General “Waifs and Strays” Beauty Advent Calendar opening thread 2024

[AprilLady]

As in previous years, this a thread for those opening Beauty Advent Calendars not covered by specific calendar opening threads (though also happy for contents of those to be shared here too).

Carrying on the traditional from previous years, it will also be fun to hear about other calendar openings - Degusta, jam, escape room anyone?

I know there are mixed feelings on this, but many of us would really appreciate it if spoilers are not posted before 7am on the relevant day. Please also avoid dropping hints or spoilers about future contents if you have opened the calendar in advance.

Posting pictures of contents is also always much appreciated.

I’ll be opening the Space NK and Harrods calendars this year. Really looking forward to Day 1 tomorrow.

I thought when I read you'd opened this - I like Earl Grey, I like smokey tea but I can't imagine them together.

Jo Malone - English Pear and Sweet Pea Cologne. I quite like this one, haven’t smelt it before today.

Dermalogica - Eye Repair Cream. I am definitely in need of this!

Bare Minerals - Long Life Herb Serum. Not sure what this is but I’ll give it a go.

As others have said, great days from both SpaceNk and Harrods.
Day 10:

SpaceNK: Tatcha the serum stick (full size although 10ml). Like most things from the brand and very keen to try this. Sisley Black Rose mask, 10ml, which I really like. The tube looks small but you get 3 to 4 uses from it, which beats a single use sheet mask! And a Sisley cream, 10ml. Again looks tiny, but using a similar sized day cream from Sisley at the moment that will last 2 weeks. Great day.

Harrods: Full size EGF serum - £££ and one of the reasons for buying the calendar.

F&M tea: Explorers tea.

Today a Roanoke Ivy candle from Penhaligons. Smells gorgeous.

Vogue- Barbara Sturm Sun drops spf 30, full size at 30ml, £125
en.drsturm.com/sun-drops-spf50/?sku=65226398&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACg1rncRuEaqN0cka8SdeUGKP1Dub&gclsrc=ds

Looks like everyone is having a good day so far!

My Day 10:

Cult Beauty (my non-scent version):

Two products in today's drawer!

HUDABEAUTY - 1 Coat Wow! Extra volumising and lifting mascara 7ml (£12)

Pat McGrath Labs - Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner 1ml (£30)

The mascara is only a mini but I'm always searching for the holy grail of mascaras for my stubby lashes, so looking forward to giving this a go!

Bird and Blend Tea:

Mint Choc Rooibos - 'Delicious chocolate and peppermint'.

Not sure about this at all. More rooibos? Not sure it always needs it. I've not really enjoyed most of these, even though I thought I might.

Brown Thomas - Kilian Icons mini discovery set. Very happy as its one of the brands I haven’t smelled before 😍

Day 10 of Lookfantastic is an avant product. It's the pro collagen primer in a 30ml. I'm excited to try it. I know Avant products come with a high price tag but am interested to see if it sits well under makeup for me.

@tokyosushi I have opened my ASOS calendar and am pleased with the Sunday Riley auto correct contour cream. I got the calendar at a discounted price and am really happy with it so far.

Day 10 Jo Malone - English Pear & Sweet Pea cologne. Had a quick test and I really don't like this, it's another heavy floral. I'm surprised that we're 10 days in and have only had one candle, I was hoping for something wintery/Christmassy that I could burn on the run up to Christmas.

Slightly better effort from Shiseido today - perfumed night body lotion 50ml. It smells really nice.

Disappointed with old Rituals- it’s a little soap and I don’t ever use soap😿

I have decided to save all my tiny Shiseido products and use them Xmas Eve onwards as a special treat. They’ll be gone by 1/1😹

Brown Thomas - Kilian Icons mini discovery set, very happy as its one of the brands I kept meaning to order samples of 😍

Everyone has had a better day than me as this is the first one that is not for me

Next 25 Days of Advent (not the luxury one 🙃)

Day 10 - Delilah Smooth Shadow stick
It is a very dark brown & I am very pale so I will not use it.

Will try to re-gift it.

An after sun facial oil from Gruum. I'm not at home now and forgot to take a photo.

I definitely won't need that for a while. I expect dd will steal that anyway.

Day 10 from TreatBox is a bag of "Yule Log" popcorn - popcorn with chocolate and cream cheese frosting. Interesting. Can't remember the last time I ate popcorn, I don't bother with it at the cinema. Will try it later, the flavour sounds lovely.

@HolaLolla I remember seeing the Brown Thomas advent a couple of months ago when someone mentioned it on one of the threads and I thought them that it looked a really good one. But I think it was only available in Ireland?

I love today's pear and freesia Jo Malone perfume and the Penhaligon's calendar, and I got another tiny shower gel in L'occitane.

I am in Belfast so was happy to see they would post to NI 🎉🎉

Luxury Next AC, an Eve Lom cleanser.
Always wanted to try this so very pleased.

@IlovePond - before you use any of your tiny Shiseido products- please would you take a photo of then all together (maybe next to a ruler/common object for perspective)? Bet they'll look really cute - a Lilliputian stash.

I will try to remember @Stoic123 - that’s a good idea!

They are very cute but sooo expensive for what is basically a bunch of samples!)

I like the Rituals soap bars. I buy them to match the shower gel I'm using as I find if I use the soap first then follow up with gel the scent lasts longer.

Today's new Rituals is a serum booster 20ml. Quite pleased with this one, it looks like it works like a first essence and the scent is nice. It's watery so 20ml will probably last a while, they sell this size on the site for £23.90.

Thanks for the tip @OvaHere - that serum looks interesting!

Quite like the asos Sunday Riley eye cream from today but it's very very small! It says 3ml but I had to do a lot of squeezing of the very tiny tube to get any out. Trying to imagine 3ml in a calpol syringe and I think mine might be a bit short...

However, it did seem to do a bit for my dark circles, and apparently retails at 60 quid for 15ml so I'll make the most of it while it lasts!

Bonne maman was caramel and vanilla spread. (not sure if I posted yesterday's that was blueberry and maple syrup.)

Its my favourite ever as I have panda eyes, so makes me look more human lol however not once did I pay full price for it, qvc have a good deal every now and again, and you can get some on Vinted/ebay. Think I have 2 ir 3 in my stash as I fear of running out and having to buy a full priced one 🙈

@ConradKnightSocks sorry I don't open until late so avoid thread all day.
I do have the scent advent but the items in day 9 are the same across both versions.

Wigmore cheese in P&W today. Nice enough but not exciting. I have a bad feeling that Christmas Eve is bound to be Stilton. (I like blue cheese in general but hate Stilton.)