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.

@OchonAgusOchonOh When I first tried it, years ago, I couldn't understand why its so popular. Now i get it!

Day 16 Vogue 111skin bio cellulose face masks X 3. RRP £66 (£22 each).
Will give these a go. I don't really use masks but I was impressed with the 111skin rose gold ones a couple of years ago.

Good morning everyone!

Next (the cheaper one 😂)

Day 16

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Booster

I have had one of these before in an M&S calendar and did like it, and will definitely use it, so it's a good day.

I keep cuticle oil next to my usual spot on the sofa, so I can apply while watching TV. I'd never remember to use it otherwise!

Good idea @Roundaboot . I do that with hand cream. I'll do it with the cuticle oil too.

Day 16 of F & M a THIRD Cult51 serum. All full sized, I’ll give them that, but… just a bit samey. Hoping I like at least one of them

Day 16:

Harrods: As above, full size Murad Youth renewal night cream. Very pleased with this, it will definitely get used.

SpaceNK: Also full sized, a milk Hydro grip primer. Will give this a try.

F&M tea: Green tea again, this time with mandarin.

@pepperaunt I do think Cult51 is a good brand. I think one of the challenges with F&M is that they stock a fairly limited range of, somewhat esoteric, cosmetics brands and so have rather less to choose from than say Selfridges, Harrods, Liberty, JL or the likes of Cult Beauty and SpaceNK.

Brown Thomas - Hourglass cleanser. Will have to start washing my face 4 times a day to get through my stash of cleansers lol

Not looking too bad all round today!

My day 16:

Cult Beauty (non-scent version):

L’Occitane Almond Body Lotion 20ml
Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub 30g
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Quite happy with today, even if there are two body lotions. I do love the Bum Bum Cream, put it on after my shower this morning and I'm still getting occasional wafts. The scrub is a very small tub so won't last long but a much needed product for me.

I know those who got the scent version of the calendar got a couple of fragrances today. They had them instead of the bum bum cream.

Bird and Blend Tea:

Bedknobs and Broomsticks - magic infused fruity and herbal blend.

Think they're going with an English country garden vibe - link with B&B a bit tenuous I think?!
I could taste lavender and nettle the most.

@ConradKnightSocks
I love the Bum Bum cream too! It's a gorgeous smell, goes on like silk & lasts all day!
I first came across it in a Liberty Advent calendar a few years ago & have bought it ever since

LIBERTY is a Shashi 14ct gold plated cufflinks bracelet. Very pretty, very small though, it fits but a bit tricky to get on.

CT is Magic Cream travel size which looks like a moisturiser. I'm really liking the Laneige sleep mask from the SpaceNK advent whichI may also have so I'm not sure I will be using this one for a while yet.

@conradknightsocks is the almond body lotion like a marzipan almond? I've been looking for a decent almond lotion and have been disappointed thus far. Also agree the SDJ cream smells great, my DD uses it all the time and her room smells divine!

That’s pretty @psuedocream3

@psuedocream3 gorgeous bracelet!

I wouldn't say the almond cream is a marzipan smell, no. I think it's much lighter than that, a bit more perfume-y if that makes sense? Not a dense almond smell.

@psuedocream3 - also a fan of that bracelet.

@psuedocream3 the Laneige Sleep Mask is one of my favourite products. I’ve purchased multiple times

@AprilLady in what order do you rate the 3 Cult51 serums? I look forward to trying some of the new (to me) brands in the F & M Advent. Previously I’d toggled between Liberty and Harrods but felt like they were getting a bit samey

I discovered it the same way! I had the pink bum bum cream in a calendar a couple of years ago and that was very nice too, but love the OG the best!

What does the bumbum cream smell like?

@Doubleraspberry @AprilLady i have now received the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream from the Liberty Calendar. I also now have two black eyeliners which is stressing me out a bit as I hate having products in waiting. The Trish McEvoy eyeliner didn’t come with a sharpener which is how it is sold, so I contacted Liberty asking for a sharpener and that I really didn’t want an extra eyeliner thank you. They sent me a message saying “A replacement is on its way!” so I checked that they were sending me a sharpener and not another eyeliner. I received an eyeliner and no sharpener. When I asked they told me it comes like that. So confusing, why waste money sending me something I don’t want…

How do you seasoned AC’ers deal with products you’ve opened that you just don’t like? I really don’t like the Dr Sebagh Rose De Vie Serum valued at £132. I’ve used it twice and I find the smell unpleasant and think it’s hyped rosehip oil. Do I force myself to use it up or throw away?

Same with the Trish McEvoy eyeliner and Surratt blusher but I don’t hate them. Just there’s others I prefer to use. I’ve bought the Rodial Blush drops and Highlighter from Vinted - think they were in Harrods AC? I much prefer liquid eyeliner, blush and highlighter.

@BakeOffRewatch when I’ve had the Trish McEvoy eyeliner in a GWP or similar, it has always been unboxed and had no sharpener with it. At one point I used the aubergine one a lot, and was quite surprised to discover when I bought it that it did come with a sharpener. But it’s a normal size pencil, so any make up sharpener will do. I have a few sharpeners lying around - they have been useful in the past when I’ve needed to make up £5 to £10 to reach a required GWP spend!

Unfortunately most make up and skin care is unsellable once opened. I’ve usually tried to use things up regardless. Eventually I’ll do a clear out and after having something open and unused for months will give up and throw it away. I know some people use up serums and creams on eg knees and feet instead. The thing to remember is that you have effectively paid £10 (£250/25) for it, not £132, so if it’s not working for you, so be it. Or looked at another way - the things you will use in the calendar are very likely to have an RRP well in excess of £250, so throwing away something “worth” £132 is not the end of the world.

I have two young adult DDs, so make up I have opened and won’t use gets offered to them, and thrown out if not - or hangs around in my make up bags for ages. I am reasonably good at opening skincare one thing at a time (so I’ll finish one balm cleanser before opening the next etc) but I do end up having a lot of make up open and on the go at the same time.

It’s the smell that gets me of the De Sebagh Rose De Vie Serum so using it anywhere would be unenjoyable.

Thank you @AprilLady , that’s exactly what I was hoping for, a way to think of it that I don’t feel ungrateful for a £132 product and feel so wasteful. I really hate it actually!

Dd got an eyeshadow palette in ASOS. I’ve forgotten what it was, possible makeup revolution

I got the most beautiful caramel flavour in Bonne Maman

I also offer to friends - I sometimes say I've used this once and it's not for me. I try to give blushers away straight away (my skin needs no help towards the rosy) and have passed on mascara etc to DM

@BakeOffRewatch - very similar to what @AprilLady said, I'll first consider other body parts. There was a glut of REN aha tonics for a while so my feet, knees and elbows got spoilt.

Then I'll look at other uses - e.g if the perfume is ok but not quite right, I'll spritz a bit of it in the bottom of bins etc.

If I just plain don't like it, I'll chuck without guilt. It'll only live rent-free before I end up throwing it away anyway.

Harrods Day 17 - Orveda The Omnipotent Concentrate 10ml (30 ml RRP is £405!)

High end skincare with a dose of hyperbole: "In its quest to visibly extends skin’s youth, The Omnipotent Concentrate, Orveda’s most potent treatment yet, is working on three axes: the past, present and future. This new serum addresses the visible traces of skin aging using different pathways and in particular targeting visible signs of skin senescence."

After that, a bit disappointed it's not making my breakfast for me.

Exactly what I bought Harrods for - very happy.