🎄 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 love brown eyeliner and I've used brown mascara my whole life. I'm olive skinned with very dark brown hair and black lashes / eyebrows. I wouldn't dream of using black on my brows, so I question why I'd do that on my lashes now. So brown eyeshadow, dark brown eyebrow enhancer, brown eyeliner and brown mascara actually really works. It was recommended to me by a make up artist when I was 20 and it is so much less harsh / more natural than black.

I've had an epiphany in the last couple of days, after dithering about Elle and Next and then discounting both, then also discounting the JL beauty boxes, I was chatting to my Mum yesterday about how I loved the bracelet and necklace in Vogue. She said she would buy me the necklace if I wanted it (£175) so I went back to check the Vogue AC contents and I actually love it. There's so much in there I'd use and I've been looking to buy a cashmere beanie too as I'm obsessed with cashmere. There are some favourites of mine in there and stuff I'd like to try. The only duffer is the god awful Moschino keyring which I'm sure I could always flog for £20. So my Mum has said she will put the £175 that she would have spent on the necklace and I just have to pay the rest. If that's the case then I'm definitely done and mustn't be tempted by any others. Now, there's absolutely no way of getting Vogue any cheaper is there?

I’ve just had another look at the JL winter box as I’ve been dithering over it over the weekend. I notice they have now updated the description to state 5ml SR and 30ml Clarins.

I was hoping it was an error and the Clarins should have been 50ml, that would have justified the spend for me. I want to try the Medik8 moisturiser more than anything, and was interested in the Clarins, but not sure how much I’d use the other products

@RainbowZebraWarrior i think there’s 12% Cashback on vogue using Quidco. X

The CB edits are out. I'm a bit disappointed in the contents, but then the edits are on the cheaper side.

JL replied and have given me a £20 voucher, I must have got an extra fiver for the leakage! Happy with that, I've been wanting to buy new headphones anyway so can put it towards that.

@RainbowZebraWarrior The necklace is actually RRP £120, they've listed the price incorrectly, incase that makes a difference to your decision making. Vogue was on my to buy radar, but unfortunately a change in our circumstances means I may not be able to buy this one anymore. Liberty sometimes has a £100 off a £300 spend nearer Christmas, I'm not sure this jewellery set is on there anymore as it's last years release, but worth bearing in mind too.

Not impressed by those new CB edits at all.

Feels like all the retailers offering less value for usual prices. Hoping we won't notice?

I'm not keen on the CB edits either.

Re the John Lewis Winter Skin Care box. I ordered one for my step-mother. Like the previous poster, the clarins and Sunday Riley were smaller than described. Unfortunately I hadn't taken a screenshot of the original contents.. Only copied and pasted to a WhatsApp message to a friend.

Basically, I was told I was wrong. They have now updated the website!! After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, I was offered a £10 gift card. I couldn't be bothered to argue further for the sake of another fiver so I accepted. I'm so cross though. They were happy to accuse me of being wrong despite it being a known problem. I'm tempted to complain (but I probably won't) and I will definitely think twice about ordering anything from JL again. It's just as well it wasn't a more valuable item.

And no apology at all!

That's terrible @Pigeonwing ! As you say, you're not the first to point this out so they should be honouring their mistake.

I bought the skincare one for the Shiseido and Paulas choice. Only thing I wouldn't use is the Caudalie. Vouchercodes £5 voucher for £50 spend and £2.50 helps. The makeup one looks particularly poor value.
Liberty is disappointing - out of first 120 beauty results only 16 were 20%.

Thanks @TracyBeakerSoYeah@Doubleraspberry @TreesinthePark@RainbowZebraWarrior

It’s just never really occurred to me that I could wear a brown eyeliner with black lashes, so my initial thought was that I’d have to sell it, but thinking about it now, I might give it a try! I don’t wear eyeliner very often as black can look a bit harsh, so interested to see whether this gives a slightly softer look.

I think I’m a similar colouring to you @RainbowZebraWarrior- olive skinned, chestnut brown hair, but black lashes and eyebrows. Interesting that you use brown mascara and eyebrow enhancer. I don’t put anything on my brows as I feel that they’re thick and dark enough already. I also rarely wear eyeshadow as I don’t think that it really does anything to enhance my look. I suppose that’s why it didn’t really occur to me to use anything other than black mascara. I always just assumed that brown was designed for blondes/redheads/people with naturally light coloured eyelashes.

I have copies of the original descriptions on the website which I can PM to anyone who has already bought and needs negotiating back-up

The Liberty beauty sales always seem that way. There's never many things that are the full 20% off. The kits are the best thing about Liberty unless it's a brand you can't get elsewhere with a bigger discount. The members discount day they did earlier in the year was decent though.

Thanks for pointing this out. I'll be seeing my Mum again later so will discuss again (although she will just say its up to me of course)

@Twinsandsome thanks for the heads up on Quidco. I had only checked Topcashback

@MidnightMeltdown I wish my eyebrows were thick. They are black but sparse these days and dyeing them achieves nothing so I have to do a quick sweep of brow powder at least to define them (although I'm getting increasingly lazy at this like this morning when I just pulled my wooly hat on!)

Can't believe it's October next week. At least we get to see a new wave of ACs released.

Right that's my Liberty BAC just ordered with my BD vouchers.
Really looking forward to it!

@MidnightMeltdown yes black can be a bit harsh sometimes whereas a dark brown (like the LE eyeliner in Ground Coffee) gives the same sharp bold look but is a bit softer than black.

Here's some pics of the LE pencil from Liberty's website

@RainbowZebraWarriorit’s all fine now, but growing up in the 90s, skinny eyebrows were in fashion and I had slugs! 😂

Joining in. Waiting for the JL calendar to be released on September 30th. I have just bought the JL Winter Skin Box.

Thanks @TracyBeakerSoYeah

It actually looks really good in those photos. I’m definitely going to give it a try (although mine won’t look as good as that 😂)!

I'm passing on these CB edits too. I usually buy most of them but the last few have been underwhelming.
I'd rather put that money towards products I choose or the SNK fragrance advent. Someone asked earlier if there's any info and I am wondering too. I have only heard it mentioned here as an expectation, nothing concrete and seen no mention of it anywhere else. Fingers crossed!

I really would like to compare HN fragrance with SNK (if it exists!) before deciding between the two.

Now I e seen the full spoiler of the Brown Thomas calendar, I think it would be my favourite choice of all. It’s such a shame they won’t ship outside of Ireland. 😞. I’m also shocked to find myself covering the JL candle calendar - and I don’t really use candles 😆😆. I think I’ve definitely got swept away with the excitement this year .

I'm also swayed by The JL Candle calendar.
I love Lily Flame candles & their diffusers too as they have a huge scent throw.

I really like the look of Brown Thomas as well and will do my analysis once they release the contents and not via BD.
I planned on buying one more and John Lewis was top of my list but Brown Thomas has thrown a curve ball.
I am lucky to have a friend in Ireland who will accept any parcels and send over to me so that isn’t an issue.

I didn’t know the JL scent calendar had been released! £120. Looks really good to me. Though more experienced fragranistas will be along soon with a proper review hopefully https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-scented-candle-oils-advent-calendar/p113677352