Beauty advent calendars 2024 #4

[virgocatlover]

We still have 2 months to go so there's still time for dilemmas, decisions and discounts.

We have a few coming out this week including John Lewis, OK and No7. I'm still WAC (without advent calendar) but that may soon change!

I just kept hearing: ‘Gift with purchase, guys. Gift with purchase!’ 😹😹😹

Same @IlovePond - I wonder how all these boxes are doing for beauty - I bet in general people are buying and trying more stuff due to them.

I do like a beauty box myself, but not at that price for tiny items@52crumblesofautumn !

It's kind of crazy that people are happy to pay for so many items that used to be freebies

Yes, I've no doubt they are used for marketing/ brand awareness.

They were usually only freebies once you’d spent actual money on other things though.

That's true isn't it! I suppose it's really just a different online way of accessing that.

I certainly try more things than I ever would have 10 years ago

It definitely makes it easier to try new brands, especially the expensive ones.

Ha! This is me! And then I end up just hoarding it all because it's "too nice" to use and DH is when I tell him what new shiny lovely products I just had to buy - look what free things I got!

I've enjoyed sample sizes of things this year. I'm trying to figure out new skincare and make up but I also have quite reactive skin so I hate it when I've bought something full size just to find I can't use it more than one time due to irritation. At least if it's a 5 or 10 ml it doesn't seem as bad.

That said I'm building a better picture now of products and brands I do really like so by advent season 2025 I think a lot of stuff will have less appeal. My plan for next year (famous last words) is to choose one of the top end AC in the 200-250 range and maybe one or two edits/gift sets that have mostly full sizes. I may go for a perfume one next year also.

😹😹@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz I am also a terrible hoarder of things too nice to use! However, when I joined the thread a while back I promised myself I would actually START USING stuff 😹

DH thinks I am losing the plot every time I proudly report that I have used my bath oil/hair serum/exfoliating scrub😹 He’s like ‘well, duh’.

I have just cracked and ordered a few things from eBay, (but they are things from old a/c that I have actually started using up and like!)

It's actually a bit of a weird mindset which I totally get. I've bought the odd thing from Vinted that I've seen in a calendar but didn't want the whole calendar. When it comes from Vinted I have no issue diving in but my stash of AC goodies seems strangely precious. No idea why. 😂

Selfridges calendar now available to order

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/selfridges-beauty-advent-calendar-worth-1000_R04380597/

I agree @OvaHere - I just don’t like paying a lot for them when the box or calendar is all small sizes.

I think we’ve done this before, but what have people on here discovered through bbs/a/cs that they wouldn’t usually have considered buying?

Some of my finds:

Floral Street Arizona Bloom - this was in an M&S BB and I love it
Bum Bum cream - I am not in SDJ’s target demographic but I just don’t care, I absolutely love this stuff!
Christophe Robin salt scrub - so glad I failed to sell my large tub on eBay - it’s great!
Wet brush - from an H&B calendar
Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess - from a Blockbuster set, (back when these were really good)
Filorga anti wrinkle serum - I got this sample so long ago that I think it’s been discontinued, (which is a shame as it’s pretty good!)
M&S Formula night cream
Neom sleep oil

I love the Bum Bum cream but I don't really like the matching body spray and shower cream. I think in the latter two I find the fragrance too overpowering but as body cream it's subtle enough and it feels lovely.

MediK8 Hydra B5 has been my top favourite so far along with the MediK8 Press and Glow toner.

Not started on any moisturisers or cleansers yet as I need to use up what's open first. I've been a bit extravagant this year so I'm determined not to be wasteful also.

@OvaHere - I agree with you about the SDJ fragrances - they just don’t smell the same as the BB cream to me.

Medik8 is on my list of things to try!

Yes, I rebought the cashmere socks from White Stuff that were in last years Calendar & have a few Slip Silk eye masks. So wanted Vogue again but thought it was really bad this year compared to last 😕

Like you Ova I have until recently had very reactive skin especially near my eyes. Seems to have coincided with peri menopause and starting several new meds active same time after a lifetime of virtually none.

This meant I pared skincare right back and stuck to very gentle stuff (Pai in particular was so soothing and also a UK brand with 90 day money back so was a fairly safe bet). My skin has slowly got better but I'm still cautious about eye products and if I do try anything new I don't do it anymore he week leading up to a big event in cases disaster strikes

Products I've discovered -

Sunday Riley CEO and Good Genes ... bloody hell, I've never used a product in all my nearly 50 years which I've seen an immediate benefit from. This could get expensive ...

Superficiality Vit C Cleansing oil - I can even use this in my eyes so chuffed to bits that it's in the H & B this year if memory serves

Origins Dr Weil Mega Mushroom soothing emollient - again very gentle

Grandano products for body - all gorgeous

And then Moon Carnival perfume. This is what I blew my Liberty BD credit on this year before cancelling my subscription.

To clarify those many typos - I don't actually put the cleanser in my eyes but rather on them

Ooh yes @tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz - I really want to try the SR stuff.

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz I have a Pai product somewhere. I can't remember what it is but I'll have to dig it out and try it. Thanks for the rec.

Fucksake. Showing OOS!

It's showing in stock now , I had it in my basket, but have removed it . I do not need it , I do not need it ........

Thanks. Have bought - will re sell what is not to my liking and keep the rest

Space NK fragrance calendar due to be delivered tomorrow - really speedy compared to the advent calendar despatch so that's one thing they have got right this time.