTulips · 02/09/2024 09:02

Doubleraspberry · 02/09/2024 08:42

A full-sized puff is no one’s idea of good value!

Is this about LF?

GorgeousTulips · 02/09/2024 09:03

Scaryclare24 · 02/09/2024 00:15

The Harrods beauty advent (not the perfume) is back online now.

I just checked and it’s sold out

Doubleraspberry · 02/09/2024 09:27

GorgeousTulips · 02/09/2024 09:02

Is this about LF?

Yes. Quoting from Cosmetopia. Who I think has calendar burn out.

Puravida23 · 02/09/2024 09:41

I would steer clear from Harrods for a few weeks until they sort out the fragrance debacle. I don’t believe it has sold out already I think they have taken it down temporarily although not sure why
It never sells out this early normally and it is good but not that good there are a lot of teeny sizes in there which have been putting me off buying
I actually still like the look of Look Fantastic even after watching Cosmetopia there are a few things I would like to try and I don’t mind a few travel sizes all advents have them look at Harrods with its 7ml serum and 5ml eye cream. I actually got some powder puffs from a recent LIB box and really like them (I don’t need any more though), I definitely don’t need any eye masks though I have two unopened in my stash. I am waiting to see glossy box and M&S first though
I must admit I am feeling a bit flat about it all this year though not sure if it’s been the Harrods screwup which has taken the excitement out of it. I like JL and SpaceNk but don’t know if I do enough to buy. I had been considering Harrods Beauty, Look Fantastic is still a possible but that’s it
I am really hoping M&S is amazing and I will just get that

OchonAgusOchonOh · 02/09/2024 09:43

Doubleraspberry · 02/09/2024 09:27

Yes. Quoting from Cosmetopia. Who I think has calendar burn out.

She's right though. A full sized puff is no ones idea of good value.

A lot of the calendars do that - have stupid filters (scrunchies, eye masks etc) and class those as full size when stating how many full size items are in the calendar.

LF have both powder puffs and an eye mask this year. I got that eye mask from them in a previous calendar and the dye transferred to my lovely silk pillowcase. I binned the mask.

sparklybead · 02/09/2024 09:52

There have always been filler items like make up sponges and random shaped brushes that I’ve never had the need for. I’m sure with the Selfridges one there were lots of things that you often got as GWPs. So it’s not new. The companies sell them to make money so it’s not surprising. There were a good few years when prices were very reasonable and calendars were great value I imagine because it was a way for brands to get their products noticed. But it’s mostly the same ones every year now.

Scaryclare24 · 02/09/2024 09:54

GorgeousTulips · 02/09/2024 09:03

I just checked and it’s sold out

Yes I noticed that, I managed to get one just after midnight and it’s getting ready to ship now. I don’t think that will be them sold out already though, I’ve bought Harrods in November before! It’s probably just because of the mess they made with the perfume one.

Doubleraspberry · 02/09/2024 09:55

I know the fillers have always been there. As someone who doesn’t like eye masks, use scrunchies, have any idea at all what to do with a contouring sponge etc I’ve always noticed! Declaring them full size items does feel quite cheeky though.

I think Cosmetopia’s burn out reflects (maybe more dramatically) what many people who have been buying the calendars for a while are feeling. Not enough change in products, a lot of talk of the ‘worth’ of them which I think drives this actually - why not just buy one for the experience if you like it and not worry about VFM to the extent that you’re analysing the cost per ml of a sample, which is what people did at the beginning? I get why not - no one wants to feel ripped off - but it does start to figure too highly for fun I think. As of course the costs of the calendars rise and rise, which drives our need to justify them to ourselves too.

I find I’m more interested in the single brand ones now because I know I like the products. Whereas I used to enjoy lots of new things. We all probably go through phases!

MidnightMeltdown · 02/09/2024 10:33

Harrods is online again atm. I think that they are just trying to manage their workload with getting calendars sent out.

virgocatlover · 02/09/2024 10:45

The Rituals advent calendars are now available exclusively on their app for 7 days - I know some were asking about these.

OP posts:
Therightcoffee · 02/09/2024 10:47

Yes very similar here too, and there was a sweet spot when companies first started doing cyber November in a big way 2020-2022 whee the deals were amazing.

JudgeBurrito · 02/09/2024 10:48

@sparklybead

I’ve always enjoyed Cosmetopia’s videos, but not so much this year. I like her honest reviews and I like her, but they feel a bit different this year, a bit too scathing, and that comes from someone who has come to the same conclusion overall.

Me too, I get the impression she's having a tough time personally and also maybe struggling with the negative comments on YouTube? So I don't even think it's purely negativity about the calendars. I like her and I like how honest she is, but the calendars are meant to be fun and her reviews this year don't feel like fun.

Personally I like scrunchies and eye masks, as long as they're silk and good quality. I quite fancy the eye mask in F&M this year, but not enough to buy the calendar.

sparklybead · 02/09/2024 11:13

I get the same impression @JudgeBurrito

Pinktruffle · 02/09/2024 13:16

I'm thinking of treating myself to one for the first time. I'm trying to decide between Cult Beauty, Space NK and Sephora. Though Sephora goes on sale tomorrow so I should probably decide soon

MidnightMeltdown · 02/09/2024 13:19

I think that Cosmetopia has had a lot of positive feedback from giving negative reviews in the past, so she's sticking to that format and being very negative/dismissive.

I think what she's missed is that people are actually looking for balanced, honest reviews, which highlight the good and the bad. I find Planning with Crystal best for this.

Isabelle70 · 02/09/2024 13:38

Has anyone from the Harrods Fragrance pre order had a response to their Insta DM that had to send?

Puravida23 · 02/09/2024 13:42

@Isabelle70 Not yet but they did say 48 hours so not expecting anything really. I will chase again on Wednesday if not heard Keep checking my bank account and so far I am no advent , no refund. Don’t feel I am winning in life at the moment!

SoloCat · 02/09/2024 13:55

@Isabelle70 @Puravida23
I haven’t heard anything since their “we’ve had technical issues” email. I have had a refund and still showing as cancelled. Who knows 🤷‍♀️ what is happening..not sure Harrods do!
What annoyed me was the accepting and sending out of orders the day they cancelled ours. Then the store bun fight….its all been a bit déclassé 😉 and infuriating! Especially when people have them on eBay for £700!

Puravida23 · 02/09/2024 14:01

I agree I think they should have delayed the sale of the calendars a week until they had sorted out the preorder mess as now they risk running out of stock on their preorders. The thing that has annoyed me is the extra goodies/points on in store purchases yesterday . Meanwhile we gave them our cash 3 weeks ago and receive nothing possibly not even the thing we paid for

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 02/09/2024 14:19

It’s really strange. Advent calendars are the only thing that give me FOMO. I don’t get it about anything else but ended up buying six for myself last year. I’m not going to repeat that as I still have so much stuff to use but I’m eagerly scouring this thread and all the websites to see if there’s one (or two 😂) I want this year. I’m a lost cause. This is so out of character for me. 🙄

GreatMistakes · 02/09/2024 14:31

Not sure where I'm at with them. Wanted to buy one for the first time but I'm a bit disappointed by lookfantastic. I'm more tempted by the mens one 😆

Then I thought, well maybe I'll just save £100 and chuck it at Black Friday on a favourite brand 🤷‍♀️

Puravida23 · 02/09/2024 14:36

@AppleDumplingWithCustard Six!!! That is over 150 drawers of items. Are you still unboxing them? You should have bought the Harrods Fragrance Advent on preorder the stress alone from this would have cured your addiction 😂
Which was your favourite last year?

Growlybear83 · 02/09/2024 14:50

I've just had an email from Harrods asking me for my views on my in store experience yesterday. So I told them 😆😆😆. And I did as requested and have left a Trustpilot review as well.

Therightcoffee · 02/09/2024 15:03

@AppleDumplingWithCustard I'm impressed!
I've had a January and a 'end of summer holiday' calendar a few times...

@Growlybear83 that's too funny!! They do need to up their game.

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