🎄 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

I remember your good deal on Shiseido last year @OvaHere

I wouldn’t mind getting mostly the same things as last year, but I wouldn’t want to see that eye pencil or lash serum again!

There’s a picture on the Shiseido website that shows the Ginza shower gel and I think the perfume - both would be welcome and were there last year - ditto the lipstick, which I use constantly.

There seems to be a full size sunscreen as well - which would be new for 2025. I would be annoyed if that was replacing a full size eye cream as I already have the identical unopened Shiseido sunscreen from this summer.

I don’t know why Beauty Detective hasn’t worked her magic, because she could identify things a lot better than I can!

@OvaHere @IlovePond I loved the blue eye pencil! 😁I definitely didn’t get such a good deal, I think I had a GWP but I remember seeing it at Bicester and thinking I’d over paid. That said, I used everything, so I’d happily have similar products again

@Talisin i think it’s day 4 😊

@HolaLolla I’ve just seen the email too! I am gutted I really did want Harrods but don’t get why they are telling us it’s sold out and that they’ve ran out of stock when that isn’t the case. Says it could be 10days before refunded. It was all the skincare in Harrods for me so I hope brown thomas ticks my boxes when revealed. I still don’t get why they can’t ship to NI it’s crazy xx

Its probably just generic email they send ☹️ I wonder how did they pick up on the address issue as I have two orders delivered with no issues 🤦🏻‍♀️
I can live without their BAC, already ordered stuff I was after in Vinted, but my heart is crying for fragrance advent for next year. I’ve just realised if I send it to Europe on top of higher delivery fee there would be customs duties to pay which would make it very expensive 😭😭😭

was out in London last night and saw this… think SpaceNK really wanted me to get their advent calendar 🤣

Pic

It’s a sign for sure 😉

😂You cant fight fate!

I loved the pink bus!

Just checked my SNK box…top corner is damaged, not sure it’s worth the hassle of complaining, it’s not great though. Haven’t checked contents.

That's disappointing @SoloCat . I'd drop their customer service an email (with photo), chances are you'll get something out of it. Hope the contents are all okay.

LIB has posted a list of brands on their Instagram. Some new to me, but probably lower end. I'm less interested already with the drip-feeding, just tell me what's in it... Also with the price drops and random TikTok pricing the past few years, I'd be reluctant to buy it on release anyway.

I think you should. It's an expensive purchase and I would expect it to be pristine.

I’d definitely complain. That’s really damaged and would spoil my enjoyment of the calendar.

So DH has confirmed he’s planning to buy me the Diptyque calendar. I am torn as it’s so much money but it would bring me a lot of joy. I think I want to try to get to a Jo Loves outlet to do some sniffing first in case I think that’s going to be a runner! I am so picky with scent so the fact that there are no Diptyque fragrances I dislike is a massive point in its favour!

I would raise it. You wouldn’t pick up that one in a shop if you had a choice. And if it was the only one, I’d ask for some money off. Plus, it might make them improve the packaging next year. This one is definitely flimsier than last year- different design - and there’s no shredded tissue either. I feel they’ve scrimped a bit on the packaging of a high price calendar. Not impressed.

You should definitely complain. At £260 it's expensive and shouldn't arrive looking second hand. I wasn't going to complain to Harrods about my damaged box, but people on here said I should so I decided to send an email and got a £20 refund 😊 makes me feel a bit better about my damaged box now. Let us know how you get on.

You have an amazing husband @Doubleraspberry . I can't imagine mine even thinking of buying me an advent (not even a chocolate one😥).
@SoloCat definitely complain about the box you have nothing to lose

I’ve only had one beauty advent calendar before, the John Lewis one a couple of years ago and I absolutely loved it. I skipped last year, so this time I’ve decided to treat myself. I’m a big fan of skincare and makeup, though friends have raved about their Jo Malone calendars, and I’ve just spotted thatDiptyque has one too.
What I really want is something luxurious and indulgent, filled with little treats I wouldn’t usually buy for myself. So now I can’t decide. Which one to choose, Jo Malone or Diptyque?

@Birdy65. You might also like to consider Jo Loves, which I’ve slightly preferred to Jo Malone. If you are a candle lover, then Diptyque has more than JM or JL. You could also consider Penhaligon’s. L’artisan Parfumeur hmdid a calendar last year, but I’ve not seen it mentioned so far this year.

@SoloCat. I agree with others thst you should complain about your calendar. At the price we pay for the premium calendars, they should be in perfect condition .

None of these advent calendars appear to have reached the actual stores yet. It’s very irritating I like to see them in person.

Thanks everyone. I have contacted CS through their website. I’ll keep you posted on any updates. It’s such a pretty box..not sure if I should check contents, but I really don’t want to. I have in previous years, but I’m going to be having major surgery before Christmas and I really just wanted to keep my Advents for my post surgery blues.

Lucky you @Doubleraspberry hold on to that one 🥰 my DH has no clue 😂

On a better note my Elemis is due today!

I’d go with Dyptique…it’s absolutely beautiful.

I’m heading into the Trafford Centre, hoping to spot some in the wild! I shall report back.

When I’ve checked my AC’s I’ve done it by feel, and looked away. I feel a bit silly but it does work, probably not hugely accurate if the wrong item is there. I just feel enough to check there’s something in the drawer.

I think PP's suggestion of Jo Loves is a good one, the voucher for 100ml of a fragrance of your choice swings it for me. Otherwise, Diptyque of the two. You could also consider Fortnum & Mason if you want a mixed brand. It's not had much discussion on here but if you're looking for a mix of skincare, self-care, make-up and fragrance it has a little of everything.