General “Waifs and Strays” Beauty Advent Calendar opening thread 2024 - Part 2.

[AprilLady]

New thread as we enter the final week before Christmas.

Previous thread is here:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5220847-general-waifs-and-strays-beauty-advent-calendar-opening-thread-2024?page=1

This is a continuation of the 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).

As usual, 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.

Like @BlueLimeRun i have quite a few Liberty cosmetics bags so I will
likely be regifting the Charlotte Posner cotton bag that arrived on Day 21 of F & M

Oh I love those liberty bags @pepperaunt and @BlueLimeRun - very lucky gift recipients!

Mini Hourglass mascara in Harrods today. I don’t mind it being a small size as I rarely use mascara so it will still last me ages. It is also a tubing mascara which I haven’t tried before. Not the most exciting day, but we have had some amazing products so I shouldn’t moan.

Harrods Day 21 - Hourglass Unlocked Lash Extension Black Mascara - Travel Size (5g). This does get sold separately (RRP £16). I will try it as I wear black mascara and replace it reasonably often.

Day 21 Boots unlimited: No 7 blusher in Cranberry. A rare miss, as this colour really isn't for me, so I'll pass it on <looks around for swaps thread>

Grüum bath soaj bar. I don't do baths but I think this would work nicely as a solid body moisturiser. Smells lovely.

Asos today was a small size of their almond shower oil. Happy with that, my full size bottle has just run out!

I'm really really happy with the asos calendar, it's been brilliant.

Day 21 on TreatBox was a bag of Tony's chocolate. Unfortunately for me today, I actually opened and ate these several days ago when I came home late desperate for a snack, and so raided the advent calendar, poking each gift to see what might be edible. They were lovely! But today I wish I had something to open. Let my greed be a lesson to you all - don't jump ahead or you'll be disappointed on the day 😂

Next 25 Days of Advent

I had no time to post yesterday so here are 2 days together again.

Day 20
Made by Mitchell Liquid Blusher

It is a really glittery silver and I won't be using it as a true blusher but to add a little sparkle when I need it (which is all the time!)

Day 21
COWSHED Calming Body Lotion
And it smells lovely so I will be using it later

That calendar completely passed me by when I was deciding which one to get but I’ve been reading your posts and it looks fabulous.

H&B: bath salts
NY: hand serum

Terrible weather here so I’m forward to a bath this evening.

Day 21 Jo Malone - Red Hibiscus cologne intense.

This is a completely new one to me and I love it! It's very tropical feeling so I'll be wearing it mostly in the summer.

Rituals today is a blue string bracelet. I think it's a charity thing but not something I would wear. It's packaged nicely but not what I want the calendar for. Give me a shower gel!

Late one today, been to see the holly jolly fella with the kids today. An excuse to dress up and wear my new jewellery. My husband doesn't seem to like them much, I guess that's men for you though.

Liberty is Anna + Nina funky love earrings. Very delicate which I'm glad about, I thought they would be rather chunky and parrot hoop like.

CT is a mini lipstick in pillow talk I think? Ots a wearable shade. I don't think the CT calendar is good value with nearly all items travel size. The calendar seems to largely focus on lip products, which I'm not overly keen on. Most of the lip products from last years MAC are still sat waiting for their time to shine

I'm loving hearing about everybody's new products, its nice to discover some new items I wouldn't have heard of otherwise

Hi, weirdly, three fragrances for me today:

Old Rituals was a very citrusy room spray - I don’t like citrus fragrances as they set off my allergies, so will have to squirt it carefully somewhere I will not be lingering.

Shiseido was the 10ml Ginza perfume - still travel size as it’s not a size Shiseido sell. It’s a bit florally/chemically in smell, so I am not keen on that either. I have given that a squirt on the wrist to see if it mellows. So far it’s pretty revolting, which is disappointing as the matching shower gel smells lovely.

Lastly, DH’s refilled calendar door was a perfume he’d picked from Oliver Bonas - rose and hibiscus. Unfortunately, I absolutely hate artificial rose scented perfumes/creams, etc. It was a nice thought, though, as he’d remembered roses are my favourite flower.

Ah here you are! Agree that ASOS has been brilliant, the only thing that it's missing is a hand cream but I'd definitely get it again!

My day 21 liberty is something entirely different to yours. Have you checked out the Liberty calendar thread?

PP is opening the liberty jewellery advent calendar @goingslightlyinsane

Thank you!!! I thought I was going mad! Silly me!

And on to day 22:

SpaceNK: Augustinus Bader - the serum rather than the rich cream. Full 15ml which retails for £145! Look forward to trying it.

Harrods: Barbara Sturm face cream 20ml travel size. Happy enough with this. I do find the BS products good, despite being very overpriced for what they are.

The little Barbara Sturm cream in the Harrods calendar retails for £55! Am looking forward to trying it too.

I might have to factor in the AB cream in my choice next year, I'm so curious 🤣.

I had some Garnier face masks today - my fave go tos, but not quite luxurious! They work well with my foreo from last year.

Day 22 of the Lookfantastic calendar was the ESPA tri-active regenerating treatment oil. I'm happy to try it.

Re: Ginza perfume I squirted last night and disliked - this morning I can still smell it a little and it’s mellowed to a warm, pleasant scent, (which is what I like in a perfume - can’t stand florals!)

It’s definitely long-lasting! I will give it a go with the shower cream and I think I have had a matching body lotion too.

Harrods Day 22 - travel sized Barbara Sturm Face cream as mentioned above.

Tried a couple of things from the brand before and, for me, ok but not wow. Face cream is not one of them so happy to give it a go. It will join the serum on my visit to family from tomorrow.