🎄 2025 Style and Beauty Advent Calendar Discussion ***SPOILERS*** THREAD 5

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IF YOU ARE NEW TO BEAUTY ADVENT CALENDARS AND WOULD LIKE IDEAS PLEASE READ THE THREAD FIRST

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

Thread 4: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5403558-2025-style-and-beauty-advent-calendar-discussion-spoilers-thread-4

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

The Guardian has a feature on BACs today. She rates Space NK top and no mention of most of the ones we’ve been talking about!

I thought it looked nice too until I saw the price 😳🤣 I don't know why I'm still looking, I've got my harrods fragrance, harrods beauty and my Frankenstein diy calendar: (a mix space nk, harvey nicks, cult beauty, selfridges, and liberty 🤣). I'm also planning on getting the Harvey Nicks fragrance.

I'll watch this later. Something to look forward to 🤣😍
Hopefully will tempt me x

I'm in this camp too. I got and loved M&S for a few years, then they skipped a year, then last year it felt samey and I didn't get it. This year again there are four familiar hair products, none of which I like. Instead of their sleep cream, which is the one stalwart I'd like to see there, this time it's Dr Pawpaw lip and eye balm (? can't imagine that working). It'll be another clichéd nail colour. I'd like the Estee Lauder and the serum would probably be ok but it's not enough. And they've started with the crappy filler accessories: hair clip, hair comb? Not for £60 (plus the min spend of course). Boots skincare is only £10 more than that so it is still my top choice atm for a second calendar.

Hmm. I had decided not to get H&B as it looks a bit too similar to last year but I'm tempted by the unboxing. My plan was to get the Boots skincare, which arrived this morning, and then not feel guilty about excessive spending on personal care stuff when I buy the new Dyson airwrap which is madly overpriced. Maybe I'll go with a little guilt instead. It never did anyone any harm.

Looks like there will be a Stylist Latest in Beauty advent

M&S is a hard pass. I’ve seen nothing that tempts me yet. I’m really only interested in fragrance this year though. HN has too much I’ve already got so it still looks like Perfume Shop for me. That’s a late one though. I wish SNK would hurry up and announce their frag cal!

I’ve only had M&S once before, so not too many repeats for me, but I’ll have to wait to see the information on the back of the box. I have a nasty feeling the highest value products are not vegetarian-friendly.

Royal Mail have finally got my SNK calendar. Not at the local depot yet though. I have a feeling H&B will arrive before SNK.

Harrods have processed a refund of £20 for my crumpled up advent calendar box 😁 I'm very pleased with this. I'll stick some tinsel on it to cover up the crumpling.

I ordered H & B on Wednesday for my dil it’s being delivered today 😃

SNK arrives today. I dont think ill be buying anymore now🙈 I would like to see whats in the Fragrance calendar, but doubt ill buy.

This is exciting. I haven't loved their last two offerings but the the Sunday Times x LIB 2022 was excellent so I live in hope.

That was my favourite too. Fantastic stand out calendar. I got the 2023 when it was reduced but didn't bother with last year.

That’s interesting.

I have also noticed A LOT of influencers sharing the SPace NK in their stories with aff link

wonder if it’s just clever marketing 🧐

Nothing will persuade me that SNK is any good for me no matter how many influencers bang on about it, (and I am usually far too easily swayed by beauty stuff 🙀)

It’s such a letdown after last year’s, (which I still regret not buying!)

I don’t understand why there are no details on Shiseido’s offering.

I have started using the Shiseido eye cream I got last year and it’s so nice! I would seriously consider their a/c again if that was in it.

I tried the Matiere Vanilla Poudre yesterday. Nice, slightly coconut with light wood underneath. However, it lasts. I put it on around 2ish yesterday, went out in the evening, had full shower, washed hair etc. And I can still smell it clearly. I don't think it projects much but considering how many times I've washed hands also it's ridiculous.

I agree. I think M&S are taking the piss with the minimum spend requirement now. It was acceptable when there were less BACs on the market and it was only c£40 on top of the min spend but it's looking like a rip off now, especially in comparison to calendars like H&B or the Boots ones which are less than or similar price, with no minimum spend and have more interesting products. M&S keep churning out the same old stuff. The box is beautiful though!

https://www.johnlewis.com/elemis-12-days-of-skincare-wonders-beauty-advent-calendar/p113848525

The Elemis 12 days calendar £125 exclusive to JL is live. I'm very tempted by this but feel I should wait for bundle QVC do in Oct/Nov time. Mainly because I'd prefer a larger pot of day cream rather than the night cream.

If you like Elemis and don't mind the rose scents it's better than the more expensive Elemis calendar.

It's longevity is one of the reasons I love VP. 😄

Added this to the beauty chat thread. My hourglass palette arrived. 😌

My LF fragrance calendar arrived yesterday too. It all seems to be intact but I really don’t want check all the drawers but do you think I should? I have stashed it away until 1st Dec & want to have a nice surprise every day. I suppose a quick peek to make sure they are not empty is the best thing to do! If I do spot anything, I will have forgotten by the time December arrives so I don’t know why I am fussing

And this is what it looks like on. And yes I did use it on my eyes as well.

Someone please tell me that I don’t need more than two…

It's a beast mode one that's for sure. Zara do a dupe which is very similar but not as long lasting - immortal vanilla .