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.

A good day:

This works from m and s - I like this range and always pleased to see it in a beauty kit - it’s a bit overpriced imo

Fortnums- Delilah mascara. Happy to try this and have my work party next week so good timing.

Day 13 Boots unlimited: Drunk Elephant jelly cleanser. Will enjoy trying this, as I've bought some of the Aldi dupes of their moisturisers lately!

Penhaligons is a Babylon fragrance (bigger size). Not one I’m familiar with and on first sniffing isn’t really my thing. DD loves it though.

Day 13 Jo Malone - 50g tub of Wood Sage & Sea Salt Body Creme.

Pleased with this! Will save until spring (or maybe just the new year) and use it together with the perfume.

Happy with my F & M Delilah mascara, I could always use another one.

Asos is a full size made by Mitchell blursh in strawberry cream. Really happy with this one, it was one of the ones I was looking forward to.

It's quite pastel so I was a bit unsure, but it's lovely on.

Bonne maman yesterday was 4 fruit/berry jam, today was chocolate and orange spread.

Been away for a few days! These are the goodies from the previous 4 days.
Barbara Sturm sun drops RRP £125
Tatcha eye cream RRP £70
Dr sebagh serum repair RRP £72
UK lash eyelash serum RRP £38

Today was the verden bath oil rrp £85. Smells divine!

Lookfantastic day 13 is a MAC lipstick in the shade hug me. Initial thoughts are it does look darker than I would normally wear but am happy to try it.

ASOS was a Made by Mitchell blush which I am going to pass to my niece.

Harrods is a travel sized Dermalogica spray toner. Not the most exciting day for me

Grüum is a reviving facial gel. It has hyaluronic acid in it. It sounds interesting and I'm happy with this.

Degustabox is some Knorr chicken stock pots ... from what people have had in previous years I was really hoping for more interesting stufffrom Degustabox .

Yeah. Degustabox is normally an interesting one. It looks very disappointing this year.

Day 13:

SpaceNK: Lisa Eldridge lipstick in shade Painterly. Very pleased. This calendar continues to deliver. I like these lipsticks, and the shade is definitely one I’ll use.

Harrods: As others have said, not a great day. Dermalogica toner, travel size. May get used, but not very exciting.

I'm vegetarian so can't even eat that! I'll probably send to the food bank
This will definitely be the last year of Degustabox for us - it's been a real let down. I first got it in 2020 as an extra Christmas treat during lockdown and we loved it then (DS still talks fondly of the caramel sauce we got on the first day!) but it's declined since then.

I've been very impressed with the Vogue calendar this year! Don't know if I can bring myself to wear a £70 pair of socks! Might give them to my mum as a Christmas present.

@SwordBilledHummingbird the Jo Malone calendar sounds easily the best of the single brand ones - enjoy!

@Ems235 I love a good bath oil. That Verden oil loooks lovely.

@Ponks the Degusta box is always a bit random, but this year seems a bit less interesting too, disappointingly. That said, I’d be happy not to have a repeat of the weird Gravy Mayonnaise we got one year.

Mac Stack mascara in Brown Thomas today. Not a dod but not overly exciting either 🤷🏻‍♀️

@AprilLady I normally use the aromatherapy associates, which is divine, I ran out last month so hoping this is just as good.

Thanks for reporting back and I'm loving your commitment to the cause with your alternate wrist experiment! Good to know that there is a plausible dupe in the Sol de Janeiro, even if the Jo Malone is better (as I would expect!).

My day 13:

Cult Beauty (non-scent version):

Hooray, it's a double drawer! Two eye make up products - enjoying how the drawers are themed and have complementary products in them.

PATRICK TA Major Dimension Precision Gel Liner in Black (£24)

Natasha Denona Love Palette (looks like we got an even mini-er version than the mini that's for sale which has 2 more colours.

We've already had a black eye liner, although it was a liquid one. My liquid liner skills are not great, so this may get more use although black is probably too harsh for everyday use.

Never sure about a pink eyeshadow as my eyes are red enough thanks to sleep deprivation from 3 young kids! Looks like there's a nice sparkle there in the palette which will definitely get used. Looking forward to having a play!

Bird and Blend:

Cold Weather Warrior - 'eucalyptus and echinacea cold weather tea.

I do enjoy a herbal blend, so looking forward to trying this. Concerned it could be a bit strong with the eucalyptus!

I love Lisa Eldridge makeup and the lipsticks are 😊

JL candles day 7

Paddyway cypress and fir. Smells like Bath&Bodyworks which I always find artificial so a bit disappointing.

Could have sworn I'd added the photo

Morning!

I hope you are ALL sitting down…

A full size kajal stick from Shiseido today - unfortunately it’s in bright blue so I can’t imagine how I could use it with my dark eyes and colouring! Bright blue just screams 70s disco to me, (a period I am eternally grateful to have missed!)

Please tell me I am wrong and that I can totally rock this extremely bizarre colour choice for an a/c!

Old Rituals was a small man’s shower foam. I will probably put this away for DH’s Jan birthday.

I shall look forward to that one @IlovePond I do remember now I clocked that one as a DoD then glossed over it in my mind. 😂

Day 2 - Liberty is Otiumberg mini knot necklace and Charlotte Tilbury is pillow talk lipliner