🎄 2025 Style and Beauty Advent Calendar Discussion ***SPOILERS*** THREAD 4

[BakeOffRewatch]

Annual Style and Beauty Advent Calendar discussion thread. First AC reveal this year was 23rd June. First luxury reveal was 2nd July.

Thread 1: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5360770-2025-style-and-beauty-advent-calendar-discussion

Thread 2: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5388836-2025-style-and-beauty-advent-calendar-discussion-spoilers-thread-2

Thread 3: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5396898-2025-style-and-beauty-advent-calendar-discussion-spoilers-thread-3

The regulars on the thread mainly discuss luxury BAC and this dies down by September when everyone has purchased and forgotten the contents. Then it goes into discussion on what’s selling out, what hasn’t and what deals and discounts to be had on ACs in the lead up to December. Then in December we move onto AC opening threads!

There’s a separate thread for GWP, discounts and other deals here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5389635-beauty-chat-freebiesgifts-with-purchaseoffers-thread-four

A thread for the Liberty Beauty Drop here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5253698-liberty-beauty-drop-spoiler-from-the-despatch-date-part-9

MN has a great Christmas board for deals and early gift buying here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas

I'm assuming that once the gwp has sold out, the advent calendar will go on sale which is why they've not committed to a date.
I think this is one of the best ACs this year so I think it could sell out pretty fast. So be ready! 🤣

I’ve just caved in and bought the main HN calendar. I decided that there were several things I really wanted and if I sell the things I don’t want on Vinted or eBay I should be able to cover most of the cost. They also aren’t charging postage on the advent calendar.

Yeah, according to Beauty Detective it was but no sign on the site and no email either (I signed up on the waiting list). Bit annoying that they've not even released a list of contents yet!

Still dithering between Liberty and CB so watched Random Lifestyle Vlog unboxing of the Liberty. I love the box and how festive it is, but I couldn’t get through the video with interest and even just watching it I was like “urgh another fragrance”. So definite no for that! Paulina says she loves elasticizer and is on her last tube so you can send all your unwanted stock to her! I think the Liberty Edits are so much better especially when couples with GWP. Their recent edit has the 50ml Mirror Water https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/the-well-travelled-kit-000847678.html and the recent GWP had the 50ml Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Conditioner. https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/ultimate-beauty-gift-with-purchase-worth-%C2%A3336-R695555006.html . So I’ve already got those from the AC. The Trinny Lip 2 Cheek and the Trish McEvoy lipstick were so sheer as to be barely visible, gave me emperors new clothes vibes. I would have been really disappointed with those. I keep saying to myself all this analysis is silly and I’ll buy Liberty blond next year but I’d hate to spend that much and be disappointed.

Any good unboxing of Cult Beauty? With the BACKTOSCHOOL code and £40 credit I have I should just get it! Good skincare, girly fragrances (nothing woody!), bright colours to try in makeup. I think I’d love it … but I hate the box 🤣

I am being very bad indeed and swapping my Elasticizer for the Commodity Milk perfume in DD's Glossybox. I feel little guilt as she has totally different hair to mine which probably responds to be elasticated, and loves SDJ perfume so I'll get her a big one of those for Christmas to make up for it.

Every time I see Elasticizer it puts me off the whole box. Why is it in so many?? Binned my one from last year, seems such a basic product.

New one for the mix You beauty ..this looks really good from the teasers ( although we all know how that can go!)
You Beauty

Actually I pressed the link for you beauty and the photo shows Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk wand not Trish McEvoy so could be either or both of those

Ooh You beauty looks pretty!

Totally agree with this. The sight of it makes me quite irrationally angry. It's been everywhere for absolutely years and is shite IMHO.

I'm also impatient about H&B. Come on H&B people, get your act together, we know you're reading!

I put the Lancome holiday gift thing in my basket, added the discount code and got very excited about the lovely palette and juicy tubes. I then realised I would use nothing else (I dont use red lipstick or mascara) and I also bought three juicy tubes from vinted yesterday so I've stepped away again.

If you click on the link to You Beauty and then look at the ingredients it gives the full list of items.

I've found a lovely TikTok beauty reviewer called hiyaimalex who describes herself as a beauty nerd and has a spreadsheet. She's got some good videos about calendars and beauty products in general and is utterly ungushy.

I had the you beauty calendar in 2019 I think, it was one of my first beauty advent calendars and I loved it. This year's box design is beautiful, although it's not festive at all. I suppose it makes it easier to repurpose.

Hmm. Pillow spray, Elasti-styler (for a twist), Colour Wow, Bum Bum cream...

Pre order for Neals Yard is now open.

I like the look of the You Beauty one. I think it's a good mix and ticks off a few things I've been wanting to try CT wand, color wow shampoo and conditioner. I'll need an image to properly decide but at £105, I'm definitely tempted. I'm quite happy with the pillow spray 🤣

Is it just me, or is anyone else really uninspired this year? The prices seem to have gone up and the quality down - I just checked out the Harvey Nicks calendar and went 'ugh' at a full size (woo!) blush in the sort of pink that Aunt Sally from Worzel Gummidge would think was a bit on the bright side. I just can't get excited about any of them - Vogue was a particular low point. I would have loved it the first year (but it sold out) and every year since has been really meh. Sorry - just being a moaner :)

I don’t disagree @Baninarama . I missed out inaugural vogue 2023 and design and product wise think it was the best offering. This year’s vogue is worth it if you like the jewellery I think, it’s certainly a lifestyle one and not beauty.

@Baninarama agree this year hasn't been inspiring despite so many advent calendars. I think that's why many of us have really struggled to decide. We want a BAC but they all feel a bit lacking.

I think Liberty and SNK are the most 'worth it' this year. Liberty is a bit niche with some of their products though and if you don't like loads of perfume it's not great.

Harrods has at least maintained a level of exclusivity despite some tiny sizes so I'd put that in 3rd place.

My main issue with the more expensive ones is that I don't want to see a crossover in products that you find in LF/Glossybox/ASOS. No shade on those calendars as I like many of those that are priced around £100 or less - I just expect more from the £250 + ones.

Things that need to be banned if your BAC is over £250-

PK products especially Elasticizer
SDJ
Color Wow
Manicurist - I like it but have had at least 4 Active Glows this year
Pillow Spray
Clips/Scrunchies etc

I'm tempted to say Rodial as I'm sick of Blush Drops now. I know the brands is sold in places like JL but it's so ubiquitous it's starting to feel Avant like.

Also stop with the Sisley black rose cream and mask. Sisley has loads of great products - give us something different.

I suppose a caveat to this little rant is most people probably just buy these once a year as treat and don't have an entire room of their house dedicated to storing Elasticizer and Bum Bum Cream. 😂I exaggerate but you get the gist!

I agree with you @OvaHere - I love the SDJ BB cream, but it has no place in a premium calendar, (except, possibly, in its hugest size😹)

I quite like the look of the YOU calendar, but am unsure if it’s worth £105. Fewer DODs than GB, though - so have thrown it into my list of ones to ponder.

I absolutely loved the Rodial Bee Venom cleanser I got in a calendar way back and have regularly repurchased it since. I'd be thrilled to get that instead of the drops.

Just recieved an email to say glamour are doing an advent this year.

Oooh. I’m excited. I do think they try harder with the first one.

I think if i was someone who casually (if thats the correct word🙈) bought beauty products, i think i would see all the calendars in a different light. I enjoy trying different skincare/bodycare and perfumes, but i guess when you have huge stashes already its hard to get excited by these AC. Probably setting high expectations i suppose😅
I know when first started buying advents i was made up with everything, but my stash was smaller and i hadnt tried majority of the products.

Very much this. TBH I'm much easier to please than a lot of you posters as I spend a lot less through the year on cosmetics (often boggling at how you must all get through everything given how much I manage to accumulate just on the calendars!) and so much more of the calendar content is new to me.

Obviously I do though NOT want Elasticizer (my hair hates it), pillow spray (loathe lavender), Colour Wow (my hair hates this too) or Bum Bum cream (never use it).