Beauty advent calendars 2024 #2

[virgocatlover]

With just under 3 months to go until 1 December, there are some big decisions to be made! Thread to discuss advent calendars while we wait for more content revelations and release dates.

Thread 1 - https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/styleandd_beauty/5108657-beauty-advent-calendars-2024

I have Liberty and have peeked in the drawers and tried the perfumes but was going to get another. John Lewis is the most tempting of what’s left. I usually get the Boots Ted Baker one too. It’s great value and is often on offer.
so disappointed with Vogue, can’t imagine them selling out. There’s literally nothing in there tempting me at all!

Vogue has got to have been the biggest boom to bust ever. On the plus side at least we are saved all that Advent envy from last year

😁I wouldn’t even buy it if it was half price!

Regarding reductions, I remember Next reduced their £95 AC to £80 on Black Friday.

The one I am still hopeful for is Space Nk fragrance

@MiaN me too

I agree, the red looks horrible with the illustrations. I was instantly put off by the colour and if I had of liked the contents I would have swapped them into last years calendar

I've ordered H&B - looks a bargain. Also ordered Sephora to share with my daughter as she will love the bits I don't. M&S is a given even if it's the same stuff every year.
Could be tempted by one more mid price one I think

Haha I was wondering why there were so many posts on this thread then saw that Vogue had been released. https://shop.vogue.co.uk/products/vogue-festive-calendar-2024

I like it.

Bearing in mind, I am getting my first AC this year and I am not a beauty hoarder, it stresses me out:

• I like the red, it’s actually 🎄festive🎄
• I’m into intensive masks with active products, serums and good moisturisers. Products I’d use and buy add up to £599, more than value of calendar and are well reviewed. 111Skin - Y Theorem Bio Cellulose Facial Masks X3 - RRP £66; Votary - Night Star Serum (30ml) - RRP £140; Verden - Herbanum Bath Oil (100ml) - RRP £85; MZ Skin - Vitamin-Infused Meso Eye Mask X5 - RRP £80; Murad - Essential-C Overnight Barrier Repair Cream (50ml) - RRP £86; Tatcha - The Silk Peony (Line-Smoothing Eye Cream) (15ml) - RRP £70; Dr Sebagh - Serum Repair (Hyaluronic Acid) (20ml) - RRP £72;
• I don’t own any of the fillers, like the paisley silk scarf or cashmere socks, or the vibrating anti aging tool.
• I haven’t bothered buying nail varnish in years, perhaps even a decade, so it would be nice to have a dark red and glittery green for festive season.
• I love bath oils but this one is herby and grassy and pepperminty - how is that relaxing!?
• I’m not really into hair stuff, lip stuff, Caudalie, Charlotte Tilbury or Burberry.
• 111Skin products expire within a really short time, I think months.
• I love a wearable SPF but the Dr Barbara Sturm reviews are poor and says it’s sticky. I use Suqqu SPF 50, it’s amazing if anyone is looking for one.
• Earrings are meh and not into lash serum either.
• I don’t care about the playing cards, digital subscription or candles. I prefer Lisa Eldridge to Laura Mercier.

So if you’re lurking and wanted to buy the Vogue AC but were disappointed by the feedback here, hope that gives you enough reason to go ahead.

I think there’s two types of AC purchasers. Those who want the festive treat, surprise and novelty of products through the festive season. And those who are serious about beauty/makeup/skincare/hair care and want a reasoned purchase that aligns with their existing regime. I feel my Liberty purchase was the latter, and the Vogue purchase would be the former.

Nevermind then what you need and buy by life stage - in my 20s I was a huge Burberry Beauty and Laura Mercier make up fan, as well as Dior. I don’t wear makeup now and my focus is on skincare and looking “healthy” and awake (optimistic…) as a mum in late 30s.

I agree re the two types @BakeOffRewatch - I've been a firm F&M beauty calendar buyer over the last few years but this year I think I've become someone who wants the festive fun and I've ordered the Daylesford one instead!

Oh gosh I'm neither of those types of buyers!
I like a decorative and sturdy calendar out, something to chat about I guess but I always have it opened and cleared away by mid December, I get bored. I don't want surprises, I like to know I'm going to get something I will use and at a bargain price. I'm pretty easy going with products and I don't have set brands I buy, I literally look for what I fancy or newest product etc when replacing. That's probably my problem, I'm a mix of both the descriptions and therefore nothing suits.

Is that the one with the chocolate sardines?

I am a festive fun advent calendar lover. I don't check the contents as my daughter does that for me and fingers crossed for no drawers of doom.
Have had an absolute rubbish day at work and really trying not to buy another calendar to cheer me up!

Just pre-ordered the Vogue AC and now I’m looking forward to December. I never had any of these calendars and although I love skincare, I don’t want too much of it. Stuff like cashmere socks and silk eye masks I love. The earrings this year suit my style more than last years. I’m sure my mum will love the silk scarf. K18 hair mask and a Tatcha product is something I wanted to try for some time. That T bar vibrating device probably will go to my friend or my sister as I already have something similar (and I do use it fairly often). There’s a candle - great, love it but also love that there are not too many tiny candles. The same goes for the bath oil (in fact, my DH will probably appreciate that one). It would have been nice to have more jewellery, but honestly overall I think Vogue team haven’t done too badly.

The perfume choice is a bit disappointing though

I’m in the latter category @BakeOffRewatch. I think that’s why none of the calendars are doing it for me. I don’t want mascara or eye cream - those I use regularly are my nirvana. Every year there are fewer products that attract me but this is the first year that I’ve looked at them all and been underwhelmed by the whole lot. I’d rather buy a new bottle of Lipstick Rose or Portrait of a Lady than any of them.

Would the Vogue spark joy everyday? Yes. Do I need it and does it replace what I’d purchase regularly anyway? No. Is there other stuff that’s “luxury beyond necessity” that I’d prefer? Yes. Like matching Liberty print outfits for the kids for Christmas.

When I found out I was pregnant and knew my due date was now, I decided I would definitely get an AC this year to join in the threads and I am glad I did! But in preparation I have run down my products over last few months, I haven’t repurchased hair conditioner and been really stretching what’s left, as I know they come with hair masks and not been buying face masks or serums. The Liberty AC for me “replaces spend”. I also think the Cult Beauty AC is fantastic festive fun, novelty and value, but I don’t like lots of packaging and deluxe or trial items from a sustainability view if nothing else. So again all the Liberty full sizes replace what I’d have packaging wise anyway. Another reason I’ve never bought is they don’t have brands that I think are worth spending money on, most of my stuff comes from Boots and then I get Suqqu SPF, Aesop toiletries and Hourglass makeup - not the stuff you see in AC, at Christmas they do lip balm sets and limited edition palettes.

It’s interesting that people are annoyed by the Harrods points and freebies because that’s another reason I’ve never bought an AC. Once it gets to November and December the in store deals and GWP in London are amazing, particularly in boutiques. They’re not publicised online. Last year I bought a coat I needed and got a few full size beauty items with it. All the stores do it, seems like Harrods mistake was doing it with the AC and then everyone saw on social media. You go in and the individual brand kiosks have their own promos to make sure you seal the deal of browsing with a purchase. I won’t be going near central London with a newborn this year.

There’s a few limited edition festive items I’ve seen that I’m going to replace my DoD in the Liberty with.

Sorry for the long multiple posts I am still very overdue!

I don’t think I made my point even in that long post - when it comes to “replace spend” I am into the ACs, but when it comes to “extra spend on luxury” it’s plates and cute kids outfits for me. I definitely think the Vogue AC is amazing again this year though.

I'm a bit like you. I don't have set products that I stick to. I don't like a load of stuff I won't use or that seem to be just filler. While I do like a bargain, I also like the idea of using new stuff that I wouldn't buy full price. I don't tend to buy expensive brands when I'm stocking up. I'd say €30 is the most I've ever paid for a serum, cleanser or moisturiser. My current cleanser is an Aldi cleansing balm which is brilliant. I've also gotten into K Beauty recently so am trying out various bits and bobs there.

Thinking about it, what I would really like is a K beauty advent with no make-up that covers a full routine a couple of times.

I like to have a surprise everyday, and try new products at the same time. I think I enjoy the advent period more than Christmas itself.

k beauty advent calendars definitely exist @OchonAgusOchonOh , wasn’t it discussed one year and people were unsure about shipping in time? I just googled and found this one on pre order yepoda.co.uk/products/the-yepoda-advent-calendar

Jo Malone London contents info- reallyree.com/jo-malone-advent-calendar/

It was Stylevana that I’m thinking of can’t remember which year @OchonAgusOchonOh https://www.stylevana.com/en_GB/stylevana-advent-calendar-2023.html

It depends on the year/my circumstances for me actually. A few years ago I was new to luxury beauty so mainly wanted to try stuff and stock up on products (as well as getting the festive experience), then last year I felt I had enough make-up and had found my go-to skincare products so I went for F&M as I still wanted the fun factor. This year I'm actually away for two weeks in the run up to Christmas so I'm considering not bothering with one, although also considering getting Space NK as the products will be useful for travel.

@BakeOffRewatch @OchonAgusOchonOh I think there's also Yesstyle?