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.

@goingslightlyinsane At £695, not so much. Although the contents full price is valued at £1236, you'd have to love every single item and be too impatient to wait for the sales as some will be 40-50% off. I paid £350, which I think is a more realistic price point for me asmost of the jewellery is plated rather than solid, and I prefer silver/white gold personally. I was after a layering necklace set which bought on its own would have been the same cost, so I've looked at it as the other items being bonus items. I really like the ring but it's a shame it's an adjustable one - but I guess it has to be to cater for everyone.

Turns out the liberty fabric bracelet isn't a bracelet at all, it's actually supposed to be the Liberty 9ct Gold Spring Love Small (tiny) Heart Pendant which is supposedly worth £115.

Last day for me.

Liberty is Kenneth Jay Lane gold plated polished curved hoop earrings. Not particularly my style but I'm sure they would look good for an event.

CT is magic lip oil crystal elixir. I actually will use this, as I prefer gloss finish on my lips. To be honest the CT calendar is OK, not one I would have chosen myself as I don't think it offers value for money compared to buying it the sales. I love the box though.

@psuedocream3 that heart was tiny. Missed it entirely when I first saw your photo.

Thanks for sharing the jewellery calendar. it has convinced me it wouldn’t be worth buying in future unless the price was very good.

Day 23 of the Lookfantastic calendar is a sleep mask. Not the most exciting but useful for flights.

Harrods Day 23 - AB Retinol Serum (RRP £145) as mentioned above. Happy with this and looking forward to trying it. Harrods has really gone to town with the skincare.

Day 23 Jo Malone - Pomegranate Noir mini candle.

Love this scent so very happy again.

Day 23 Boots unlimited: Soap and Glory Heel Genius Foot Cream. I can definitely use this though 50 ml may not be enough!

My calendar only runs to Christmas Eve so tomorrow will be my last day 😥 It's been good though. I may return to it next year though I'll keep an eye on Asos too.

Not a terribly exciting day here:

H&B: hair supplements
NY: 8ml of pillow mist

Day 23 of Rituals was a nice surprise. I'd forgotten this was in here. It's 15ml of their Nuit de L' Himalaya perfume. Smells very fruity, a nice scent.

Asos today is a 100ml Ren toner. It says to use at night, so I'll try to remember to give it a go later. I've got a Ren gel cleanser from last years M&S calendar that I quite like, so hopefully this will be good too.

Well I've been away for a few days, so I'll be able to adjust my days. Also have a few days left on the Harrods fragrance calendar.

Never going away this close to Xmas again though. Already stressing about flight home (from AMS) plus work tomorrow, last minute Morrisons shop arriving, Turkey forgotten in the freezer. Ugh.

I'm happy with today's Jo Malone candle, and very disappointed with the Penhaligon's key ring. Overall, I've been really pleased with JM and Penhaligon's, I've not found Liberty to be very exciting and have wished I'd had Harrods almost every day. I also got the L'occitane calendar when it was reduced to £50, but even at that price, it has been very disappointing. My most exciting thing this has been the free Birchbox calendar - some of the contents have been really good and I can hardly complain about value for money 😆😆

Are there usually opening threads for the 12 days of Christmas calendars, or does this thread just continue until twelfth night?

Hi,

Old Rituals today is a lip balm - unfortunately it has this month as an expiry date, so am not sure it’s useable.

Shiseido is a full size mascara - fortunately it’s black, (not electric blue!)

DH’s refilled calendar is a Korean lipgloss that I bought a while back and gave him to save for me for Xmas.

I’ve seen those Penhaligon’s gingerbread keyrings - they are very cute!

Can we have a picture of the penhaligon's nutcracker? 😆

@IlovePond I used to feel so sophisticated with my electric blue mascara back in the 80's. I'm not so sure I could rock it these days.

Gosh, yes @OchonAgusOchonOh - I remember my friend wearing it!

Happy with the AB serum in Harrods today. Makes a nice change from the rich cream and retails at £145! Strange design bottle though as it is rounded at the bottom so doesn’t stand up

Day 23 from TreatBox is a self-heating eye mask, camomile scented. Very pleased with this and badly in need of it today. Have a few more errands to do then I plan to put this on my tired eyes and listed to a podcast.

Excellent timing there @paranoiaofpufflings !

Finally a decent product from m and s - small L’occitane hand cream.

and a perfume from Fortnums - Creed Aventus.
Had a spritz- think I’ll like it.

Overall - with a day to go (but I know what’s in the last Fortnums drawer) I purchased for the serums and that covered the cost of the calendar but I do think a scrunchie is a bit of a rubbish drawer, plus quite a few small perfumes, it’s been ok but think I’ll get something different next year.
Liked the candles, lip oil, body oil and shower oil.

M and S has been very unexciting and small sizes.

Really enjoyed the thread and seeing the other calendars.

Merry Christmas 🎄

I've not posted on this thread much cos things have been so busy but today was a lovely perfume in Space NK (7.5ml) called 'I don't know what' and Gruum had a shave bar. Initially I thought it was pointless since I don't have a beard but then thought I'll use it to shave my legs!

Gruum is now finished- it was OK, some nice things to try but I wouldn't get it again. Mainly cos the packaging was all the same and it felt a bit samey every day.

I've really loved Space NK but there's a ton of serums (can't complain really!), I better look young again after using them! It's had many great products and I'm regifting some I won't use. I'd def buy that AC again. And it has a day 25 too 🤩

Christmas Eve:

SpaceNK: Travel size DS&Durga “I don’t know what” perfume. This is one of the your skin but better type scents that does nothing for me as I’m anosmic to ISO E Super, so this will be sold as I know others do like it.

Harrods Full size AA bath oil. Very happy with this, as I use these all the time.

F&M tea: Last day: unsurprisingly a Christmas tea!

Day 24 (final day!) Boots unlimited: Fenty Velvet Liquid Lipstick in 04 Riri. This was one of the items that persuaded me to get the calendar. Looking forward to trying it.

Grüum is a shave bar. I'll offload this on dh. Yesterday's was a lip oil which is lovely.

Like @Ilikeyoursleeves I thought that it felt a bit samey due to the packaging but I think that is always the case with a single brand calendar. I've had No 7 and Lumene in the past and felt the same. It was even more the case with Grüum as a lot of the products are bars.

However, when looking through the list of products, there is actually a lot of variety and some really nice stuff. The only thing I disliked was the perfume. I think it was excellent value for money and would recommend it as a practical extra calendar.

I also have H&B which is absolutely brilliant. It was really well curated with a brilliant variety of products. The only DoD for me was the bath salts as I don't do baths but I found a good home for that. Main. Selling point for me was the lack of makeup.

I'll be starting the HN perfume one tomorrow so I'm looking forward to that.

Happy with the bath oil in Harrods today. I love this oil but as it retails at £58 I would never repurchase myself, so it is a treat when I get one in a calendar