🎄 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

https://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/product/pillow-talk-makeup-vault-box

CT has released a Pillow Talk vault which I assume is part of the holiday offerings. It's more expensive than the BAC but everything looks full sized and the case is lovely. Is there anyone left on the planet that doesn't own several PT items though?

It does look nice. I have too many candles as it though. I think I have the Voluspa one from something last year and there was an Aery and Neom one in LF Frag BAC.

I'm not convinced the JL Candle one is particularly good actually. I love a candle and my Neom electric diffuser but the sizes are so small. Overall I think you get a little less than last year (by about 20g, but still) and it's £21 more expensive..! I have to be honest and say I have a bit of a bias against the Lily-flame candles, maybe they're good but to me they look like the kind of thing you buy for a Secret Santa you don't know very well. They're not very luxe. I'm not mad on Neom candles either, and although I'd like to try Aery and SKANDINAVISK I could get four decent sized (2-300g) candles from those brands for that money.

@owlpassport the Lily Flame candles do look nicer in real life.

I'm not that impressed by Neom candles either, albeit I've only ever had a small one - the Complete Bliss fragrance which was supposed to be Rose, Lime & Black Pepper
To me it smelt like raw parsnips when lit totally different to how it smelt unlit which was just like it said on the box.
And it didn't last that long compared to other small candles like the Liberty ones.

This Works candles are good too! (They're full size)

Edit: typo

this works are always on sale in TK Maxx though. Nice big sizes as well.

@TracyBeakerSoYeah could you link to the candle AC? I can’t find it on the website. Thanks.

Yes, please!

Re: the discussion about the JL Winter Skin Box, I’ve just realised that I’ve been sent a Rituals Body Scrub rather than the (more expensive) full size hair and body spray!

God I've been waiting for that for months and I'm really bloody disappointed. It was only £99 last year. I do like Neom because I appreciate that they only use essential oils which is why some folk aren't terribly impressed with the throw as youre never going to get as good a throw from natural oils as you are from fragrance oils. (I make candles) I used to be a stockist for Lily Flame years ago and whilst they are nice, as a PP said they are not particularly high end.

Little tip: John Lewis and Waitrose sold the Christmassy Lily Flame candles half price last year for a couple of weeks in November. I'm happy to post a heads up if they do it again (for anyone who wants to check them out at a bargain price)

Oh my god i hadn't spotted that! They really did mess it up.

I'm pretty sure it was always meant to be a body scrub, the picture and the description were for the body scrub although the title was hair and body mist. Personally I'd rather have a scrub and bought it assuming this was included, especially given it's a winter skin box.

I can’t seem to send photos by DM so hopefully you can download from here.

On the rituals description although the title says body spray the description says exfoliating scrub so I didn’t challenge that one.

I'm not interested in the JL scent advent either. I was disappointed to miss it last year but I don't think it's that great value this year plus I have no use for fragrance oils.

I've got a few Lily Flames candles and they've been gifts that have sat in a drawer. They're all weird scents and the tins look a bit novelty. That's what put me off the JL candle calendar last year.

@ThePieceHall trying again!

I was going to buy my DS the JS candle advent, but I’m not sure it’s a bit uninspiring. I think I’d rather buy a really nice candle set elsewhere. I’m sure last years was better…but it might be a bit of a rose tinted view.

Just had an email saying the Missoma Jewelry calendar is launching tomorrow on 24hr early access to those who signed up to the waitlist.

Oh, that JL candle advent is a damp squib for me. Shame.

I LOVED Biscuit, you have lots of restraint to keep them stashed away. I really enjoyed Friandise last year, I always plan for Sapin but tend to get the red candle! Would you mind posting what Diptyque say on here? I was waiting for the JL candle calendar but now I’ve seen it think I might get a couple of Sapin candle sticks instead

Yes, will do. The lady at our Diptyque counter in Fenwick knows us well so hopefully she will have some insider info. We are going in on Thursday night. I bought loads of the Biscuit one last year whenever I found someone selling for a good price on Vinted!

Whilst we're talking candles.. bit of a random one but I highly recommend Smoke + Marches candles, diffusers and melts. It's a brand owned by a YouTuber (missbudgetbeauty) but they are really exceptional in terms of quality and scent and she hand makes them all. I've had the diffuser for months and it still throws scent!
They have some fun Halloween stuff and the Christmas collections are always excellent. I'm in no way affiliated - just really impressed with the stuff I've purchased from there!

*Smoke + Matches! 🤦‍♀️

I've still not found the the advent calendar of my 2025 dreams. I picked up the Elle one for a friend's birthday - thought the product mix was nice and it was within budget (with a discount code). I have also picked up the CB Tonal Hues edit for a friend's Chrsitmas present (agree not as good value as normal- but she'll enjoy dabbling with it).

No need to feel sorry for me - I have just bought myself the JL Winter Skin Care box. Not massively exciting - but I'll use everything in it and I had a JL voucher to use up. Fingers crossed my box arrives intact.

Was £100 last year x

For anyone with teens (or partners) who are into sports and fitness, the My Protein advent calendar is available now. Sign up and get 15% off so I got it for £58-something. DS15 will be happy with that as he’s currently “in a bulking phase” 🤷‍♀️

https://www.myprotein.com/p/sports-nutrition/advent-calendar-2025/12948595/