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

[BakeOffRewatch]

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

I use it routinely. I started with a tube of 3 and my skin tolerated it well so I moved up to 6. I could probably consider moving up now actually. I use it on alternate nights.

Makes me question the Face the Future edit I've been coveting for the MZ serum. That's probably an older batch. Usually it's not too much of an issue if products are stored properly but I'm wondering now how quickly the whole range goes off.

I once bought a Tatcha Dewy Cream mini from Vinted where the texture had turned quite hard an glue like. I believe it was unopened but whoever I bought it from had probably had it in their drawer for about 5 years.

I put the 4102B code into check fresh and it came up with the date

I tried it tonight. It is still fine but thanks to this thread, I will use it regularly now 🙂

I'm using the 6 currently and have no issue with it but I'm not new to retinals. I used Tret for about 9 months a year or too back. I stopped using Tret because it gives me dry eye issues no matter what precautions I take so now I just stick to the OTC stuff. I also rate Sunday Riley A+ but it's just as pricey as MediK8 CR 6.

Sunday Riley has also brought out a new retinoid but obvs not tried this one.
https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/p/sunday-riley-a.i.-smart-retinoid-serum-30ml/17133747/

If you are totally new to retinol/retinals it's probably better to start with 3 and work up. If you've used others before with no issues then 6 might be fine.

could you post a link please? I can't find MZ on checkfresh or any equivalent site

Thank you 😊

This page seems to have all their offers, take your pick! 😆https://www.hearstmagazines.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=advent

I bought the ESPA calendar and I am really impressed with the quality considering it's the hut group, it's gorgeous!

Apologies, I didn’t select MZ. I’d never used the site before, so just typed in the code & I realise now. It was a different product.

Whoever suggested using up their face mask stash, thanks!
One a week on a Sunday night will do nicely.

I only opened my mz from last years Liberty around a month ago and it's fine , it's been stored in the calendar though . I don't tend to open a product until I'm ready to use it .

I'm still undecided. I resisted the elle and space nk yesterday but I am now considering Harrods. 🤣🤣
I need to watch the unboxings with a sensible head. 🤣

I too only opened my last years liberty mz skin eye cream a couple of weeks ago after seeing it getting love on these threads and it was still perfect as per the PP who posted the colour and texture from this years Harrods.

I would imagine those who received from the same vinted seller who said she bought from closed down store etc could have been years old and maybe not stored in the best way esp if she had multiple of them.

On a side note I have to say I really like the cream since I’ve started using it and would have dismissed it if it hadn’t been recommended here so thank you xx

By coincidence- I finished my eye cream last week and it was absolutely fine.

@Twinsandsome I’ve sent you a PM :)

I have the cult beauty advent and its very sturdy, even the boxes inside.

I know this is against the spirit of BAC but does anyone feel like spending their AC budget on their wishlist instead? And maybe picking up some GWP in doing so?

I'm so underwhelmed with this year's selection, or am I too picky?

Maybe I'll ask my DH to randomly pick me one and be grateful for the surprise.

I long for the innocent (ignorant?) days of my first BAC in 2020!

Yes I've been trying to do this on Sunday mornings. Have got millions of the bloody things.

@Noshadelamp
I think you’re spot on!
I’ve read posts on here where people are considering buying a BAC because of one single product that might be worth £60 but the BAC costs over £200.
Definitely cases of the emperor’s new clothes at play!

I haven’t bought one yet @Noshadelamp , I enjoying the conversation and analysis. Don’t have to buy one to join in. What’s your shopping list?

Mine is:
Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum £265 - whoops I’ve broken the AC budget already
Medik8 C Tetra Advanced £69
Dermalogica Sleep Coccoon £89
Sunday Riley AutoCorrect Eye Cream £60
LaNeige Water Bank moisturiser £33.50

I’ve been working my way through the stuff I wrote off in the Liberty AC last year. I’ve started using the La Mer lip balm. I’m not interested in the volumising aspect, but it’s a really good lip balm. Not too sticky and a great conditioner. I like AC for that aspect. On the AC opening thread I said I didn’t like the smell of the £132 Dr Sebagh rose de vie serum oil, but I’ve used it up now and its been great for my skin.

This is why I've created my Frankenstein calendar, I have bought the Harrods one and really like the idea of trying the little expensive samples, but I also wanted something that would last me the year, so I bought a load of stuff from the cult beauty calendar from vinted, then bought the SpaceNk calendar, sold what I didn't want and put in the stuff I've bought from vinted which also includes 1 product from the Selfridges calendar, 1 from liberty ac, 2 from Harvey Nicks ac and 1 from Look Fantastic fragrance calendar. I'm hoping to get the Medik8 night cream from the John lewis calendar when that's released 🤞 and then it'll be ready to put away until December. I'll share my content list soon 😊

You could maybe change your list slightly to get stuff that's been released in calendars? Then pick it up from vinted and create your own that ticks your list? After recent revealings on here, you'll need to make sure it is from the calendar. Do any of the calendars include the C-Tetra? I'm sure I've seen that one?

LatestinBeauty.com in collaboration with Stylist BAC announced this morning! Just to add more confusion for the undecided!! My mum had it last year and it was great. Came in an enormous box

Rituals calendars are now out … remember to sign up to their loyalty scheme first as there is an automatic members gift right now with any purchase (shower gel worth £10.90). They often do an additional member gift with spend of £45+ but I couldn’t get that one to go into my cart so perhaps advents are excluded. Still the shower gel would be a nice extra. Oh, also worth seeing if you get a % discount on a first order too in case that stacks.

BTW does anyone else like to faff about with dummy shopping carts on beauty sites,just to see what free goodies you get? Or is it just me?!! 😁

I noticed in their stats they say '32 items, 25 full size, 8 Kilos!' I've never noticed a company brag about the weight before, but it's a fair point.