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.

The packaging wants you to know it's special too 😂

I forgot we were getting this super expensive serum in the Harrods calendar. For the price it is, I will be very disappointed if it doesn’t make me look 21 again! 😂

Amazing cheese when it's ripened!

Day 17:

Space NK: A travel size today: An Hourglass blusher. While not my go to shade, I use Hourglass blusher all the time, so very happy with this.

Harrods: As noted by @Stoic123 another wonder serum: Orveda The Omnipotent Concentrate. Again travel size (10ml) but full size 30ml retails for a ridiculous £405! Happy enough to try this, but don’t believe any serum could actually be worth that.

Full size Bare Minerals mascara in ASOS, I've been waiting for this as mine ran out at the weekend!

Day 17 Boots unlimited: Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence leave in conditioner, 60ml. I like PK products (including the elasticiser, happy to swap with folks who don't!) so happy with this.

This made me laugh

Perfume at the bottom of the bin .. I might need to try this ! I use up ones I don't really like /am bored of as " air freshener " and scoosh about my bedroom when I've made the bed and opened the window in the morning .

I've used pefume as room spray before too...using it as bin spray is a new one!
Decent size jar of pickled onions in today's Degustabox. Nice addition to the Christmas Day buffet table.

Day 17 of Lookfantastic is an Ultrasun spf30 moisturiser. Not particularly exciting again but will get used up.

Jo Malone - Myrrh and Tonka candle

Dermalogica - Active Moist Moisturiser, another full size today so happy with that.

I had a perfume from Gruum but it was grim! I don't really like the smell but the main grim thing was that it was oily (bizarre) so made my wrist totally oily but also my bathroom floor which I then had to clean up before I slipped! Going in a charity box I think

Brown Thomas - Eight Hour hand cream.
prob the least exciting item so far, mainly because I am not keen on the smell, will probably go into gifting pile 🙈

Oh gosh @HolaLolla - that EA hand cream smells so medicinal! I have a small tube and I am really struggling to use it😹

I find all of the eight hour range does 🙈 the smell is really a deal breaker for me. I have opened by Terry tinted CC serum the other day and as much as it makes my skin look nice the smell will render it unusable for me 😭

Bumbum cream in the F &M calendar. Although it’s in every calendar, every year, I quite like the scent. Great reminder of sunny holidays in the middle of winter

M and S is Prai throat and décolletage cream.

A marmite product in Fortnums - but I also like it. A nice happy snell !

Day 17 Jo Malone - Myrrh & Tonka mini candle.

I love this scent so very happy today.

Yeah. It smells really weird. Like fake pineapple or something.

In fairness though, this is the only thing so far in it that I wouldn't even consider using. We can't use it as an air freshener because of the oiliness and I'm not even sure I'd use it as a bin spray. Maybe the outside bin...

Liberty is Tilly Sveaas t-bar necklace. I really like this one.

CT is airbrush setting spray. I think this is also a travel size. I'm currently using MAC setting spray so this may be kept for a while before use.

Thank you for sharing the Liberty Jewellery Advent Calendar @psuedocream3 , it helps me decide if worth purchasing in sale and if so at what price. It’s been reduced to £595 now from £695, so I think the earlier £395 must have been a mistake!

I've finished opening my Harrods fragrance advent calendar now. So much oud, I don't mind it but how much can anyone need in one 12 day calendar. Some lovely perfumes but I think I'm more of a mixed beauty calendar person. I've completed my use up 100 products challenge this year, I shall attempt to do the same next year and enjoy an advent calendar.

I think I'm in the minority of absolutely loving the Gruum calendar. I've used every product so far apart from the wax melts that I'm getting my mum. I'm hoping for a facial SPF between now and the 24th but if there isn't one then I'll definitely buy it as I've really enjoyed everything else.

@Plump82 I really like the products I got in Grüum. The only one I didn't like is today's and I'm a bit meh on wax melts. I just find the identical packaging very samey, so it looks a bit boring iykwim. I'm obviously very shallow😁

I quite like the packaging as I can store them easily next to one another. Plus they're great sizes for refilling when I take hand luggage on holiday.

I'm easily confused so things looking different is better got me.

We won't mention the time I ended up using a Boots hair serum on my face as it was very similar packaging to the face serum I had used previously. Note to others - hair serum does not work on your face.